Author's POV
As he pulled the car to a stop, she quickly got out, offering a quick thank you before heading inside.
Just as he was about to drive away, Angad noticed her mobile phone lying on the passenger seat. He picked it up and decided to return it to her. Walking towards her house, he paused for a moment before ringing the doorbell.
He looked down, waiting for someone to answer. When the door finally opened, he looked up to see a woman who appeared to be around his mother's age. She had a warm face, though there was a hint of irritation in her expression. Her surprise was evident; she clearly wasn't expecting a visitor.
Extending his hand, Angad said in a courteous tone, "I'm Ms. Banerjee's boss. She forgot her phone in my car."
The woman's eyes widened in recognition. She took the phone from him, her demeanor softening. "Please, come in," she said, stepping aside.
Angad hesitated for a moment but then stepped inside, unable to decline her invitation.
As he stepped inside, Angad found himself in a cozy living room. He noticed a man sitting on a sofa, watching the news on the TV. The man's face was bright and cheerful, exuding joy yet commanding respect. Next to him sat a young girl who looked to be around his brother Divit's age. She was carefree, enjoying a bowl of ice cream with a mischievous expression on her face.
Just then, the woman called out, "Navya." The girl looked up at her mother, then back at Angad. Her eyes widened in shock, and she paused mid-bite, struggling to swallow her ice cream. Suddenly, she started hiccupping.
As her mother invited Angad to sit, the man turned his attention to him. Meanwhile, the woman moved towards the kitchen, presumably to prepare coffee.
As Angad saw Navya looking at him, he was about to smile softly, but he see her expression turned to horror as if she had seen a ghost. She stood up and began moving towards him, quickly averting her gaze as they passed each other.
Now behind Angad, Navya suddenly bolted towards her sister's bedroom. Angad, turned, shocked to see her running away, confusion evident on his face. Just then, Riya's father called out to him, and Angad quickly took a seat, still puzzled by Navya's reaction.
Inside Riya's room, Navya rushed in to, her heart pounding with urgency, only to find her sister muttering to herself.
Riya noticed Navya and started venting, her frustration evident. "Navya, do you know my boss dropped me off today?" Her tone was sharp, filled with exasperation. "And the whole ride, he kept asking why my husband didn't come to pick me up since it was so late." Riya's irritation was clear. "What am I supposed to tell him? That I don't have a husband? Where on earth am I supposed to find this imaginary husband?"
Riya continued to rant while Navya tried to speak, her mouth opening, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight, and she looked at Riya with wide, anxious eyes.
Noticing Navya's silence and her strange expression, Riya paused and asked, "What are you trying to say? And why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Navya thought to herself, "Di, you're in trouble. What are you saying?"
Still unable to speak, Navya grabbed Riya's wrist and led her out of the room, stopping near the dining table.
Riya felt thirsty, so she picked up the jug, filled her glass, and took a sip of water. Suddenly, Navya, grabbed Riya's jaw and turned her face to look ahead.
In front of them, Riya saw her parents with her boss, drinking coffee. Shocked, she spat out the water.
The noise caught the attention of the three, who immediately turned towards them, raising their eyebrows. Navya, seeing Riya's reaction, quickly bent down and pretended to clean up the spilled water, aware of her mother's potential anger.
Riya, unable to process the scene, hurried into the kitchen, her nervousness palpable. Navya followed closely, her eyes filled with concern as she listened intently to Riya's anxious muttering.
"Oh God, please don't let him find out. I promise I'll offer you two coconuts," Riya prayed fervently.
"Two coconuts? That's not enough, make it ten. I won't be convinced with just two. And now, trouble is not just at the door... it's inside the house," Navya whispered urgently.
Riya glared at her, but she knew Navya was right. So she continued praying.
They both looked ahead in horror as they heard Angad's question, "By the way, where is your son?"
They immediately stepped out of the kitchen, making their presence known to the three people.
Mr. and Mrs. Banerjee looked confused and replied, "We don't have a son."
Angad's confusion deepened, and a doubt arose in his mind. He glanced at Riya and Navya, both looking nervous and uneasy. Then a thought struck him as he glanced at Riya from head to toe, "Maybe she's a lesbian. And she has quite understanding in-laws since they don't even suspect her coming with her boss home. Now it makes sense why they don't seem to care."
On the other hand, Riya saw Angad looking her up and down, his facial expressions changing. Realizing what he might be thinking, she immediately became angry. Without thinking, she shouted, "No!" Startling everyone, they turned to look at her weirdly as she realized she had yelled.
Riya's mother glared at her daughters, as if asking what on earth they were doing and why they couldn't keep quiet for even a second.
Forcing a smile, she said, "Yes, but what's the point of shouting so much about this, Riya?"
Riya's father added, "Yes, we have only two daughters. This is my younger daughter Navya," he said, as Navya tried to smile, "and the other, as you know," he pointed towards Riya. Riya closed her eyes tightly.
Hearing this, Angad gasped, noticing Riya's expression and beginning to understand the situation. He looked at the family pictures, noticing there wasn't a single photo of a man. His expression turned cold as he said, looking at Riya, who was visibly sweating and tense, "I thought your daughter was married."
"It seems you have some misunderstanding about us," Riya's father said with chuckled.
Angad muttered under his breath while glaring at Riya with cold, piercing eyes, "Yeah, maybe a lot."
Riya, understanding what he was implying, gulped.
Standing up, Angad said while looking at Riya's mother, "Thank you for your hospitality, and the coffee was nice. Now, I must leave." She nodded.
As Angad reached the gate, Riya hurried after him, making him stop. She spoke softly, "Sir, please, I..."
But her words faltered when she heard his cold voice. "Don't give me excuses, Mrs... oops, Ms. Riya, right? You better be present in my office tomorrow early morning," he said, looking straight ahead, his hand in his pant pocket.
Riya took a step back, startled by his angry tone, as he left.
Just then, she heard her mother's loud voice. She closed the gate and came inside to find her mother looking furious.
The next day, Riya approaches Angad's office with a resignation letter clutched tightly in her hand. Her heart pounds as she walks, even if Angad had never discovered her secret, she is still planning to resign.
Angad, however, has other plans in mind.
She knocks hesitantly on the door, and upon hearing his acknowledgment, she takes a deep, steadying breath before stepping inside. Her gaze falls upon Angad, who sits in his chair, radiating an unmistakable air of authority.
βClose the door,β Angad commands without lifting his eyes from the file in front of him.
Riya obeys, her nerves on edge. Summoning every bit of courage she has, she approaches his desk and places the resignation letter down, standing slightly back from the imposing figure.
The silence stretches on for what feels like an eternityβfive minutes that seem to crawl by slowly, each second weighed down by the tension in the room.
Riya finally speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. βSir.β Her utterance prompts Angad to lift his gaze, his cold, piercing eyes locking onto hers. There is a visible edge of anger in his expression, but beneath it, Riya senses an undercurrent of something elseβsomething she can't quite place, but which leaves her feeling unsettled.
βStart explaining,β Angad said with a commanding tone, his authority clear.
Riya closed her eyes momentarily to steady her nerves before beginning her explanation.
As she finished detailing her reasons, she mustered the courage to look at Angad. He was leaning back in his chair, his intense gaze fixed on her. She couldnβt shake the feeling that this scrutiny was far from over.
βThere are only a few days left until the end of the two months, which is why Iβve come to submit my resignation letter,β she said, meeting his gaze directly for the first time.
Angad stood up from his chair and took deliberate, measured steps towards Riya. As he reached her, he moved back to lean against his desk, his eyes locked on her.
A small, enigmatic smile played on his lips as he said, βCoffee, Ms. Riya.β
Riya, taken aback, hesitated before asking, βArenβt you angry with me?β
βNo,β Angad replied simply.
Relief and happiness washed over her, and a wide smile spread across her face. βThank you so much, sir. May God bless you with sweet, lovely children who never trouble you,β she said excitedly.
Angad raised his eyebrows in surprise at her unexpected blessings.
βYou know what? Today, Iβll make you the best coffee,β she declared with enthusiasm before leaving the office.
Angadβs face softened into a secretive smile as he glanced at the resignation letter. He chuckled darkly.
******
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