Vikram
She would never forgive me. Seeing her leave, like that..
I thought we had become somewhat like friends, even if we hated each other and I had the hope, that she would forgive me.
She shattered my hope and I deserved it.
I drove my car, till I went far off to a lonely place.
"What should I do, what do I do? " I thought
I'll never be in peace.
The next day in office I was sitting in my cabin when Sree came in
"Had she come to forgive me" , I wondered
"I mailed My resignation letter", she said
" No.. I knew this was the right thing for her to do, but I didn't like it, didn't feel right hearing it"
"You.. Have to serve, 3 months notice, and I spoke to Hari regarding the black mark.. I'll be giving a recommendation letter too, Whether you want or not" , I said.
She nodded and turned back.
"Sree would you.. Ever forgive me", I asked.
" Why, why is it important for you that I forgive you, why do you care", she asked.
"Because... " I froze ..stuck.. What why was it important, .. I was blank..
"Because I feel guilty", I managed, but that wasn't the real reason. I did feel guilty though
" Then stay guilty, I don't care, whether I decide to forgive you or not, only time can tell", she said
"Sree.. You have known me,.. For a long time.. In office, we had spoken..at least like friends... I'm not a bad person.. "
She looked at me silently for a moment.
"I'll think about it", she said and left.
I typed out a sorry mail and sent to her. She didn't reply.
I went out to talk to Ramesh. I saw her at her place and looked at her. She noticed me and turned her face away.
I then called her to the meeting room. I had asked Malini to apologize for her wrong doing. I called karan but he didn't pick up the call. I would have to handle him in person..
Sree came inside the room..
"I don't have much time sir", she said.
" Just few mins Sree "
I dialled Malini's number and put on speaker.
"Hi malini, this is Vikram, as I informed you, I would like you to speak to Sree here", I said.
" I do not want to speak with her sir", Sree told and turned to move out.
I held her hand and she turned.
"Few mins ", I said.
" Sree.. I'm sorry, for what I did.. I was jealous of you.. I Apologize ", Malini said.
Sree looked at the phone with anger and cut it.
" She isn't even sorry, , you don't have to trouble yourself with making people apologize sir", she said and left the room.
Sree
Vikram looked disappointed. When he asked me to forgive him and told me he wasn't a bad person, I paused.
Maybe he wasn't a bad person, but why would I care.
He even made Malini apologize to me and he kept looking at me whenever he came out of his cabin.
He even sent me a sorry mail, which stated all the reasons he was sorry for. Reading that brought tears to my eyes.
Can I forgive him after all that he spoke, did...
I wanted him to stop doing these things, it would be easier for me that way.
Him doing this, made it tough for me.
I reached home and informed Harini everything. Then the door bell rang.
It was a delivery of a box. I opened it.
There was falooda.
"I didn't order", I told the delivery guy, and looked at Harini. She shook her head.
" Vikram sir, got it for you", the delivery man replied and left before I could say something.
I recollected the first lunch I had with Vikram. I had told him I loved falooda. He remembered.
Inside the box was a note. I'm sorry, hope you like the falooda. It said.
Harini came near me..
"Sree, maybe you can forgive him, you are here only for 3 months"
"He realized his mistake,.. You could give him a second chance you know", Harini said " And he is trying so much , it seems so sincere", she said
"But what he had done, my self respect.. "
"Sree , he apologized. Now you could just forgive and let go, ", she said.
" I have to forget everything that he spoke, happened, I'll think about it", I said
"It's only 3 months anyways, should I forgive him. Forgiving meant, I stay as his colleague for 3 months, I needn't even speak much to him, because I was scared that if I become his friend , I would get hurt"
The falooda tasted good. Vikram even sent me a message in watsapp asking how it was.
"Ok.. I'll try talking normally with you.. It's just for 3 months anyways.. I do not know if I could really forgive you though", I replied.
" Yah sure Sree, that's enough, good night, see you tomorrow ", he replied.
The next day, I hadn't seen Vikram from the morning. I told him, I'll try.. So guess he would be fine..
Then at 12 pm, I got a message from him,
" Come to my cabin"
I went there. The receptionist gave me a stern look as usual. Vikram got up as soon as he saw me.
"Hey,.. I was thinking about treating you to lunch, get ready and meet me in the parking", he told
" Why? Why are you treating me.. I told it's fine.. You needn't do such things", I said
What was he doing. He wanted to take me out for lunch..
"Sree.. You told we could talk normally.. We can't do that in office right. You know I usually eat lunch alone, being the CEO and all.. I wanted to eat with a friend and that's you", he said
" Friend?? What you apologize and we suddenly become friends? ", I asked
" No.. We were already somewhat friends.. We ran away from men in a far off place, we helped anya, we ate in dominoes, I even told you my deepest secret ... It's ok if you don't want to be.. I just", he said
I had become more comfortable with him than in the beginning. Though we hated each other. But this was too sudden. I never thought he was ever a friend.
"Enemies to friends huh, what a sudden change", I asked
" No.. Ok.. If you want to be.. Then we can.. Just these 3 months ", he said
Why did he even want my friendship. Was it his guilt.. I didn't want a friendship out of guilt.
" Let's see", I said
"Lunch? " He asked
" What do I tell my friends? That I'm going for lunch with the boss", I asked.
"No.. Just lie.. Something", he said
I nodded and went to my place.
I informed deepa that I'm having lunch with my best friend from college who was in banglore.
Vikram took me somewhere far. Said that he liked the food there.
I excited the car and looked up and my mouth opened. It was a 5 star hotel.
"Why have you brought me here", I asked
" For lunch, is there a problem? ", he asked me inquisitively.
" Ya I agreed it was your treat, but why here, did you think you can show off your money and that would make me forgive you", I said, emotionless
Vikram looked hurt. "What? No.. No.. Sree if you do not like it here we could go elsewhere, I just wanted to give you the best treat and I come here often, I never thought like that", he said almost pleading
I realized that I might have been a bit harsh.
" No sorry, you are sure you are ok to spend so much for a random treat? ", I asked
Vikram smiled.
"See sree.. It doesn't matter, money..i told you I'm a regular here and treating you here isn't a big expense for me.. And it isn't about the place, we could go anywhere, If I could see a smile on your face that's enough for me. ", he said.
I smiled hearing his words. It was a surprise, hearing Vikram speak like that.
I nodded. " We can eat here", I said.
There were a lot of dishes and it was a buffet. We had a lot of fun choosing the dishes. Vikram gave me recommendations. He served me a few dishes too.
I went to see the chat food available. Vikram was standing to get a side dish, when I noticed 2 girls ogling at him. They giggled to each other looking at him. Vikram didn't notice.
I suddenly went to him and asked him if he had got the side dish.
I looked at the girls. They stared at me jealously. I stared back furiously and they muttered something and went away from the place.
"Stupid girls", I muttered. " What? ", Vikram asked looking at me. "Oh nothing,.. You have to try the pasta, it's so good ", I said.
We had fun and laughed a lot. At the end there were desserts. I took a lot of them on my plate and tasted them..
I noticed Vikram looking at me and he laughed slightly. " What's funny? ", I asked.
He shook his head. "Noh, its amusing and good seeing you so happy and smiling", he said. My smile faded.
"Was I laughing too much? Would he think I forgave him so easily? was I eating too much in front of him? "Those thought bubbled in my mind
"Hey what happened,.. Did I say something wrong", he asked
" Uh noh, I can say the same thing about you, i have never seen you smile this much, and yah this part of you seems better too", I said and sported up a smile.
I got up to get more dessert. I looked back at Vikram.
"But.. Don't make the mistake of thinking I forgave you already", I said smiling teasingly.
He smiled back " Sure ma'am", he said.
I went to the chocolate fountain. I dipped the plain cake piece in the chocolate and ate it. " Mmm it was delicious ".. I ate more
I saw Vikram. " Hey, you should try this", I said.. He came near me and I gave him a piece.
"I'm going to eat more of this", I said and took more. He chuckled. " Mmm", I said putting it in my mouth.
"You don't want more ?", I asked him
He shook his head. " You dieting? You seem quite fit to be dieting" I told
"I cursed myself for telling that, I told him that he was fit!!"
However Vikram didn't notice. " No not really, I've gotten used to this taste perhaps and I don't eat sweets much", he said.
"Ohh.. I also don't prefer sweets so much.. But just wanted to taste.. Those.. But this one is good", I said.
He smiled and pointed his finger to his cheeks near his lips and pointed at my face.
" Got some chocolate there", he said.
"Ohh," I looked around for a tissue"
"One second ", he said and got me a tissue and handed it to me.
I wiped it.
" No a little up", he said. I did as he said
" Left"..
"Ya there"
"Gone? ", I asked.
" One second ", he told and took the tissue from my hand. Before I could understand, he brought the tissue to me,
near my lips and started wiping slowly and carefully.
I suddenly became self conscious. It seemed like he was looking at my lips.
He could see it. I looked up at his eyes.
Time seemed to slow when such things happened. His expression was neutral, but he looked breathtaking as usual.
"Could he feel my breath on his hand", I thought and held it for a moment.
He had then finished and took his hand off " Done", he said and smiled
His smile...What was this feeling I was having. I was attracted to him?
I knew how he looked, but in my hatred I had always pushed such notions away.
Would it be a problem now.. This seemed like a date..?
We went back to our table. The bill arrived and Vikram paid. " The next lunch/dinner is on me, if we ever have one, though I don't think I could give in a five star restaurant ", I said.
" Sure, I told you sree it doesn't matter.. The place", he said.
I nodded.
" Yes, you know what maybe I should take you to have street food, have you ever eaten that? ", I asked laughing
"What! Street food?? ", he asked opening his mouth wide. " I've never, is that hygienic? ", he asked.
I shrug. "Many people do eat there. Ok, it's on me then, taking the CEO to see the life of normal people", I said.
" Sure,.. I would like to go anywhere with my new friend", he chuckled.
" Hey... I didn't say I was your friend yet", I said
"But you are to me", he said.
" Did he like me ...like a friend, to call me one so soon, or was this all because of his guilt", I thought.
I looked at his expression but couldn't gather anything from that.
Then we headed back to his car to return. "Thanks for the treat, it was good", I said. He nodded.
We drove past a lake. I looked out at it.
" You want to get down and sit down for a while near it? ", he asked.
" Huh?, don't we have to go to office", I asked.
"Oh.. Yah the boss will kill us, oh wait a minute, I'm the boss", he mocked and chuckled.
I rolled my eyes.
" Wasn't funny, btw nobody would care about you, but me? What do I tell people, ramesh?", I asked.
" Sree, you still report to me directly. Ramesh is your lead. I gave you the permission , tell them so", he said easily
" I have a better idea, I'll say I went out with you", I said and smiled.
Vikram sighed "won't be a problem, just state some reason, some extra work I gave you", he said
" Ya ok", I said. Vikram parked his car and we got out.
"So.. Are we like secret friends? ", I asked him.
He looked at me. " So you finally accept that we are friends.. ", he smiled.
" Ohh me and my mouth", I thought
" No.. I never said that.. It's from your angle", what was I saying,... I felt more embarrassed,
He just laughed. We went to the grass near the lake.
"We can sit here? ", I asked. I saw that the time was nearly 5. We were a bit late to lunch actually.
We sat down next to each other seeing the lake. It was so peaceful. Ducks swam on the lake. I looked at Vikram.
" What was on his mind", I noticed my palm on the ground. His palm was also there near mine slightly touching my finger. . His hand was larger than mine. He had a watch and a ring.
"Beautiful.. Isn't it", he said.
" Huh", I looked up "did he see.. "
He was looking at the lake.
"What are you thinking Sree.... , why would he refer to that!!"
We then spoke, actually a lot more than we ever had. He told me about his family,.. And said he didn't know how he just told that secret to me.
I couldn't believe, but I also informed him about my mother and grandpa. I even told him about my best friends from college.
He told me that he had only Gautham, as his best friend. That many people acted as friends for their own benefits..
" Maybe I would be the next best friend", I thought..
"There was something wrong with me.., I shouldn't think like, this I didn't forgive him.. He cannot be my friend..",
I looked up at the lake. Then I spotted a couple a distance away. They were in each other's arms. I always wanted that,.. love.. I smiled.. Then they kissed.
I looked away embarrassed. Vikram chuckled. I realized he saw them too and my expression!
I didn't look at him.. Embarrassed
" You.. Have a boyfriend? ", he asked.
I looked up at him in surprise. " No", I said. " Why did he ask me such a thing"
I guess he noticed my surprise.
"Oh.. I'm really sorry, it was inappropriate of me.. Seeing those people,.. I didn't realize until the words left my mouth", he said
" No.. No it's ok, to make things even, .. I'll ask the same.. How about you? ", I asked..
" He chuckled. Noo.. He said. There was a silence.
Wow that was awkward.
I smiled and looked back at the couple. They seemed happy. I spoke something else to get rid of the awkwardness.
He spoke about his business and the difficulties he faced when starting it.
I didn't realize that time went very fast. It was almost 6:30pm. The sun was setting.
It looked so beautiful.. So red.. With its glow illuminating the lake. The wind blew and it felt really good. I realized I felt really happy there, at that moment.
Well all good days have to come to an end. We had to leave.. Vikram actually dropped me home, as he realized going back to the office too late would not be practical. I wondered what excuses I was going to give Sanjay. Deepa.. I was going to tell the truth.
This time I waved goodbye to him. I entered my flat.
Harini came to the door,
"You are back so soon? ", she asked.
" Ya", I said
"Why are you smiling, some happy news? ", she asked.
" What, was I smiling?, no.. ",
" No nothing much.. Just was a good day, had a good lunch", I said
Harini, raised her eyebrows... "So.. What happened"? She asked.
"I'd tell you, will change my dress and come"