The Runaway Bride! Part 3

Aryan's POV

On reaching our hotel, all dispersed into their rooms quietly. None talked. The day took a toll on me. But I decided to ignore it. I booked the tickets for our family to return home. Slowly, the beast took over good in me building a stone wall not to allow any more girls to destroy me emotionally as the day passed in her memories. I resolved to resume my work to divert my attention from her. 

The next morning, I called my secretary to ask about the schedule. He was startled for a moment and listed out the meetings I had. I informed him that I will resume my work in the office today and asked him to set everything ready for my arrival.

Aradhana's POV

Time flew quickly. Reaching Bangalore, the silicon city drove freshness to my thoughts for a moment. A smile curved on my lips seeing the city. Chaithanya arranged a paying guest room for me a street away from his home. He is protective and caring. The whole day I preferred to do nothing except try to rest in peace as I was very much messed up in my head. I changed the sim card fearing for my dad's anger. I am sure he will roast me like a chicken with his flaring eyes for what I have done if I was right now in front of him or probably bash me up. No idea what he would have done! I want to stop imagining things.

Bestie brought me timely food and I kept hogging and listening to him. The owner of the PG Ms Sathya was a friendly woman. Chaithanya emotionally blackmailed his mother not to give any details about me to my parents to avoid any repercussions. So, though her mother visited me once in the evening she didn't behave normally. She kept quiet smiling oddly at times fearing how his son might feel. I can make out clearly from her face that she disliked the way I ran away from my marriage ceremony.

The night passed away bringing the bright sun to shine near my window. Taking deep breaths, I looked out to greet the morning sun. I visited the temple for seeking God's blessings and my bestie dropped me near the company I had applied for. Holding the printout form they sent, I stepped in. The receptionist guided me to reach the appropriate one. 

The company was in a multi-storeyed lavish building. There were 25 floors as I could make out from the lift buttons inside the lift. The glass doors and lightings were lovely and much professional. The rooms were well furnished and carried an elegant look. 

Roughly going through the projects I have done during my internship, I glanced at a person who sat lost in thoughts beside me. She was sweating profusely in tension. I held her hand gently and assured her speaking out "All is well!"

I was shocked as it was not me who can do such things. I used to be a shy girl who never put a point across at least in front of my father and here I am assuring a stranger. Strange me! Maybe the place helped me to gather a bit of courage. Finally, I learnt to say what I felt.

The interview process started. The girl whom I assured hugged me dearly after she finished her interview thanking me for encouraging her. 

"I am Sameera. Pleased to meet you. I want to wait for you but my mother is hospitalised and I must go. Would you mind giving me your number? I want to be your friend. Please don't mind. I am straightforward but earlier I was tense as I am the breadwinner for my family. I must earn better to meet their needs. Finally, I got selected." the girl said almost controlling her joy to maintain a professional look.

"I am Aradhana. Nice to meet you. My number **********" said Aradhana with a smile. As she heard someone calling out her name, Aradhana stepped into the interview room. She managed to clear her interview and was asked to sign the contract. She updated her contact details and address too.

Reading thoroughly, she signed the contract and reached home calling for celebration.

I was waiting for tomorrow which is going to bring me joy and it will be the first day at the office.

Aryan's POV

After reaching my office, I got busy with my work. In the late evening, I received the list of new entrants into the company under my management team. Seeing Aradhana's name on the selected candidate list, I was taken aback. Gasping for breath, I raised high kicking my revolving chair.

"How can this happen? Doesn't she know this company belongs to me, the one whom she rejected to get married to? Or Is she playing a mind game with me to trouble me even more? Whatever it might be! My wounded heart had shut off immediately warning me to throw her out of the company but my beast inside me was urging me to take revenge on her after all that she made me and my family suffer. Losing to my beast, I got ready to face her. Picking up the contract agreement, I smirked imagining the stuff that I am going to prepare for her grand welcome tomorrow. 

She doesn't know that she dug her pit. I will make her payback for the torment I experienced. She should learn her lesson the hardest way. 

"Eagerly waiting to meet you tomorrow Aradhana! Payback time!" I said in a feeble tone.

"I want her to directly report to me. I want the project she was assigned to be directed to me. I will be personally looking after the project hereafter. I am the manager of this girl and her team." I ordered my secretary who couldn't stop wide opening his mouth and eyes in astonishment.

I snapped my finger to revoke him from his shock.

Gulping hard, he said "Sir! You are already loaded with work. Do you want to take this tiny work into your hands?" becoming humble.

I nodded my head with a grin that stopped him from questioning further. 

As he was about to leave after taking orders, I reminded him not to reveal anything about this girl or the sudden takeover of the project to the company's higher authority who happened to be my brother Vikrant. He was an angry man who would be hell-bent to dump her out of office after knowing about her doings. Luckily, he went abroad and couldn't make up to attend the rituals. 

I was enthralled at the very thought of punishing her the first day. The beast finally took over me trying hard to bring solace to my heart.

To be continued...