LIFE STORY : CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3
THE DRIVE BACK HOME
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On her way towards her cabin, she could see the staring eyes but she tried to ignore them and walked confidently. As she was settling her bits, she could see some letters on her table. She started flipping them one by one and suddenly came across a sweet card. She was surprised to see a beautiful Friendship Card. She opened it with anxiety to check who the sender was.

"Happy Friendship Day Samaira ---- Ronir"

The card did bring a smile on Samaira's face. Ronir had joined her office around a month back at a very senior position. Though she never got a chance to talk to him face to face but she had heard lots of good words about him from people around. 

"But why would Ronir give a friendship day card to me when I hardly know him? Is this news already leaked that I had a break-up? Are the guys around now thinking that I am available for a relationship? Ronir does looks like a sensible guy but why is he trying to flirt with me?"

There were so many questions in Samaira's mind and it was getting hard for her to find answers. She decided to keep the card in her drawer and got herself busy with her work.

It was a long list of pending things and for quite some time she hasn't been able to do justice to her own work. Most of her time in the past few months had gone in building the online portal for Yatin which now was nothing but a dead piece of code. Though she was looking at her laptop but she was lost in her thoughts.

She picked up her phone to see if it was still on as she hadn't heard a single beep sound for last one hour. There was a time, when her phone wouldn't stop ringing and she used to have constant caring messages from Yatin. And today, her phone was a silent piece. She checked the battery and it was all charged up. She once again checked her messages and there were hardly few promotional messages and some forwarded funny messages on Whatsapp but none of them made her laugh.

She had tears in her eyes but this time she never allowed them to fall, she reminded herself of her resolution to move forward. She reminded herself of her father's words, she gathered some courage and started surfing her emails. 

While there were few urgent emails to respond, there was once again a reminder email from her boss to check if she was fine to travel for 2 weeks to participate in their company's global summit in London. So far, she has been double minded on this proposal, while on one side it was a good opportunity for her to represent her team and showcase her immense leadership skills, on the other hand she never wanted to remain away from her family and Yatin.

Till two days back, she had almost decided to decline this offer but now things were different and she now decided to rethink on this offer. Basically she was looking out for some change and wanted to give some time to her own self. With a hope that this trip might give her a much needed break, she confirmed her boss that she was fine to travel.

For next few hours she got herself busy with her work and responded to some other urgent emails. She got so much involved in her work that she never realised it was so late in the evening.

Finally, it was the phone call from her dad which broke the silence in her room.

"Hello beta, are you going to be late today? I suggest that you should leave on time because weather outside is not good"

She looked outside the window and her dad was right as it was getting stormy.

"Yes dad, don't worry, I am just about to leave and yes I have confirmed my boss for the London trip, will talk about it on the dinner table"

"This is fantastic, come soon and we will definitely talk. Even I need some break from your mom's never ending gossips" her father laughed.

This even made Samaira laugh and she knew that her father always used to crack such jokes whenever she was sad. She thanked God for blessing her with such a sweet family and started wrapping up her work.

While she was moving out, she also saw Ronir coming out of his cabin. Soon they were standing next to each other in the lift.

"Seems it has been a long day for you as well" Ronir did the ice breaking.

"Yes it was and how was it for you" it was just a formality question from Samaira as she was thinking deep inside that if Ronir asks about the card, she may not be able to respond well.

"Oh, it was a hectic day for me as well and I still had so much to finish but do you know these moms, they think that we are still kids and it's just because of my mom calling me again and again, I had to finally leave. She is a complete dramatist, I tell you" he laughed out loud.

Samaira did liked Ronir's sense of humour but was a bit hesitant to laugh on that. She just passed on a smile.

"Sorry, it was just a joke and I know she cares for me a lot"

"It's fine and I can understand, as even I got a call from my dad"

"I told u, these parents are just too much at times"

While they walked towards the exit, it had already started raining heavily.

"So how are you planning to go, if I am not wrong you rarely drive."

"Yes I rarely drive but don't worry I will manage a taxi"

"Are you sure? will you be able to get one in this bad weather"

"Oh yes, you please carry on"

Ronir walked few steps but then came back "if you are fine I can drop you and it won't be much extra drive for me as I also stay close to your place"

She was surprised as how come he knows about her address.

"It's fine, I don't want you to get late as even your mom must be waiting for you"

"Don't worry Samaira, I will manage that part and also I won't bite you on the way" he again laughed.

"Nothing like that Ronir, I know you won't" she smiled.

"Just wait here and I will get the car"

While sitting inside, she could feel a nice fragrance in the car and it was one of her favourites.

"Let me call up my dad as I can see there is so much of traffic and it may get a bit late"

"Sure, please do and just relax. I know lot of shortcuts so I will get you there on time"

For next few minutes there was again silence and Samaira was again thinking of the friendship day card.

"Seems Samaira you haven't yet recognised me"

"I am sorry Ronir but seriously I am not able to recollect. Have me met before?"

"We were classmates in college but I won't blame you even if you can't recollect because I was always a very silent backbencher"

"Oh my god, now I can remember, but if I am not wrong you have changed a lot. Were you the one with oily hair and a big moustache and who used to wear those multicolored clothes. I am so sorry but I cannot control my laughs now."

Samaira laughed hysterically and to her surprise Ronir joined her and they both burst into rounds of laughter.

"You are right, I am the same guy"

"But I must admit Ronir, what a transformation. You are a complete different personality now"

"Well I will take it as a compliment. And the major credit of this transformation goes to my mom. She thought that her son looks too old in that moustache and she pushed me hard to get rid of it. Though for some time I used to hide my face. And then, that one month professional training just after the college changed me a lot as well" said Ronir

"I must say, it's a positive change" spoke Samaira

It was just less than an hour and Samaira had started feeling a bit comfortable with Ronir and was enjoying his jokes and laughs. She had always admired males with good sense of humour and Ronir undoubtedly had a very good one.

"So, we are here, I told you I will drop you on time, luckily rain has also stopped now. Hope it's not too late for you"

"Not at all and you have drove in the safest way. Thanks for this"

As Samaira stepped outside the car, she was confused on whether she should say something about the card. She started walking towards her home and just after few steps she moved back and saw Ronir was still waiting, may be he was also waiting to hear and as if Samaira read his heart

"Thanks Ronir for the beautiful card, you have a safe drive back home and please take care"

"It was my pleasure Samaira and you too take good care"

They both smiled back at each other.

To be continued......