The next day, I sat focused at my desk, eyes glued to the monitor, my fingers tapping lightly on the keyboard. The hum of the office blended with the occasional ringing of phones and the murmur of conversations, creating a familiar yet distant background noise. The artificial glow from the screen reflected in my tired eyes, and I blinked rapidly to shake off the drowsiness threatening to pull me under.
A sudden, soft tap on my arm made me jolt. My heart skipped a beat as I turned sharply, only to find Emma standing beside me, her lips forming a playful pout, her large eyes pleading.
"Hey, I'm so hungry. Can you accompany me to the nearest shop?" she asked, her voice light but tinged with desperation, as if hunger had drained the last ounce of energy from her.
I glanced at my watch and sighed. There were still two hours left until our scheduled break, but my stomach was already growling in protest. The rushed cup of Horlicks I had in the morning had long lost its effect. Looking back at Emma, I gave a small nod.
"Alright, let's go," I said, pushing my chair back.
We both stood up slowly, cautiously eyeing the office like two escape artists planning a flawless heist. As we passed our colleagues, we clutched the nearest files, pretending to be engrossed in them, our steps measured yet swift. The tension eased only when we slipped past unnoticed, stepping out into the open air. The moment the door shut behind us, a cool breeze greeted my skin, and I exhaled, relieved.
Then, as if a switch had flipped, Emma grabbed my wrist, and we broke into a half-run, weaving through pedestrians with stifled giggles. The thrill of sneaking out made my pulse race in excitement.
"We have to be quick," Emma whispered, half-excited, half-anxious.
"Yes," I nodded, laughter bubbling in my throat.
Reaching the shop, we made a beeline for the bread shelf, scanning the options with eager eyes. The aroma of freshly baked goods wrapped around us, making my mouth water.
"What do you want, Vidya?" Emma asked, her hands already grabbing a few options.
"Umm... vanilla bread," I said, imagining the soft, sweet taste melting in my mouth.
"Okay," she responded, swiftly picking up both vanilla and chocolate bread, along with two water bottles. After a quick payment, we rushed back, quickening our pace.
But just as we neared the entrance, my footsteps faltered. My heart stopped.
Kathir was standing by the door, his broad shoulders tense, his face half-shadowed by the afternoon light. His phone was pressed to his ear, and though his voice was low, the sharpness of his words cut through the air like a blade.
"I asked you to finish him off, but you just ended up warning him?"
I froze. My breath hitched in my throat. The blood drained from my face as his words echoed in my ears.
Emma felt my grip on her tighten. She turned, her expression wide-eyed with concern.
"I'll handle him! You go first, okay?" I whispered, forcing a calmness I didn't feel.
Emma hesitated, her lips parting as if she wanted to argue, but instead, she nodded. She carefully stepped forward, her every movement cautious, and I watched until she disappeared into the office.
I turned my attention back to Kathir just as his voice lowered, colder than before.
"On the next call, I want to hear good news. Do you understand?"
The finality in his tone sent a chill down my spine. The moment his call ended, his sharp gaze flickered up—and landed directly on me.
My stomach clenched.
His eyes darkened, scanning me as if I were a puzzle he hadn't expected to find.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was low, edged with something dangerous.
For a split second, I couldn't breathe. My mouth went dry, my body frozen in place.
Then, before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out.
"Y-you kill people?"
The second I heard my own voice, I wanted to take it back. My heart pounded violently in my chest, a drumbeat of regret.
Kathir raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk ghosting over his lips.
"Are you sure you want to know about it?" he asked, his voice dripping with an unspoken challenge.
My pulse roared in my ears. He took a step forward, and I instinctively stepped back, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"No," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.
Kathir stopped. His smirk deepened, satisfied. Without another word, he turned toward the office.
I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of what I had just witnessed. But then—his mom.
I swallowed hard. No matter who he was, I had to ask. It was the right thing to do.
"W-wait!" I called out, my voice shaking slightly.
Kathir paused but didn't turn around. I hurried to catch up, my nerves coiling tighter.
"Sir, how is your mom?"
His shoulders tensed. A heavy silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words.
"What happened yesterday? You left me at the hospital, and my brother came to pick me up," I continued, pushing forward, desperate for a response.
Kathir kept walking, his silence suffocating.
"I'm talking to you!" I called out, my frustration spiking.
Finally, he stopped.
We stood on the staircase, the space between us shrinking, but the emotional distance stretching farther.
He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice dangerously low, each word a threat wrapped in velvet.
I froze.
My mind blanked for a moment, but then I forced out a reply.
"V-Vidya," I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.
His eyes narrowed. "Why do you want to know about my mom?"
I swallowed, my throat dry. "Be-because…" I stammered, but I couldn't find the right words.
"Because of what?" he pushed, his tone relentless.
I took an instinctive step back—only to bump into something solid.
Strong hands caught me, steadying me before I could stumble.
"Are you okay?" a voice asked, soft yet firm.
I turned, startled, to see a man I didn't immediately recognize. He smiled gently, his expression warm.
I nodded quickly. "Yeah... yes, I'm fine."
The man glanced at Kathir briefly before turning back to me. "Are you working here? Cool."
Confused, I hesitated. "Yes, and you are…?"
"Ouch," he teased, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "How can you forget me like that? I'm Arshan. You remember me from the party? Your brother's business partner?"
A flash of memory hit me. The party. His face. The way he had introduced himself back then.
"Oh, Arshan! Yes, I do remember! I'm sorry, I just couldn't recognize you quickly."
"No worries," he grinned. "You look beautiful today, Vidya."
A blush crept up my cheeks. "Th-thank you. And you still remember my name?"
"Of course! How can I forget?" Arshan chuckled.
But before I could reply, a cold voice sliced through the air.
"Go to your place right now."
I turned to see Kathir, his gaze burning with barely restrained anger. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable—but the storm behind his eyes was undeniable.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Arshan, unfazed, chuckled lightly.
I glanced at him, then at Kathir, then back at Arshan.
"Well, it's sweet of you, Arshan, that you still remember my name! See you again! Bye," I said with a smile, waving at him.
Arshan waved back before heading off.
But as I turned away, I caught Kathir's gaze one last time—dark, smoldering, unreadable.
I quickly flipped my hair over my shoulder, ignoring the fire in his stare, and walked into the office.