In the morning, my family and I were having breakfast when my mom served chapati onto my plate. The delicious aroma made my hands itch to tear a piece and eat it. As she placed the mutton curry on the table, I eagerly tore the chapati, dipped it into the curry, and took a bite. The rich flavor melted in my mouth-ah, it felt like heaven. I glanced around and saw that everyone was enjoying the meal just as much as I was.
"Vidya, how is your job?" Dad asked while chewing his food. I was still savoring the taste when I replied, "It's going very well, Dad." However, something felt off. The moment I said those words, Kathir's face flashed in my mind, disrupting my peaceful meal.
Huff... I'm so tired of him. Just thinking about him makes me sick.
"Vidya, did your boss say anything about the new project?" Sanjay asked in a low, concerned voice. It was clear he was still waiting for work to begin.
I shook my head. "No, Sanjay, but you've already signed the documents, right?"
He nodded, letting out a sigh. "I did. But after that, I haven't received any calls from the office."
I sighed, understanding Sanjay's concern. Even Kathir seemed to be dealing with something. "They'll call you. Actually, Kathir's mom isn't doing very well, so maybe he's postponing everything." I reassured him, not wanting him to overthink. But as I recalled the way Kathir treated me at the hospital, another sigh escaped my lips. "And don't say anything about his mom-not even a word." As Sanjay's younger sister, it's my responsibility to protect him from that creepy Kathir. Otherwise, he might end up threatening Sanjay the same way he threatened me.
"Why is he like that? Sounds like your boss is really authoritative," Mom said, furrowing her brows as she looked at me.
I glanced at her. What could I even say? He wasn't just authoritative-he was arrogant, cruel, rude, creepy, and heartless. I could still remember the way he punched the wall when I called him heartless.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize Dad had placed his palm over my hand. His concerned gaze met mine. "Is everything okay?" he asked in a low, gentle voice.
My heart ached to tell them everything-how cruel he was, how he threatened me, how he made their loving daughter cry. But I knew I couldn't, not for my sake, but for Sanjay's. I swallowed my emotions, masking my pain with a smile. "Yeah, he's the boss, and we're just employees. He just wants to be professional, that's all. Nothing to worry about."
As I continued eating, I suddenly heard the sound of a car horn outside my house. I looked at my family, who also exchanged glances, and said, "Wait, I'll go check."
Getting up from my chair, I walked to the doorway and opened the door. A red Axia was parked in front of my house. The windshield rolled down, revealing Emma sitting inside.
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Emma?" Seeing her this early in the morning made me worried. Did something happen? Why did she come so suddenly?
"Hurry up and get ready. We have to attend an office-related event. Dress accordingly, and I'll be waiting here," Emma said loudly, making sure I heard her clearly. Before I could even ask her any questions, she had already given me all the details in a short, rushed manner.
My mind went blank for a second. She just showed up out of nowhere and expected me to get ready immediately?
"Fine. Come inside," I said, inviting her in.
She shook her head. "No, we're already late. I don't want to get killed by Kathir sir."
Emma and her anxiety over Kathir Rathore-huff.
"Okay, I'll be back," I said quickly before rushing upstairs to my room. I ignored my family at the dining table as I hurriedly opened my wardrobe, searching for a suitable outfit. My eyes landed on a dark blue dress with white sparkles. It looked elegant and perfect for the event. I slipped into it, let my hair down, and grabbed a few makeup essentials, planning to do the rest in the car on the way.
Feeling confident in my look, I rushed downstairs. My family was still at the dining table, looking at me in confusion.
"Bye, fam. I have to attend an event-it was so sudden," I sighed, hoping they understood my urgency.
Dad nodded. "Fine. Have a great day, dear."
I smiled, relieved that they understood, and quickly bid them goodbye before stepping out of the house. I got into Emma's car, pulled out my makeup kit, and started blending my foundation.
"We have to hurry," Emma reminded me as she started the engine and drove off.
I nodded, applying red lipstick to my lips as we sped towards the event.
Emma stopped the car in front of the hall's entrance. As we both got out, she handed her car keys to the valet before grabbing my arm and dragging me inside the hotel