At night, I collapsed onto the sofa, sinking into the plush cushions with a tired sigh. The weight of today's events pressed down on me, but I pushed all of them aside, determined to lose myself in the novel clutched in my hands.
"Zack pulled her closer to him and whi-"
The words on the page blurred as my mind betrayed me, dragging me back to an unwelcome memory—Kathir Rathore. The way he had forced me to dance, the firm grip of his hands on my waist, the way his darkened eyes burned into mine, making my whole body tremble. And then... that girl.
Who was she?
Why had his entire demeanor shifted the moment he saw her? His jaw had tightened, his muscles had gone rigid, and a strange tension had crackled in the air.
"Why do you smell like her?"
The way he had whispered those words in my ear, his voice low and sharp, sent a shiver down my spine even now. My heart had pounded then, just as it did now, confused and uneasy. I had no idea what he meant, but I had noticed something—whenever I got close to him, he would clench his jaw, shut his eyes as if suppressing something, and when he opened them again, they were filled with a storm of fury. And then, without fail, he would treat me cruelly for no reason.
A sudden thought struck me.
Was that girl someone from his past? Someone he was trying to avoid? Someone who had left a scar so deep that even my mere presence triggered something in him?
No. Stop it. My head spun with overthinking. Whatever it was, I didn't care. I couldn't tolerate another second of being caught in his tangled mess.
Huffing out a breath, I snapped my book shut and dragged myself up the stairs. I climbed onto my bed, switched off the lamp, and pulled the blanket over me, wrapping myself in its warmth. Sleep didn't come easily when my mind waged war against me, but I had to force myself to rest. I refused to let this night drive me insane with endless speculation.
I had to sleep.
The next morning...
Golden sunlight poured through the window, spilling warmth into the room. I blinked against the brightness, groggily reaching for the clock. 8 AM.
With a sigh, I pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Before even changing out of my pajamas, I stepped out of my room and made my way downstairs. The scent of morning tea lingered in the air. In the living area, my lovely family sat together, watching television. Vino was with them, casually lounging as she sipped from a cup.
I inhaled deeply and settled onto the sofa beside Sanjay, bracing myself. Adjusting my voice, I spoke,
"Guys, I think... I'm going to resign from my job."
The room fell into silence, thick and heavy. My family turned to me, their gazes unreadable. Sanjay furrowed his brows, his concern evident.
"Why? What happened, Vidya? Is everything okay?" His voice was gentle but firm.
I nodded, exhaling slowly, feeling the weight in my chest. "I joined this job because Kathir Rathore hired me... after he lost his employee, Paul." My fingers fidgeted in my lap as I glanced at my family, all eyes on me. Vino subtly gestured for me to come straight to the point, silently encouraging me. But I couldn't tell them everything—not when it would only make them worry.
"You all know... I studied to be a nutritionist. That's my passion. That's what I want. So, I've decided to resign and finally pursue my dream job." My voice wavered slightly, but I forced myself to stay firm, my fingers twisting together as I waited for their reaction.
Sanjay looked at me for a long moment before reaching out and holding my hand with a warm smile. "Actually, I should be thanking you for the sacrifice you made for me back then. You should go for your dream job, Vidya. No one's going to stop you."
Something inside me crumbled at his words. A teary smile stretched across my lips as relief and gratitude washed over me.
Dad nodded, his eyes filled with pride. "You studied for three years to become a nutritionist. That effort shouldn't go to waste. Resigning is the right choice."
Mom nodded in agreement, and I felt my heart swell with love for them.
"Thank you, my family, for understanding," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.
Sanjay smirked. "Oh, crybaby," he teased, nudging my shoulder.
I gasped, laughing through my tears, and playfully smacked his arm. He retaliated with a light punch to my shoulder, and soon, laughter filled the room.
"Yesss! Finally!" Vino cheered, practically bouncing in her seat. "I'm coming with you to hand in that resignation letter!"
I chuckled, nodding. "Okay then, I'll go get ready."
Vino grinned, flashing me a thumbs-up, her excitement even greater than mine. She was happier about me escaping that office than I was.
Back in my room, I pulled out a green blouse and black jeans, heading straight to the washroom. The warm water washed away the lingering drowsiness, refreshing me. After changing, I stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying my makeup. A small smile tugged at my lips as I looked at my own reflection.
Then, a sudden thought hit me.
I had almost forgotten.
I walked to my drawer, pulling it open and taking out a letter—my resignation letter. Vino had suggested I prepare it earlier, and now, here it was, neatly enclosed in an envelope.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
You can't rule over me anymore, Mr. Kathir Rathore.
I exhaled sharply, stuffing the envelope into my bag. With one last deep breath, I squared my shoulders, ready to face the day.
And him.