Thank you for showing all the love and support for my fanfiction❤️❤️

Since I am updating very late, here is a longish chapter for you guys...

Hope you like it 😊

The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky and amidst the orange tinge shone a golden brown logo of the AK Group affixed at the top of the office building.

The golden LED lights fixed around the logo made the entire building stand out from the others in that area where Anupama stood debating her decision to meet Vikram in the office.

Pta nhi Bunty ne mujhe yha kyu bulaya hai....baat to khi aur bhi kar sakte the....yha bulana zaroori tha...

She mumbled fiddling with her fingers.

The memories from the last time she visited this office flashed before her eyes.

Don't you have any shame?

Chand paiso ke liye tumne apna imaan bech diya....chii Anupama

Anupama jii...mujhe aapse yeh umeed nhi thi....

Haan Anupama ji....hme laga ki aap baaki logo se different hai but aap aisa kuch kar sakti hai...hum kabhi soch bhi nhi sakte the...

Aapne hum sabka bharosa tod diya....

We had already investigated Mr. Mehra....the footage is real....and she is lying...

We agree with Mr. Singhania that Ms Joshi is guilty of leaking the bids and....

YOU ARE FIRED MS JOSHI !!!

The sound of those insults reverberated in her ears as if it happened yesterday.

She was questioned, accused, humiliated in this office in front of everyone for the crimes she didn't commit.

What if this time was no different?

She wondered visiting the incidents of the past where each time she was accused....no one in her family believed her. Everyone took Vanraj's words as the ultimate truth and she was left to be blamed for everything wrong that has befallen his life.

However, this time it was different. She was not alone this time. She has Vikram and Devika for support and most importantly this time it's not the Shah House where everyone is blinded by their love for Vanraj. This was office where everyone believed in reason and the reason behind the bid leak was Vanraj and not her.

Revisiting the thought again, she took a deep breath and marched towards the office building.

As soon as she entered the premises, a watchman appeared out of nowhere and blocked her way.

Watchman:- Madam....aap andar nhi jaa sakti...

He said stopping her in the middle.

Anu:- Ji?

She asked surprised by his sudden appearance.

Watchman:- Aapko andar jana allowed nhi hai.....

He repeated himself and Anupama was left confused as to why she is not allowed inside the office she once worked in.

Anu:- Lekin kyu?

She asked perplexed and all he managed to reply was....

Watchman:- Bola na madam allowed nhi hai to nhi hai...

Anu:- Bhaiya aap kya keh rhe hai?....Mai itne dino se isi office me kaam kar rhi thi...pehle to aapne kabhi nhi roka mujhe andar jane se....

She tried to reason but the answer she received in reply was something she hadn't expected.

Watchman:- Madam....pehle aap pe chori ka ilzaam bhi to nhi laga tha...

He said in a rather rude and demeaning tone that left Anupama speechless.

She has expected the issue to arise somewhere in the office but not at the entrance itself. However, she had decided that she won't back off and she wasn't going to.....not this time.

She pulled herself back together and was about to reply to the derogatory remark when a car honked behind her.

Watchman:- Madam aapko jo bhi bolna hai side me aake boliye....baaki sabka rasta mat rokiye....

He requested her to move to the side and she complied.

Once the car passed them, she spoke...

Anu:- Dekhiye Bhaiya....Pehli baat....mujhpe aise ilzaam lagane se pehle aap puri baat pata kijeye aur fir boliye....aur dusri....mujhe yha Vikram sir ne bulaya hai milne ke liye....to aap chahe to unse puch sakte hai...

She retorted.

Watchman:- Madam mai sirf apni duty kar rha hoo....

He reiterated and Anupama was tired of his attitude.

Anu:- To mai bhi to aapko whi karne ko keh rhi hoo....please Vikram sir se puchiye ki unhone mujhe bulaya hai ya nhi....aap chahe to mai call laga deti hoo unko....

She replied taking out the phone from her purse.

Watchman:- Aise to aap kisiko bhi call laga dengi aur bolengi ki yeh Vikram sir hai.....mai aapki baat kaise maan jauu...

He retorted implying that she has been lying about her meeting with Vikram.

This irritated Anupama even further and she wondered why did she even agree to come back to this office.

Anu:- Bhaiya aap....

She decided to try one more time before calling Vikram but the watchman interrupted.

Watchman:- Dekhiye madam...mujhse behas karke kuch nhi hoga....mai whi kar rha hoo jo mujhe bola gaya hai... isiliye mera time kharab karna band kijeye....aur yha se jaiye....nhi to mujhe aapko dhakke mar ke nikalna hoga...

He warned and Anupama was done for the day.

She thought it's better to call Vikram and meet somewhere else rather than indulge in an unnecessary argument in public.

Anu:- Uski zarurat nhi padegi....mai khud jaa sakti hoo..

Saying this she turned around to leave but was astonished to see Anuj standing behind her.

Anuj was entering the office premises in his car after coming back from his site visit when he saw Anupama and the watchman having an intense discussion that seemed more like an argument.

He hastily parked his car on the side and went near the gate where the two stood arguing. However neither of them noticed his presence in their discussion until Anupama turned around to find him standing behind her.

Anu:- Anuj....aap yha...

She spoke in surprise but Anuj didn't utter a word.

Her eyes followed him in wonder as he moved past her to go and stand in front of the watchman.

Anuj:- Naam kya hai?

He asked the watchman in his casual yet cold tone.

Watchman:- J...ji sir...Raghu.

He replied in a stuttering voice.

Anuj:- So Raghu....tum abhi yha kya kar rhe the?

He asked authoritatively.

Raghu:- Sir mai to bas apni duty kar rha tha...

He replied in a cautious tone.

Anuj:- Sorry mai bhul gaya...

tumhe humne kis duty ke liye rakkha hai?

He asked casually taking off his glasses and Anupama wondered what he is trying to do by asking such obvious questions.

Raghu:- Sir kaisi baatein kar rhe hai....guard hoo to guard ki duty hi karunga...

He answered.

Anuj:- Aur kya guard ki duty me logo se batameezi se baat karna... unnecessary judgement pass karna bhi shamil hai?

He asked rhetorically giving the watchman a death glare and a shiver ran down his spine.

Raghu:- Sir mai to bas madam ko andar jaane se isiliye mana kar rha tha kyuki mujhe aisa bola gaya hai....

He tried to defend himself but in vain.

Anuj:- To tum wo tameez se bhi bol sakte the na...yeh kya tareeka hai baat karne ka....tumhe pata bhi hai yeh....

He started reprimanding the watchman for behaving poorly with Anupama while she stood witnessing this furious side of Anuj.

Anu:- Anuj...Anuj....aap jaane dijeye....galti meri thi....it was my fault....I didn't take an appointment.

She interrupted trying to calm down an enraged Anuj and his attention turned towards her.

Seeing her worried face, the calm Anuj Kapadia took over the enraged one.

Anuj:- And did he ask you about the appointment?

He asked in his soft voice that melted her heart.

She has got the chance to witness both the furious and the soft side of Anuj Kapadia twice in three days. Generally, the furious side would have filled her with fear but the way he stood up for her and Devika without crossing any boundaries filled her heart with nothing but respect for him.

Anuj:- Anupama....did he?

He asked again breaking her daze.

Anu:- Umm....no

She replied hesitantly.

Anuj:- Then why are you being apologetic for something that's not your fault?

He asked wearing back his glasses but she remained quiet having nothing to justify her apology.

As he saw her not replying, he turned back towards the watchman and asked....

Anuj:- And you....kisne bola tumhe inhe andar aane se rokne ko?

Raghu:- Sir wo....wo...

He stammered as he realised it was not his security team but some employee who ordered him to stop Anupama.

Anuj:- I asked kisne bola tumhe?

He asked again in a loud voice and the watchman shivered out of fear.

Raghu:- Sir mujhe unka naam to nhi pata...kuch Shah karke naam tha unka....lekin wo isi office me kaam karte hai...

He replied immediately and both Anuj and Anupama were shocked as they realised it was no one but Vanraj who ordered the watchman to stop Anupama.

They both looked at each other and then at Raghu.

Anuj:- Karte the....

He corrected Raghu saying that Vanraj used to work in this office but not anymore.

Raghu:- Ji ?

He asked perplexed.

Anuj:- Karte the....jis chori ka ilzaam tum inpe laga rhe ho wo unhone ki thi...

He repeated himself giving a small explanation and Raghu realised the blunder he has committed by misbehaving with Anupama.

Raghu:- Sorry sir...wo mujhe pata nhi tha...

He immediately apologized for his behaviour but Anuj wasn't convinced.

He was about to say something when Anupama cut him off.

Anu:- Anuj.....it's okay....unhe pata nhi tha....he was just following instructions.

She said knowing well that it wasn't Raghu's but Vanraj's fault.

Anuj:- Yeah that's where I am getting at...he is supposed to follow instructions of his security team and not of some random employee in this company.

He said explaining where he is coming from and Anupama understood that he is not angry because of how Raghu barred her from entering the office but because of the unprofessionalism he showed in doing that.

She nodded in understanding and he took it as her assent to go on.

Anuj:- Tumahri security team tumhe ek list deti hai...un logo ki jinhe is office me enter karna allowed nhi hai....right?

He asked turning towards Raghu.

Raghu:- Yes sir....

He answered fearing for his job.

Anuj:-Kya usme Ms. Anupama Joshi ka naam hai?

He questioned and Raghu mouthed a no.

Anuj:- Speak up.

He ordered and Raghu answered within a second recalling the small list he was handed over by the security team when he took this job.

Raghu:- No sir.

Anuj:- To fir tumne inhe kaise roka....wo bhi bina yeh puche ki unke pass appointment hai ki nhi...

He addressed the unprofessionalism Raghu showed and asked him the reason behind it.

Raghu:- Sorry sir....galti ho gayi....aage se aisa nhi hoga..

He apologized again as he had no justification for his blunder.

Anuj:- Hona bhi nhi chahiye...

He warned and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Anuj:- Ek aur list hogi tumahre pass....un logo ki jo is office me kaam nhi karte hai but yha bina appointment ya restrictions ke aa sakte hai..right?

He asked in his calm deep voice and Anupama felt puzzled about the reason behind him stretching the matter even further.

Raghu:- Jii sir...hai.

He replied in an instant.

Anuj:- Read it.

He ordered and Raghu was confused as to why he is asking him to read that list.

Raghu:- Huh?

He asked baffled.

Anuj:- Maine kha padho use.

He instructed again and Raghu complied.

He immediately went to his table and brought back the visitors diary that also contained the list of those who are and aren't allowed in this office.

He opened the page and started reading the names mentioned over there.

Raghu:- Manish Kapadia....Gaya

The list started with the name of Anuj's parents that made him interrupt Raghu.

Anuj:- Skip the first three.

He asked him to move on to the next names on the list with a heavy heart as he knew the first three belonged to whom.

This didn't go unnoticed by Anupama and she wanted to ask him about it but she didn't as it was Anuj's personal matter.

Raghu :- Gopichand Karodiya.... Rittika Mehra....

He went on to read the other names on the list while Anuj wondered why has Vikram not removed the first two names from the list all these years.

Maybe he couldn't.

He thought to himself as he realised how close Vikram was to Anuj's family.

Vikram was emotional when it came to family and that might be the reason he couldn't get those names removed from the list but Anuj had a balanced view of the world. This was something he learned from his father Manish Kapadia.

He knew those names in the list could be a security threat as anyone could impersonate his parents and enter the premises.

It was unlikely but not impossible. Hence, he made a metal note to ask his security team to strike the first two names from the list as they were no longer needed.

Raghu:- Devika Mehta.... Abhimanyu....An...Anupama Joshi....

He continued reading the names and stopped when one of them read Anupama Joshi.

Both Raghu and Anupama were stunned to find her name in the list.

She was about to ask but Anuj spoke before she could.

Anuj:- Anupama Joshi....got it?

He took her name again implying it to Raghu that Anupama doesn't need permission or appointment to enter these premises and Raghu understood.

Raghu:- Ji sir...

He said in acknowledgement.

Anuj:- Aaj ke baad inhe rokne se pehle yeh list aur inka naam dono yaad rakhana....

He warned him while Anupama still pondered over her name in that list.

Raghu:- Sorry sir....galti ho gayi...sorry madam....mujhe nhi pata tha...

He apologized to both Anuj and Anupama for his behaviour and assured them that it wouldn't happen again.

Anu:- Koi baat nhi...

She stated accepting his apology.

Anuj:- Aaj ke baad se dhyaan rhe.....agar inki jagah koi aur bhi ho to you will behave properly....and ask them about their appointment before barring them from going inside.

He instructed Raghu firmly and he nodded in understanding.

Raghu:- Ji sir mai dhyaan rakhunga...

He reassured them and Anuj asked him to leave.

Anuj:- Hmm...You can go now.

Raghu:- Sorry sir....sorry madam....aap andar jaa sakti hai.

He apologized again and left leaving Anuj and Anupama alone.

Anu:- Thank you.

She said looking at Anuj and he just nodded in a no indicating that it's not required.

Anu:- But iski koi zarurat nhi thi....mai Vikram se baad me bhi mil sakti thi...aur mai khud...

She was about to say that she could have handled the issue on her own without his help when Anuj interrupted.

Anuj:- I know tum Vikram se kabhi bhi mil sakti thi....aur tumhe mere help ki koi zarurat nhi thi but kisi aur ko to ho sakti hai na...

Anu:- Matalab?

She asked confused by his statement.

Anuj:- Matalab ki jaise aaj isne tumahre saath behave kiya...kisi aur ke saath bhi to kar sakta tha....

He explained clarifying that he didn't do this to help her but to fulfill his responsibility.

Anuj:- And yeh company agar meri hai....to koi bhi employee kisike saath misbehave na kare....yeh zimmedari bhi to meri hui...right?

He added and Anupama realised that she was overreacting unnecessarily.

Anu:- Sorry mujhe aise behave nhi karna chahiye tha....I m just trying to...

She apologized and tried to explain the reason behind her not wanting his help but stopped mid sentence as she feared that she would disclose too much about herself.

Anuj:- Take control of your life?

He added completing her sentence and she was amazed at how well he understood her.

Ever since she divorced Vanraj, everyone looked at her as the poor woman who got divorced and no matter how hard they tried to hide it....she could see the pity in their eyes....be it her colleagues, college mates, neighbours or relatives.

This has been the reason she has always tried to avoid taking help from others as she no longer wants to be the poor woman who got divorced but in the process...she tends to forget that not everyone who is helping or trying to be supportive are doing it out of pity.

Some people genuinely care and she has been lucky to be surrounded by some of those.

She thought to herself as she just hummed in response to Anuj.

Anuj:- I understand.

He stated understanding her dilemma and assured her that he wasn't offended.

Anuj:- It's okay....mujhe bura nhi laga.

Anu:- Pakka?

She asked in a low voice.

Anuj:- Pakka.

He reassured.

Anuj:- Aab chalo....jaldi jaoo....Bunty tumahara wait kar rha hoga...

He reminded her about Vikram waiting and moved aside making way for her.

Anu:- Thank you again.

She thanked him again for the help and he just nodded in acknowledgement as she moved past him to go into the building.

As Anupama reached the elevator, it dawned upon her that she doesn't have the card to access the floor on which Vikram's office was located. She gave it back to the company after she was removed from the job.

She sighed realising that she would again have to go through the whole process of convincing the receptionist to let her meet Vikram without an appointment.

It was a task in itself.

She thought when someone forwarded a card in front of her.

Looking at the hand holding the card, she smiled and turned towards the person forwarding it.

Anu:- Are you on a helping spree Mr. Kapadia?

She asked smiling at him.

Anuj:- No Ms Joshi....I m on a...

He spoke retracting back his hand but stopped midway as he saw her smiling at him.

Chand lamho me khud se kiya waada badal deta hoo....

Tujhe aankh bhar jo dekh lu....

Irada badal deta hoo...

He came only to hand her over the card to avoid any kind of inconvenience she might have to face and walk away but his resolve started crumbling as soon as he saw her lips curve into a smile.

He stood fixed at his place taking in the beauty in front of him completely unaware of the surroundings when a pair of fingers snapped before his eyes bringing him back from his daze.

Anu:- On a ?

She asked raising her eyebrows and he got nervous realising that he has been staring at her all along.

What if she noticed him gazing at her?

He thought to himself as he looked at her waiting for an answer.

Anuj:- Accompany spree...

The words came out of his mouth automatically to fill the silence lingering in the atmosphere and he bit his tongue in embarassment realising that the words doesn't even make sense.

Anuj(to himself) :- Accompany spree.... seriously Anuj....isse better tujhe kuch nhi mila bolne ko...GK shi kehte hai....gadha hoo mai gadha..

He reprimanded himself for being so nervous around her while Anupama chuckled in her mind thinking....

Anu:- Pehle doubt hota tha ki us din college debate me yeh mujhse haar kaise gaye....aab clear ho gaya...

Anuj:- Kuch kaha tumne?

He asked as he noticed her lips moving.

Anu:- Nhi to....aap kuch keh rhe the shayad....

She replied in an instant hiding the thought that was running in her mind.

Anuj:- Haan wo mai keh rha tha ki....mai bhi same floor pe jaa rha hoo....so why don't you accompany me?....I mean it would save your time.