Khom (furious) : You..... (tries his best to keep his calm, softly) better not mess with me... I have connections with higher management. Just a call.... (snaps his fingers) and you're out of here..... You insolent newbie. What if you're my senior here, remember, I'm the Team Leader and dare you call me by my name...
Mahek : (sarcastic yet polite) Yes Team Leader, I'll keep that in mind. (turns to take the glass fully out of Riv's hand, finds her surprised, staring at him with those cute eyes)(without making it awkward breaks the silence) Miss..., could you please let go of the glass (gives her a big smile).
Riv realises and lets go of the glass. She excuses herself out of the room while Mahek gets a call and goes out. Feeling humiliated, Khom calls somebody and moves out of the room. The chaotic silence turned into chatter again.
Outside the dining room,
Khom (furious) : Uncle! That Mahek guy! He's getting on my nerves again. What's your advantage of being in higher management if you can't get him out of the company!
Khom's Uncle (on phone) : I don't know why, I ain't able to mess with him…. Some or the other reason comes up and he is saved….. but don't worry nephew, I'll do something...(hangs up)
Khom and Mahek return to the dinner table but Riv goes back to her room. Almost half an hour later, Mahek feels a bit dizzy. A househelp helps him out of the dining room. Looking for a perfect moment, Khom also moves out of the room. Gathers a few men and goes straight up to a room. Knocks
loudly.
Riv (opens the door, surprised yet expected this to happen) : So…. Team Leader, how may I help you?
Khom (tries to peek in) : So enjoying the young night with your Boytoy?!
Di (coldly, behind him) : Excuse me sir, do you need something?
Khom (annoyed) : And who are you to ask?
Di (coldly) : Her Husband! Got a problem with that?? If or if not please leave.
Khom leaves disappointed and defeated. Di enters the room after Riv and closes the door.
Di (questions) : What was that jerk blabbering about? And (turns towards the couch to sit, taken aback) Woah!? (turns towards Riv, exhibits a confused look) You're having somebody over?? (puts up a dramatic pretence) Oh holiness! Me in a foreign land, witnessing my wife cheating on me behind my back . No no no, in front of me .... Where shall this man go to tell his plight….
Riv (fed up with his act) : To your Boyfie ….. And we got nothing between us to be precise. Talking of Kine, where is he? Left you alone?
Di : I don't know exactly but he went to a friend's place..….
Mahek's phone rings up. Di picks up to answer.
Mahek's dad (on the call) : Son, where are you? Your buddy is already here…. (someone in the back) Come back soon bud….
Di (answers) : Excuse me, the owner of this phone has passed out. I'll inform him once he wakes up.
Mahek's Dad (worried) : What happened to him!? Is he hurt badly?
Di (assures) : He just passed out drunk. There's nothing to worry about. (hangs up)
Di (confused) : Riv... I think I heard Kine's voice from the other side…
Riv (stops looking at her phone and teases Di) : Oyhoy, missing your beloved on this moonlight soaked night already…..?
A few moments later, Riv's phone rings,
Riv (to Di) : Oh my god! Look who's even calling? (being dramatic) Somebody save my heart…..
Di : Pick up the call already
Riv (on the call) : Yeah ..... Alright, I'll tell him. (hangs up)
Riv (to Di) : Your boyfie won't be coming back, so sleep here. (picks up a change of clothes and walks into the washroom)
Di, confused, changes his clothes and sits on the bed scrolling his phone. Smiles looking at Kine's cute photos.
Riv (praying) : God please save my brother-in-law from this person's evil eyes and bless him.
Di gives her a bombastic side eye, Riv chuckles. Di's attention shifts to peacefully sleeping Mahek.
Di : Who's he by the way?
Riv : He's ...(thinks for a while) (sighs) a senior from the company we are setting a deal with.
Di : That sigh seemed very suspicious to me, my lady….. Maybe you were about to say "My future lover" or "Your future Brother-in-Law"...
Riv (annoyed, throws a pillow at him) : Just shut up and focus on your love life. Don't make up mine. (takes a glance at Mahek and goes to sleep)
Next morning, nearly 6 o' clock, Mahek asks for water in his sleep. Riv hands him over a glass. Mahek sleeptalks with his eyes half opened.
Mahek (sleeptalking) : May I never wake up and this dream never ends…
Di : Wake up to reality man!
Mahek wakes up wide awake, though he's happy to see Riv but the presence of Di ruins it.
Di (coldly) : Your Papa called while you were passed out.
Riv (softly) : Don't be like that …..
Di (still coldly, yet more furious) : Why shouldn't I be?! Coming to a woman's room, so late at night and on top of that drunk as hell.
Riv (softly) : Di... calm down (holds Di's arm to pacify him)
Mahek is a bit upset upon seeing this yet controls himself.
Mahek (calmly) : If the lady doesn't have any problem, who are you to ask?
Di (gives Mahek a cold smile and replies) : Her Husband! Got a problem...
Mahek's world turned upside down yet controlling himself he stood still there staring at Riv.
Di : Anything else? No, then just leave already.
Mahek leaves. Riv and Di are left in the room, talking over this.
Riv (in *velicrage) : I understand your worries but wouldn't it have been better if you talked to him properly ..... He's a senior from the company we are dealing with. What if he puts in a bad word and we lose the deal?
Di (drops his cold composure) : Sorry na .... You know how I am. Should I go and apologise to him? Even if I have to beg I'll do it for you….
Riv : Don't cry over spilt milk. Let's be optimistic. By the way, where's Kine?
Di's phone rings up. It's Kine, both of them smile looking at the phone.
Di (picks up the call) : Good morning my honeypie... When will you be back?
Kine : Good morning my apple ….. I'll leave from here probably after meeting my buddy. It won't take long I guess. See you then.
After hanging up, Di sees Riv lost somewhere. Di snaps his fingers in front of her.
Di : Get ready. Don't you have a meeting after breakfast?
Riv goes into the washroom, lost in her own world.
Flashback
Before Khom knocked the door, Riv just finished bathing and came out of the washroom. She saw a male staff of the hotel, lying down Mahek on her room's bed. Though she repeatedly questioned the staff, he didn't answer and left quickly. Confused Riv who was trying to figure something out of that, felt a hand holding hers and heard a soft mumble
Mahek (intoxicated, holding Riv's hand) : Please don't leave me again... Riva
Riv felt he was just mumbling in his drunkenness but him repeatedly saying her name indicated otherwise. Those words were lingering in Riv's mind. Before she could react, Mahek pulled her on the bed with him. Riv struggled to get up yet failed. After multiple failed attempts, she finally got up and tried to pull Mahek out of her bed. Mahek's heavy yet built up body made it very difficult for her. Somehow she managed to get him near the door, however, she stumbled and both of them fell on the couch near the door. Riv was gradually getting intoxicated by that scent that Mahek carried. She was finally able to be so close to the body she dreamt of for years. Those moments of closeness made her forget all her tensions and trauma. Then there it was, the childhood trauma, that had always kept her from being close to things she liked. Before she was haunted by her trauma, a knock on the door was heard. She got up, straightened her clothes and went up to open the door. Riv already figured out the aftermath of her cold war with Khom and she was right. Khom was standing on the door with his colleagues and then the rest was just as everyone witnessed.
________________________________________
*Velicrage : the feeling of wanting to randle someone but your heart stops you because you adore him or her.