Vikas entered his office, said hello to Parineeti and went into his cabin. A minute later Parineeti entered his office.
"Yes?" He looked at her as he had not called her.
"Sir, breakfast." She stepped aside to let a boy enter with a tray laden with tea and breakfast items.
"I didn't order any..." As Vikas started to speak Parineeti held her hand and quickly gestured with her eyes towards the boy. Vikas stopped.
The boy, following Parineeti's instructions, put the tray on the coffee table near the couches and left.
"I didn't ask for any tea, Pari." Vikas said as soon as the door closed behind the boy.
Rather than replying to his comment, Pari turned, locked the door from inside and walked around the desk to him. There, she calmly advanced until he made space for her then parked her butt on his lap.
She put her arms around his neck and looked confidently in his eyes.
Very softly she explained to him "I am your personal secretary, Sir. My job is to take care of everything for you, not just the things you say but the things you don't say also. "
Not knowing how to handle this situation, Vikas simply stayed quiet and listened to her.
"For four days now you have not taken proper lunch, not smiled even once and not talked to anyone except for the bare minimum that was needed for work. Looking at you I feel like you have not slept in a month. Basically you look like you are punishing yourself or the whole world and if the world ended right now you would actually be happy."
It was obvious that her words had hit home because she had struck her boss speechless.
"Now, I can't force you to be happy, and I can't go home with you and make sure you eat and sleep properly, but while you are in the office you are under my care. I will make sure that you eat breakfast, you eat lunch and that you go home on time. If I have to be obnoxious about it, I will be. And if you don't like it, you can fire me."
She finished her little speech and looked defiantly into his eyes while she caught her breath. Vikas swallowed once. He seemed to be struggling to keep his emotions under control.
Parineeti took him by the hand and sat him on the couch. She sat next to him and made the tea. Then she buttered the toast and fed him, by hand when he declined. Except for feeding him, Parineeti avoided looking at him. He seemed like he was on the verge of tears and she didn't want to embarrass him.
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But Kajal was not on the verge of tears. She was actually crying. She had been crying for six days now. She had come back from Vikas' place on Friday evening in the taxi and had fallen into her mother's arms in a sobbing fit.
She had told her mother the story that night. Sonali didn't have much advice to give. She simply listened and comforted her daughter.
The next day they talked more in detail and mother daughter both agreed that Kajal had made a big mistake. That she should apologise and go back to Vikas was clear but it took Kajal another day to gather the courage to call him.
What she had not expected was that he would not answer. First one or two times she consoled herself with the thought that he must be in a meeting. She called again and realised with a sinking heart that he was not taking her calls. That started her crying anew.
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Parineeti made sure that Vikas had something to eat before leaving the office. He stayed until 7 P.M. so she stayed with him until 7 P.M. She asked him for a lift so that he would have to go towards his home in order to drop her. She lived in Almeida Park which was not too far from Vikas' own flat in Bandra West.
When Vikas dropped her off, Parineeti leaned in from the passenger seat and kissed him softly on the lips.
"Thank you, Sir. " she whispered after the brief kiss.
This was the third time they had shared a casual kiss on the lips. Parineeti was liking this and wanted it to become the norm between her and her boss. She was very attracted to him and didn't care that he was about to be married. She really wanted to be his girl in the office. While she could not figure out a way for that to happen, she was loving that they had come closer recently.
Vikas drove off to his home. After parking the car in the building's parking he took the lift to his flat on the 25th floor. Parineeti had kept him distracted the whole day but now that he was coming back to the empty apartment he was feeling the despondent mood descend upon him like a wet blanket.
He came out of the lift and walked to his flat. He halted as he neared the door. In the subdued lights of the lobby, he could see a female form in front of his flat door.
As he approached Kajal moved away from the wall and came towards him. She was wearing a sheer black shirt which showed her strapless black top inside. Her skirt was also black and reached almost to her knees. Her face was very cute but drawn. Her eyes were puffy and red.
"Vikas..." She stopped as he held up his hand.
Without another word he unlocked his flat door and ushered her inside.
"Whatever you have come to say there's no need for neighbours to hear it." He explained.
"Thank you." Kajal said with feeling, thankful for his consideration, but then couldn't get another word out.
"Take a seat." Vikas escorted her into the living room area then brought her a glass of water.
Kajal took a sip then squared her shoulders.
She started slowly "I am sorry. I was stupid. I should not have said what I said. I don't blame you for pushing me away. I am really sorry!"
As she spoke two streaks of tears flowed down her cheeks, but she kept her voice level and continued with determination "You were right in kicking me out. I was such a bitch. But I love you so much! Please don't push me out of your life. I can't live without you. I am sorry I interfered in your work. I was so insecure that you have such a pretty girl as your secretary. Sorry, I was so stupid. I should not have doubted you."
"Well, she's just my secretary. I am not having an affair with her like you seem to think."
"I am so sorry! I don't care if you have an affair with her, I just want to be in your life. I can't live without you. I have gone through hell in these days. There is a hole in my life without you."
Vikas sat on the sofa near her and took her in his arms.
Kajal sobbed and mumbled "Fuck all the secretaries you want, just let me be in your life. I want to be your wife. I want you so much. Please take me back! Please keep me in your life."
She sat back and looked into his eyes "If you don't want to marry me just keep me as your live-in girlfriend. You can even keep Pari here as well. I will share. I will do anything to be your girl. Please forgive me and take me back! "
Taking her hands in his Vikas looked back in her eyes "I am not fucking Pari, ok? Now, do you want to be my girl?"
"Oh, more than anything! Please take me back!"
"Okay. You are my girl."
"Really? You forgive me?"
"Yes, I forgive you."
"Thank you, baby. You are so good. Thank you so much!" She hugged him tight.
