🎶 Shayad (Film Version)
Published on 03.11.2022
❝ na chahiye kuch,
tumse jyada,
tumse kam nahi. ❞
🥀
The first thing that Inaaya did the next day was hand over the chocolates that she had kept for herself to Maya and asked her to give them to Khushi or devour them herself or do whatever the heck she wanted because Inaaya didn't care. The chocolates could very well be lying in a trash or could be being crushed for toppings over a cake and she couldn't care less.
The rest of the week passed in a whiff. She ignored Ayansh and he avoided her. Whatever little they interacted, it was related to work and with the team present. It was completely professional and Inaaya preferred it.
She thought she could go on with life in this manner. Boring, unhappening, single life over an unexciting love life which suddenly wants some adventure and ends up colliding with an unwanted ex, sending her life spiralling down, making her question everything she had come to believe in the last couple of years. She preferred to stay in her safe, protected bubble of disoriented reality rather than walking bare footed on an uncharted territory and face the not so likeable truths about herself.
Josh had called her and said that maybe friendship between them wouldn't hurt much. He told her he was better if not completely over it but he didn't want to lose the innocent friendship they shared that actually paved way for things to escalate further. It was highlight of her week, atleast till Sunday happened.
Mr. Myles Stevens was like a mentor to Inaaya. She held him in high regard and even though he had retired, he was still very much in contact with her. He was also like a father figure to her in this unknown country. He had always treated her with a peculiar fondness and she was grateful for it, more than he'll ever understand, more than he'll ever know.
Inaaya was aware about his immense contribution in the University, his involvement and has witnessed it herself. He was a guide to students, making time from his busy schedule and always being patient with anyone who needed help.
The warmth he exudated was something Inaaya had always craved, something she never was able to get from her Dad right from childhood. She adored the equation he shared with his son, Daniel and respected the way he conducted himself with the students and then, later his employees. He personally used to take care of his employees comfort, made sure they know they can count on him.
During her University days, she couldn't help but admire his thoughts and work ethics and values. He had been a constant support to her, motivating her and even though, she never felt the need to ask for any major help for him, she appreciated his presence. He was a guardian to her, her family even if they weren't blood related.
Inaaya remembers how she and Daniel bonded while discussing the Hollywood market when she was doing a case study. He was impressed by her clarity of thoughts and its articulation in her speech, something he thought will be helpful to improve his dialogue delivery to which Inaaya gave him a ridiculous look. She had often visited Mr. Stevens house and had a good, riveting discussion with him on various topics and he enjoyed her company especially when he missed his son who was out of state most of the times due to shoots.
Inaaya knew Mr Stevens would appreciate her presence even today since Daniel had left a couple of weeks ago owing to his shooting.
"I really think you should go with what your heart says." Inaaya states as Maria, their househelp brings snacks and tea. "Thank you," Inaaya murmurs to her.
"And keep this wine bottle in the shelf." Mr. Stevens tells Maria, eyeing the exquisite bottle of wine that Inaaya had brought for him and she nods.
"I'm conflicted." He says to Inaaya, sitting on his armchair. "I'm retired and old and I think I should devote my life to others rather that being selfish."
Inaaya chuckles fondly. "You aren't that old. You're a very healthy old man." She says with a smile. "And moreover, just because you want to explore new countries and cuisines doesn't mean you're being selfish? You can still keep an eye on your empire and be useful to the University students."
"How easy it was for you to make this decision." He looks at her with amusement.
Inaaya frowns adorably. "It's easy for you too. You're just unnecessarily forcing yourself to feel guilty about absolutely nothing."
"I'm not forcing myself." He gasps.
"Okay." Inaaya agrees to him, making him annoyed and he looks away with a sullen face.
"On a serious note," Inaaya starts, catching his attention but he didn't look at her, "this is the perfect time for you to actually fulfill your wish. No worries about work, Daniel is an adult who can take care of himself, you've retired and regarding other stuffs, you can manage them well all along. You have visited most of the countries anyways so you can actually plan a schedule which won't put your body under extra stress." She reasons out.
He sighs heavily and a silence falls over them.
"How's he?"
It takes a moment for Inaaya to understand who he's referring to. She knew that Daniel was aware about Ayansh and her but she was sceptical if Mr. Stevens too knew about them and now she was sure that he did. He had that specific knowing look in his green eyes.
"He's good." Inaaya replies, acting confident. "I don't think anyone has a problem with him. He has been decent as a head. Carrying out his work, treating— "
His gruff laugh makes her stop speaking. "I'm asking about how's he with you?" He softens his gaze.
Inaaya's body goes tense as she looks away at the untouched bowl of snacks and cup of tea. "How much do you know about us?" She asks instead, bringing the cup to her lips and taking a sip, in the hope of letting the warmth from the tea replace the cold she felt.
"As much as Ayansh told me." He replies and she glowers at him from the corner of her eyes.
Inaaya doesn't retort.
"Okay, alright. Forgive me." He says, pulling his lips down, the wrinkles evident on his face. "If you don't want to answer, it's fine."
"How long have you known Ayansh?" She inquires, a part of her dreading the answer.
"Since the time he was studying at Cambridge University." He offers her the answer and she didn't know how to feel about it.
Her gut twisted when questions and doubts start creeping up in her mind. "So..... ," she shakes her head when her brain fails to form a coherent question.
"I know you must be having a lot of questions," he words echo her thoughts and she listens to him. "I didn't know about you until your breakup and by face, I came to know after you started studying. Don't think I've ever favoured you or been biased towards you."
Inaaya shook her head. He never was and she knew it for certain. The only fear that clawed at her for a moment was if she was being played once again but his words pushed her doubts back. "I know that." She murmurs. She wanted to ask if Ayansh ever asked him about her, she got to know that he had told Mr. Stevens about them but to what extent she had no idea. Did he tell him how he lied to her or did he manipulate the whole thing so it doesn't portray him in bad light?
There has to be a reason for Mr. Stevens choosing Ayansh out of all people to handover his company.
With a little hesitation, she asks him, "what made you decide that he'll be perfect to take over your company?"
Myles Stevens smiled at her and his eyes shone with a strange softness. "I was always sure that I wanted him to lead, I had come to this decision when he was in his second year of MBA at Cambridge."
Curiousity morphs her face at that new information. "That's.... that's... I don't know." She laughs, not finding an appropriate word to describe her feelings.
"I knew I could trust him with everything." He smiles sincerely and a pang of hurt tugs at her heart.
A bitter chuckle left her lips before she could restrain it. "Trust is the last thing I would associate with him." She rolled her eyes subtly. "He used to say that he wanted to start his own startup, do something on his own and here he is accepting what is being served to him on a silver platter."
She didn't understand why all of a sudden she felt so bitter towards Ayansh when much to her reluctance, she couldn't help but feel proud of him for coming a long way. Maybe the part of her that never stopped holding onto him felt another cut of betrayal to know that he already had accepted an offer of taking over a company and never told her about it. Liar.
"That's where you're wrong, Inaaya." He says in a soft chastising tone that she was used to. "He never accepted my offer. I literally begged him yet he didn't. He never thought he was deserving. But I knew and had full faith in his capabilities. Call it my intuition, I bet my intuition is never wrong." He adds playfully, bragging about himself.
Confusion just grows for Inaaya, her forehead creasing. "Then what made him accept it?"
Myles Stevens simply stared at her, the same knowing look glinting in his eyes and that made her heart thump faster as anticipation mingled with a distant hope and fear starts to take root within her.
"I kept pleading to him to accept my offer but he never did and then one fine day, he asked me himself if the offer is still available." The corner of his lips tug up.
"But why?" Her question comes out as a small whisper.
"That's not my place to tell."
With that reply, her doubts were confirmed that it was related to her and she couldn't exactly tell if that made her hate him more or made her scared for herself more.
Fuck everything! She needed to talk to Ayansh.
"I need his address."
—
"What in the name of Jesus Christ is Inaaya doing here looking like a ghost?" Akira shrieked, staring wide-eyed at the screen that lit up due to a notification. It took her a few seconds to register the picture that stared back at her and identify it.
Ayansh who was on the other side of the curtains that divided the room rushed at the sudden loud reaction and when he saw Akira, his own eyes widened at its own accord while her eyes narrowed into slits.
For the next few moments, they both simply looked at each other, trying to read each others thoughts and then she slowly shifted her gaze to his phone that lied on the mini table. Ayansh took a couple of strides and grabbed his phone, shoving it into his pocket and looked nervously at her accusatory glare.
He couldn't believe he was this careless. This side of the room had been empty since everyone was present on the other side so he took the leverage to keep his phone and handkerchief on the table as he went on the other side to click some pictures. It was a matter of a few minutes.
Akira seemed she was about to speak but stopped when her eyes fell on her manager. The manager dismissed the photographer and other people who were present since their work was done.
"After making me take interviews of misogynistic men, you want me to take interviews of dumb men?" She inquired her manager, gritting her teeth, looking furious.
Ayansh frowned, feeling offended and the manager looked at Akira in disbelief before he turned to Ayansh with an apologetic face.
"Please forgive her. She might be having a bad day and we— we can be the bigger people and let it slide. I assure you that you won't be having any complaints once she takes your interview. She's really good at her job."
Akira had a pointed look etched on her face as the manager needlessly apologised and gave an explanation on her behalf. Oh, she was so done with the species of men that existed on earth. She looked back at Ayansh daring him to speak.
Ayansh swallowed and forced a smile on his face as he regarded the manager. "It's alright," he spoke softly. "I'm sure she is or else she wouldn't be here. Don't worry."
The manager although amused heaved a breath of relief. "You're a very kind person."
At this, Akira scoffed making heads turn in her direction. She lamely pretended to disguise it as a cough earning a disappointed look from her manager and a helpless one from Ayansh. "I think you can leave now. The interview was supposed to start five minutes back. I'm good at my job," she smiles sarcastically, throwing his words back at him, "I can manage from here on."
Reluctantly, with a few more words, the manager left, leaving the two alone.
"Explain." Akira demanded, wasting no second.
Ayansh blinked and his forehead creased. "What?"
She glowered at him in disbelief and it made him wince slightly. "I want to say a lot of mean things to you but lemme skip that part." She offered kindly. "Inaaya's picture." She titled her face, waiting for his answer.
Ayansh felt affronted at that. It was his phone and she had no business intruding in his personal affairs, neither did he owe her any answer.
Akira let out a sound of irritation when he didn't reply. "I get that today is Halloween but that doesn't mean you roam around having my friend's picture resembling a ghost on your phone's lockscreen."
An incredulous look got painted on his face. "She's not looking like a ghost." He says defensively.
"Ghost." She says with no emotion and crosses her arms.
"Cute ghost?" Ayansh tries to convince her as if some sort of bargaining was going on, only he didn't know who was the customer and who was shopkeeper.
"Ghost." She says adamantly.
Annoyed, Ayansh repeats, "cute ghost."
"Gho— ," Akira stops when she realises what an utterly stupid debate they were having. "Shut up!"
"I didn't even say anything. You were the one who was speaking now." He argues back, baffled.
Akira pinches her brows and takes a sharp breath. "Let's get done with the interview." She takes her seat and he does the same, sitting on the opposite chair.
Silence prevailed in the room as Akira debated over certain things in her mind and Ayansh grew fidgety as he saw her in deep thought, her finger over the button to start recording for the interview but she didn't quite press it yet.
"Can— can we start?" Ayansh asks finally.
Akira sighs exasperatedly and leans back instead. "You know, I haven't told Inaaya that I've already met you."
Ayansh purses his lips. He wanted to ask her about that day. Before coming to Cambridge, he had anticipated meeting the woman whose name he now knew was Akira and ask if she had delivered the food, inquire if Inaaya actually ate it, know if she liked it or not. But after seeing Akira in front of him, he didn't know how to approach that subject.
"I'm sorry." He murmurs for he knew how she must be feeling for keeping such a huge thing away from someone who was her friend.
She shakes her head, dismissing his apology. "Don't be. I agreed to you. I'm just mad that I actually happen to meet you again." She admits bluntly, least bothered about his feelings. "But.... ," she begans, as a question comes in her mind, "what did you do on Monday that made her want to be alone?"
Ayansh frowns. "Monday?"
Akira nods. "Yes. Diwali. She broke up with Josh on Sunday— "
"Sorry?" He interrupts.
She looks at him dumbly.
"Did you say she broke up?" He inquires as a flare of hope rises within him.
"Yeah. It's been a week now." She answers as a matter of fact and watch his face brighten up like a wilted flower showing signs of life as if whispering that there's still some aspiration left to her.
"She broke up?" He repeated, a smile, soft and hopeful tugging at his lips.
Akira resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The guy was lovesick, evidently a goner and she wondered how Inaaya who apparently had to see him almost everyday since weeks was so blind to it.
"I'm here to interview you." She states. "Not to give an interview myself. So answer my question what exactly did you do that made her want to stay alone when she hates staying alone." She asks, emphasizing on the word "hate".
It catches his attention. "She hates staying alone?"
"Yes, she hates it!" Her voice pitches higher due to the brewing frustration. "Really, really hates it."
The hostility takes Ayansh aback. His heart sinks a little when he remembers the conversation they had where she made him clear how he had lost the right to talk to her whenever he wishes to. But he wonders if that conversation is the reason for staying back; the rational part of him leaned more towards the possibility of the conversation taking place after she was left alone. The chocolates couldn't be the reason, could it?
"I.... don't know." He says with uncertainty lacing his voice.
"Useless." She mutters under her breath, inaudible to him.
"But I had given her chocolates in that... sweet box." He confesses truthfully, albeit a little awkwardly.
Akira knits her brows, genuine confusion marring her face as she tries of make sense of things, tries to connect the dots. "Chocolates?" She raises her brows and he nods. "Those expensive chocolates? The ones she gave to Khushi through Maya were given by you?" She voices her suspicion making every streak of hope that coloured his face few moments ago disappear.
"She— she gave to someone?" He breathes out, his voice heavy with emotion and the anguish written all over his face makes Akira wish she kept her doubt to herself.
"I— I think so." She mumbles helplessly. "We should start with the interview." She says quickly to get rid of the awkwardness and gloomy tension that persisted in the room. She was the worst person to handle a situation like this which demanded to sympathize or console someone and say some kind words to make them feel better.
"Sure." He replies, without an iota of emotion and she starts the recording.
***
A little messy chapter maybe? Ugh, anyways do vote and comment. It really makes my day ❤️
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