2/12/2020 - Monday, At T nagar, Chennai

Shiva's P. O. V :

" Are you sure that this is the right idea?, I am scared that I might get killed. " I said to Hari as we stood outside our office.

We had taken half a day off due to my hangover and decided to enter the office after lunch. I stayed in Hari's home and that's how he saved my drunk ass from my parents.

" That might happen. But don't you really remember anything ? " Hari asked confused.

" I remember talking with Anjali though, then I think I threw a tantrum at Aparna, but I don't remember what I said. " I said.

" I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing. " Hari said and walked inside the office. I followed him silently.

As soon we stepped in, all the eyes were on me. I tried to ignore the stares and sat on my place.

I shakily turned on my computer and started reading the mail box.

I heard foot steps approaching me and I knew who it was, I gulped hard and focused on the screen.

" Shiva! " Aparna called me from behind.

I fake coughed and slowly turned back.

" This is the data we collected. I have compiled everything. I have also sent a copy of this to the client. I have also asked her to add her ideas. " Aparna said swiftly and walked back to her place.

Shwetha was giggling looking at Aparna and Hari was trying very hard to bite back his laughter.

I scratched my head and went back to reading the file.

" Shiva, don't you really remember anything that you said? " Shwetha asked.

I turned back and furrowed my eyebrows.

A pen landed straight on Shwetha's head and she winced in pain.

" Shut up and work " Aparna said and glowered at Shwetha.

I tilted my head puzzled and turned back to my screen.

Why do I feel like I did some huge drama being drunk?, I am too embarrassed to ask.

Aparna picked a call and rushed out to the outdoor dining area.

Maybe I should ask her, with all the jokes being thrown around, it's definitely something I did to Aparna.

I slowly walked out to the dining area.

" No, I am done. I don't care if I have to pack my bag and move to some North East state. I would do it than being with you! " Aparna's high pitched voice reached me.

I heard Aparna shouting in her phone. I was taken aback by the situation and silently retreated.

I have seen her do this a lot of times. She gets some call and she gets all worked up. Who is disturbing her and why isn't she doing anything about it?

" I am done with you Michael! " She said as she cut the call.

Wait, Michael?!

Aparna turned around swiftly and I gave her a wide smile.

She shook her head and walked past me. I caught her hand and pulled her back.

" What are you doing! " She squirmed.

" Was that Michael? " I asked looking into her teary eyes.

" It's none of your business " She said.

" Okay , let's make a deal. I will tell you everything that you blabbered to me and you should tell me everything I blabbered to you! " I said.

She looked down thinking hard. She shook her head and looked at me.

" Okay, what did I say in my sleep? " She asked with a straight face.

" That won't do. You should ask with more love " I said chuckling.

" Shiva darling, please tell me what I told you in my sleep! " She asked with a wide smile.

" You said, at least Michael was rich. And that he is more good looking than me. You also said that Michael had a class on everything he did and that he has the most romantic ideas. And yes, you said that I am not doing enough! " I said shrugging my shoulder.

Aparna burst out laughing and she was shaking her head continuously. She slowly walked back to the chair and sat on it. She was looking at me and rolling with laughter.

" What's funny in that? And what do you mean by I don't have better romantic ideas than him? You don't know how much I planned for that one day with you. All my effort in drain! " I said shaking my head.

Aparna caught my hand and stood up slowly, she was still shaking with laughter.

" He gifted me a diamond necklace for my birthday. Maybe I was regretting throwing it away. That's why I should have mumbled about it " She said and wiped away the happy tears from her eyes.

" Diamond necklace? " I asked shocked.

" Yes! " She said.

" And you still rejected him!? " I asked in disbelief.

" Yes! " She said.

" Why? " I asked and her smile slowly disappeared.

" Mmm, I don't know " She said and started walking to the door.

I pulled her back again, this time with a little force. She fell back on me and looked at me with raised eyebrows.

I was expecting her to shout and scream at me for not keeping the distance. But she was just staring at me.

I pulled her closer and she looked away from my eyes.

" What about the other part of the deal? " I asked.

" That! " She said raising both of her hands in exclamation.

" Yes, that? " I asked.

" You will die if I tell you! " She said and ran past me like a lightning bolt. She opened the door and was out of my view in a second.

I yelled silently and pulled my hair. I did really do something very bad then.

What am I going to do!

" You idiot! What were you thinking! All that good image that was left in Aparna's mind is also gone now! What did you do!!! " I was saying to myself slapping my face.

" I knew that you were going to go mad someday! But I didn't know that it would come this sooner! " Hari's voice came from my side.

I turned towards him and smiled at him embarrassed.

" Stop with your self loathing and come inside . We have a bigger problem. " Hari said and walked back.

I followed him briskly.

Everyone were standing around Aparna. She was having a very tensed face holding her phone.

I walked close to her and she gave me a dismayed look. Her face was pale and she was shaking.

" What happened? " I asked slowly.

" Our client, Latha, she called just now. It seems she is planning to get design from another firm too " Aparna said stuttering.

" But she signed that agreement! " I said.

" Yes, that's why she is confused now. Another firm has approached her personally and they are trying to convince her" She said sweating.

I sat back on a chair nearby and looked down frustrated.

I thought I finally found a life boat. But I am back to point zero again.

" What is her clear decision? " Hari asked Aparna.

" She is asking us if we can challenge the other firm. " Aparna said.

" What challenge? " Shwetha asked.

" To complete the design in a week and legally participate in a competition against the other firm" Aparna said.

" One week is impossible! " Hari said startled.

Aparna sat down near me. She slowly caught my hand and I looked up at her.

" If we win that competition, we will get the entire project as you wanted. If we don't, I will make sure that we will get paid for our work. I am waiting for your word. " She said to me.

" Do you think we can do this in a week? " I asked skeptically.

" Yes " Aparna said in a confident tone.

" Are you sure? " I asked again.

" Yes! We can. We have enough members to do this. We need to work the entire week. If you say yes, we can. " She said.

Aparna had more confidence in this firm than what I had.

Her eyes bore into mine and her hand was still holding mine. Somehow, I felt that, if she can hold it till the end, maybe we will do it.

" Yes! " I said.

" Yes! " Aparna screamed and got up from the chair. I stood up after her.

" But how are we going to do it? " Hari asked.

" Call Karthik and anybody who can support us. We are going to do this. " Aparna said.

" What about our wedding preparation? It's just 14 days away! " Shwetha asked tensed.

" Shwetha! If we win this project, you will get your dream honeymoon at Bali! After this 7 days, I will be your personal manager to make sure that you get the best make up artist for your wedding! " Aparna said and instantly Shwetha was smiling.

" Bali!? " Hari asked.

" Yes, Bali, new car, or anything! We are going to do it! " Aparna said jumping.

" I am doing this trusting you! " I said to her in a light tone.

She nodded her head boldly.

" Okay boys, go home, pack up your bags and be here by 5 in the evening, we are going to have a hell of a party! " Aparna shouted. She had everything plotted out in her head.

Everyone cheered along with her. Sometimes I do wonder, where would I be, if I hadn't met her at all.

Only this girl can turn a terrible situation into something like this and I had never felt this level of energy in my office. She definitely was something.