Just Roommates

relax, you're not going to let them down

"Pankaj, check for virus or any other threat"

"Done ma'am"

"Are we good? Are we back?"

"Yeah, in 3..2..1" And all the employees suddenly sighed in relief.

"Avinash, I need a full report of this, there is a server down condition every fucking week and it's not good, I need a report of the frequency, actually I'll just do it with you!" Diya said at 1 in the night. As she saw one of the employees yawn, it was then that she checked her watch and realized what the time was. She moved her hair behind with both her hands and winced.

"I'm sorry guys, I'm really sorry" First rule of employee management that she had learnt, respect them and their space and today she had crossed both those lines.

"I'm really sorry that I got so riled up and that I took up your time, and this is like way overtime! Oh my god, I am so sorry!" Diya said.

"It's okay ma'am" "yes maam" "yeah" the few who had stayed back today said. She was usually stuffed with the younger people, she knew they were more enthusiastic, more trendy and could relate to each other better and they'd be lying if they said that Diya wasn't a great boss to have. From Celebrating every birthday in their office to lunches, it was all fun, except on a few days, but you can't just have all happy days can you?

"Come on guys, chalo leave, please eat something on the way or like at home, Avi?"

"oh no I am staying" Avi said, his knuckles entwined together

"Okay, cool, everyone else"

At two in the night as Diya and Avi munched on pizza and took down notes of each server down instance, Avi asked Diya, "So what's the matter, why have you been so stressed out lately"

They had been working together for a long time. They had worked late at nights and early in the mronings, solving some issue or the other and personal talk does creep in during these sleepy hours hence the comfort zone.

"No there is nothing like that"

"There is something for sure and your hiding it"

"No, really there isn't" Diya lied

"Come on talk Diya"

"Okay well, I am scared for the company, we're running out of funds and sometimes there is mismanagement and especially incidents like these, they scare me, I am just scared that they'll kick me out"

"Diya, you know the new intern today, she told me that she wanted to be like you, don't you see it, you're already inspiring and mentoring people, our employees really like their boss and there is everything wrong with that because how do you like your boss!? Diya these people come to you for every small issue because they trust you and know how that you're not going to let them down! Just relax, we'll sort something out, It's just another road block"

Diya just smiled, "Thanks for the pep talk Avi" Diya said placing her hand on his shoulder.

-

At 4 am, as Diya stood outside the door of her house, or rather Arjun's house, She called him up and asked him to open the door. A sleepy Arjun opened the door rubbing his eyes and saw Diya standing there, her hair wet from the rain and her clothes stuck to her body.

"Diya? where have you been? i thought you were spending time with your parents and convincing them for the annul-"

"Arjun I have to talk to you, I can't sign the annulment papers" Diya said abruptly

"What? Why? is it because of your parents I'll talk to them, wh-"

Diya brought out the property papers and handed them over to Arjun, as she explained her situation to him, keeping crosses hoping for him to understand him.

"What is wrong with you, Diya! how could you even thing? five years? Are you stupid!"

"Arjun I am sorry, please please, my dad's share is going to be gone!"

"Why, why is it always about the property or the monetary benefit, Diya!"

"It's not that Arjun! We can stick it out for the 6 months and then simply separate, just sign the divorce papers 5 years later, I can't sign the annulment Arjun, i am sorry I cannot"

"How is it always about the money for you Diya, how!" Arjun scoffed, "You're impossible!"

He suddenly heard someone run down the stairs, "Arjun Bhaiya" Dev screamed as he slid towards them in full speed, he looked at a disheveled diya but then turned to Arjun and said panting, "Bhaiya, Bhabhi that, Shreya, Shreya, not there, ran away"

"What?!" exclaimed both Arjun and Diya. It suddenly struck Diya and with her muddy footwear, she ran into Shreya's room and found a letter lying there

'Dear mum, dad, Bhaiya, bhabhi and Dev,

I'm so sorry for doing this by running away but bhabhi was right, there is so much joy in following you dreams, I'm sorry, I promise I'll be back soon

love
Shreya'

Arjun who had followed Diya, snatched the letter from her and read it, he stopped at 'bhabhi' and turned to Diya, he handed over the letter to Dev and asked him to inform his parents but to tell them to calm. As Dev left, Arjun slammed the door and howled

"I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY! WHAT BULLSHIT DID YOU FILL IN MY SISTER'S HEAD THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE THIS EXTREME STEP!"

"WHat do you mean what bull shit!? You think I told her to run away! Are you dumb!? "

"Then why would she thank you in the letter, why do people thank you in letters for stuff that you 'have never done', haa? Why!?"

"Which letters are you even talking about Arjun!"

"Oh cut that crap! You knew she was going to run away right!?" Arjun roared bringing back nostalgia from the night a few days before

"No Arjun! I mean she told me that she wanted to act and that she wasn't being let to do so and that she wanted to run away-"

"And don't you think it was your responsibility to come tell me, oh wait, anything that isn't related to your company, cant be your responsibility only!"

"Dont blame me Arjun, she told me in confidence and she brushed aside the running away thought so quick that I didn't feel like it was significant, I just told her that she had a right to follow her dreams but not by running away!"

"Dreams right, Dreams, she is a young girl Diya don't you get it? You don't even know what condition she might be in!" scowled Arjun

"Arjun, she isn't that young! She is 21 Arjun, I started out at 18 and I'm sure you did too! Till when would you keep her wings clipped! You need to let her go and explore and be on her own! I did Arjun, she is going to be fine, you've gotta give her her space, she said she'll be back soon"

"Don't compare yourself with my sister! you got your space right and what happened to you, what did you end up doing? You got pregnant with a man's child! She'll be back soon, so should I wait for my sister to get pregnant!?" Arjun scoffed. Diya was taken aback. She had no words, she hadn't expected an attack on her past like this.

"Of course, that's why shreya didn't tell you anything, your judgmental head couldn't have understood her only! And why are you stopping her from following her dreams just because you couldn't follow yours!"

Arjun was offended, he didn't expect an attack like this either. Clearly both of them knew more about each other than what both of them expected. Furious at each other both of them went to face a distraught manish and sumitra.

Sumitra, was in tears, she rushed to the Pooja room and lit a candle over there. She then began chanting. Manish was with great difficulty thrust himself on the chair.

"We should inform the police" Arjun said

"No Arjun, please no, don't let's wait for a day, ask her friends, I don't want any public involvement in this" His father said, as Diya handed him a glass of water.

A furious Arjun ordered Dev to figure out from all of Shreya's friends and call him as soon as they got any information.

-