In love with life / book 1 of life series

So called date

(Anand's VOC)

Indhu gave me a knowing Grin as we sat in my office after the visit to the Fxz2 floor. "Do you need some medical help?" I asked her in my mocking tone.

"You will need some after I tell this to you." Indhu said.

"And what is it?" I asked still mocking her.

"I found your girl." Did she catching me looking at Akshaya?

Hell no!!

"What?" I asked fully alarmed.

"Don't you think Miss. Mishtra suits all the qualities you described an year ago?" Thank goodness, she didn't catch me.

"So?" I asked.

"So? She the right catch brother!" I rolled my eyes at her response.

"Indhu don't start this again." I spoke.

"Seriously, she's intelligent, beautiful, charming, seems a little innocent but I'll find out about that. A few of your describtions match and I like her. Hopefully mom will also like her." She spoke giving me an ear to ear grin.

"Your not going to scare her away Indhu! She's an amazing resource to the company." I spoke.

"To the company or you?" She asked and my eyes shot up in surprise. She must have caught me.

"Don't beat about the bush, come straight." I said.

"Simple, your completely smitten by her charm." She simply answered.

"Who tells you that?" I asked.

"Um... you?" She asked mockingly.

"Don't play stupid with me Indhu." I warned.

"I never play stupid. Especially with my little brother." She spoke.

"What do you imply?" I asked sternly.

"Do you think I didn't notice you staring at her while she's speaking to me? That girl is too nave to observe, not me." Neither I have an answers nor can I deny.

"You don't remember many of your employee's name properly too Anand." She spoke.

"Wrong, I do remember most of their names."

"Yes but you remember her first and middle name too which is quite interesting." She eyed me suspeciously.

"She's too talented. I would obviously remember her name, keeping her talent into consideration. Besides she's the lead to the dream project."

"Keep denying but she is indeed something. If I found her match with the describing you've given. You have to marry her by hook or by crook." She warned and I rolled my eyes.

"How can you decide a person by looking at her for the first time?" I asked Indhu.

"I can estimate a person by looking at a person's face. A talent I always had and a thing which you always envied that you didn't have. I will let the things I want happen Anand. No one can stop me from doing that." Come on, she's warning me now.

"Dream on." I spoke but she gave me a humor less laugh.

"I know that you like her too. Can't blame her, she looks a little like Minnu. Am I right?" Honestly, it never crossed my mind.

"No she and Minnu are quite different. Minnu is too weak but Akshaya is too strong." I said.

"Your still living in your dreamworld with Minnu. I know you loved her although you were best friends by name." Come on, it is a closed chapter. The remains are never there as she took them away with her. I never confessed my love to Minnu. She is a carefree, reckless and innocent girl but she left. God took her away from me.

The thing that's surprising is that, I never thought of Minnu in these days. I am busy looking at Akshaya now a days. This girls is doing something to me.

"I never loved Minnu, she was my best friend." I denied.

" Hmmmm, Whatever, I'm going to run an enquiry on her and if she fits just right. There's no other go for you brother." She spoke to raise my anger further.

"I'll make sure that you wouldn't touch my employee." I warned but she didn't care.

"I won't touch her, I'll just run an enquiry." She teased.

"What ever you do is fine unless you try to hurt her." I spoke.

"Oh, now you care." She teased again bringing back her stupidity.

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(Akshaya's VOC)

The time when old friends meet is something different. That's what is happening right now. Guna and Geetha showed up today evening. I met Mrs. Karthikeya today. She is stunning as always. In her cotton saree with a warm smile plastered on her face. I always loved her though. Who wouldn't, the daring lady who was the sole reason why the Bhatia firm stood on its legs after the sudden death of Arjuna Bhatia. Mrs. Bhatia would come before her but she lost her loved one at those times. She was devastated but she was a fierce lady with confidence. She changed completely after her husband's death.

"Hello, where have you been?"Guna asked and I turned to the two love birds.

"Waiting for my turn in the conversation." I said.

"Do you need a formal invitation?" Geetha asked.

"No but you guys are blabbering like love sick puppies." Geetha's eyes widened in surprise and Guna gave me a warning glare.

"Oh, someone is jealous." Geetha simply replied, giggling. I and Guna followed laughing at her stupidity and she eyed us in surprise.

If only she knows what we have in store for her.........

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(Anand's VOC)

Her picture came into my mind again. Why couldn't I keep my mind off her?

I have to curse my idea to meet here. Can't do anything as I wanted to inspect as Indhu suggested. She owes me big time for this. I hate to wait and he didn't turn up. I'll sew him for being this late. Will she keep me on wait if I wanted to meet her somewhere in the future?

Again! I'll kill myself for getting stupid for a girl. I turned to walk away. Screw the Malhotra. I dashed out after leaving a message to him. He's going to suffer, not me, so why should I wait?

I don't know why my head spun back as I reached the elevator. I saw the girl who was haunting me in both my life and my dreams! I rubbed my eyes to make sure and undoubtedly it's her. No-one can laught whole heartedly like her. I walked near to her table and I sat on a nearby table to catch a glympse of her.

She must be with her friend. The same ones I've seen at the university cafeteria.

Must be a get to gather.

They kept laughing at senseless jokes. She laughed more than the others though. It stands out of everyone.

She's one of a kind beauty. I always miss her. I mostly stare at her pictures on my phone which I sneaked while she's busy doing something whenever I rounded her floor. Today is a fest for me. No walpaper or a video or some stupid footage. Live version.

I'll spare Malhotra for this.

They seemed to be too close, nothing to offend but, why is this guy sitting beside her acting too weird?

He kept touching her. Can't he talk without touching her?

But she didn't care! God, why is she too nave?

Blood kept boiling inside my veins whever he leaned closer to whisper something in her ears. Trying to touch her skin intentionally.

That's it! I had enough!

I'll pull him away!

Right now!

I walked to their table but still she didn't notice me. Her friend's eye shot up and they widened in surprise.

"Akki, your boss." She muttered and Akshaya turned her eyes to me.

"Fancy meeting you here Akshaya." I spoke and she still eyed me in surprise.

"Good evening sir." She greeted.

"Not an evening to be precise Miss." I snapped giving the guy a death glare but he didn't care!

Are they both in a relationship?

No, couldn't be!

He seems like an i***t, what will he take care of her.

"Yes sir." She answered a little annoyed.

"May I join you for tonight? My date ditched me."

Take that Akshaya!

As if she has feelings for you, Mr.

She doesn't but I need to save my reputation.

You've already ruined it by coming to their table.

Screw you!

"Sure sir, it'd be a pleasure." She answered. I dragged the chair beside her giving the guy beside her a warning look.

"Are you having a date?" Screw me! Why do I need to know?

Because your dying i***t!

"Date? I'm sorry sir but we wouldn't call a get together with friends a date." I breathed out heavily. I didn't know I was holding my breath until now.

"Then, I didn't disturb you?" I asked eying the guy.

"No sir, absolutely not. Not everytime do we get a chance to sit for dinner with the Anand Bhatia." The guy answered.

"Um..... Yea, right." She's not happy that I came?

Come on, he must be her boyfriend.

No way, she must not have any!

Anand, who are you to descide her life?

None of your bussiness.

"You seemed to be unhappy about my presence?" Screw my mouth.

"It's just that you'd find the things we talk too silly sir." She replied.

"Well, I wouldn't as most people in this planet are silly and it's a gift to be silly. Not everyone can be kids when they grew up." I answered and she blushed.

Oh that blush after almost an year........

"I'm sorry sir." God she's killing me.

"Akki when will you learn the difference between a compliment and annoyance?" Why does this guy need to nose into everything.

"Oh....... Um...... Sorry sir, thank you for the compliment." She answered.

"Your welcome." I spoke and her friend cleared her throat

"Oh sorry, sir I'd like you to meet my friends, Guna and Geetha and guys meet your inspiration, Anand Bhatia." Whoa, am I not her inspiration?

"It's nice meeting you sir, thanks to Akshaya for this situation." The girl answered.

"Pleasure meeting you too Geetha and Guna." I said and I saw Akshaya rolling her eyes. What's with this girl? Why is she troubled because of me? She will be the death of me undoubtedly.

"Sir, your interview in India today is a masterpiece! Do you truely believe that the future of automobiles in India will change after the launch of Fxz2?"

Why does it sound amazing to hear that from him? I know, cause I'm better than him.

Oh no, because your jealous of him.

Me and jealous is an understatement.

Then, why are you burning on the inside?

Oh, shut up!

"Thank you but about Fxz2, why don't you ask you friend as she's the lead to the team." Their eyes widened in disbelief and Akshaya hid her face in her palms.

"Akki, your the lead of Fxz2?" Both her friends asked in union. Why did she hid it from them? Was she afraid that they'd get jealous?

Must be.

"Yes." She simply answered.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Both of them asked togather again.

"Guys, it never came in between us in the past year. I'm not the lead. I'm the team leader. Mr. Raman and Mr. Bhatia are the lead." She answered.

"Girl I'll hang you in the middle of the town! You are rocking here and you never told us! Today's bill is your, it'll be your treat!" Her friend shreeked and Akshaya simply nodded.

"How about I pay instead? This could be the least I can do for the mastermind behind the success." I interfered.

"No sir, I'll pay. This has to be my treat." She protested.

"Akshaya, I'm willingly accepting." I spoke sternly.

"No sir, I can't let you. I'm already getting paid for what I'm doing." Stubborn girl!

"Akshaya, I never take no for an answer. I'm paying and it's final." I tried to scare her and she did accept.

"Thank you sir." She spoke.

"Did you guys order your food?" They shook their head.

"Very well, I'll do it in that case." I spoke and they nodded.

The manager appeared in no time right then.

"Sir, do you need me to get you somewhere more private?" He asked. I would love it if I found her sitting alone but now, I don't think it's required.

"No thank you, this is much better." I said and he nodded.

"Do you want your usual or the chefs special for the night?" He asked

"Get me both for four." He nodded and turned around.

"You come here often, sir?" Poor girl she's too innocent.

"I own this building." I smirked and she simply nodded. I think she must've expected. Maybe she's not too innocent.

"So, from when are you three friends?" I asked to keep them busy.

"I and Geetha are friends since childhood but Guna here, joined us during engineering." Akshaya spoke.

"So, where are you two placed?" I don't care about the girl but I need an answer from that bastard.

"I got placed in Wipro and Guna is doing his masters in Berkeley." Ohkay this is disappointing, he's a little to close to what I've done but I'm an MIT alumina!

"What is your Major?" I asked him.

"Design, Aerospace and automobiles, sir." God! This guy!

"I'm sorry to ask this Guna but are there any chances that your just trying to copy me as I've done my major in the same group." I know that almost half the country took me as their inspire. I'm just trying to bring him low infront of Akshaya.

Why?

I don't know.

"No sir, I'm not interested in bussiness. I'd love to move into research field. It was my passion since I was a kid." He's playing too cool but he doesn't know me!

As I was about to argue, the food arrived. I will let him down before her eyes today.

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(Akshaya's VOC)

"Something is wrong with you. Do you want to get checked up somewhere?" I asked after we dropped Geetha at her aunt's place. She came here as her grandmother wanted to see her younger daughter.

Everything would have went smoothly if my boss didn't show up. Guna wasn't able to propose Geetha because of his presence and to top it off he kept mocking on Guna without any mercy. He tried to show off a lot and I wonder why? He never does this but he did. Other that the annoying of Guna part, we all enjoyed his company. He's indeed too ordinary although he acts to be shrewd.

"Nothing's wrong, why?" He asked me drumming the steering.

"You need a much better explanation? You kept flirting with me, did you think about what Geetha would think?" I asked, if he changes his mind for me I'll definitely kill him.

"I did flirt but that's for a good reason." He replied.

"And what reason would that be?" I asked and he chuckled.

"What's soo funny?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Nothing." He said still chuckling

"Tell me the reason Guna!" I protested and he eyed me this time.

"Alright, I will! Don't look at me like you'll eat me alive." He said.

"I'm not going to eat you alive." I said.

"Okay, let me warn you that you aren't going to yell on me after this." I nodded.

"I was trying to flirt you to make Geetha jealous in the beginning but when your boss arrived, it turned out to be more fun!" What is he talking about.

"What? I don't get you." I spoke.

"Don't tell me that your lame enough to know that he's smitten by you." He's mad!

"Wha..... Your insane! Your talking about the Anand Bhatia and besides he's my boss!" I protest.

"I'm telling you that he's smitten, not you." He interfered.

"Why do you think that? I'm his employee and he just showed me some gratitude. Nothing much to dig from it." I spoke.

"Akki, he was jealous of me! He tried to show himself high before you! He kept giving me a death glare that if looks could kill, I'd be dead long ago." O my god, he needs to stop this bullshit!

"Don't talk rubbish Guna!" I warned him.

"Babe, I'm not. See for it yourself. Can't you feel him looking at you like your the most precious thing in the world?" Not again.

"You know what? You better stop reading romantic novels. Come on! I'm nothing if he tries to see something in me. He need to find something with a microscope if there's something special." I said and he turned his head in an instant.

"Nothing, seriously? That's what you think of yourself?" He asked and I nodded.

"Akki, Everything about you is special. It would take a glance for anyone to accept that. I wouldn't deny the things I said as no-one is immune to your charm. You have some magic around you which attracts guys like flies around a cake." Always the flirt.

"Geetha is not there so, don't flirt!" I said and he shook his head.

"Your too pragmatic to accept that Akki." He spoke and I rolled my eyes.

"Now drop it, when will you propose to Geetha?" I asked to cut the awkward discussion.

We kept discussing about the possibilities of surprising her but my mind revolved around what Guna spoke.

Is he really smitten by me?

Oh shut up!

Yea, I need to shut him and my thoughts about him.

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(Anand's VOC)

I slammed my car keys on the Bar counter of my appartment. I wish that guy is in it's place. How dare he touch her?

Who is he to touch her when she chocked on her glass of water? Who is he to do it? He raised my blood pressure to the extreme level today. Although I tried to bring him down somehow, he came up with a smart response. I've seen millions like him. He will pay for what he did today. He is definitely not right to her. She's too nave to know what he was intending but I'm not blind! I'll sew that bastard!

I roughly took my stupid phone which kept buzzing in my pocket.

Why do people like to disturb me when I'm pissed?

"Don't you understand the meaning of Personal time, Mr.Raman?" I barked onto the phone.

"Yes sir but I'm sorry I'm forced...." He answered timidly

"Are you forced to such an extent that the company will close? Can't it wa......."

"Yes sir." He answered between my barking.

"Don't you dare play pranks with me, I'm already pissed and if you piss me more I wouldn't mind to fire you!" I warned.

"Sir, please switch on the television." If it's about another interview, I'll fire him straight away. He pissed me more to call me at the wrong time.

I grabbed the remote from the bar counter and I switched on the flat screen in my bar.

God!

How did this happen?

Please tell me I'm dreaming..