Midnight Whispers (short stories collection) - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Shlok's Pov
"Hey" My friends greeted me, as I slumped on the sofa of VVIP room of the club, we had opened together ten years back!
Time do flies by.
Ten years back, if someone had told me, I'd we working as a CEO of my father's company, rather than partying my ass off, I'd laughed at their face, and had tell them to fuck off.
But circumstances changed.
I changed, and basically everything changed.
From, a party boy, I turned into the emotionless man, who did not even cried at his father's death, nor the funeral. To be honest, I did not saw a point in crying over his death. We were never close. Even before my mom's death, he was always with her. Always sticking to her like a fucking leach. And never ever paid any attention to me.
He even refused to have any other children with mom, cause they were a distraction for her, and took all her attention away from him. But then something happened we all never even thought about in our dreams.
Dad cheated.
And not only that, my ever obsessed dad with mom, cheated on her, with his assistant, who was probably ten years younger than he was, even though it was only once and according to him a mistake.. And it was start of our downfall. Dad refused to give mom a divorce, and her health deteriorated. Dad begged on his knees, but mom was far too gone. That one year, mom and I came close like never before. She started spending every second of her time, with me completely ignoring dad. I was four at that time. I saw by dad cry. Every day I saw him cry and beg for mom's forgiveness, but mom used to look at him, and say only one thing, that she wants divorce.
Few months later, mom had totally lost all of her weight, and Pathan --my father's bodyguard, and now an assistant, after he fired the girl he had affair with-- took her to hospital. And a few months later, mom died of cancer.
Dad became a total numb after that. He never talked to anyone, out of business, he had a routine, wake up at four, go for a run, go to mom's memorial tree he had planted --it was mom's dying wish to plant a tree of her name. He did.
He used to sit there and talk to her --the tree-- for hours before leaving to his office. All in all he had time to talk to a tree, but no time to give to his son, who had his beloved's DNA in him. I always use to think why was he so obsessed with mom. Why he loved her so much. He never even once, looked at other woman, let alone touch them.
I did not understood it then...
I understand it now.
I nodded at my friends.
It was not like I was totally expressionless or something. I did laughed --forced-- with them. I enjoyed clubbing with them. What I don't like is women, basically. Who throws themselves at me. All of them looks like the girl who dad had affair with.
Of course, there were women I respect. Women like my mother. I just don't want women like mom to be hurt by some women like my dad's assistant. I had sworn to myself, the day, Pathan told me all the fucked up secrets of my family, that I will be one woman man.
Shree.... that one woman I have loved since I came to know about what love is. She was also the woman, I was loyal to, no matter if she accept me or not, she is the one of my life. If I won't be able to spend my life time with her..... I'll spend them in her memories.... But she is it for me!
We have been together for ten years now. I met her when I was eighteen, she was only sixteen at that time. I was mesmerized by her. With her cute ponytail hanging down her pretty head, and brown eyes, she looked nothing less then a fairy, who barged into my life, provided me comfort time to time. she had always did her best for me! given her best. I had realised she was also an orphan, and by the time I met her, I was already a changed person. I was not the ass anymore.
"Let's play a game!" Kaya -one of my friend's girlfriend- said. I looked away, I don't have any interest in playing games.
"Come on! Shlok, lets play it nah!" She whined, God! she is so irritating! she is always sticking to me, even after having a relationship. I never told Rajat about that, because one, I don't want to spoil whatever they have, and two, I don't want to sound like a narcissist.
I nodded when they said it'll be truth and dare. They will ask me and I will say truth only, they won't know if I am saying truth or not anyways!
They started a game and everyone was given tasks. Good, bad, worst, horrendous. Ewww....
My chance had not came yet, but I was enjoying the tasks given to others. And as if I had just put the omen on me, the bottle turned to me. I rolled my eyes. Before they can ask me I already said I'd choose truth! Some whined, wanting to give me tasks, and other looked curious, and unfortunately, the person in front of me was Miss Kaya.
"Hmm, so tell us Shlok, have you ever been in love, if yes then how long?" Kaya asked. Others rolled their eyes, muttering impossible!
As if!
"Yes" I said, as a ghost smile took over me.
"WHAT?" I heard a few shouts, and other of how is that possible! I ignored them "I'd been in love since last ten years." I told them, thinking they will catch on it, and know who the person was!
"Uh-oh!" Vijay, my closest friend said. "I think I know, who you are talking about!" He said.
"Really, tell me!" Rajat said. I looked at him, he looked at me as if asking for permission, I nodded, although I was not sure if he will get it correct.
"Shreyanvi, his assistant for last ten years." My heart beat fastened at the mention of her name only. Oh good lord! My cheek caught fire.
"Ahh Lover! huhhh" they teased me, and after a few minutes moved to next. I leaned my head and closed my eyes. Drifting into the dream where we met for the first time.
"I....I am Shre... Shreyanvi. I wanted to join this company!" A timid girl in baggy jeans and loose shirt told my receptionist. It was only few days since dad died and I took over the work.
"Are you out of your mind! Do you even know what you are saying?" I heard her shouting. "First you are underage, and then you are telling us to do this!" I looked at the girl shaking with her head down. She looked around my age, probably even smaller than me, and she was so short, she would hardly make it upto my chin in her heels. However she was not wearing heels, she was wearing shoes, which were torn.
She was trying her best to hide them!
"B..But mam, I will do any..." Before she can say anything, receptionist threw the glass of water on her face. Oh god! She still stood there, shivering. I looked at it and felt anger seep in my veins. I strode towards them, and the same time she turned around and walked right into my chest. She got back and stood there rubbing her forehead, her cute nose was pink.
"What's happening here?" I asked to receptionist, and she flinched along with the timid girl!
"S..sir, hello, I was wai..." She started.
"YOU..." I shouted. "IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT EVERYONE WHO COMES HERE?" She shook her head, but I was on roll. "GET OUT, LALA, WRITE HER TERMINATION LETTER, AND MAKE SURE SHE DON'T GET ANY JOB UNTIL AN YEAR" I announced. I won't let her go away with this. She was talking to her as if she was some high class girl and she was a commoner.
These commoners were the persons because of whom, my company was where it was. Had not they have bought my products, we would've been nothing but a town businessman?
"And you!" I turned to the cutest little girl I've seen in my life. "You need a job, follow me" I said and moved towards lift. Stunned she did not follow me for a minute, but then she came running.
I talked to her about what she had to do, and what she wanted to do. For two years she worked away from me, with the account department as she had to complete her high school. I frequently met her, and we'd lunch daily.
After that, she filled the form for open university (she only had to go to give examination) and I took her in and she became my personal assistant. I still remember when it was a month into her becoming my assistant, I'd shouted at her, because she was so clumsy, always mixing up the files.
She had apologised profusely to me and went back to her work. Whole day I was worried about her, because she looked so down. At eight, she was still working when I approached her. I took her out for a dinner --date, but she did not knew it-- but she did not talked to me throughout the whole dinner and despite being myself I tried to joke with her, she smiled and laughed --fake-- at them but never looked up at me.
And when I told her to talk to me, she started crying, she told me she was scared that I will fire her any minute. I panicked, seeing her watery eyes. I then realised I can't even watch her tears. I apologised to her and hugged her tight, until she stopped crying. She told me not to worry and that was my first physical touch with her, I kissed her forehead. I felt frenzy of emotions in me. I realised I loved her.
After that, rumours --but true-- flew around the company that I adore Shree and won't take it if anyone messed with her. So no one ever talked to her with their voice high! She became very comfortable with me. She touched me without any restraint, would tell me if she was uncomfortable with our clients, I started taking her suggestions in our meetings, I chose to be with her all the time, when I was not working. Casual touches, and kisses --on forehead-- became our constant. I always initiated it, she never did. She had hugged me a lot though. She know everything about me, and she is always there for me on the worst days of my life. My dadi's death and my mom's death!
And for past few days, I was thinking of confessing my love to her.
"OK, so its Shlok's turn" Kaya said. "And this time its dare only!" she announced. I rolled my eyes but said nothing, I was leaving in few minutes anyways.
"Call your assistant and tell her you are stranded on the road, and need to take her help, and ask her to be there." Kaya Challenged. I became angry. I was about to deny.
"Yes, do it! let's see how she will react!" That was not a bad idea? Was it?! So I called Shree.
"Hello, Sir, everything good?!" She asked, concern clear in her voice. So many times I'd told her to call me by my name, she never did.
"Um.... Shree... I was stranded on the road and I needed you to pick me up, can you please come!?" I said, I heard hustling of keys from her side.
"Yes. tell me where are you!? I am coming" Warmth seeped in my veins and I once again found a ghost smile on my lips.
"Say colaba.. colaba.." I heard my friends whispering and I frowned, I had not heard what she said.
"Colaba." I said to whatever she asked. I hadn't listened to her question. She cut the phone. I called her again a few times to tell her that she don't have to go anywhere, but she never picked up. I was sitting there for half an hour more.
"I need to use restroom" I said and walked away, my phone still on the table. No one will call me during that time, now will anyone? I went away with my phone still with my friends. Not a big mistake right? I came back, took my phone and left from there.