Chapter 4 : The Devil's Diabolic Anger
Gauri had never felt so trapped. She wasn't comfortable at all. Suddenly the over sweetness of the Oberoi family members was too much to take. Anika didn't speak a word to her. She had tried thrice to strike a causal conversation.
She sat simply looking at the dresses while Anika went inside to try each of the selected. It was the third time when Anika disappeared inside, that Pinky excused herself leaving only Shivaay and Gauri. Gauri was awkward as he smiled at her formally. Their glances met occasionally. She wondered whether she should talk it out with him. She looked around carefully.
While Gauri stared at the servant arranging the dinning table at a distance. Shivaay called her name.She swiped her gaze around to rest it at him.
"Ahh, Anika told me you aren't happy with our engagement." Shivaay started. It was awkward to start the conversation.
"Shivaay, it isn't that way." Gauri managed to say softly, quickly glancing around. "It's just that.. I want the best for her. She's.." Gauri quickly fell silent noticing Anika coming. Shivaay understood and focused his attention all to his to-be-wife. She looked gorgeous. She hadn't done her hair fancily neither had any make-up on. If she looked so beautiful now he wondered how breathtaking she'd look if she made efforts to look still beautiful. "You look amazing." His voice came out as just a whisper.
Anika smiled looking up and then blushed at the way Shivaay looked at her. Gauri quickly looked down at the other dresses feeling awkward. Then she looked up when she heard Shivaay ask her opinion. "It looks lovely." She said softly looking at her sister's almond shaped eyes that caught hers then looked away.
"Thanks." Anika murmured. Walking over to Shivaay's side. "This is the last one I am trying." She said picking up the golden dress and walking back into the room.
A few seconds of silence passed and Shivaay looked at Gauri again. "You were saying something."
Gauri tucked her hair behind her ear nervously. "I was wondering if we could talk. Not here. " she added the latter quickly. Once again her glance went around the room in apprehension.
"Alright. Just drop me a message. Or call. Whenever you want I will be there. I understand.."
"Tomorrow morning?" Gauri asked quickly."Or evening, whatever's okay."
"Morning seems okay. Anyway I go out for a walk, I will.."
"Richard's park? Near our apartment at seven?"
"Perfect." Shivaay said looking at her oddly.
Gauri almost jumped out of her skin when she heard her phone beep. She hurriedly took out her phone, sweat beads on her forehead and her heart ramming madly in her ribcage.
She unlocked the screen and let out a breath she had been holding due to the fear. It was a promotion text message from the network provider. She looked up relieved, only to find Shivaay's watchful eyes on her. With much effort she pulled her lips into a smile and shook her head.
* * *
Gauri hurriedly walked into the elevator of the Oberoi enterprises and pressed the button shining with a red thirteen. She turned to the mirror running her hand over her hair, then tying it into a ponytail. She gave a quick checking look to her white shirt tucked in neatly into the waist band of her formal pants.
She bit her lower lip in nervousness. She took a deep breath as the elevator's display flashed a red thirteen. She was two minutes early. She greeted Arun who sat at the entry of the office area. The entire floor had restricted entry.
"Conference room twelve. His mood seems bad. Here's the copy of the new version of the magazine. This is the updates from the architects. This is another list, just give that to him, no questions on that. If he asks for coffee, make sure you remind the kitchen staff to not put sugar. Breathe in and go."
Gauri blinked trying not to miss any detail. This is what walking into hell felt like. She quickly made her way to the conference room and knocked. His loud "come in" made her heart jerk in fear. She sent up a prayer as she walked in with small steps, taking care to make least possible noise.
He sat on a chair and across him sat a man on another chair. The man's expression made fear grow on Gauri's nerves. The man looked terrified and was sweating profusely. There was no one else in the room, just the three of them. She stood parallel to his chair, at a good three foot distance.
"Sir.." She stuttered. His piercing gaze on the man, folded sleeves of his shirt and loosened tie all were a possible hint of how terrible a situation she was in. She had seen him get a man beaten up at the back lawn of the mansion. Hopefully something like that wasn't happening at the moment.
"Stay there." He pointed to the side desk. Gauri quickly followed what she was asked to do. She turned away to not face him.
"Face this side." He said without looking at her. Gauri closed her eyes momentarily and turned back to face them again.
"Tell me. How much did they pay you? If you tell me honestly your pain will be less." He asked the man, almost screaming at his face. Gauri gulped in fear. His daunting cold voice sent shivers coursing through her nerves.
"Sir ,I did not.." The man stuttered. Too bad for him. Cause he received a real hard slap in his face. Gauri pressed her lips, to avoid her gasp. He hand clutching on to the table slightly.
"How many companies did you sell the plan to? I need the number."
"Sir..I didn't.." The man tried again.
Gauri quickly closed her eyes halfway expecting what could come. When she heard the man groan, she opened her eyes again. She wanted to runaway at the moment. This could get so much worse.
She simply tried taking a step away. He glanced at her and she stood rooted to the spot at once. Dam the devil.
"Gauri, could you please fetch us two cups of steaming hot coffee. Black. Things get better with coffee." he spoke in his sweetest tone. Gauri couldn't believe that tone to be true. She hurried out of the room. Once out she took a deep breath. This man was as diabolic as she had assumed in her nightmares. She quickly walked over to the kitchen and called out to the man requesting for two cups of black coffee. The man gave her a dreadful look and filtered the coffee into two cups. He put it on a tray and handed it to her. Gauri knew there was no point saying anything against Devil to anyone. She walked back.
* * *
Gauri placed the tray on the small table between the two chairs.
"Sir I've.." she started observing the quiet in the room. "design--upda-tes" she stuttered as he fixed his hard gaze on her.
"Stay." his tone was freezing cold. Certainly not the kind you argue with.She went back to the side table and stood there.
"Is it too hot?" he asked her staring at the man.
"It is." Gauri could barely get voice out of her mouth. She stared at the evaporating vapor from the coffee.
"Did you hear that?" Omkara spoke to the man. He picked up one cup. "It would be enough to burn.."
Gauri's mouth fell open in shock. Omkara pulled his hand holding the cup steadily backwards. "How many companies?
"Siiirr--"the man stammered.
"Say the truth. " Gauri screamed unable to take the scene. His intentions were clear. He was going to pour the steaming coffee on the man.
"three companies. Two lakhs each." the man shouted almost crying.
Omkara turned his sharp gaze on her and then back at the man keeping the cup down. He pressed the redial button on the landline phone and seconds later two men walked in and carried the man out.
Gauri rubbed her lower face with her palm and stared at him wide eyed. He got up and walked over to his huge mahogany desk with the second cup of coffee in his hand.
He leaned against his desk sipping from the cup, while his eyes were on her. "New Design?"
Gauri blinked.
He smiled a little despite the scorching burn on his tongue. "Gauri. New design." he said in a rather calm tone. Like he'd been doing nothing minutes ago.
Gauri wiped the sweat off her face, gulping the lump that had formed in her throat. He extended his left hand. Gauri walked closer, just close enough to be able to hand him the magazine.
He turned and placed it on the table flipping the pages. "good to go."
"Fill me on the updates." he said turning back to face her, taking yet another sip." The architect- firm has -estimated - a design- time of at least - a month." Gauri uttered.
"Darling, I don't have the whole day!" he spoke looking at her nervous face. Gauri parted her lips and took a deep breath. Trying to forget what just happened and muster her courage.
"Sweetheart, get used to it." Saying that he turned to his table grabbing the cordless phone. "Send the next in."
He turned back to find her staring at him. He smirked taking a step closer and her body tensed up. He took the papers from her hand. "I need you to notify all the senior managers of every department that there will be a meeting tomorrow. I will be there. " She nodded carefully observing every little of his movement. "Send the mails." She stood rooted at the spot nodding.
"Now." he leaned slightly over her as he added. Gauri quickly made it to the side desk and sat behind the table. He grinned and continued sipping his coffee. Things always got better with steaming cup of black coffee.
How do the diabolical waters feel?
–Anami!🖤