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Harshad Oberoi!

The office door burst open, and Preeti, my younger sister, came in. 

"Harsh bhai! You won't believe the deal I just closed!" She exclaimed, dropping into the chair opposite my desk. "Those Peterson brothers finally agreed to the deal. This is going to be huge!"

"That's fantastic news, Preeti. Congratulations." I looked up from the spreadsheet that had been stubbornly refusing to cooperate, a weary smile gracing my lips. 

"Thanks! I owe you one. Remember that investor I was trying to connect with? You put in a good word for me." Preeti said gratefully.

"Just doing my part," I said, a hint of pride in my voice. Preeti was a force to be reckoned with in the business world soon, and I admired her drive and ambition.

"So, what's this?" Preeti's gaze suddenly landed on the vibrant pink tiffin box precariously close to the edge of my desk. "Did someone bring you lunch? Or did you finally decide to embrace your inner chef?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I barely have time to breathe, let alone cook." I scoffed.

"Oh, really? Then who is the sweet lady who brought you this culinary masterpiece?" Preeti raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. 

I glared at her..

“Could it be the sweet cute Aaru, who calls me on an hourly basis asking for every single thing about your likes and dislikes?” Preeti asked and I shot her an angry glare.
“Stop encouraging her, will you? She is getting on my nerves..” I said and Preeti laughed out loud.

“She is what you need in life, bhai. She is going to make your boring existence colorful..” Preeti said with a grin..

“Preeti, I am warning you again. Stop entertaining her. If I find her here again, you will get it from me..” I warned and Preeti laughed out loud.

“By the way, is it alfredo pasta? I did tell her that you love homemade pasta..” Preeti said.

“Take it when you go. I don’t want it..” I said in a dismissive tone..

“No way, bhai. She made it specially for you, with all her love. I wouldn’t dare to touch it.” Preeti said.

“If you don’t take it, it will end up in the trash can..” I said..

“Then it must have already been there. The fact that it is sitting still on your desk is giving me hope..” Preeti said cheekily.

“I am going to kill you, today.” I said, getting up from my chair.

With a laugh, Preeti dashed out of my cabin, leaving me exasperated.

I shot one glance at the annoying pink tiffin box and got back to work..

The insistent thrum of my phone broke through the rhythmic clack of the keyboard. 

I glanced at the screen, the name "A" flashed across it made me curse under my breath. 

I slammed my hand down on the desk, the files clattering in protest. ‘Why did I ever meet her?’ The question hung heavy in the air, unanswered.

I forced myself back to work, the rhythmic tapping of keys a desperate attempt to drown out the vibration of my phone. But the image of her face, impossibly bright against the muted tones of my office, kept intruding. 

‘She is beautiful…’ The thought surfaced, unwelcome. 

‘Oh shut up,’ I muttered to myself in self reproach.

Hours blurred into a monotonous haze of spreadsheets and deadlines. Finally, exhausted but strangely exhilarated, I stretched, and my eyes fell on the vibrant pink box nestled on my desk. 

A gift. From her. Homemade pasta! That’s what she said when she called me in the morning. Alfredo pasta! My favourite!

Without even my permission, my hands reached out and took the book. As I opened the box, the aroma of alfredo pasta assaulted my senses. 

It looked perfect. I took the plastic fork that was kept on the underside of the lid and took a bite..

Yum!

‘So, she knows how to cook,’ I conceded grudgingly, the familiar tang of the signature alfredo sauce hit my senses. I ate quickly, the deliciousness of the meal a bitter pill to swallow.

"Sir, you have a meeting at four," Raj announced through the intercom, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

"Right. Get the presentation ready," I barked through the phone and quickly finished the delicious pasta.

I grabbed my phone as I stood up to leave for the meeting. The screen was a cacophony of unread messages from A.

Have you eaten?

How's the pasta?

Did you eat lunch Shona <3

I miss you so much! Do you have any idea how many minutes it has been since I saw you!

I will come again tomorrow…

Currently I am brainstorming.. I am thinking of how to start my career without anybody’s support.. I am going to prove it to you Harsha, that I am worthy of you!

The onslaught was relentless. I felt a surge of impotent rage. 

‘Send one more message...I will block your number…’ I quickly typed and pressed on the send button.

A moment later, another message appeared.

‘Omg omg omg.... This is the first time you are replying to my messages! This just made my day, Shona! This just gave me the boost up for my upcoming hard days to prove myself.. I love you…’

I stared at the screen, disbelief battling with a strange, unsettling thrill. 

This girl was impossible. Predictable, yet utterly unpredictable. 

My phone rang, the caller ID flashing: A. I swore under my breath. The incessant barrage of texts had given way to this, the ultimate intrusion. 

I am going to kill her!

‘I need to get her away from me,’ I thought, the words echoing in his mind. ‘I need to make her hate me. So that she will leave me alone.’

I pressed the block button, a grim satisfaction washing over me. It was time to take control.

“Aradhana! I don’t f*cking want you in my life. And I will make sure that the message is sent across to you crystal clear!”

A/N

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