Dually Devoted ?

Chapter 4

"I'm not your only option, Sir." I'm not even an option.

"You are!" He said, as he slammed his desk with a surprising intensity.

The loud sound caused her to shiver. She staggered backward.

He started to step closer to her again. She didn't know if she was being foolish or not, but she didn't move. She let him walk closer. For some reason, she believed he would know when to stop. He surely was a dominant, arrogant, horrible-tempered stubborn man, but he wasn't petty. At least not in his own eyes. So, she knew he would honor her private space.

"I can't afford to take any other woman with me. They would start to think they're special. Dealing with them would be problematic." He explained annoyingly, standing just a few steps away in front of her, in thought.

When had he started to explain himself to his employees? Why was he even explaining things to her? He had no idea.

Oh! "It's- Not my duty to ease those worries of yours, Sir. I cannot help you with things that aren't in my job profile. Please do understand."

Siddharth threw Arpita a long scrutinizing look, his unsettling irritation turning to unacceptable defeat, at her determination. Then, he looked away, and ran his hands through his hair.
'I cannot help you...' her words returned to his mind.
Help Him? She was insane. Yet, right. It wasn't in her job profile. And he didn't need her help. He would find a date himself. Though it would be annoying. He clicked his tongue.

She understood that that was her queue to leave. "If there's nothing else, Sir..." she smartly dismissed herself.

Stepping out of his office and closing the door behind her, her shoulders slumped as she supported herself with the help of her desk. Phew!
His intimidating glares, the loudness of his voice and his rough actions had made that place so suffocating to breathe in, she breathed out.

The aura of his office had darkened, to her horror. It had never been light and inviting to begin with, she chewed on her lip in thought. His office had been designed the way he wanted it. Wooden furnitures, expensive brown leather couches, added shelves and the best air conditioners. One whole day, the whole company was given a holiday, before he had even stepped foot in the building as the new president. Everything had been changed, particularly his office. It held things that shouted dominance and wealth. She had known the moment she had stepped in there, months ago, that she was in for a battle to fight.

***

Siddharth was sulky, when his personal mobile's ringtone caused his forehead to crease. He was in no mood to attend calls. But only a few countable people knew his personal number. His close friend, Tarun, his father, Aunt Yov and Joseph. He saw his father's name lighten the screen.

"Ya, dad," he answered boredly.

Mr. Tripathi forgot what he wanted to say, his expression changing. "Uhm... you don't sound okay, Son."

He leaned back in his chair, massaging his head. "...That woman- She's so stubborn. She was arguing! With me! Can you believe that?"

"Which woman?"

"My so-called P.A."

Rajiv smiled.
Siddharth wasn't the cheerful kind of person, true. Rajiv could understand why. Yet, his son was not a man who would get angry. He would command, and demand, but he had never cared enough about what anyone did, to snap at them or to think of them even after the incident was over and done. If he didn't like them, he would have them gone. Away from his sight. That was the kind of boss he had seen his son becoming. This new side- it eased Mr. Tripathi. His son was finally beginning to accept someone into his world. This news demands for a- "Sweet."

"Sweet?! Dad, what's wrong with you?! This whole situation, it's anything but sweet. It's sour. Sour enough to want to make me puke."

A small chuckle escaped Mr. Rajiv's lips. "Sour?!" So, it's not bitter? Good then, I guess.

"Are you drunk, for God's sake?" Siddharth thought out loud.

A hearty laugh was heard. "I'm not, son. I'm completely sober. It's just... funny. Since this is the first time." He revealed.

"First time, what?" Sid's eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

"First time you are angry at someone."

As his dad's words sunk in, Sid stilled. His heartbeat clearly audible through the silence, interrupted only by the tick-tock sounds.

Secretly... Sid was always enraged. On the inside. At himself. But he had never been influenced enough by the outside world, to let it infuriate him. He had never... then, why now?

Rajiv understood his son was confused. Blank. He smiled. Sid needed to know that the one he was opening his heart to was just beside him, but he knew that if he was to declare anything of that sort, Siddharth would rebuild his walls. This time, higher, stronger. So, he only gave his son the least bit of insight. "You never expected anything from anyone, son. Or should I say, you always waited for them to disappoint you? So, when they did, it didn't come as a surprise to you. I guess it's different this time."

Siddharth silently listened.
Was it different?
Yes, was the immediate answer his mind gave. It was different.
He had expected her to say 'yes, sir' like she always did.
Always- a word that was not to be taken lightly. Just like perfection, the word 'always' too hadn't existed in his dictionary. This world was ever changing. There could be nothing that you can always hold on to. Nothing at all.

"You're right, dad. It is funny."

***
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