A New Journey

SAMAR

As the gleaming sun rays fall upon my face, I looked for my phone with my closed eyes. Putting my index finger on the screen, I unlocked the phone and opened my eyes as a bright smile appeared on my face, looking at the screen.

On the display, there was a picture of Kayu and I, riding on a Tora Tora. That picture took me back to the time when we were actually riding that ride, when I was 14 and she was a baby girl.

FLASHBACK

"Kayu, let's go to that ride. It'll be fun.", Pointing to the Tora Tora, I held her hands and beamed in excitement. I was always fond of these rides and since, it was the first time I had come with her to an amusement park, I wanted her to ride with me.

"You go, I'll stay here with mom.", She said in a confused tone as if she was finding excuses to avoid the ride.

"Don't tell me you're scared of rides! Are you?", Trying to tease her, a full grin appeared on my face.

"Huh! I'm not at all scared. This Tora Tora, right?", Her lips turned into a pout, hands gripping her waist and that looked so adorable. "Okay I'll come with you."

During the whole ride, her hands were iron gripped on mine, her eyes closed. Screaming aloud at the peak of her voice, she let go of her fear and delighted in enjoyment wholeheartedly. And I was randomly stealing glances of her, watching her cute expressions.

For the very first time, I felt the teenage attraction towards a girl, towards Kayu. My friends often gossip about it but never in my life, I felt the urge to stare at someone. However, now that I can feel it; it's totally indescribable.

I gulped down my saliva, my heart leaped for a moment, originating a tingling sensation in my stomach as I found her face an inch apart from mine. She kissed on my left cheek.

"Thank you.", She said.

FLASHBACK ENDS

That was the moment, mom captured us in this picture and in that moment itself, I first felt for her. That mere attraction thrived by leaps and bounds throughout the years, even in her absence and now I just love her with all I have, anticipating for our reunion which will certainly happen someday.

Pecking on the picture, I got up only to find Lily sitting on the couch. Having a spare key, my condo was accessible for her.

"What brings you here this early in the morning?", Surprised by her presence, I asked her as I recalled our last night talk.

She was urging me to leave for my home last night however, I turned her down as I was in no mood to argue with my grandfather. Perhaps, she now fathoms me and my reason that why I'm avoiding all this.

"Just, I felt like to spend some time with my friend not with my boss.", Putting down the business magazine, she smiled at me which followed by a frown.

"Okay, let me just change.", As soon as I took out my sports wear from the cupboard I agreed with her suggestion.

LILY

"Can I ask you something, Samar?", Cold sweat were all over our faces as we are running for almost fifteen minutes in the hotel's campus ground. Regardless being confused about his reaction, I asked anyway.

"You definitely can so don't ask for my permission. Tell me, what do you want to know?", He started running in backward direction, facing me.

"W... Why do you... Always blames your grandpa?", Hesitation was clear in my voice as I looked here and there avoiding his gaze.

"I mean... May be, just may be there is a slight chance of him being not guilty, right?", Somehow, I added.

I Halted midway as he grabbed my arm, glowering at me as if I'm the actual culprit. Deep down I knew, I asked a wrong question.

"Lily, I think I made it very clear to you, didn't I?", He gave me a questioning look mixed with a glare. I just nodded.

"Then don't ask me silly questions again and again!", He exclaimed, stomping his feet on the ground, walking away.

"Samar... I was just...", I tried to reason out but found myself far away from him. Not just in distance but in our closeness too. Ups and downs, troubles and happiness, complications and contentment, I've seen him going through every phase of his life in these 6 years and among all this, Kayra is the most complicated part.

It was habitual of him to behave like this when I mentioned Kayra and his grandpa before him. Still, every now and then, I give him a heads up, hoping that he would try to realise the actual scenario someday because sometimes whatever you see is not the reality, and whatever is the reality, you don't see and for Samar, I literally believe that this is the case.

KAYRA

After my usual practice session, I took a quick shower and picked out a maroon coat matched with white shirt and maroon pencil skirt. For it's my first day so I preferred minimal amount of make-up, keeping the natural look on.

While getting ready, I peered at the room, having a nostalgic feeling about my early days spent here. Boss had given me shelter in his own house when I was terrified to return back in Ms. Clan's captivity and he trained me from the age of 14. And now that I'm leaving all this behind, moving out from here, it doesn't really feel good.

I mean, yeah, I'm contented that eventually I'm able to get out of this confinement, will make a fresh start, will avenge my parents but still I'll miss Neil. And Boss too.

"Good luck for your new life, Kayra.", Boss wished me with a cheerful smile as I come to bid final goodbye. "Your phone has a contact number of mine and Neil. Use it freely whenever you want."

"Thanku boss. Thanks for everything.", A genuine smile appeared on my face as I said this and he lightly squeezed my shoulder.

"I've packed my stuffs, a mover will fetch it in the evening. Please help him out."

"Sure.", Boss replied.

"By the way, I haven't seen Neil for a while, where is he?", In any usual day he used to come to practice sessions with me but today he was missing. Making a sad expression, boss shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't tell me, he is shedding tears, playing hide and seek again!", Grinning at me, boss nodded. Ah! This guy is worse than girls.

"Go now, you'll be getting late. Meet him some other day."

"But...", I strived to say as I really wanted to bid a final goodbye to him.

"You can't find him unless he wants to, you know him, right?", He chuckled and I nodded, agreeing with his statement.

"Okay then, I'm off to my new journey.", I twinkled.

*******

Striding towards the Hotel's main entrance, crossing the pathway carved between a garden, I looked at my watch. It's 8:30 in the morning and I'm still early as per my reporting time. Actually, I wanted to check the hotel first.

It was a giant ship-shaped hotel with a big guitar on top of it, covering by the glasses all around. While I was already amazed by its 3D design and looking for my way, my eyes willingly went to the the interior of the hotel.

This hotel looks like a fairy land from inside which only a prince and a princess can afford. Astonished by its beautiful crystal chandelier at the centre top of entrance which was enhancing the charm of the hotel, I remarked everything that caught my sight including two colossal scupltures at the reception.

The royal silk curtains, printed different messages on it, give an attractive aura, captivating everyone's attention. It's just a dreamland for a girl like me. Never in my life, I wore something expensive, had a lavish meal or had luxuries. Ms. Clan used to gave me money only to meet my ends. Nothing more, nothing less. That's all. However, now I can live a decent life but before that I need to make this hotel's chairman pay for what he did.

"Ma'am, you are the new manager, right?", A girly voice reached my ears as I turned around only to find a young lady, dressed in white shirt matched with black necktie, pant and front open blazer.

"Oh yes! I am... Ms. Sofia.", I learned her name from her name tag.

"But ma'am you need to report to the office first. If I'm wrong, correct me?", She politely said.

"Not at all. You are absolutely right. I have to meet CEO but I wanted to check the hotel first.", Passing a warm smile, I answered her.

"Oh! Then why don't you meet the CEO right now...", Her thin lips creasing into a wide grin, baffled me completely.

"What do you mean?", With a confused reaction, I mumbled.

"I just mean, he is in the hotel right now, so you can carry on your reporting thing with him."

"Are you sure I'm allowed to do so... I mean he is the CEO...of OBEROI and Son's Corporation, the best and top hotel company of India.", Unknowingly, I emphasized the CEO's position and the company's name, biting my lower lip as I didn't meant to do it.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed, he asked me to fetch you. Follow my lead, I'll show you the way to his condo.", She turned to go, gluing an usual polite smile on her face.

'His condo? Why? Why can't you meet him up at the restaurant, silly? You are a mere employee at one of his hotel, right? Then why did he ask you to come all the way to his condo? And how did he even know that you are here, at the hotel? Is he a womanizer?', My subconscious screamed as I marched towards his condo, maintaining an identical pace, following Ms. Sofia.