Author pov:
Meera woke up from her deep slumber when she was disturbed by her alarm. She scrunched her eyebrows when those golden rays of sun met her hazel eyes.
By stretching her arms above her head, she arched her body backwards, she turned towards the door entrance when Laya entered the room.
The latter's skin radiated eminent glow due to the kicking of pregnancy hormones inside her body. Her hairstrands looked thicker and smooth while her cheeks gleamed pink.
"You're up already. It's Sunday, why don't you rest a bit?", asked Laya.
"Nah, no need. I'm fine", replied Meera as she leaned towards the little bump of Laya.
"Hey junior, do you hear me? This is your aunt. Are you fine there?", she kept her ears on the clothed bump.
"It's just two months. It won't hear anything", said Laya as she smiled at her friend's naughtiness yet loved that.
"She'll hear me. I know about her. After all, I'm her aunt"
"She?", questioned the latter as she was surprised by Meera's statement.
"Yep, she's a she! I know the best about her", replied Meera.
"You might experience some shortage of light over there but don't worry, I'll take care of you when you get here. We'll go around the world", she continued.
"Oh hello, you both can wait until you meet each other but for now try to care for me too", Laya faked her anger by pouting.
"How can I forget about my best friend? You are the best", Meera hugged Laya.
"Then what about Arjun?", teased Laya. Meera let out a foxy smile and went inside to fresh up.
♣️♣️♣️
The room was filled with the pleasant scent of wood when Arjun came back from his shower in a gray robe. Drops of water yearned to be with him but forced to land on the tiled floor due to gravity's betrayal.
He walked towards the phone placed on the wooden table. The incoming caller was Meera.
Arjun pov:
"I'm so sorry Arjun. I slept a bit early yesterday and my phone was in silent. That's why I couldn't attend your call. I'm so sorry", Meera pleaded on the other side.
I chose not to speak. I was so much worried the whole night when she didn't attend any of my calls. Tension reached its maximum and I was on the verge of driving to Laya's house.
But then, I called Laya and confirmed that Meera was safe and dead asleep. That's when my heartbeat came back to normal rhythm.
"I'm sorry Aju", I came back from my thoughts when she said that. Aju. That's a nickname.
All my fuming anger and ego washed away when she called me by my newly found nickname. I can't help but smile.
"What did you say?", I asked.
"What? I didn't say anything", she replied.
"I'll forgive you only if you repeat what you said earlier", I declared with a smirk.
"A..aj...Aju", she said with much hesitancy and sheepishness.
"I can't hear you", I teased her a bit.
I heard a laugh from the other side. Her laughter is a melody to my ears which I would gladly listen till my death.
"Okay, no problem, I just wanted to make sure you were all right. That's why I called you yesterday", I spoke.
"I'm good and one more thing, can we meet tomorrow by seven in the eve?", Meera asked me in a serious tone.
"Anything for you, sweetie"
"Meera, breakfast is ready", I heard a distant voice from the other side whom I know to be Laya.
"OK see you later, bye", she said and cut the call.
I can't help but smirk when I think about all the efforts I've made to attain you, Meera. It just took one glance, a mere glance at you, I yearned more, craved her touch, her kiss, her everything and the rest is all history.
The greed to give her all the happiness in the world just from me, fueled my desires.
I can't differentiate whether my love for you is obsession or craziness but one thing is clear, you are not going away from me nor I would ever think about forgetting you.
A series of incidents from his past flashed in his mind.
Author pov:
Six years ago
It has been a year since Arjun, Fawad and Kathir started éblouir. They didn't have proper cash to pay their employees. Their business was not going well and were on the brink of being bankrupt.
On the other hand, Arjun was so adamant on not lending money from his father, in order to prove his talent of handling a business to him. As far as Kathir was concerned, he had frequent pressure from his family to make money for his sister's wedding. Fawad had to save some amount for his mother's surgery.
All three were frustrated and on the verge of leaving their business and go back to their usual lives.
Arjun was sitting beside the reception desk, deep in his thoughts and not bothered my his surroundings. He was searching ways to convey an important news to his friends that they have failed to secure a contract with the sponsor.
"Excuse me, Sir"
"Sir", his thoughts were scattered when someone slightly banged the wooden desk.
"Yes?"
"We want a room", a man in his early twenties asked Arjun.
"How many?"
"Three", he replied when the other person was done counting the rest of the crowd.
"Can u book the air-conditioned rooms?", questioned the girl who stood beside him.
"We don't have AC rooms", replied Arjun.
"Urgghh how can I sleep without AC? For god sake, what kind of resort is this, how can u run a resort without AC?", the girl was infuriated when she heard that reply from Arjun.
"Ma'am you can very well book rooms in any other resort. I'm not asking you to stay", Arjun was done being patient in that situation.
"Sorry sir, it's past midnight and we were on a road trip down Goa but on the way we got tired. We searched for hotels but there wasn't any vacant rooms. Can u please book those three rooms?", a girl who belonged to the same age group of others stepped in front.
"Okay", he let out a sigh and asked, "Your name please", as he took a pen to write down in the register.
"Meera"
"Okay, here are your keys. Enjoy your stay. Thank you", replied the latter as he handed over the keys to Meera and gave a professional smile.
♠️♠️♠️
Couple of days passed and Arjun has discussed the situation of éblouir with his partners.
"It was our last ray of hope", said Fawad starting into emptiness.
"Let this group be our last costumers. We can close this once for all", it was Kathir's turn to call their business an end.
"Maybe we're not fit for this", Arjun let out the cigarette smoke which formed swirls before advancing into thin air.
Tears threatened to fall out of Arjun's eyes which longed for even a small streak of assurance and hope. He clutched his hair with his fingers out of anger, not wanting to go back to his father and accept his defeat.
"A friend of mine is working in a bank. I've talked to him about our loan. If the loan is sanctioned within a couple of weeks, it might be helpful for us. If not, we know what to do", Arjun stepped on the cigarette and continued to walk towards the main door.
"We'll see", the other two proceeded towards their room while Arjun was busy thinking about what his future holds for him.
He badly want to hug his mother and cry aloud but alas, he was left with no one.
He pressed the lift button and walked inside. His heart drowned in sorrow and misery, yearned for aspiration and thoughtful words.
Being surrounded with many problems and no one to believe in him, he was about to surrender to fate.
"What can I do? It's over, it's over", he mumbled as he cried his heart out.
He felt sudden suffocation and intense gravity acting on him. His eyes drooped over, his lungs gasped for breath, drops of sweat damped his shirt and his limbs were trembling. His hands searched for something to hold on but there was nothing but a flat glass stuck on one side of the lift.
He closed his eyes and accepted his fate. If he has to fail his friends, family or himself, if he has to accept his defeat, if he has to welcome his death, he gladly accepted these.
The lift door opened to reveal a figure rushing towards him.
"Sir sir, are you okay?"
He barely opened his eyes and muttered,
"Meera"
.
.
.
Heyy guys, hope you liked this chapter. Pls do vote and comment your thoughts so that I can improve my writing if there are any flaws.
Good day.
-dazzlerxshasha