Chapter 3:
30 May, Thursday, 2024
12:20 p.m.
Anika's POV
Signing the first deal of the day with a world famous modelling agency is really hectic. So many formalities and too much professionalism.
Mrs. Yumi Suzume, Japan's top most modeling agency owner and a model herself, decided to sign a deal with our company. I wanted this deal because this deal would help me in spreading my business more in Japan.
It was a million dollar deal and I couldn't afford any mistakes. I, myself owned a multinational company and I couldn't risk with my reputation.
I let my head fall back on the backrest of my chair.
Holding up my right hand wrist, I took a note of the time: 12:25. It was past noon.
I closed my eyes for a while when a knock interrupted my break. I cursed under my breaths before allowing whoever it was.
Ryle entered with a device in her hand. It was my phone.
"Ma'am you had left it in the meeting room. You had got a call from Mr. Rai Mehrotra's secretary. I apologise for having a look at it but I wanted to inform you", she spoke after placing it on the desk.
I nodded as she left.
Picking it up I read the notification of a missed call. He'll call back if it was important since I ain't calling back.
Yes I'm self-centred and I like it.
Keeping it back on the desk I again closed my eyes when it rang up.
Gosh!
Why the hell people have such a bad timing? Everything related to him had been anything but good to me.
Picking it up I received the call, "Yes, Anika speaking".
"Good afternoon Ms. Roy Chowdhury. I'm Mr. Rai Mehrotra's secretary, Youngjae Kim"
"Afternoon Mr. Kim. May I know why you called?", I spoke sitting up straight.
"Ma'am, Mr. Rai Mehrotra has requested you to be ready by 5 in the evening for a date. He'll pick you up from your mansion", he replied.
Why the hell was this man so after me? I had asked him to stay away from me till our marriage which was going to happen after twenty days anyways and then he'll be there to annoy me all the time.
"Tell him I'm busy", I replied and even before I hung up he interrupted, "Ma'am he has asked you to be ready or—uhm…he'll get you ready by himself, he has said".
I knew I was stubborn but he was way more stubborn. He was annoying but the way he was so dominant gave me a weird sensation in my tummy.
I sighed, "Fine. Tell him to be on time" I replied and hung up.
Asshole.
Closing my eyes again, I massaged my temples heaving out an exasperated sigh.
Firstly, my plan of cancelling this marriage turned out failed, secondly, dadi was so happy that I couldn't deny her, thirdly, his mother was so excited about her elder son's marriage that she kept on calling me to talk about my preferences in dresses, jewelries and what not. She had been sending me gifts too.
This made me miss my mother. When I was in hostel while studying in Harvard University, she used to send me so many handmade gifts and my favourite foods made by her.
Emotions, was something I considered which made people weak. But at the same time I believe that it was the only thing that connected us. Without emotions we aren't any less than robots. Emotions helped us to live and enjoy and not just survive. But I had to put a limit to it. Setting boundaries was important.
I sighed. My head hurts now.
Standing up from my chair, I walked over to the glass wall while dialling a number.
The rings went five times before the call got connected, "Mr. Volkov", I spoke.
My eyes traced the vehicles moving on the roads of Jaipur, from the tenth floor.
"Yes Ms. Anika?", He voiced out.
Vikrant Volkov, a man in his early thirties who got married one week ago, was one of the best lawyers in India.
"Have you found any evidence?", I asked hoping for a satisfying answer.
"Ms. Anika, you're being impatient. I have put detectives on work but they're unable to find any evidence. And it has been over four years since they died without a clue of the murderer. So without proof that it's a murder, how can you expect me to stick to the same thing when I have other cases to fight", he replied.
I clenched my jaw in frustration. They can't even do a single thing properly.
"Fine then. Close the case. I'll hire someone else", I gritted out.
There was a moment of silence before I heard a sigh, "Ms. Anika, it's not like I didn't try and I'm not trying but it's literally getting hard for us to find. The bare minimum evidences that we have found would do nothing in front of the case files in the police station. Can you please understand?"
I nodded glancing at my feet even if he couldn't see it, "I do understand but you know right how important it is or else I wouldn't have stuck to it like a leech".
"It's okay. I understand you. I'll try harder and will inform you when there's any update", he replied as I hummed and hung up.
As I lifted my gaze towards the pristine white ceiling, I fought back the tears welling in eyes.
A tightening sensation gripped my throat, accompanied by the palpable pounding of my heart against my chest. Swallowing the painful lump constricting my throat, I massaged my neck, grappling with the disconcerting sensations coursing through my body beyond my control.
With unsteady, I retreated to the sofa nestled in the far corner of the office, collapsing onto its cushions. Tilting my head back in an attempt to draw in a breath, the air felt as though it couldn't quite reach my lungs. The surroundings blurred as dizziness overcame me, and I succumbed to the welcoming embrace of darkness.
•
Groaning at the throbbing pain in my head, I sat up straight on the black leather sofa. Blinking my eyes I shook my head regaining consciousness. So I was lying here unconscious for—for how long? This question hit me as I looked at my watch.
What the fu—it's 4:05 p.m. already? I was unconscious for around 4 hours?
Did no one come in the meantime?
Oh! I forgot that I had given the employees a half day so they all must have basically left by 1 p.m. and Ryle didn't come since I had asked her not to disturb me after office hours. Great.
I groaned standing up, feeling pain all over my body. I was used to such situations—blacking out and regaining consciousness on my own.
The past haunted me like a thirsty ghoul, and I couldn't tell about this to my family because they'll be worried.
It was worse previously. I used to faint frequently or get panic attacks but after getting myself a therapist last year, now I was healing but still— past's scars are the deepest one.
Standing up from the sofa, I packed my bag and walked out. Stepping inside the lift, I pressed on the ground floor button while waiting for it to reach the ground floor.
I tapped my right foot on the floor reminding myself that I needed to get home and get ready for the fucking ass date.
As the lift reached the ground floor with a 'ting', I got out of it once the doors opened. My car was waiting outside with the driver.
Getting inside, once the chauffeur opened the door, I exhaled a deep sigh.
Turning on my phone I saw missed calls from Yuvraj bhai. I frowned wondering why he called during office hours.
Dialling his number I attached the phone to my ear.
"Hello Anika, how're you?", he spoke the moment the line was connected. I smiled at how concerned he was for me dispite not sharing the same blood.
"I'm all good bhai. What about you?"
"I'm fine as well. Are you overworking yourself?", he knows.
"I—I'm not bhai. It's just that a few projects are nearing their ends so I'm busy with them", I replied staring outside the car.
"Are you having your therapy sessions?", he questioned, concerned.
He one day found me lying unconscious in my room and that's when he got to know about my situation. Maya dii didn't know except for the fact that I took therapies to get over the nightmares. The actual reason for having a therapist was known by Yuvraj.
"I am, bhai. It's going on. How's bhabhi?", I asked him, teasing. He was in love with his bestfriend.
"She's good. She wants to meet you", he replied and I knew he must be blushing no matter how cold he was normally.
"Why? Wasn't she in Canada?"
"Yes she was. She has returned yesterday so she wants to meet you. She said she wants her wedding lehenga designed by you so wants to talk about it", he replied.
I chuckled at the thought of him blushing while talking about their marriage. He had always been fond of Drishti bhabhi. She was a successful architect with a loving fiancé as my cousin. They're getting married after one month, ten days after my marriage.
She was a sweet and an elegant lady.
"Okay fine. Ask her to meet me at The Lotus Café near my office building tomorrow at 4:30", I replied with a smile.
"Thik hai meri behna. Abhi mai rakhta hu bad me call karunga. Samay se so jana warna tujhe koot dunga", he replied.
I chuckled before agreeing to his orders and hung up.
(Ok my sister. I'll hang up now and will call you later. Sleep on time or else I'll slice you up)
Tucking the phone inside my bag, I took a note of the time by my watch : 4:20.
I'll take a quick bath and get ready.
Wait—why am I planning to be on time? He's going to get married to me and he had chosen this trouble on his own. So let him wait. I'll get out of my mansion after 5:15.
Let's see how much he can tolerate.