A WEEK LATER

Arohi Sharma's pov

Kasauli is a very beautiful place.

The pictures I have seen on the Internet don't do them any justice.

Here, it feels like home.

Funny! Because I never had a home.

I was dropped at the steps of an orphanage, when I was just a few days old.

At least my mother kept me for a few days before throwing me away.

I shook my head to dispel all the despairing thoughts from my head.

Why dwell on something that cannot be changed.

And what is the use of self pitying?

I walked towards the huge villa in the outskirts of Kasauli.

The villa was built in vintage style bricks. 

I pressed the calling bell and waited a few minutes before it was opened by a butler.

"Hello. How can I help you?" The older man asked.

"This is Petals Home?" I asked

"Yes, Ms. I am Bhuvan Teer. The Butler. May I know who the young lady is?" The man asked warmly.

"Mr Teer, it was nice meeting you. I am Arohi Sharma. I have applied for a part time housekeeping job for the next couple of weeks. I had been in touch with Mrs Shyamala Patel." I said with a wide smile .

I love meeting and greeting people. And of course making friends. Because friends are my only family.

"Yes yes. Shyamala mentioned. Would you mind showing me some ID proof of yours," the butler asked warmly.

"Sure," I said and showed him an ID proof of mine.

"Don't feel offended, Ms Sharma. The owner of the villa is a very private man. And he is very particular about security issues," the butler said apologetically. 

"Of course I understand. I am not offended, Mre. It's all part of life." I said brightly.

When I opted for the job, I tried to find out who the owner of the house was. I couldn't. Neither was there any mention of a name anywhere during my conversation with Mrs Patel.

After checking my ID proof and making sure that I am Arohi Sharma who phoned them a couple of weeks ago, Mr Teer welcomed me into the house.

"Please come with me, Ms Sharma. You can meet Shyamala first. She will tell you all about your new job," the butler said and guided me towards the kitchen.

A lady in her early fifties was in the kitchen, overlooking some plumbing works.

"Shyamala. Here's your new assistant," the butler said cheerfully.

The seemingly strict woman looked me up and down with narrowed eyes. And she must have liked what she saw, because she shot a warm smile at me.

"Ms Sharma?" She asked.

"Yes. We talked on the phone." I said with a bright smile.

"I am very thankful that you came along. It's almost time for me to leave. The little one always keeps my daughter awake. He doesn't sleep through the night. So, I am going to stay with them at nights for a couple of weeks. That way she can regain her energy." Shyamala said brightly.

Shyamala aunty’s daughter gave birth a couple of weeks ago. And she needs help. So, Shyamala aunty had advertised for a part time housekeeper. And that's where I came in.

"What do I have to keep in mind?" I asked.

"Honestly? There is not much work here. The owner doesn't come here often. He prefers city life. His work always keeps him in cities. And he always travels around the world for business purposes too. Our only duty is to keep the house neat and tidy." Shyamala aunty said.

"Uh, why do he keep the place, if he doesn't visit?" I asked in confusion and she laughed.

"This villa has been in his family for generations. And also, he is a very wealthy man. He can afford to keep houses that are not lived in." Shyamala aunty said. Bade log!

Great! So the man doesn't visit this place. That makes things easier for me. 

But it is such a waste that this beautiful house goes unused.

The nameless owner should at least let his children and grandchildren come here for vacations. 

‘Well well, Arohi Sharma. It's none of your business what this extra private, security conscious Mr does with his house, is it?’ I mumbled myself 

"Did you say something, Ms Sharma?" Shyamala asked.

"No Mrs Patel. Also please don't call me Ms Sharma. Just call me Arohi. You too Mr Teer." I told both the housekeeper and the butler, cheerfully and they both nodded with a smile.

"Now, dear. You can freshen up yourselves and take a rest. You must be tired after all the journey. There is food in the freezer. You can heat it when you feel hungry. And as I said, there is not much work to do. Just keep an eye on everything. Now I have to rush. Will meet you tomorrow morning." Shyamala said and before she could walk out, I gave her a bear hug startling her.

"Don't mind me. I am a touchy feely person. Give this hug to the little one at home." I said and the older woman laughed.

"You are a sweetie," Shyamala aunty said and I grinned.

As I was getting ready for a shower, I got a call from Gaurav.

Gaurav Mehrotra. My best friend forever.

We have known each other for a couple of years, but it feels like I have known him forever. 

I met him through Bhumi. Another one of my best friends. Gaurav is Bhumi’s brother-in-law.

"Hey, Gaurav." I greeted cheerily.

"Roohi? You reached the place?" Gaurav asked in concern and I rolled my eyes.

He had taken the word protective best friend a little too seriously. 

He was so against me taking a vacation in an unknown place.

But I had argued.

I have been alone my whole life.

"Yes Gaurav. I reached the Petals Home Villa safely. In a single piece. I didn't get mobbed on the way. All my possessions are safe with me. And no. There were no perverts ready to rape an alone woman on the way. I didn't get attacked by any animals either." I said dramatically and I could picture Gaurav rolling his eyes there.

"Drama queen," he muttered, making me laugh.

"I just wanted to know if you reached there safely, Roohi bear. Call me if you need anything. I will be there in a jiffy." Gaurav said and I felt warm.

I am lucky I got three very close friends to call my family.

Mr Teer had pointed at the direction in which my rooms were.

It was very pretty.

I quickly took a shower and got dressed in my cotton nightwear. It has been a long journey and I need proper sleep, if I need energy for all the activities the next day.

As soon as my head hit the bed, I fell asleep.

CRASH

I jolted awake when I heard the loud voice.

What the hell is that?

I heard some movements in the corridor outside my door.

A thief?

Someone must have known that Mrs Patel would be away from here during the nights, and they must have planned some robbery.

Goodness!

I took my phone and switched on the torch. I slightly covered the torch so that the light beam isn't too bright. Just bright enough for me to see around.

"Damn it," I heard a male voice mutter and my heart picked up its beat. 

What the hell are you doing, Arohi Sharma? The brain screamed at me.

But it seems my brain has forgotten to send the message to my legs, because my legs are moving towards the direction from which the voice was heard.

I could see the dark silhouette of a well built man, in the kitchen. Rummaging around in the kitchen, in the dark.

I slipped into the kitchen like a cat, without making any noise. I grabbed a frying pan from the kitchen island, and without stopping to think, I hit him on the head with it.

"F*ck!" The man cursed and turned around to glare at me.

"Who the hell are you?"