"With hard work and effort, you can achieve anything."
-Antoine Griezmann
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Prajakta couldn't help but avert her gaze from the person who looked very elegant and sharp with his well groomed chiseled looks that he could put any good looking guy to shame. The man in his mid 50s had such a sharp gaze on her that he could easily kill her.
"Um... Uh... P-Prajakta"
She scrunched her eyes shut due to embarassment of not speaking without stuttering like a some anti-social teenager who blushes like a crazy when she looks at her crush. Ugh!
"How did you meet Danshik and I want straight forward answer,don't beat arround the bush."
As the elder man enquired her, Prajakta felt like she is under interrogation of CBI.
"I... he... he was about to jump off from a bridge..."
An awkward pause was evident within the room causing Prajakta to clear her throat and she decided to leave as she didn't wanted any sort of connection with that depressed person whom she met before.
"Um... I... I am sorry, I was not supposed to interfere in your family affairs, but that guy... he needs help. There are people who would do anything to live and be happy, but this person is not even trying. I just wish these kind of quiters wouldn't have been born in the first place."
Prajakta stood up to leave as she felt very awkward and out of the place with the couple and their family matter
"Stop right there!"
She heard the lady's voice. And she stopped in her steps right away. And as she turned the lady reminded Prajakta of the strict principal of her school.
"Both of you, let's have the conversation in my cabin, because there will be rush in few minutes."
That lady instructed Prajakta and her and the husband of that lady. When inside, it was pin drop silence as the principal like lady and her husband were staring at her causing her to become further uncomfortable. Even though he was in his mid 50s the man was too fierce, Prajakta didn't budge even a bit and that was what she learned from her mother which she would never forget. She never lost her confidence and never backed down. That was scribed into her mind for forever. The lady checked the resume which Prajakta submitted earlier and stopped for a moment and looked baack at Prajakta again.
"Wait a minute, your resume states that you are a law student. Why did you come here asking for job then? And did you really follow Danishk?"
That accusing tone enraged Prajakta causing her to slam the wooden desk hard.
"I am saying this out loud that I am not interested in that guy whom you are accusing me of following and he is a bloody coward to take his own life and he is too rude to even say a thank you."
Her voice echoed in the whole room as she spewed pent up frustration she had a while ago.
"Then why are you here asking for job then? We don't have any advocate service to match your profile. So either you spill what are your intentions or leave without any consequences."
The way the lady threatend her, she felt shivers down her spine.
"And then you meeting Danishk here after you claiming that he was about to jumping off the bridge doesn't seem like co-incidence. Either you reveal what are your intentions or we are calling cops."
And that made her froze altogether and took few moments for her to compose her demeanor.
"Alright, that's it! I don't know why you people are finding me so untrustworthy, if you don't want to offer a job to me, then just say it in my face. Stop interrogating like I am some damn criminal. I don't have enough money to complete my studies and I can't afford to take a loan. So I thought I will search for a job. If that's a crime I am not guilty and I don't f*cling care."
Tears streamed down her face as she couldn't endure the doubtful, scrunitizing gazes anymore. Hence she stood up in a jiffy caused her vision to blur rapidly. Prajakta didn't happy for even a second and strode towards the exit door but lost her balance as the world around her started to spin and went completely blank within seconds. The last thing she could grasp was a guy in mid twenties, with charcoal like orbs, thick and long black hair, checkered shirt layered over a white tee held her arms.
As Dishen rushed to the cafe when his mother texted that she needs to talk with him about something which is very important, he was scarred to his wits and kept thinking whether he made any sort of blunder.
But as he reached the cafe, there was no sign of his mother but packed with crowd.and if such crowd is present at the cafe, she never leaves.
After enquiring the staff, he got to know that she is in her cabin hence he rushed towards it but he encountered a beautiful angel. Her long dark brown waves cascading down her waist while her big olive green orbs had a kind of spark which was about to be hidden under those eyelids which were shutting down rapidly while her dusky skinlooked somewhat deathly pale. While her weight shifter on him as she became unconscious. After which his parents came into his view who looked very worried.
While dragging his feet to his apartment, Danishk's mind was telling with those words what that beggar said while the pain which he saw in his chachi's eyes still pricking him. After entering the code he opened his door only to be welcomed by a stout lady standing with open arms and a warm smile. The lady looked somewhat she was in late 50s yet having lush lustrous brown curls, pale skin and dark brown eyes wearing dark blue salwar kameez with red floral motifs,she was nothing but angelic.
"Khwala!" (Aunt!)
Danishk didn't need further prompt hence he rushed towards her and engulfed into a warm embrace. Causing that elder lady to chuckkle and ruffle his hair. This caused him to groan and pull away while he glared at her playfully.
"Enough of this,now go wash your ands and freshen up. I have cooked your favourite meal."
At that comment, Danishk's mouth watered immediately and he rushed to his room yelling, 'yay! Butter chicken' like a kid. When he was done, he rushed back straight to kitchen to savor his favorite curry cooked by his favorite aunt.
While gobbling his food he started to talk gibberish while having food in his mouth.
"Danishk, stop being a child and first swallow your food."
When his aunt chidded him, he gulped down the morsel and then he uttered while he hugged his aunt after licking his fingers clean.
"Oh my Mariam... I love you and I love the butter chicken. Please don't leave my side and cater your Asad."
Mariam slapped his arms after which he pulled away with a chuckle after which she pinched his nose causing him to groan. She took the dirty dishes and placed it over the sink while Danishk washed his hands in actual civil way after hearing his aunt scream to wash his hands. When done they both were having their cup of lemon tea in silence while occupying the couch situated at the deck.
"How are you doing bete?"
As Mariam broke the calm, rush of emotions tackled his mind causing tears to immediately fill to brim in his eyes.
"I... I can't... my whole existance had been related to mom dad and Swarali di. But... now... every... every single moment things reminds me of them... khwala, I was... I was supposed to be in that car that day... if I didn't ask dad to take my car he wouldn't have been... been dead now..."
A loud sob escaped from his lips causing Mariam to shake her head and pull him into yet another embrace.
"I know what you are going through beta... that is the reason I rushed back here to see you. Danishk, I Know what you are going through, I have been through the same and that hurts me as well as scares me. I tried to take my own life several times but... I realised that it would never change anything, my Son won't come back. Losing my own kid had never been easy. But we have to fill the void, try to search new happiness and not dewelve in pain. So you have to stop harm yourself-"
"I... Did Chachi told you this khwala?"
She shook her head with a slight smile and wiped his tears streaked face.
"No matter who informed me, I wated to believe that you would never do such thing. But you were hospitalized last month after veerji and bhabi... And not to mention I am seeing bandages all over your body."
Mariam chidded like his own mother does causing him to hug her and also glare at his left hand which was covered with bandage as he broke the Scotch glass which he was having. True to what she said, he tried to go towards the road of self destruction and have been into a couple of accidents and to his dismay he is still bloody alive.
"Uh... That happened out of anger. And no one could take their life with a Scotch glass... Anyways, how was the wedding-"
"Stop diviating from the topic and tell me the truth. Did you or did you not try to take your life?"
He paused a bit and averted his gaze from her but gave a nod with shame. This made Mariam more disappointed at Danishk than being hurt.
"Maybe you never considered anyone around you as a family-"
"Khwala it's not like that-"
She turned back towards him while tears filled to brim in her eyes.
"Danisk, open your eyes, it's not only you who is hurt and grieving."
By saying that she stood up and strode towards the front door while Danishk froze in his place, shattered.
"Call Mehek now..."
Dishen's mother was the first person to react as he went on staring at this lady who straight away landed in his arms unconscious. When his father for busy making the call, he carried the strange lady in a bridal style in his arms and laid her over the couch at the corner.
Dishen's father, Aakash Malhotra started to check over the lady's pulse and whether she is breathing or not and checked her temperature while he was on a video call with their family doctor, Mehek. After concluding that it happened either due to dehydration, or less glucose in the body, three of them sighed in relief.
After what felt like an hour and half, Prajakta woke up with cool breeze fanning over her hot forehead which has peen pounding from the time she was arguing with Danishk's uncle. Either way his name was enough to put her in a soul mood. She stood up and took her duffel bag which had been her soul companion throughout the time she has been in this city and searched a way to exit.
"Running away now are we?"
A boyish voice coming from the behind made her jump and turn towards the person who is responsible for her near to heart attack experience. The guy in his mid twenties strode towards her with a charming smile while having his hands on his Jean pants pockets while a thin light green tee clung to his body causing her to imagine his rock hard abs and chest. He extended his arm forward towards her. While she took a step back and tried to search a way to get away from his tempting abs.
"Before you flee, I think I should introduce myself to you. Dishen Malhotra, by the way I didn't get your name though, miss museum piece."
Dishen mocked her with a smirk and took few more steps to corner her and she did get cornered as she kept on taking her steps back until her back hit the wall. Dishen's grin widened as he placed his arm next to her head trapping her. The front door opened with loud booming footsteps of Dishen's parents caused them to turn towards them.
"You, young lady you are hired!"
As the elder Malhotra's voice boomed Dishen distanced himself from Prajakta while his mother handed Prajakta few sheets of papers.
"We need a personal assistant for our elder son Danishk whom you met earlier, looks like you will do good."
And where did she get herself into? Prajakta facepalmed herself inwardly.
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A/N: And that's it for now! Stay tuned for all the adventures that Prajakta will have in future.
Here is what I think how Prajakta is