Entering my new office 'SK designs' , I am greeted by my secretary. She is the same secretary I had in New York and got transferred for me here. "Good morning mr. Kulkarni."
"Good morning Shruti. And how many times should I tell you to just call me Shivansh. Afterall we are friends too , aren't we ?"
That's true. She is is one of the four friends that I made in New York , while the two of them have their own companies in India, they returned just after their graduation. Shruti having no fixed goal set for future decided to become my secretary as I already needed one. And about my last friend, Arush Patil, I don't know where things went wrong with him.
"That's true mr. Shivansh but you are here my authority , aren't you ? What happened to the 'I will boss you around , once you become my secretary' promise."
I chuckled at her comment.
"By the way , how are you here early. You told me you will come to visit the new office at 11 because you were going to meet an old friend."
I groan remembering the reason why I didn't enter the 'old friend's' home.
Ritika More to be specific. Though she is my sister's bestfriend but we too were quite close since childhood. I used to see her as my little sister just like Avi.
Get that in your head stupid Shivansh , little sister. Then why did you see her more than that a while ago? Why did you romantice her in your brain after seeing her after whole 7 years. Why did you ran off just because of this thought?"
Shruti cleared her throat and raised her eye brows towards me in question.
"Well I just thought I should do the tour of the new office so I can get settled before lunch break. What is my today's schedule by the way ?"
"Well nothing than meeting those 2 idiots for lunch."
Right , I had a small reunion with my two friends Ritvik Desai and Prem Singh . The ones who returned to India just after graduation to take over their family business.
"You are coming with me right?" I asked her because after we 5 were the bestfriends.
"Ofcource I missed them alot , and I can finally meet them again now."
"I know right."
"Yes but let's get back to today's schedule ." She said turning on her tab which was so dearest to her.
"Wait didn't you say we just had lunch in today's schedule?" I asked frustrated.
It's not like I didn't like working , heck someone even call my office as my wife because of all the over work I do. But I had a surprise for Avi and I wanted to help her settle that after lunch. But I can't now I guess.
"Yes , well you don't have any other client related work atleast but all the setup and all , we need suggestion and also we need to also hire someone as head for our Indian theme designs which we are planning as our next project. We are in short of employees here."
Right. SK DESIGNS is a world known brand which I have built from zero after my graduation. But it didn't had its branch in India, because after we left India we never looked back around till now. So this was a whole new branch and needed alot of set up. I could easily transfer some of the employees from New York branch to here. But I didn't wanted to disturb it's algorithm and also a Devesh Dada my cousin brother , took over that company as I was returning to India ; he didn't had mich experience so he needed some staff which were well experienced. So this branch like building from 20% or up , something like.
I looked at my wrist watch for the time , fasttrack , 20 years old. I could easily buy any expensive watches but well nothing is more expensive than things with past right.
"Well it's almost 9:30 a.m now , why don't you give me the tour to show me how much set up is completed so we can start discussing as much as we can before lunch." My secretary nodded at me.
The more fast I complete my work , the early I can leave to surprise Avi.
○○○
The tour was finally completed and it was 1.30 in the afternoon.
"So I have made list of what changed needs to be done and also what extra things you mentioned, I will start their process just after the lunch break."
Shruti informed me as she kept the tab in her handbag.
"Ok call then and ask if they are there already. I guess we should also leave."
Shruti nodded at me retrieving her phone from the same handbag.
I liked that about her , not the handbag. But the way she managed everything. She might be goofy around us but she was just as mature and serious during work. I can totally imagine marrying someone mature like her. Not her though. Sometimes friends are supposed to be just what they are, friends, not more not less.
Soon we were near the restaurant where we were supposed to have our short reunion.
"Hey he is finally here." Ritvik said raising the hand towards us.
"Look who is here. I took an early flight from Delhi , just for this re-union and was still on time. You are 5 minutes late sir." This was Prem showing me his 'expensive more that this restaurant' wrist watch.
"It's just 5 minutes guys, seriously!?"
I shrugged sitting beside Ritvik as Shruti sat beside Prem.
"Look who is the one talking." Prem said as he wrapped his hand around Shruti in friendly way. "And By the way, are you over-working our Shruti huh? See how thin she has got.
Shruti snorted slapping Prem's hand.
"Who are you? My dad?"
We laughed at her remark but suddenly Prem and Shruti stopped laughing. They were sitting facing the entrance while we had our back towards it. I turned to look at the entrance.
Arush.
Arush Patil.
Fists clenched.
Eyes red.
What he was doing here ? In India ?
Arush turned his back towards us and left straight away.
"You all called him ?" I asked them feeling equally enraged.
"We just wanted you bkth to solve whatever matter was there between you both." Ritvik answered as he rubbed my back.
"You both were closed more than you were ever with us. What even went down hill between you both?" My voice went up and the
"**** of I knew. He is the one who is ignoring me without any reason. He doesn't even want to talk to me. You all shouldn't have called him"
Suddenly feeling enraged , I stomped out of the restaurant.
After sometime, feeling little cooled down I went inside the restaurant seeing them enjoying their food. They looked nonchalant, used to my anger.
They shouldn't. They shouldn't be used to my anger , they should have protested , but they didn't. I don't know what good deeds I did in my past life to get them as my friends.
I sat on the place I previously secured, acted to clear my throat and fix my tie and mumbled "sorry" while looking at my food down.
One chuckled, other giggled and another just shook his head.
We have always been like this.
○○○
It's 9 p.m right now. Just after the dinner and catching up , Shruti returned with me to the office for the remaining work it took us 6 hours to complete everything. Exactly at 8:30 I dismissed everyone amd returned home , only to find that Avi was not yet home. This girl seriously. I tried calling her but first it was unreachable and then switched off. This girl will give me a heart attack. We have returned to India after 7 years and many thi g's have changed. She might be in some danger but this girl.
Think positive Shivansh she might be still with Ritu---Ritika.
Ugh I should have taken her phone no.
I waste no time to go towards my garage and start the engine of my car pacing towards Ritika's house.
I ring the bell two times but no one answered. I might as well have a panic attack now. It is almost 10 at night and no one is answering , Avi's phone is still switched off.
I guess I should file a complaint to the police. But the police is never of any use. Just when I am about to turn back towards my car , I hear a steal.
It's not of Avi.
My eyes widen as realisation.
Is it of Ritika? Is she in danger?
I start banging my hand loudly on the wooden door.
"RITIKA! IF YOU ARE IN THERE ANSWER ME. ARE YOU IN DANGER ?"
Just as in queue , the door created open. I was alert to beat the shut of whoever was in there threatening Ritika.
I got ready to march in and almost hit the person in front until--
To be continued
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