Sree
Vikram took my hands and pulled me to the doorway..
"Come, just try jumping", he said
I followed him, though I felt the hot blaze of the fire.
We went near the staircase.
" Will Akshara and Ajay be ok", I asked
"Yes, we have to get out now", Vikram said.
He pulled me close to him and we tried getting down the stairs..
He took his suit out and tried to put out the small flame ahead.
The whole place was filled with smoke..
I had no idea, what to do, but to follow Vikram as he said.
It seemed like eternity until we finally got out.
I started coughing..
"Are you all right? ", asked Vikram and he took my hands to check if I wasn't hurt.
There were minor burns..
I turned around and noticed the other employees looking at us, while he was still examining my hand.
Then I saw Riya glaring at me. I pulled my hand away from Vikram
" I'm fine., where is Akshara", I asked
"I'm sure Ajay will save her, he is trained for emergencies" Vikram said
"The firefighters are coming Vikram", said Natasha.
I looked at the burning building and prayed that Akshara should be safe.
In 10 minutes Ajay came out, holding Akshara in his arms. She was unconscious.
I ran to her. " Akshara!, what happened to her", I cried
"Call the ambulance fast! ", Ajay shouted at the employees.
" They are coming Ajay", Vikram said
"Ok, Sree take away her specs", Ajay said
" When will they be coming Vikram, should I give CPR, she inhaled smoke", Ajay said
"Few minutes Ajay", Vikram said
" She needs air, oxygen", Ajay said carrying her away from the building while I followed him.
He placed her on a nearby, pavement bench..
" Can you remove the first button, on her shirt, ", he asked me and I did
Ajay put his hand near her nose, and checked her pulse
" Her breathing is abnormal, I'll have to do CPR ", he said.
" You know how to?", I asked
"I'm trained ", he said..
He brought his palms to her chest ,interlocked them and pushed fast for the chest compressions
" I'll try mouth to mouth resuscitation, can help her breath", he said.
He tilted her neck up and came closer to her mouth
"Ajay, ambulance is here", shouted Vikram
" Great", Ajay said and carried her to the ambulance.
We went to the hospital, where she was treated.
I looked at Ajay who had a tense expression. He really cared about her.
"Thank you so much for saving her", I said to him
" Of course Sree, no need thanks, she is my friend ", he said
I nodded. I looked at his hand and was startled to see a big gash, his hand seemed swollen too.
" I think you need first aid too", I said pointing at his arm
"Ohh. This.. Thankfully, I saved her before that piece of metal, could fall on her, that caused this", he said
He had hurt himself, to save her..
" You guys should get some first aid and refresh too,.. I'll stay here", Ajay said
"Come on Sree", Vikram called
" She is my best friend, I'm not going anywhere, you go if you want to Vikram ", I said
Vikram stood there. " I'll wait too then", he said
Then he got a call and he picked it up.
"Karan", he shouted
" Speaker", Ajay whispered
Vikram put the call on speaker
Karan: So bro, how did you like the little fire
Vikram : you.. You did that?
Karan: Who else will put your new pretty building to burn
Vikram: how dare you... You are mad
Karan: you know I am, and how is that girl, Sree's best friend doing. Poor girl, she doesn't deserve to be suffering because of you, does she?
Vikram looked up at me. I wondered how Karan knew she was my best friend
Vikram: stop this, what do you want Karan!
Karan : oh Vikram, you didn't tell your choice yet, until you do such mishaps will happen,.. Tell me.. Should I kill Sree or do I make her mine. Or better, you kill her yourself.. Unless you do that.. Innocent people are going to get affected
Vikram: You son of a b**** , how dare you... Didn't I tell you that I'm not interested in this cruel game of yours, get away from our lives or I'll make sure u'll suffer
Karan cut the call. He sounded psychotic.
What sort of game was he playing, asking Vikram to choose my demise.
"Did they trace it", Vikram asked Ajay
Ajay made a call
" No.. They were not able to trace this , of course Ajay wouldn't let that happen.. We will try to break into his encryption though don't worry Vikam", Ajay said
"It's my fault, I shouldn't have left Akshara alone", I said
" No Sree, if it's anyone's it's Karan's " Vikram said
"Karan, he wanted to punish me, she doesn't deserve this, as much as I don't,
I wonder how many people are going to get affected by this, .. If he touches my loved ones....
Btw, He is your cousin,.. You called him to your home, you were the reason I ever met him, all this wouldn't have happened if not...for you", I accused
Vikram looked hurt, but didn't say anything. I knew I was being unfair, but I was angry at everything.
The doctor came out and we looked at her expectantly.
"She regained consciousness, you guys can go and see", she said
We rushed in.. I went to Akshara and put my hands on hers.
" I'm fine " She said
"Thank god, Akshara",.. I said hugging her lightly.
She saw Ajay behind me.
" He saved you, did a bit of CPR and all", I said
Her eyes widened when she heard CPR.
"The ambulance came before he could finish", I said so that she doesn't get the wrong idea
" Thank you Ajay", she said
"Hey no thank you Shara, I'm really glad you are fine.. How do you think I can spend a day in office alone, without your debates about tv series, I got so used to it", he said and smiled.
" Hey I don't debate", she said.
I smiled to myself, I almost wanted to say " Aww", but I held myself. This was so cute..
We went back to the hotel after Akshara got discharged and took a shower..
"Hey, Vikram, I didn't mean it when I said this was because of you ", I said
He nodded
I turned around and he held my hand..
" So lets now talk about Riya", he said
"Oh.. I thought you wanted nothing to do with that, didn't you want me to go the HR", I asked, glaring at him
" Yes, as the CEO, I can't do anything for that, I can't fire her for this, only the HR can help in such workplace issues,", he said
"So? You need not fire her, but you could empathize, you could listen to what we were saying and guide us, not say, go to the HR and that you are not the principal, you were so rude and act as if you don't care at all, yah perhaps you don't care still", I said.
" I would have told that to anyone ", he said
" And I do care for you, do you think I like her?, but my likes, dislikes don't play a role in my job, I don't have the right to warn her or do anything, that is the reason I asked you to approach the HR", he said
"Alright,.. Even if you couldn't do anything.. What you said.. You know what.. Leave it, why am I even trying to explain it to you", I said.
He pulled me closer to him
" But.. As your fiancé,.. I can.. ", he said
He took his phone..
" What are you doing? ", I asked
He typed something, and in a moment, someone knocked the door.
He opened it and it was Riya.
I was furious on seeing her.
" Why is she here, get out ", I told to her
" So Riya", Vikram said
"Sree.. I'm sorry for speaking with you in a bad way, I won't do such things ahead, sorry", she said
Vikram nodded at her and she left
" You asked her to apologize? I didn't want you to do that, if she should apologize, she should because she feels so, this sorry was nothing but fake", I told to Vikram
"So? she won't trouble you again.. ", he said
" What did you say to her", I asked
"Nothing much, I went to her hotel room and knocked, I told her I was speaking as Sree's fiancé and that I knew she was troubling you , I asked her to stop doing that.. She was scared,.. And apologized, I just told her to tell that to you", he said
" You did what? ", I asked
" What did you want me to do", he asked
"To empathize with me! "I said
It was good that he cares for me, but this seemed like I couldn't defend for myself and I asked him to do it.
" So.. You are not happy? ", he asked confused.
" You know what, leave it.. I don't want to talk about her, I'm so tired after today, and you must be too.. Let's sleep", I said and moved to the bed..
He came close to me..
"Move away, today I want to sleep normally", I said
" Are you still angry with me", he asked.. Taking my hand and kissing my fingers...
I pulled them away..
" I don't have the mood, go to sleep", I said
"Ok.. ", he said
" I didn't expect Karan to burn my new office down", he said
I opened my eyes..
"Yah.. It was too bad.. What are you going to do, did the police find out the reason for the fire", I asked
" Noh, they will be going through the cctv tomorrow, though we know this is because of Karan.. The building is insured, we will have to reconstruct it, all the months of hard work", Vikram sighed
"Hmm.. Think of something, to get him arrested or something.. Or else we won't know what danger we would be in next", I said and closed my eyes..
" Yes.. Don't worry.. We will win over him.. "he said
I could feel his lips on my forehead
" Goodnight Sree ", he whispered