The Delphic Emir

Code ERROR by Lipstick

" I love you, Karthik. I can't live without you. Please, let me make things right." I pleaded and I felt my eyes pain. I'm not asking him or requesting him anymore. I'll do whatever he says now. I'll see him once we go home.

" Actions speak louder than words. Now, please leave." He said in an unwavering tone making my shoulders slump.

I stood up and walked to him slowly sniffing my tears back.

" For now, I'm leaving. But remember that, I'm just giving you some space." I warned him and hugged his chest. He turned rigid and his heartbeats intensified bringing a halt to my tears. I slowly felt him relaxing and I closed my eyes.

I don't know when but we stayed just like that and he didn't even push me. I took that as my cue and pressed a small kiss on his heart and I heard the sudden erupt of his heartbeat. He slowly moved me away and looked to his other side.

" I'm leaving." I mumbled and he cleared his throat nodding.

" Have lunch before leaving." He asked and I'm too stubborn just like him.

" No, I'm full. Thank you Mr. Oberai." I glared at him and walked away from the room. I left both broken pieces of us in the room and rushed to the washroom on that floor. I looked at the mirror and what the fuck, I look like a witch who just escaped Jurassic Park where the dolphins fly in the air and birds chase behind me.

I sighed and looked for my handbag.

Damn me! I didn't even get my handbag. I grabbed the tissues and slightly wetted them wiping the little make-up I had on me. I thoroughly cleaned the mascara and wiped the lipstick. I looked back in the mirror after washing my face and I looked fine with my eyes swollen.

Where do I get the ice now? I slowly sneaked inside the meeting room and grabbed my spectacles putting them on.

I looked at my phone and the time showed 4:25 P.M. The lunch must be almost done. I drank the water that was put in front of me and my stomach cried for food. Poor me, but I'm on a hunger strike today. I need to show him that I'm as stubborn as him. I skipped both my breakfast and lunch. I took a deep breath and leaned my forehead on the glass table. As I heard the commotion and people started entering in, I sat straight.

The meeting started again and I was concentrating on the presentation noting the points that I felt were important and needed to work on. I looked at Karthik and he was so induced into the presentation. I felt this unusual gaze and I looked round to see people looking at my husband. A surge of jealousy erupted in me but when I looked at them keenly, they were looking at Karthik's shirt.

Fuck! The lipstick mark looked at me mocking and I just felt like hiding myself somewhere else. I felt a few gazes darted towards me and I played ignorant. A few are smiling while a few are gossiping.

" Stop." Karthik stopped and his work made my heart halt too.

" Any problem sir?" Our team asked politely.

" Any problem?" Karthik asked rudely turning to everyone. They immediately nodded no and stared at the presentation. While Karthik was back to listening to our team unaware that there was a lipstick mark on his shirt.

Does he have to wear a white shirt today? Such a nice, crisp, white shirt!

Please put on your coat buttons. Your shirt had a lipstick mark on it that everyone was watching. Now please don't glare at me. I am not guilty. I secretly texted him and the ping resonated in the whole meeting room. I resumed looking at the presentation like I knew nothing.

I looked at Karthik checking my message with a frown and his face lost its colours when he realised what I was trying to say. He folded his hands against his chest and took a few seconds to button them. Such a natural actor!