Chapter 17: Chapter 17

~~~Past Wind~~~

"How are you feeling now?" Claire asked me handing me a glass of juice and taking a seat near me. I badly wanted a tea but as you know I am allergic to coffee, I can't take the risk.

There is a chance to misplace coffee instead of tea. Then for sure, I will die. And the pain—it will be unbearable. So I never dare to take the risk.

If I had in my home, I would have made tea for myself and have relaxed a bit in my comfy bed because I won't trust anyone except me. But my bad luck, I am on my way to college.

"Not bad Claire but My head is still pounding. I don't know when it is going to stop." I whined like a child rubbing the spot where I felt the throbbing pain.

"If you don't mind, I will make tea for you." She asked feeling guilty.

"No way Claire!!" Immediately I got alarmed. "I still remember what you did in high school." I raised both my hands as surrender and shook my head dramatically.

"Come on Riya! I thought you were kidding so I made a coffee instead of tea and..."

"And you forced me to drink a whole coffee, secretly writing my death wish." I finished the sentence.

Her face dropped a bit and I feel sorry for what I said.

I squeezed her hand, "Sorry Claire! The words just slipped out of my mouth. I am not stable; my mind is not helping though." My voice downed.

"You know what? I am still sorry about that day! You were admitted for almost four days in the hospital." She stated truthfully.

"Hmm... good for nothing! Because our friendship grew better from that day and now we are tied to each other. Aren't we?" We both smiled and began to eat breakfast.

"How was he?" She asked blankly. I could guess she is asking about Kayish but what she means?

"Huh???!" I gave her a confusing look.

"I mean how did he react once you reached your home? Was he still mad?"

"I didn't go to my home. I went with him to his apartment. And yes! He was so mad. He would have broken his whole apartment down and thank God I was there to stop him from doing anything nonsense that he would regret later."

"So you mean you both slept together, right?!" Her eyes widen like a panda.

"Yeah! Almost. He was on the sofa besides I was in bed." I said casually.

"Ohh! Riya!!! You are useless. If I was in your place..."

"In my place?" I raised my eyebrows. Her cheeks turned into a shade of pink. I bit my lips to hide my laughter.

"Riya!!!" She whined pouting her lips.

"Okay! I'm sorry!!! I didn't mean to..." oh God I couldn't control my laughter and I burst out. "I'm sorry Claire! Really I am. I couldn't control my laughter." I said between the laughter.

She crept out of her boyfriend's apartment through the window when her boyfriend went to grab water in the kitchen. She thought he might plan to have some naughty things that I'm sure you must have understood what, and see who is talking about useless now.

"Claire! Sometimes I'm scared of him. He is a beast when he gets angry, I don't know how long I am going to control his beast." I said matter of fact.

"As long as you are with him, he is an Angel. So don't worry my dear friend," She said and I nodded my head as a comprehension.

We finished our breakfast on time and paid the bill. "Shall we go?" I asked Claire, grabbing my bag from the chair.

"Yeah." She nodded her head and grabbed her bag as well. When we both stood up from our place ready to leave, I felt someone tucking my pant. Who's this? I furrowed my brows and looked down, there I saw a small girl who reached barely three grinning widely holding a bouquet in her hand.

"Yes, Sweetie,"  I asked but she handed me a bouquet of red roses and ran away in a blink of an eye.

"Wow!! It's so nice." Claire whispered looking at the bouquet of red roses. There are more than ten flowers in this bouquet and the smell is amazing seems the flowers have been plucked from the plants just now.

"Yeah! It's cute but who did this?" I looked around the surrounding trying to figure out who did this but couldn't able to find it.

"Come on Riya, there are a lot of boys out there, it would be one of them. That is not a matter!! The flowers are amazing!!" She praised.

"Then take it, it must be for yours." I handed her a flower which she accepted wholeheartedly as it is one of her dreams of receiving random stuff from her admirer, and we both started to walk towards our college.

When I entered college, a small boy handed me a bouquet of red roses and ran away. "I think these flowers are for you, not for me." Claire grinned at me.

I was confused again. Someone is following me. But who? I looked around my surrounding but no one was there. I shrugged my shoulder and walked into the campus.

"Uhhh!!" I groaned in frustration and snatched the bouquet from the peon who has no idea who asked him to give me the flower once I arrive at the campus and this is the tenth time I've received the bouquet.

If Kayish knows about this, he will burn them alive. No doubt.

"Bye Riya! Carry on!!" Claire waved and winked at me before heading towards her classroom. I opened the locker and took my English book and shut it again ignoring the attention I'm gaining from the students and walked towards my classroom.

When I reached my classroom, I saw all my classmates were standing in front of my class. What's going on there? I murmured to myself and walked further.

There standing my handsome boyfriend with his glory. "Kayish! What are you doing here? What do you do this time?" I asked surprisingly.

"Shhh!!" He placed a finger on my lips. "Let me explain." He said in a hushed tone.

Grabbing a small red velvet box from his pocket, he kneeled in front of me making my eyes go wide. I heard a lot of whispers from the students but my focus was mainly on him.

Before I realize what is he doing, he opened the box and took the ring in his hand.

I closed my mouth with my hands, the ring is beautiful. It looks simple yet elegant. A small white coloured diamond was shinning from the top adding more beauty to the ring.

"Riya! I know this is too early, but I want you to be mine forever. Will you be the honour of my wife?" He asked making me freeze on the spot. He did all for me, the bouquet and now the ring.

"Kayish! I..I don't know what to say. I.. I. Just... I just need..." I find my voice was shaking.

"Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!!!!!" The students started to cheer loudly.

I slumped my shoulder and shook my head. "You are impossible, I smiled and hugged him tightly." He is making me happy with his every movement.

"So that means yes, right?" He asked hopefully.

I wiped my tears and nodded my head. "Of course I will marry you."

"Yes!! That's my girl." He slipped the ring to my finger. "Now you are officially mine," He whispered and kissed my forehead.

"Yes, I am!!" Today I was engaged to the love of my life. I could not be happier more than this.

*

"So what's your explanation for this mess, Miss. Kader?" He asked me in front of everyone in the conference room.

I inhaled deeply to control my temper. If I don't, a great earthquake will explode. So, I shut my mouth and allowed him to humiliate me.

"I am sorry, it won't happen in the future." I tried my best to calm myself. He has a valuable reason for blaming me but why does he blame my team, for the mistakes they hadn't committed.

But who I am kidding, he would never listen to whatever I am going to say. It is a great opportunity for him and he is using this perfectly by touching my nerve.

Nevin Paul, a senior manager, I don't know what his problem and what the reason for his dislike towards me from the beginning caused everything. Kayish asked him to hand me a file a week ago but he handed me on this morning.

Everyone is gathering here for the presentation but I am not ready yet. How could I be ready when I didn't aware of the presentation?

"Miss. Kader, we are really disappointed with you." they all shook their heads and went outside one by one.

Now I and the monster were left alone in this room. Simply says, 'I'm stuck with this monster in this huge room.'

"Listen!!! I will explain." I said when he took the dangerous step towards me. I wouldn't be afraid if this is the other day, for another reason, but today I am scared to hell.

He is so perfect when it comes to work and he won't hesitate to fire employees. One thing is sure, he won't fire me, if he could then I am happier than ever.

But the thing is what if he fires my employees. He has been waiting for the great opportunity and now it is in his hand.

"What are you going to explain? Huh!" He yelled. "You did this purposely. I knew it. You are the one who dares to do such a stupid thing. You humiliated me in front of my Clients.” His eyes were blazing fire towards me.

"Do you have any idea, how hard I put my effect to get this project? But you have dried everything in one second." He shoved me against the wall.

"I didn't. Please trust me. He only handed me the file this morning. I didn't even know about the presentation." I tried to point out.

I feel guilty now. This project was worth a million dollars but they lost it because of me.

"Don't blame him for your fault. He has been working here for over 20 years and he is very loyal to my dad. Don't expect me to believe your bullshit." He roared like a lion.

"I give you one hour to make a decision. Accept your fault and ask Apology to everyone or else consider all your so-called employees are not the part of this company." He threatened at the end.

"I will," I replied without hesitation. I don't know what he thought but he was taken aback by my answer.

---

"I'm sorry! It's... it's my entire fault. I... I did this purposely. Please forgive me." I hardly said every word. I swallowed my pride to save my employees. If I didn't, how I could be a good manager.

Everyone murmured something I don't know what exactly, and then left the room one by one. I looked at the floor feeling ashamed of myself. A while later, I felt his finger under my chin and he raised my chin to face him but even before he could speak I cut him off.

"Are you enjoying the sight, Mr. Miller? This is what you wanted to see, right? It's all for just two years. Then I will leave this company. What will you do after that? Who will you blame for the mistakes they didn't do?” I felt his body is shaking visibly but I heavily doubt it is because of my remark.

"You are not ready for what I am coming to say, then why the hell should I prove myself guilty? I don't think it will work." I wiped my tears before walking away.

*