"Listen to silence, it has so much to say."

-Rumi

_________________________________________

Was it a bad thing?
That I waited. Cared. Get hurt instead in return.

It's an awful feeling to love him as my friend so much that I absolutely hate him for leaving me. Was our friendship that fragile? That weak?

We were friends and he didn't even think about it once before evacuating. To tell. It's not really about telling but the reason for, me moving on.

I just... Just cannot believe I am still stuck on the person... Who didn't care to know about me, my whereabouts, to tell me At atleast a message, was enough? But no. He did nothing like that.

Whatever, it is his life, who am I to intrude on his personal space? Let it be. I don't fucking care. But it hurts. Hurts inside silently. Deeply. The ignorance, he knows I don't appreciate it and he so likes to do reverse what I don't like. What I hate tempts him. I have so many things to say, share, and get out of things from my head, but all I do is keep silent inside me. I don't feel the enthusiasm to make new relations, or friends.

I wish this Attachment Issue had not existed inside me, in my emotions. To get myself attached to people easily Then this problem wouldn't have existed even. Maybe then people probably wouldn't have succeeded in breaking my heart. Strength is what I am left with.

Never a day went by when I don't think about him.

"Alara Ma'am the meeting room is ready!"

My Secretary Shanelle arrived at my office plopping some blue-pink files on the table I was working on.

Taking off my eyes from the graphics on the computer, Breathing, and reliving back on my swivel chair I had to ask her for confirmation.

"Alright. Are all the new interns present there?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Batch 1 of 25 interns is present in the Meeting room. And 2nd batch will be after this as per your schedule and after that, you've to visit the site with Darsh Sir"

"Okay, let's go!"

But before that pulling the side drawer I take out the bottle of my pills. As I take one pill into my mouth drinking the glass of water.

Calming down my stressed mind, exhaling several times forgetting everything for a while, I concentrated on the new interns and their headway. It is my responsibility, and Dad would not be satisfied seeing me falling flat at my work. I don't want to present myself as a clumsy COO who doesn't focus on her work.

I raised my chin to walk forward as my Secretary followed behind.

"Shanelle. What about Darsh? Is he in the office yet?" I had to ask her about him. He's elder than me and more active. Dad's favorite. And not to mention piled-up interviews are going on to assist him in his work.

"Yes, Ma'am Darsh Sir is been busy in another meeting room. His P. A. Told me they, the Engineers involved with it are discussing the interior foyer designs for the KG Mansions in Thomson Ville"

I nodded compassionate and at the same disturbed. Not anxious actually, I have to construct them and lead them.
HR is the department within this business that is responsible for all things worker-related, Darsh is the head of the HR department.

I clutch the doorknob signing, breathing a bit as I turned the Knob to enter inside.

My body came into contact with cold surroundings, as the Air conditioners existed too cold for my cold body.
As I walked by, not looking at any other people directly arriving at my seat I greeted them.

"Good afternoon To all of the internship participants present here"

They all stood greeting me back with a 'Good Morning'. I nodded to them to sit down as I moved my eyes at them once.
I was standing at the end of the long table which surrounds 25 people on both sides. 13 girls and 12 boys. This is the criteria.

From the screen presenter, Shanelle showed the list of interns presents here.
One by one she called their name. All were present.

I sat in my seat as I nervously clasped my fingers under the table on my lap gazing at my curled fingers.

Alara, stop getting hyper. You've done this last year too, it is not new to you.
You can do it. Breathe and relax. Inhale and exhale.

While I was busy commanding myself, Shanelle was done with the intros asking me to address the work.

I gave a brief smile, to let them know I'm not going to eat them as they looked at my face so nervous. They were nervous too.

"So guys. Let me introduce myself first. I'm Alara. And I'll be recruiting you at the end of your internships. I know you must be nervous about how you will cope in the environment after freshly stepping out of degrees of B.Arch. Let me tell you one thing, do it with your mind, body and soul, it's your passion, and you chose it. It'll be interesting when you start to take interest in it. I dropped out of college after my second semester but let me tell you, the practical knowledge I've gained is much more worthy that I can guide you with, along with the skills and education you guys have learned from respective universities.

Coming to the point, there are some rules for the novices here. Shanelle will be guiding you to them via e-mail and other formalities before we start. You guys need to be passionate and spirited regarding your work. I hope I don't sound rude, do I?"

Hearing my question they had a smile on their faces.

"No Ma'am"
They all said in chorus energetically and their voices boomed in the room.

I smiled warmly, "You need to be formal in front of only The real boss" I had to remind them to smile goofily.

"Otherwise, you guys can call me Alara simply and get back to your space allotted from 1 to 25th names on floor 15th. Any doubts?"

I looked at each of them after saying my words. They discussed something then a young woman of my age raised her hand.

"Yes"

"Alara. When is our pragmatic vocation will start?"

I had to nod at her, "Well... Let me remind you, fellows. Your performance under the training will decide your position here. At the end of the day, one who doesn't get selected might feel unfortunate and disheartened. But it's the truth too, never get disappointed with your performances if you've truly worked for it, it'll come for you. Otherwise, you guys know what's inside your head,"

"Alara, can we ask some personal questions too?" It was a young man now.

"Depends if it's not about my life," I said smiling and the others chuckled too.

"Ask"

"Uh... As we've seen the Brand logo of Atis' Inc., it's formulated in Purple color and I can see, in fact, all of us noticed it You've highlighted Purple strands in your hair, is there any correlation? Is Purple the lucky charm of this Inc. Or is there any other reason?"

"Well, it's too much personal" I chuckled as others did too.

"I like Purple but I don't think there's any relation between it to the logo. So yeah maybe coincidental"

"By the way, let's ask a question. What purple color represents? The one who'll tell will be given a chance to work at the sites or for the interiors design"

They all raised their hands as soon the words left my mouth.

One by one they gave their answers.
Like all were wrong, "heartbreak" "Dark Romance" "Soft Nature" and "Will" are different but they do not represent it.
These were their answers.

"Stop stop guys you all are wrong. So let me tell you Purple color represents....Pa......."

"Grandeur. Nobility. Power. Ambition. Passion"
The voice boomed from the entrance door. I had to huff and then chuckle.

"Good Morning Everyone" he greeted them.

"Alara I think you took too much time mingling with your interns. I think that is enough" Darsh gave a smile to them asking me in a low voice.

I chuckle.
"Okay, guys I'll catch you in a few minutes. You can leave now"

They all left including Shanelle as I assigned her some work.

"Alara I think we need to leave"

Darsh said glancing at his wristwatch while bending to the table I checked the location on the laptop.

"Yeah. Darsh but give me half an hour. I'll just wrap up my remaining work and then...."

"No no. No. Krish Sir has already scolded me for delaying this one I wouldn't want it to repeat"

He raised his hands in defeat.

"You're his favorite then why did he scold you?"
I chuckle.

"He's your father you know him better, now hurry up please" he frustratingly complained. I understood him.

"Arey just half an hour until then you can hang out in a cafe or with someone you know" I winked at him as he looked down shying as his ear turned cherry and the portion below his eyes turned pink too.

"Stop it. Alara only.....you know about that doesn't mean you'll tease me, that's not fair" he complained.

I laughed.
"Remember this is our workspace and no personal talking" I scolded him.

"Yeah. Yeah. Now you'll say it. I wish you had someone in your life so that I could tease you back similarly" he laughed now. And the silent feeling inside me was back. Dropping my smile I shut down the laptop getting up.

"Okay...I think we should leave" Darsh stopped me looking at me doubtfully.

"Alara. Is that... That's something I said wrong... Why are you uptight as sudden? I'm... I'm sorry... If it... Was something personal "

I sighed, "No it's okay Darsh. It's just I was thinking something else....." I reasoned and walked out as he came behind me.

Going over to interns guiding the works in an hour, 1st batch was done. While it was an interval for the other Employees on the 7th floor. I went into the Elevator to reach the floor which belongs to 'The Real Boss', my Dad.

Knocking at the door I asked, "Dad may I come in?"

"You can come in" his voice came.

I stepped inside. He was as usual doing his sketchings on the board near the large glass window. Sometimes I think, about how Dad passed his time at a young age when Mom wasn't here. I mean it's obvious he missed her. And this is the reason he's lost in his work always. Like always.

"Dad" I neared his right side while he was so drowned in drawing the lines with the scale, on the flat sketch board on his large furniture.

"Say it Alara"

Without looking at me he asked.

"Is there any other replacement for me"
"I mean... I don't feel good so can some other go with Darsh to the site?" I asked as politely as possible. Dad is strict about work.

"No, the site visit is important"

I sighed.

"Dad I really need to get a fever check!" I lied.

He looked back at me. I gulped. Fuck! Dad is frequent in testing lies.

He checked my forehead then my palm.
I don't know how My mother spent her whole life with this strict person. Dad is like, really difficult as a rock sometimes.

"No fever is there. You had work stress I guess that's why you feel"
"Okay, you can go. Get checked to the doctor and rest at home"

I smiled and nod my head.

"Thank you Dad"

I turned to run. I am so excited and happy. I giggled in my mind.

"Wait Alara" I squeezed my eyes as my fists turned to balls hoping he wouldn't stop me.

"Talk to your mother regarding Paris visit. She said she wants to talk to you when you can leave with her for Paris."

"Oh.... Oh... I'll Dad"

"Alara"
I turned again.

"Yes Dad"

"After you're done resting send the sketches for the L-shaped room Apartment. I think.... Models must be ready and your team is working on it"

I struggled for words. Fuck it! Fuck me!
Damn, I forgot to discuss about that with my team. Now, what should I say to him?

"D-D-Dad. I- I act...actually........."

His left brow raised. Alara you're so gone now.

"Alara you forgot it????" He asked politely but I don't know why I tears pooled in my eyes. I sniffed pressing my lips.
"Dad, I'm sorry...." Hiccuping started as I saw his eyes softening.

"Alara"
His voice got concerned when he hugged me.

"Dad I'm sorry...." I sobbed into his chest.

"Dad trust me I'm.... (Sniffs nose) I'm trying hard and my very best.... But.... But...... I don't.....don't know what's with this.... I forget things..... Like you said I remembered but it got off my mind before I could discuss it with my team..... Dad, I will do it now.... I'm sorry"

I don't know what my crying state did to him but he had emotions on his face.

"Alara. No need to be sorry child. You are worrying me" I rubbed my fingers over my eyes clearing the tears.

"Alara I think you should see someone!"

"Who Dad?" I looked up.

"There is.... There is my friend, he's a psychologist. Probably, he can. Help you"

"Dad, you think I'm not in the correct state of mind?"

"I'm not saying that Alara " I could see the worry in his eyes.

"Look. I love the work I do. I'll work even after I handle Atis' Inc. To you. But for that, you need to be strong Alara. Mentally.... You know that too. That you've been behaving weirdly...... For a very long time.....I or Jahnvi didn't say anything to you when you dropped out of University because we thought you were interested in working much rather than studying. I can understand that..... But now, I can not see that enthusiasm in you....like it was in your high school. ....where is that Alara?" He defeated said. I know it hurts. He feels shameful of me, I know. Tris is doing so well in his field and I. I am becoming equal to zero.

I turned my back to him. I want to cry hard. I don't know what's happening to me. It's like the same boring day for me, I don't feel new. It's like I'm passing my days. I feel hollow inside, inside my heart, mind, and body.

Dad had so much trust in me that I'll handle this well. But no. I fucked this up. I don't deserve the position that Dad handles for the past 40 years. I would never want to ruin it with my stupidity.

"Dad, I think....." I swallowed the cough.

"I think I'm not suitable for your position!"

I said it. He may lose his trust in me. But I can no more prove that I'm strong when I'm breaking inside each day. I hate loving.

Time stilled for a while as I looked at Dad and he turned to his chair. The head chair which he wished in my childhood I would handle it. He made me dream about it. I dreamed it. But it's lost in me, no longer that passion evolves inside me.

"Go back home Alara, you're not good. We'll talk later" he started signing the files as he ordered.

"Dad I...." He glared up and I shut my mouth.

"Drink some water and go home"
His hard voice scares me.

I neared his table to take the glass he forwarded still signing the documents.

I grabbed the glass drinking it. As I put it in its back place. My eyes captured a chain on the table. It felt like I recognized something. I took it in my right hand but before that Dad's hand stopped my wrist.

"Alara this is not....."
I inspected the carvings of the letters.

"This is what I know Dad" I knew this as I mouthed at him.

"Vedat gave you this? He came here??"

"Alara....."

Before he could say anything I was out of the office, down the elevator, inside my car, and driving on the road. He was in the city and didn't care to inform me. What's the fucking problem with him?

The chain with VF piercing I gave to Him on his birthday, and what was it doing on Dad's table? I'm sure he had visited the office before me. That means he's back. He's so dead now. I won't leave him without smacking his face. I reached his Apartment.
With that intention, I pressed the doorbell.

"*********"

The demanded Bonus Chapter of My Best Partner was published yesterday. Those who don't know or didn't get a notification can go and read. Please vote and give your valuable feedback on it about the story of Krish & Jahnvi.

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