Thunderstorms roared over her head, sending violent sparks of white light around her, as if wanting to terrorize her. But when it still didn't got her numb posture to cower in fear, the heavy rainfall increased its pace, while the wind grew stronger and wilder.

Still the efforts were fruitless, because even the stinging rain, skin-pricking chilly wind, and the ruthless thunderstorm weren't any terrifying compared to the storm going within her.

Her life had gone to hell for good...

Furiously trying to blink through the raging rain, she pulled her pallu to wipe over her eyes, a futile attempt to somehow stop the endlessly running tears.

For the first time, they weren't the usual sorrowful tears. No no, for the first time, they were angry tears.

Angry tears mixed with immense hatred.

For an awful lady she had once considered mother. For a vile....creature who unfortunately was her ex-husband. For that vile creature's vile wife. And for her ungrateful son.

She wasn't surprised by the deed they had done. After all, it wasn't the first time they had hurt and humiliated her. But this time, alongwith the usual disappointment, she was severely angry and burning with hatred right now.

Because this time, they had crossed all boundaries.

Her mind went down the memory lane as she recalled the dreadful events yet again.

She knew that Baa and Mr. Shah were fuming. They had been like that since her classmate, now business partner and a great friend, had entered in their lives like a saviour.

They had been silent after the Bhoomi Poojan for the sake of Bapuji and Pakhi. But on Friday, him giving out his factory for organizing her cooking competition had made them positively enraged.

Not to mention Anuj saving Nandini, then Samar hugging him out of affection and gratitude, then her going outside to personally thank him, only added fuel to the fire.

Since then, it felt like Baa & Mr. Shah were practically seething fire from their silence, ready to combust any moment, barely holding back because of Bapuji's presence.

They did combust the next day when Bapuji wasn't present.

To clarify clearly, the next morning, on Saturday, GK Kaka had visited them, to invite Bapuji for a pilgrimage trip of few days. GK Kaka had then also asked the rest to accompany him, informing everyone that it was Anuj's idea and he's paying.

At that moment, she had felt such an unexplainable feeling for Anuj that she felt like running to him for such a sweet gesture. But sadly, it was a weekend so the office was closed.

She understood that Anuj had done this because he had sensed that her family was incredibly tensed after the whole Rohan fiasco. That's why he had arranged this trip, so that her family could restore faith surrounded by positivity & spirituality, and to keep Samar-Nandini safe. Away from Ahmedabad, away from Rohan.

'Intelligent Shayar Kapadia...' She had smiled to herself at that moment.

The unexplainable feeling she had for Anuj intensified, when GK Kaka informed her that her Maa & brother Bhavesh were also invited to come along.

'Maybe this unexplainable feeling is gratitude..' She concluded.

Samar, Nandini, Kinjal, Pakhi and Bapuji had agreed to go. Her Maa & Bhavesh were also joining. Baa, Vanraj, Kavya and Toshu had conveniently refused as expected.

She had refused as well, to stay back and take care of Baa.

Plus, Anuj wasn't going as well, so why would she?

NO! She was staying because she had work on Monday.

Also because she will get to meet Anuj.....TO THANK HIM OFCOURSE!

So her whole weekend went in tirelessly helping everyone pack. On Sunday evening, the Traveller Mini-Bus Anuj had sent, had picked them up from their house.

Bidding them farewell, she had straightaway rushed to the Dance Academy, as she had evening classes.

When she had reached home at night, humming to herself after a good, tiring dance session, debating on ways to thank Anuj tomorrow at work with a gift; she had forgotten what awaited her in Shah drawing room.

As soon as she had stepped inside the threshold, Baa & Vanraj had pounced on her like vultures, throwing accusations and releasing their pent-up frustrations of the past few days.

But this time, they had went far...

Way to far.

The ground shattered beneath her when they made allegations that Anuj was so extra benevolent to her because apparently 'she had done some "favours" for him behind the closed office doors at work'.

Kavya had obviously backed them up in agreement. But her world collapsed when she watched Toshu standing there in silence the whole time, quietly witnessing the scene with his head hung, eyes fixated on floor.

That had been enough.

She had cut in between their venomous rant and directly addressed Toshu. Informing him how 'she felt humiliated to call him her son', she had turned back and dashed to the door, from where she had entered.

She then left with her self-respect, but not before stating how 'Baa is no longer her mother and doesn't deserve her respect', how 'she wouldn't live here anymore' and how 'Vanraj & Kavya should spare her from the details of their own office tryst of the past 9 years'.

She had looked behind one last time, only to see the damage her 4 sharp statements had inflicted over the 4 people. She had smirked, as she watched how their jaws had hung open in astonishment, their venomous ranting leaving after her 4 stinging truth blows.

'Too late to realise her value.'

With that thought, she had marched straight away outside, uncaring if it was late night, uncaring if it was about to rain, uncaring if thunderstorm might start.

Uncaring about the fact that she had no place to go. Uncaring about the fact that she hadn't packed any belongings, uncaring about the fact that she only had her embroidered tote bag which she carries everywhere.

Her thinking capacity had went numb, she mindlessly walked in the thunderous, stormy rain, with a far greater storm raging inside her.

Fortunately, she had somehow hailed an auto rickshaw. She would never know how she had managed to formulate a response when the auto driver had asked for a destination. Not to mention, why her numb mind had blurted out 'that' address.

And that's how she had found herself standing in front of big iron gates.

While standing in the violent weather, her brain snapped back to the present when a security guard approached her, apparently shouting amidst the loud thunderstorm while clutching the black umbrella over himself for his dear life.

"Anupama ma'am! What are you doing here tonight in this dangerous weather?!"

Tearing her gaze away from where they were mindlessly fixated over the black, iron gates and the humongous building behind it, she faced the familiar security guard.

"I want to go inside." She had stated plainly, too numb and exhausted to clarify more.

Thankfully, the guard didn't questioned any further and placed the black umbrella above her head, then guided her along to the small gate that led inside the campus.

As she went alongwith him on auto-pilot towards the building, he shouted something to her over the rain. But the raging storm had effectively hindered whatever he said. She thought that she had heard something like "sir", but effectively dropped that thought.

As she reached the entrance of the giant building, she punched in the code of the entrance door to unlock it. As the door parted, she thanked the security guard and when he left, she stepped inside the dark,quiet space, finally feeling at ease a bit.

She had reached. She had finally returned to her safe haven.

The place where she learns and works on her dreams.

Her boss, Mr. Anuj Kapadia's office building.

To get rid of the droplets on her drenched body so that it doesn't leave a water trail behind her when she walks, she rustled and ruffled her saree a bit, then stepped forward in the dark hall.

The lobby which in daytime, was surrounded with the hustle and bustle of Anuj's corporate employees, was dark and vacant, thus seemed extra spacious right now.

Still, it felt more welcoming than her 'family's' house could ever be.

The numbness slowly started dissipating, getting overpowered by the relief and warmth because of her boss and his generosity of sharing the security code of his office building alongwith his cabin keys to her.

For yet another time, she thanked Anuj, and Kanhaji for sending him in her life.

She indeed felt lucky to have him.

She would never understand how he always miraculously appears to help her whenever she is in trouble. This time, he wasn't here, still it was his property that granted her a shelter when her own family didn't bothered to run after her and stop her.

She instantly shook her head. She wouldn't think about those ungrateful people she considered family.

If those overconfident people thought she's that fragile who would get terrified by the weather and will come back running to them, then they have another thing coming.

Feeling the warm air inside the room, she rubbed her body vigorously. She was drenched from top to bottom in the cold rain. Her mind was slowly reeling back, the adrenaline was slowly wearing off, and now she was able to think clearly.

First thing her brain did was reprimand her, for stupidly stepping out in the storm without packing her clothes or picking an umbrella along.

Now she was stuck alone like this.

She was pretty sure if she spend the night here in soaking clothes, freezing like this, she might end up catching pneumonia.

But the thing was...she didn't had anywhere else to go...

Her mom's house was locked, considering they had gone on the pilgrimage trip. Nandini had gone along so her house might be locked as well. Moreover, she didn't wanted to call and ruin their yatra by informing them about her situation. Even Devika wasn't in Ahmedabad, she had gone to attend a conference for Anuj in Mumbai.

That leaves...

She instantly shook her head at that thought.

She hardly knows him..! Apart from the fact that he is a good, courteous man, she doesn't know anything about him. Plus, she had been burdening him with her issues for far too long. And most importantly...

She hardly knows him...!

Besides, apart from being a good friend, he's her boss for God's sake!

The last thing she wants is to approach her classy and sophisticated boss like this..! Looking like a wild, dishevelled mess, coming straight out of a tornado.

No no, she won't!

She will somehow spend the night here in this damp condition, in his office and will leave at dawn. Then she will search for a hotel to reside in for a few days until her mom returns from the trip. Thankfully she still had her wallet in her tote bag to pay for the expenses.

As the plan sunk in her mind, an unknown dread filled her senses. The mere thought of staying cooped up in a hotel room, all alone, without anyone, was unsettling her on many levels.

Even the positivity she had felt after coming in here, was slowly leaving her. Baa's vile words again echoed in her brain, that how she'd suffer alone without anyone by her side, if 'Baa's family' decides to disown her.

Though she knew it wasn't true, but loneliness had the power to mess up even the strongest of individuals in the best of ways.

Haunted by her overactive imagination, her feet instantly started moving on their own, taking her towards the place where she knew she'd feel better and secured.

Her boss's office cabin.

That room had the ability to always calm her nerves down, and fill her up with confidence and positivity.

As she made her way in the direction of that cabin, realisation hit her that she'd be lonely there as well. A little bit of her spirits dampened at that thought, but she tried her best to not lose hope.

That room would definitely lift up her mood.

But still...a little negativity was still left inside her.

She felt as if that room would still lack something...something very crucial for her.

But she didn't knew what?

Pondering over what was the crucial thing that lacked, she reached closer to the cabin, the eagerness in her steps decreasing, while the venomous words and tragic memories, returning to haunt her again in the dark, lonely night.

"This will never happen as long as I'm in charge! Got it?"

A masculine voice roared, his voice resonating through the silent hallway, effectively halting her self-destructive thoughts.

She recognized that voice instantly.

After all, in her 43-years of living, she knew just one gentleman who happened to have such a uniquely deep, husky voice with such a rich lilt. The warm voice which usually held such a calm & collected tone, sounded enraged right now.

Eyes widening, she froze. Straining her ears to hear more of his voice in the silence, she wondered if she had been imagining it?

"Excuse me? Do you think I'm in a mood of playing around!"

The familiar voice roared again, his booming voice echoing around her.

This time she was sure that she isn't imagining it.

But still it was hard to believe...

Her boss, the CEO of AK Groups, was in his office all alone at this hour?!

With bated breath, she ever so slowly moved in the direction. Her steps were hesitant, while her posture was tense.

She is going to seek shelter in that office while the owner was surprisingly present...!

She didn't knew what to think or feel about meeting him like this, right there.

He might be her friend, but that was it. It wasn't like they were best buddies. They had met like a month back..! They barely knew each other. Not to mention, he was her boss first, the businessman Anuj Kapadia.

She fumbled with her hands in nervousness, as she approached the diversion in the hallway that led towards his cabin.

She realised that she hadn't gone crazy and started hallucinating, the moment she saw the dark hallway illuminated a bit from the subtle golden light source coming from the cabin.

"Well, what the hell are you waiting for now?"

His unfamiliarly commanding, enraged voice again drifted towards her, itself steering her feet towards his cabin.

After finally reaching the cabin, she wrung her hands and hesitantly dared to peek in between the blinds covering the cabin's glass wall.

And...

The view she received terminated her every thought right then and there, bringing her brain to a stand still.

Wide eyed, she witnessed a new, completely different sight of the world-class tycoon.

The most well dressed, well spoken man she had ever met appeared anything but that.

Always groomed to perfection, looking like a model ready to grace the runway of Armani Men's Suit Collection; for the first time....wasn't in his suit, like she was used to seeing him.

His navy blue Armani blazer was hung over the back of his CEO chair, while he was dressed in a navy blue pants and grey shirt, with his tie loosely hanging on his chest. And his shirt wasn't tucked inside his pants.

His top few shirt buttons were unbuttoned, like it had been too long and he needed a breather, so he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar and pulled out his shirt.

His usually styled hair were a dishevelled mess right now, like he had been running his hand over it. His sleeves were folded till his forearms and his beard appeared a little bit darker and untrimmed.

A stark contrast from well dressed man in a black suit she met 2 days back on friday. At the cooking competition.

"Just kick the bastard out! I ain't looking for cheaters in my company!"

Her observing eyes stopped examining his appearance, and she focused more on the scene in front of her.

Apparently she wasn't alone in the office. Her boss was also present. On a weekend night, might she add.

She watched with immense interest as her usually cool, calm and collected boss; pace across the length of his cabin, looking tense and mad.

The aggressive voice, harsh tone and crude words were a complete 180 degree from his usual serene voice, soft words, and beautiful shayaris.

Witnessing this side of the kindest philanthropist for the first time, she watched as he continued bashing whichever poor fellow was on the receiving end of his wrath on a Sunday night.

His tone darkened, "I hate betrayers, they keep people in the dark for long without any regret on their conscience. I'm not employing such people, it gives them the power to ruin your life- the company I mean."

She didn't missed the transparent longing in his tone, like some cheater had personally wronged him, or made him lose something extremely precious.

'Maybe he did lose some great deal in the past that had scarred him on a deeper level.'

She mused.

For some moments, the pain, cold, accusations, the fights, her worries, everything that caused her misery, melted away.

Instead of it, a strange kind of warmth enveloped her, despite there being no source of heater outside the cabin.

Like the subtle golden glow of his night lamp on his worktable, a dim golden glimmer started growing inside her damaged soul, getting brighter and brighter as her eyes remained transfixed on the sun-like person in front of her.

Her respect for him multiplied, as she watched how hardworking this humble man was.

No wonder he's the CEO, the worldwide brand. He deserved to rule.

The guard she usually kept over her thoughts temporarily went away, making them shifted to a territory completely unknown to her.

Hee kanhaji, this man is perfect.

How can she find this unruly, rugged, side of him so...so captivating when she hated it on other men.

How is this man still single?

Isn't there any lady existing in this world, who's perfect enough to be worthy of such perfection?

A bitter feeling captured her at the thought of her boss's relationship status shifting, and before she could snap back from her daze and realize what her unfiltered self was thinking, her boss abruptly turned in her direction.

"Yeah, before I press charges on him for fraud, warn that bastar-"

Then he saw her.

~~~

Anuj had been used to working overtime. Ever since his parents death, the fire and determination to grow their business to new heights had been keeping him alive.