Chapter 8

Samaira woke up feeling a little grumpy because Mr. Aarush was not ready to leave her mind throughout the night and when she got some sleep, her alarm rang. Feeling grouchy and sleepy, she took a shower and had breakfast of avocado toast along with a banana smoothie.

This always makes her day and now, as it is her first day, she wants it to go well. Samaira knew he doubted a little on her capabilities of being a perfect CMO for Bakshi and Sons and she wants to prove his every little doubt wrong to where he can't even pinpoint her mistakes.

She wants to show him that work matters to her the most, even with little experience. She tied her hair in a bun before grabbing a towel and the clothes she had to wear that day, making her way to the bathroom.

After a long shower, she dried herself up and then wore a nude pink shirt, matching it with black pants ending just above her ankles and black heels along with it. She tied her hair in a high pony because it gives her the confidence to keep going.

She grabbed her laptop bag and the wristwatch, heading outside towards the kitchen to make herself a filling breakfast. She prepared the breakfast, taking her seat, she grabbed the newspaper, trying to keep up with whatever was happening around her.

A few minutes later, grabbing her smoothie, she headed outside to the balcony, sitting down on the beanbag, enjoying the view along with the drink in her hand.

She took in the view for a few minutes and finished her drinking, getting up to leave before she get late for her first day. Heading inside, she washed the dishes, cleaned the leftovers, and grabbed her things, locking the apartment on her way out.

She took a lift to the basement when she received a call from Tarun. "Good morning, my lady, ready to go?" Tarun chimed from the other side. "Mm-hmm, I am ready to just left the house. What about you?" She asked and reached the basement, unlocking her car, and getting settled inside.

"Nothing much, just left for the office, with a cup of coffee along the way," he said, and she giggled realizing he once again had a movie marathon forgetting that he has work today.

"You need a lady to stop your movie marathon every Sunday."

"Of course, I need a lady, but not for stopping me, but for joining me in my every adventure." She shook her head and started her engine. "Ok mister, now focus on driving and let me drive to or else people will hear two deaths on the same day, same time," she said, and he said his goodbyes.

She kept her phone aside and switched on the music, humming along with it. She reached the office in like twenty minutes and then took the private elevator towards Aarush's office, which she took last time when she came here.

Samaira was nervous and was having a bad feeling, as if something was about to happen. She heard the ding of the elevator, so shook all the thoughts away, heading towards his office. She greeted Tara on her way as she saw her heading in the opposite direction, maybe to do some work.

She continued her walk to his office and then took a few deep breaths and prepping herself, she knocked on his door. There was silence for a while, but then I heard a faint, 'come in,' so she pushed the door open. But she wished she hadn't done it.

She wished she came a bit late or woke up late just not to see the scene in front of her. She just saw a girl... no, a gorgeous girl sitting on Aarush's lap and he seemed unfazed with this, still unaware of her presence. The girl pressed her lips on his cheek. The girl pulled back after a minute and then began tracing her long, slender fingers along his muscular chest, opening the first two buttons of his shirt, sliding her hand inside.

Samaira's gaze fell on his hands. His one hand was on his laptop typing something while his other hand was securing the girl's waist, as if preventing her from falling. Tears formed in her eyes seeing him feeling so cozy with another girl while she was still keeping her heart safe just for him. She stood frozen at the door feeling numb. She still couldn't process a thing. When the girl took his name, "Aarush!" He hmm in response and Samaira interrupted.

She cleared her throat, feeling both their eyes on her. The girl slid off his lap while he and fixed his shirt, she looked everywhere but at them. She should have known that he would have a girlfriend, but her being stupid kept believing that he will keep himself just for her and no one else.

Illusion and that's what she kept herself in all those years.

The girl went outside the cabin and Samaira spoke. "Mr. Bakshi, can you please show me my cabin?" He cleared his throat and answered. "I— umm, sure, let's go."

All the way to her cabin, she kept her eyes straight, aware that he was looking at her seeking an expression, but she was determined not to show him she felt weak and hurt. Those fifteen minutes in his presence until he left her alone in the cabin were too suffocating.

He even tried to talk to her or explain, but she dismissed him. 'What was the use of explaining when everything was clear to me?'

Samaira sat on her chair, taking deep breaths, trying her best to stop her tears from falling, but she had no control over them. She finally broke down, as she couldn't comprehend what to do.

Nothing can hurt more than seeing the love of your life being cozy with another girl and that too in front of your own eyes. She wanted to believe that everything she saw was just a lie, just an illusion, but it was not.

Samaira tried her best to compose herself and worked. Working for long hours is a great distraction and that's what she wanted, distraction. She engrossed herself in work, not letting Aarush and that girl cloud her thoughts again.

Files and emails, that's what she surrounded herself with. Even during lunchtime, she was busy when Tara called her out to have lunch. She said no and continued working. It's been 6 hours since she ate something, her stomach made a grumbling sound reminding her to eat something, so she took a break and have something.

She headed towards the cafeteria and had a cup of coffee along with the sandwich to keep her satisfied the rest of the evening. Samaira again got into work eating alongside.

Samaira got a call when she was ready to leave for home as she finished everything she had to do for the day having no more interaction with Aarush. He seemed to be busy in the meetings himself after the incident in the morning. She picked the call without looking at the caller ID.

"My lady! get ready for the last meal with me. I am moving back to Delhi tomorrow." Tarun exclaimed,

'Tarun! gosh, he can't even let me have my meals in peace.' Samaira mumbled to herself before giving him a reply. "No! I won't come," she answered, smirking to herself.

"You have no choice, Ms. Malhotra. either it is yes or a yes." Samaira laughed a little before answering. "Yes, yes, fine, a meal won't hurt much."

"Okay! text me your location. I'll pick you up."

"Fine."

And they dismissed the call. She texted him the location while he texted back, saying he'll be there in fifteen minutes. So, she went to the washroom to freshen up a little. It was good to have a meal as a distraction.

Samaira bid bye to Tara, telling her to inform Aarush about her departure and handed her the files she gave Samaira early this morning.

"I have completed these, and please inform Mr. Bakshi that I am leaving now." she nodded yes and Samaira headed towards the elevator leaving the building.

As she headed towards her car, she saw Tarun waiting for her. He left his car coming towards her. "What about my car?" she inquired.

"Leave it at my apartment, and you can collect it later." Samaira nodded and first they drove to his apartment, leaving her car there they headed somewhere in his car. "Babe let me drive peacefully or else I would kill you before I leave for Delhi," Tarun jokes because she kept asking him where he was taking her too, because he always loves to surprise her while Samaira hates surprises.

"Don't call me babe. u know I hate that ...and please..." she whined a little to make him answer her.

"So, stop asking questions." He said, still keeping his eyes on the road. "You are insane" This is what they are, a chaotic duo indeed.

For about an hour, Samaira kept pouting and whining but he gave her no hint. But at last, they reached. 'The Chambers terrace', one of the most beautiful and romantic places for dinner in Mumbai.

She widened her eyes as she realized Tarun didn't bring her for a meal, but for a date night. "Tarun, you know this place is considered as a date place and not a place for simple meals." She looked at him with questioning eyes.

"I know, but I wanted to make this last meal special, you know we won't be able to meet this after I shift to Delhi and it is a friendly meet unless you want it to be more than..." She glared at him as his tone changed from a serious one to a teasing one in just a second.

"Just kidding, Sam, just kidding. Let's go inside." They made their way inside. This place was beautiful inside out. The interior was so cozy and romantic. At that moment, she realized that when Tarun will fall in love, his girl would be so lucky to have him.

He is indeed a perfect man for everyone, a complete prince charming of every girl's dream, but not hers.

They headed to a seat away from all the crowd. That's what she preferred, privacy and calming dinner, not a hustle one.

They were having a friendly conversation with no interruptions unless a server came to ask for orders and drinks. The night was going until Samaira shifted her gaze towards the entrance of the restaurant.

She saw Aarush Bakshi, but he was not alone.... he was with the same girl she saw this morning and she was clinging on to his arm like her life depended on him but he liked it.

She once again felt suffocated and wanted to leave. Why was God being cruel to her? And out of all the places he wanted to have dinner, he came here? Why was everything going downhill?

She had to stay just for Tarun. She didn't want to destroy his last day and his mood. So she sat there feeling emotionless.

"Sam... Sam..., I wanted to ask you something?" Samaira realized Tarun was questioning her and looked at him, encouraging him to speak.

"What were you doing at Bakshi and Sons? Are you perhaps working for Aarush Bakshi?"

He looked confused, and she answered in affirmative. "I do, why? Something happened?" He just shook his head and continued eating while she once again was lost in her thoughts.

After a few minutes, Tarun once again called her out, but she could not pay attention to him.

She had her gaze fixed on Aarush and the way he was smiling at the girl in front of him. She looked precious to him, and his loving eyes broke her heart once again.

She had to move on, but just thinking about moving on was hurting her. It was going to be difficult working for her but she need this job to prove her worth to her parents.

She can't back off even if she has to handle a broken heart in this path. She took a deep breath and looked back at Tarun.