Chapter 16 Him, Again?

Anika's PoV

Our home is devastated is a very small word to describe our state now. My dad lost his job and as he was not working in a government office, he got very little benefits from his industry. It really never was supple to even cover his hospital expenses. Every time I saw my dad, the feeling of guilt that surged through my veins knew no bounds. It literally kills me. Though mom consoled me saying that it is not my fault and dad already had this condition, I know deep in my heart that this happened because of me.

I called up Arun to let him know of my condition. But he already knew of it from Nithya but he decided not to call me. I was in a way, relieved that it won't be that hard for me to ask him to stay away from me.

"Hi Anu, how are you doing?" he asked me like it's usual when I called him three days later, after we came back from hospital.

"I am not good, Arun. My dad..." I couldn't finish it as I couldn't control my cries.

"Shhh, relax Anu. I know. Nithya told me on Monday."

"What? Then why didn't you call me?" I asked him in complete dismay.

"I wanted to give you your space, Anu. I didn't know your situation. So I restrained myself from calling you. I waited for you to call me when situations are better."

"Oh, you could have at least messaged me. Nevermind, I want to tell you something."

"I know, your mom and dad know about us! Nithya told me that too." he said. Apparently, when I spoke to her in the hospital, I told her everything out of my guilty conscience. She had told him everything. Everything including that I am feeling guilty that it is because of me and yet he didn't try to console me or make me feel better.

"Oh, all I wanted to ask you is some time, Arun. You concentrate on your job hunt. I will do mine. Let's get things better at both of our ends. We will convince my dad when it is the right time." I told him.

"Come on, Anu. Your dad's consent is not important anymore. If your mom is fine with us, why do we want to take a break?"

"Shut up, Arun. How dare you talk like this? He is my father and he is important to me no matter what."

"Relax, Anu. I am sorry. Long distance relationships don't work properly. And you are asking me to wait even without talking to you. It is so hard, Anu. You know I can't stay away from you." he said which actually soothed my hurt heart.

"Please understand, Arun. At Least we have to wait until you find a decent job."

"Huh, ok. I don't want to force you anymore. If you are sure that this is what you want with us, I am fine. I will come back to you when I get a job. But remember, I love you!" he said before disconnecting my call. I felt a lot better than before calling him.

I finished my exams more than good given my current state of mind. I am sure I will pass it with the distinction. Advay was very broken when he saw dad in this state. But my mom and I supported him well and made him write his final exams. He knew our present condition and made up a part-time job in the nearby supermarket. We took the bank savings that dad saved for my wedding. It is that money that keeps us going for the past month.

I was eagerly waiting for the call letter or mail for the final round of interview from the two companies that I was selected in. But later we realized that it was vain to wait for them because my seniors told us that they were still waiting to hear from them. Apparently, the companies just come to the campus to conduct interviews just because they have tied up with our college. Our college just pays them to come to campus interviews to add it to their prospectus and the companies never really offer jobs to our college students. I was more than broken then.

I asked my H.O.D to offer me a job as his assistant to help him finish his Phd. As everyone in my college knows my dad's condition, he readily gave me that work and paid me. I had to just type and edit his work in the document and I thought I could do it at home. So I also asked my OS lecturer to provide me with the lab assistant work. She talked to the management very quickly and made it happen. So now I work in the lab as the lab assistant and gather the works from my HOD and do it in the evenings at home. I also take up bouquets making orders from my mom's clients.

It is graduation day at my college today and I have loads of work to do. All the certificates and medals are in my custody and I have it ordered as per the ranks and alphabets. I saw the invitation for graduation day. It said chairman Shravan and chairman Arjun!

ARJUN! I don't know what has happened to me but I felt like I have seen him before. Ever since I saw him back in my granny's home, he always disturbs me in my sleep. Those pitiful eyes, I hate them. His car, his looks, his eyes, his clothes all scream of money and his pitied eyes are filled with sarcasm. Though I hate him, I could not deny that attraction I had for him. And I hate him more for that. I know it is not fair that I hate him for the attraction I felt for him but that helps me keep his thoughts at bay.

I banged my head for my irrelevant thoughts and started to get ready to go to college. I reached my college in time and ran to the auditorium to set things up for the function. The intercom in the auditorium rang and I was the one near it.

"Hello!"

"This is Shravan here, I need a glass of cold water in my room."

"Right away, sir!" I hung it up and turned to the other lab assistant to tell her the message.

"Akka, the chairman is asking for cold water."

"Huh, it is what money does to you. The fridge is in the principal room which is right next to his room. But he calls us up for it. I will take care of the rest. You go and give it to him." she said.

"Ok, akka!" I walked out of the auditorium thinking of what she said. She is right. Rich people are arrogant and lazy. But when I walked towards his room, I saw him walking towards the auditorium. I decided to ask him if he still needs water.

"Sir!" I ran to him.

"Yes?"

"I was coming to get you water. Do you still want it?" I asked him.

"Who are you?"

"I am the new lab assistant." I told him.

"I asked to bring a glass of cold water to my room. Wasn't I clear?" he asked me, anger evident in his eyes.

"Yes, sir!" I retreated.

"I have a guest there in my room. Just do as you are told. Don't try to be smart. I am letting you go just because you are new. Don't ever try being an interloper again." he went away with a warning. I felt ashamed and I know I am just a lab assistant here and I should do as I am told to. I should have not stopped him and talked to him. But what is so wrong in clarifying the doubt? Huh, rich men are just ARROGANT!

I went up to his room with a glass of water and knocked on the door. I went in after I heard a response. It is a shock that I met him there! ARJUN! So that chairman in the invitation is him? So this is where I saw him before? I have brought this water for him? I felt like my ego got a big hit.

"How are you, Anika? How is your dad?" he asked me as if we were long lost friends.

"We are good. My dad is doing fine." I said putting all my concentration on the water glass rather than on his question.

"What happened to your interviews?" he asked me. Did I see him smirk or am I just imagining?? How dare he? He wants to laugh at me for my rude answer back then? I am not going to give him that satisfaction.

"That is none of your business. How can you be so mean?" I spat out right at him.

"What did I do? No one has ever talked to me like you do. I don't stand disrespect." he stood up from the chair, his face hardened as rock and his fist balled up.

"Do you need anything else?" I asked him to divert my fear. I don't know why I always end up in a bad situation. Just now, that stupid of a chairman ridiculed me and now he is trying to threaten me! I am done responding to his reactions. He is no one to make me feel frightened.

"Nothing from you." he showed me the door. How rude?

I felt deeply disgraced by his rude behavior. The chairman's anger did not bother me much. But his anger frightened me, his rude behavior hurt my heart and I was on the verge of crying. I ran out of the room to stop that extreme embarrassment of crying in front of him. I avoided looking at him for the rest of the function. He is toxic!