30/12/2019 - At Chennai

( 11 days after Aparna left the office)

Shiva's P. O. V :

The office was a mess. I was going insane. Works were piling up and I couldn't do anything.

I haven't talked with Anjali since the last week. I was busy working and I didn't have time to even eat.

My office was lifeless. It was painful to look at the place being empty. I was all alone. I was losing my confidence and I didn't have a friend to help me up.

All the front line projects were being lost due to the delay in design. Some clients complained about the price I quoted for the materials, some started complaining about the quality of the design.

I had to do everything with the small help I got from the interns.

I can't handle site works and design simultaneously. I decided to appoint two new people as soon as I can.

Four applicants entered the office around 10 in the morning. Three boys and one girl applied for the job. All of them didn't have the capacity to do the quantity of work here. They either lacked drawing skills or design skills.

After the interview, I mindlessly told them that they will get a reply through mail.

By around noon, Anjali's father walked into my office.

" Uncle, welcome. Please have a seat! " I told him and made him sit inside the conference room.

He was silently looking around the office.

" I came here to give invitations to some of my relatives in this area. I also thought that it would be better for me to visit your office here. Shiva, why the office is so empty? " He asked me.

" Some people have taken a vacation. That's why uncle " I told him.

" Oh, Thank god. By the way, is your office stable now? The income? " He asked me.

" Yes, it is! " I said and looked down.

" Your parents were telling that you wouldn't hold out for long. But suddenly, they started being so prideful of your office. I hope their pride is not futile " He said staring at me.

" Why does it matter to you? " I snapped at him.

" I am marrying my daughter to you. As a parent I need the confirmation from you. Because of your unstable business I don't want my daughter to suffer. In fact, Anjali also feels the same. I know that your office is facing a downfall. My daughter told me. I hope you take a quick decision and come to your father's shop. " He said.

I didn't know if I should believe his words. Why would Anjali tell about the issues here to her father?, she was the only one supportive of me, why would she not trust me!

" So, you are saying that, to marry your daughter I should leave this office? " I asked him.

" Yes, I don't have any intentions to change my conditions. If you are still going to play this risky game, I can't do the same by risking my daughter's life in the hands of an careless idiot" He said and walked out.

I came out of the conference room and instantly called Anjali.

" Hello, Shiva! " She said.

" I shared all the issues here with you, but why did you tell that to your father?, My parents started trusting my office after years and I don't want to break that trust. How can you carelessly go and tell your father? " I asked her.

" Carelessly? Do you think I am being careless? , even I trusted you. I believed you so much that you have the talent to take care of your own office without support from anyone. But now looking at the conditions, I don't feel the same. You don't seem competent enough in this field, so it's only better to start supporting your appa's shop. " She said.

My jaws dropped to the floor and I laughed at her unbelievable words.

" What are you saying? You told me that the people here didn't respect me enough and I should be independent! Why are you backing off now? " I asked in disbelief.

" You told me that they didn't respect you. Tell me what experience I have to judge your office mates. I just gave my opinion! " She said.

" Won't you support me now? " I finally asked her.

" I will support you as long as your decisions are right. As long as we have financial stability , I will support you! I am about to be married to you. Shouldn't I expect even that stability? " She said.

I pulled out my hair listening to her words. It dawned on me that, for the sake of her sweet words and for the sake of satisfying my ego , I have believed her words so much and now when the conditions are back to level zero, she is back to her old self of making fun of my office.

Anjali never wanted anything good for me! She wanted it for herself. I don't know how I fell into her trap of words. Why the hell did I even start trusting her!

I cut the call abruptly and sat down on my seat.

I can't even blame Anjali, I did this to myself! I pushed everyone out, believing that they were trying to take my position. What is my position really? Head of this empty office?

Aparna was right, my insecurity got the best of me.

I shook my head and I couldn't get over the frustration I have put myself into.

I wanted to run back to Karthik and Aparna. I wanted to apologize to them at this instant and ask them to come back.

I picked up my phone but wasn't able to call them. All the words I threw at them stood right before me and if I call them both, I would be seen as the most pitiable person in front of them.

I didn't have the time to logically work out an apology and call them. Every hour I waste, I am postponing all the works here.

I gave up my ego and called Karthik. But he didn't pick up my call.

I called Aparna and she didn't respond too.

More than my office mates, the loss of them hurt me most, because they were my good friends. I didn't have anyone to ask help from.

Hari walked into the office at the exact time.

I walked to him happily and hugged him. Finally he was back.

" Macha, I am happy that you are back. We have so much work left to do! " I told him and his face was expression less.

" Here is my resignation letter " Hari said and handed me a cover.

" Are you joking? " I said and threw away the letter.

" No, I am fucking serious. You are an asshole! You have zero value for everyone around you! I can't work with a selfish bastard like you! " Hari spitted out.

" Listen to my side! " I said.

" What is your side really? Anjali? , How can you be so careless? I know everything that you said to kartik and Aparna! " Hari said.

" It was a huge mistake! I was not in my right state of mind! " I said.

" Fine, go to a psychiatric hospital! You are mad ! Shiva, I seriously believed that you have changed, but you didn't change a single bit! You are as selfish as you used to be! But I didn't know you can drop this low and drive out all the people! " Hari said.

" Don't you think I was suffering too! I am telling you, I did a mistake. I want my friends back, please! " I shouted at him.

" Shwetha wanted to walk in here and kill you. I can't be as brave as her, but for the disrespect my friends faced because of you, at least I can resign! " He said.

" I would go and talk to her, I would ask Aparna to come back. She would do it of I ask her! " I said.

Hari shook his head and smirked at me.

" You are pathetic Shiva! Aparna is not someone who would come just because you call her. You know that better than anyone. After everything you did to her, Aparna would never help you again.

You know what , you didn't value her a tiny bit. To you, she was someone who liked you and was ready to do everything for your sake. you didn't know her at all.

Remember the time, you shouted at me and Karthik that, this was your office and we didn't have any rights. That day, me and karthik walked out with the stern mind to never return. But we came back not because of your apology, it was because of Aparna's words.

She called me and persuaded me to come back. She told me that You needed all of us. I came back to support her alone.

And your brother helped you clear your loan in the last moment. He asked you to let Aparna work here. But the mastermind behind that loan clearance was not your brother, it was Aparna's plan from the beginning.

She planned it at every step to help you out. We didn't get that Latha house project on our own! Aparna mailed the client our portfolio nearly 100 times and asked them to give us a chance!

She showed the light at the end of the tunnel and after you saw the light, you kicked her out! Truly unbelievable! " Hari said clapping.

I fell back on my chair after hearing his words. My eyes were welled up with tears and I didn't have any words left to fight back at Hari.

I lost.

All the while I thought Aparna was trying to take my position. She bloody was above me everywhere. Why did I do this!

" Why didn't you tell me this earlier! " I shouted loud at Hari.

" Even now, there are too many things that you don't know! Be thankful that you don't. You don't deserve anything that Aparna did for you! " Hari said.

" Please help me Hari! I need to apologize! I asked her to get out of here. I didn't know she did all these! " I said.

" Even now, you want her back only after knowing that you need her. You are not ready to call her back for her sake, you are doing it for your sake! " Hari said.

" What should I do? " I asked him as he took a step towards the main door.

" You can do nothing! It's done! Aparna , Karthik, me, you have lost everyone. Enjoy your very own office! " Hari said and walked out of the office.

I walked to the backyard and I was trying my best to believe the words of him. I couldn't accept my stupidity.

After an hour, the intern came to the back yard.

" Someone is here to meet you! " He said slowly.

" Ask them to come tomorrow! " I said and the intern went back.

I wasn't ready to meet anyone. I had no energy left. I was done with my office.

I had messed up everything on which I built my dream.

The intern came back again.

" He is telling that , it is Very important " The intern said.

I stoop up, washed my face and decided to try one more time.

As I walked inside, I saw a familiar face. The man in front of me, he was a bit taller than me, he stood out from my dull office.

He looked at me and smiled widely. His smile was not genuine. He looked at me with an evil smirk.

I remembered him, the boy in that photo frame.

Michael.