Unsuitable Proposal

Chapter 62: Fight For Him

I had only a week. A week until I left Brillio and went back to HotWired. A week till I could sneak into Antarang's office and get showered with his hugs and kisses. Just a week of our clandestine office affair.

It was ironic how I couldn't wait to get out of here when I had first stepped inside this office. Now just the thought of leaving made me gloomy. I'd miss this place.

Someone walked into the pantry, making me turn around. Mona sighed as though the sight of me ruined her day, before moving to the coffee machine. Guess who I wasn't absolutely going to miss.

My gloominess increased tenfold realizing that after I was gone, she'd still be here... sharing the office space with Antarang. Her attempts to flirt with Antarang weren't very subtle, sometimes they felt deliberate just to spite me. Perhaps, I could now empathize with Antarang for not wanting me to go back and work alongside Ranjan.

I gave Mona a customary smile before grabbing my cup to get out of here.

"Did you guys finish the module that was handed over last week?" Asked Mona, stopping my escape. Ever since the encounter in the ladies' room, we kept our conversation to the minimum. The sisterhood and friendship between us was long gone. Her talking to me now was a surprise.

"We are working on it," I replied. "Don't worry I'm planning to get it done before I leave," I added to assure her I wasn't going to leave the work halfway. She was still my team lead.

"Oh yes, I remember next week you'll go back to HotWired. You were here for so long that I almost forgot you were just a temp," Mona said, a gloating smile appearing on her face. "I hope you enjoyed your time here." Because you won't be coming back. I completed her sentence in my head.

"I did enjoy working here. Everyone's here so good, friendly. Who knows I might come back, I know Mr. Bhatt won't mind." The last part was just to spite her. Though it was true Antarang wouldn't mind if I stayed here longer.

Watching that smile disappear was so satisfying.

"Employees come and go," Mona replied, "Antarang might've taken a liking to you now, but I'm sure he'll forget about you once a new shiny recruit comes in. That's how it works in the industry."

We both knew she wasn't talking about the industry. Besides, IT industry was very keen on experience.

"Good thing I'm not just his new shiny employee," my mouth retorted without thinking.

Mona raised her brows. "Then what are you? His girlfriend?" She taunted.

"Yes," I replied, not seeing the point of hiding it from her. Mona already had her suspicion, and if telling her the truth would keep her away from Antarang, I'd gladly tell her thousand times.

Mona scoffed. "So you're still living in your fantasy land." Her lips twisted in a deriding smirk. "Girls like you are easily fooled by little attention. Didn't I suggest you to find someone in your ballpark? Let's hope you won't mope around much when he tosses you aside for someone else. Someone better." She succeeded in instigating me.

"You like him, don't you?" I stated and Mona shrugged, not denying the claim. "It's sad how you like Antarang yet still think so low of him. You don't know anything about him to make these assumptions. He's far from being the womanizer you're painting him to be. And if that's the kind of guy you like then I feel sorry for you."

The haughty look on her face dropped, giving me another wave of satisfaction.

"If that's all then please excuse me. I have to work," I added politely before walking out of the pantry with my coffee.

Never had I talked in this tone with any of my seniors, but I guess Mona had it coming. As for people finding about Antarang and me through her, I didn't care anymore. Ranjan had already found out. I was going to leave this place soon anyway.

I had noticed Antarang distancing himself from Mona, keeping their interactions minimal and professional. He was being considerate of me. Well he better continue that behavior in my absence, or I'll scratch his head off.

I returned to my desk and got started on the work, taking sips of my coffee in between. My annoying but beloved desk neighbor, Dheeraj, was absent. He had taken leave to see a girl for the rishta his parents had picked out for him. He had been so excited when he told the news to me yesterday. It was cute! Let's hope he finds himself a good girl soon.

As I was about to be done with day's work my cell phone rang.

"Hello." I picked up the phone hurriedly without checking caller ID.

"Mithi," said the familiar voice from the other end. My fingers on the keyboard stopped.

"Maa." My heart thudded. It had been months since I heard her voice.

But my joy was short-lived when she continued. "What have you done Mithi?! You can't stop disgracing us, can you?"

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Rishta- Relationship/ here specifically in the context of marriage proposals.