CHAPTER SEVEN : THE SPICE

Now here I am, sitting in his office particularly doing nothing. There was people here and there working on some random things but I was completely jobless. I completed all the file works pending for this week but for now I have to pretend working. Just Pretend! Why will he simply ruin someone's weekend just because he has nothing interesting to do? If I ever have an opportunity to study his brain then I would screw it open and check what does it contain. Ha! It would probably contain a bunch of bullshits. 

I can hear him screaming at someone inside his room. But, I didn't see any car being parked in his parking lot then how did he come? Maybe he took a taxi. Who cares? I don't. Suddenly my phone vibrates, Thank Goodness it was on silent. I cannot take the risk of sliding it under the table. So I slowly got up and walked towards the washroom. 

I went inside and shut the door close. I checked my phone and it was Ruhi. Eh? Why is she calling me now? She is probably calling for something. She won't call me without any reason. I attended the call. 

"Hello" I whispered. Even though I was safe inside washroom where probably no one would enter as it was so called "Ladies Washroom" and there was no ladies working on weekends here but I am not giving any chances. I can't lose my part of salary anymore. 

"Hello Esha. This is Ruhi" She whispers back. 

"Oh no Ruhi. I thought you were my boyfriend. Sorry tell me!" I mocked her 

"Really? Who is your boyfriend?" she asked me curiously as if I am actually dating. 

"Aadhvik Tiwari" I said in the most annoying way possible 

"Really? I see Esha. Congratulation" she mocked 

"Yea, We came for a date to his office on SATURDAY" I sigh 

"Oops! Sorry for disturbing your date with your BOYFRIEND" Ruhi said in a dramatic way. 

"Eyyy stop. What you want? Why you called me" I didn't whisper this time. 

"Yeah. I want money! I am going to hang out with my friends" she asks in the most polite way possible 

"Ruhi... I myself is poor. It has been hardly one week of my work and he already took my twenty thousand. If you still want it go ask Ma. I can't talk to you long. Understand Ruhi" I tried explaining her. 

"But I want it. I spend all the money that mom gave me. Please Esha. You told me that you would give me pocket money if I behave in a proper manner with you isn't it? Give me now. I will do anything for you" she sounded really desperate. 

Wait! Anything? The tube light in my brain was lite up again and I smirked. 

"Ruhi....." I begin "You will do anything?" I smirked again. 

There was a two miniutes silence from her side. She knew I was up to some thing evil. But she knew she can't keep her mouth shut for so long. She have to give me an answer in order to get her money. She cleared her throat to talk. 

"I will do anything." she said 

"So listen" I sighed 

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I now came back to my seat and was pretending to work with a goofy grin on my face. Today's temperature is too nice isn't it? My one eye was fixed to the entrance and the other towards my watch. Someone have to be here now. No one seemed to come so I turned towards my computer and started changing its background. This is called time pass! 

Suddenly I could hear a loud cry and my eyes once again turned towards the entrance. Yes, Ruhi came crying out to me. I had a wide beam but now even I went running to her making myself look shocked. 

"Ruhi what happenend?" I asked her as if I am unaware of anything happening here. 

"Esha...E-Esh-Esha" she broke down. I thought something was really wrong. But then she looked up and winked at me and now even I had to get into the drama that is going to unfold. 

"Ruhi tell me everything" I hugged her pretending to be so scared and worried, not knowing anything. I could hear his door open and I am pretty much sure he is standing just behind me. 

"Mom-Ma-Mom in the hospital Esha" she stammered. I mean she was pretending to. 

Now I hardly made some tear or two come from my eyes and started my dialogues, "OH MY GOODNESS WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM RUHI" I asked being pretty loud for him to hear. 

"Mom fainted in the morning. We took her to hospital, doctors are blabbering something. I am scared come with me. I tried dialing you but it was switched off so I came here running" she said in the same tone 

"Oh I will go ask my boss and come back" I tuned back and knew he was just behind. But I have to act innocent now. 

"Sir" I begin 

"You can take your leave. Go be with your mother now" he said in a smooth tone. 

Wow! He can even have mercy on someone. I am amazed. Now how can I go against my boss orders so I had to take my leave. I left with such a worried look on my face. I had to plan to call him Sunday evening and tell I can't pay the fine because I am running short of money as I paid my mom's hospital bills and I can't attend office for the next few days because I have to take care of my mom. Woah! I am proud of my lying skills. 

Me and Ruhi walked to a considerable distance, far away from the office building and we both burst out laughing that I almost sat on the floor not able to have a proper footing. 

"This is the most riskiest thing I have committed in my life" Ruhi laughs.

"Anyways your acting skills are so good. I really thought something was wrong" 

"I deserve to be a Hollywood actress" she said streching her hand towards me. 

Huh! I opened my purse to take the money and handed it to her. Her eyes was filled with happiness. Indeed she was. She hugged me telling a thank you and went in the opposite direction as she was running late. Hmm, there goes my one week transportation money but it is worth it. 

I looked at my watch still sitting on the road side and I knew I was running late and manged to board a taxi and was heading towards Dua"s hospital. I tried calling her but she didn't pick up, maybe she was busy with the organizing work. So I texted her telling that I am gonna attend the event and will be there within ten minutes. 

I reached and stepped inside to only be stopped by a security guard. He was asking me for my invitation car or my hospital identity card. I smiled helplessly and moved back. I tried calling Dua and thankfully she picked my call. 

"You Idiot! Where were you? How long you want me to wait for you! You jackass, You freaki- ughhhhh... Where are you?????" she scremed endlessly without taking a break. I moved my phone from the ears and still I can hear her screming. 

"Come to gate five" was the last thing she said before cutting the call. Now I had walk a bit of distance to reach there. 

THE HELL! Gate five also had security guards checking people's identity. Why did Dua want me to come here. 

"Esha.. Esha" I could hear Dua's voice. I looked at the entrance of gate five but I couldn't find her. From where is she talking? 

"I AM HERE LOOK UP" the sound came from my left so I turned to find her hanging in the wall. 

"What are you doing her-" before I could complete my sentence she threw a white coat on my face and when I took it and looked back at the wall again she was no more hanging. So now I have do a solo action. I wore the coat and walked all way long to the entrance. 

I went and stood in the long queue where almost everyone was doctors or reporters. The security guard was checking everyone's identity and letting them in. Now it was my turn and the security guard gave me the most suspicious look. He looked at me white coat again and again to ensure that it was actually belonging to me or not. 

"Your Name and Identity Card?" he asks 

"I am Dr. Esha Varnav" I said more in a proud manner 

"Your identity card" he stretched his hand expecting me to hand it over. I knew Dua would have put a fake one in the coat pocket and I slightly left my hand inside the pocket. I found something with rectangular, flat surface and confidently took it out and yes it was an identity card.

A FAKE ONE INDEED! GOD! WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT HER?

I walked so proudly with so much confidence and I find Dua biting her nails and waiting for me. I waved my hand and she has a good eyesight. She noticed me and came running to me. 

"Thank Goodness! You came!" She hugged me. I had a goofy grin on my face. Then me and Dua walked in and was randomly giggling and wandering around. 

"Who is the Chief Guest?" I asked Dua

"No one knows. It is kept as a secret. That's why so many reporters" Dua whispers. Don't ask me why is she whispered. Even I really don't know. Suddenly a huge crowd started running towards the entrance. 

"What happened? Why is everyone running towards the entrance?" Dua asked to one of the person standing there. 

"All the guest started coming. So people are going to invite them" the person there said. 

It literally looked as if a marathon race was taking place. Why these many people are running just to invite few guests? Weird! Me and Dua still kept wandering around gossiping about people and judging some random women. 

"Dua, go check if everything is in order. The event will start in half an hour. All the guest came" One of the women in white coat came and said. 

"I have to go now" Dua tells in a bored tone and runs. 

Now I am left all alone and I started roaming around and the smell of food s]came from one corner and ultimately i was attracted to it and went in its direction. There was it! That was the food area where variety of dishes kept one after the other. My jaw literally dropped just by smelling its aroma. Damn! I have to taste it. 

I went there and was searching for the server and he was already staring at me. 

"Can I taste them please?" I asked with a smile. 

"No Ma'am. We can only serve this after the event." he said without any expression. Now again time to show my acting skills here. 

I cleared my throat, "I am the food organizer, I want to taste the food to see is it good enough for the guests to eat. So better serve me" I was pretty rude. 

"Food Organizer?" he raiser his eyebrows. 

Did I tell I was a food organizer? No! Now I got to maintain it. 

"Yes. Do you have any problem?" I gave him a not so good stare. 

He just nodded his head and said that he have to go take the plates and come. I nodded back. He walked towards the other side to take the plates. I was still waiting, looking at the food. For a miniute I thought of eating the food without the plate but then I was at an event, that too Dua's hospital event. 

After some miniutes he came back with stalks of plate and I was too desperate. I went and took two plates from him and started serving the food myself. He was staring at me without any clue. But I didn't mind it. I now walked towards the spices area and served myself with the spicy vegetable noodles with extra masalas. I then managed to get me seated and started eating. 

I first wanted to take was the noodles. Obviously! So I started eating it vigoursly. That server was still staring at me, maybe he was wondering how a tiny women like me had got such huge mouth that I can stuff so much of noodles inside at one go. 

"Dr.Esha Varnav" a deep voice called out my name in the smoothest way possible. 

My name sounded a bit more good with that voice, and plus it sounded familiar so I decided to turn and look at the owner of that voice. Little did I know that was my end. 

You guessed it right!

It was Aadhvik, sitting with his hands crossed, looking as perfect as he is always. 

I was a dead meat! 

~ 🥀🖤 ~ 

"The Devil is gonna dig my grave yard!"

~ Esha Varnav ~