Invisible Strings * Ongoing*

9.Disrupting My Orbit

9. Disrupting My Orbit

The Next Day – In Sydney, Australia

5:00 PM

Khushi's POV

I hear Manizeh's voice fall into my ears from behind, as she asks – " really?? Khushi?? still going to go on with work? When you are just like technically – a couple of hours away, from meeting Arnav after all these years?? We only got done by 4pm anyway,c'mon just stop...how many times are you going to keep saving the same data? It's hurting my eyes to literally – to see you make that tenth copy – now..."

She's wrong, it's not the tenth copy. It's Eleventh. Actually..

I continue to save up my data compiling files in my laptop with the aim to not let that reminder from her mess up my calm in the moment – but I answer honestly – " well, it's the 11th copy Manzieh. And hey, what's wrong with being extra careful. You surely, know we cannot afford to lose this data. And about the bit you just reminded me off – I am sure you also know that is precisely the reason why I still need to keep working. Just, tell me like 30 minutes, before we need to head out...k?"

Given, that we had a multiple dive expedition yesterday, all of today went in just team meetings, that involved our tasks in compiling, edits, analysis off the data captures from yesterday. Thank god for that, for yes, it's been consuming my mind wholly and I haven't had the time to give anything else the thought space, within my neurons.

Our project head – wanted us all to get this part of our working done, before we get out to cover another zonal expedition, tomorrow. He thought it would be easier, if we just work on collating the back end work simultaneously rather than leaving it for the end because then it will just be too much, in terms of multiple zonal data captures.Good idea, from him totally.

I admit the same to Manizeh now – beginning to initiate the tech – process of making another copy – " Hmmm, by the way, Manizeh... I also personally think, its more efficient to finish the back-end work related to a particular zone's data, before stepping out to explore – new ones. What do you think??," I ask, with the hope that she totally buys it as a context of conversation.

I feel her stomp up to the desk in our room, that we sharing (As usual) – and in a repeat scene as the one on the research vessel the other day – I feel her shut my laptop screen with a thud, before she swirls the chair around, to make me look at her and she shoots me a steely glare that makes me say on reflex raising my hands to the side – " alright, fine...I will not make another copy....okay...?"

Oh, I should have just known she won't let me carry on with my usual – work for distraction – trait – that has often come to my rescue ever since – the movie – 'The Return of Arnav' – started playing on the screen of my Life. She's been trying to get me to talk ever since she found me crying my eyes out on the boat yesterday – after my call with Arnav. Needless to say, I was a freaking emotional mess, after that talk with him.

I needed time, though. And she'd let me be, because she'd surely witnessed that – I wasn't going to be able to get a word out anyway – through my momentary emotional outburst – that was inevitable – after I heard the words – See you soon – from Arnav, and the underlying reminder of the haunting aching memory in context – from him. Directly. She tried to get me to talk last night too – but I just insisted on getting good sleep instead. And well, it's just been work, work, work – all day – today – until – now...