Looking at the pictures that his Mother had sent to him, Akhi rolled his eyes. How was he supposed to decide his life partner with a picture? He asked himself before putting them back in the envelope and closing it. Finally, the clock hit 12:00 and he left the office to get an early lunch seeing as he had a conference around 1:00.
Once he entered the small cafe he noticed that his favorite seat by the corner of the bar was open and went to it. Taking a seat, he patiently read through the menu before noticing a girl who clearly looked stressed. Her hands were tightly clasped in her lap while she worriedly looked from side-to-side.
The reason for her worry became apparent as a gruff man slid into the booth next to her. Once she was backed into a corner, the man raised a hand and gently traced the outline of the girl's face with his finger before moving lowering to her neck. The girl closed her eyes but was surprised when she didn't feel the man's hand anymore.
As she opened her eyes, she was shocked to see another man standing over both of them. Akash pulled his hand free with a sneer before standing up and poking Akhil's shoulder telling him,"Don't touch me."
Akhil easily brushed his hand over where Akash was poking him and said,"Perhaps you should act as you say." The man growled and raised a hand to punch him but Akhil had already smacked him across the face.
Gasping, Laila covered her mouth with her hand before getting worried when Akash glared at Akhil and the people in the restaurant before turning to look at her. "Let's go," he muttered to her and once she got up, grabbed her wrist in an unforgiving grip.
Wincing, she subtly tried to free her wrist but shook her head when Akhil tried to help her. "I'm fine. Thank you," she whispered before reluctantly following after Akash who tugged her wrist to make sure she kept following him.
As Akhil watched them leave he couldn't ignore the aching feeling in his chest, like things were about to get so much worse. Taking a look at his wristwatch, he sighed before hurrying out of the cafe and into his car. Slowly, he followed Akash's car trying to keep his distance.
Akash kept his eyes on the road as he drove by an empty factory site as Laila nervously wrung the ends of her scarf in her lap. "Get out," Akash said to Laila as he opened the door for her and the moment Laila had a foot on the ground she was being dragged by Akash before he pushed her in front of him.
"Akash, none of this is necessary," she tried to explain to him but he just laughed and moved toward her before mocking,"Well, you see, if I can't have your sister then you're just going to have to work." He kept walking forward, taking off his jacket in the process and Laila started walking backwards as she noticed that there was no one around to help her.
Having seen enough Akhil got out of the car and made his way over to the two. Laila screamed when her scarf was ripped off of her body by Akash but Akhil was already there and grabbed Akash's hand.
"You again," Akash growled but Akhil simply snatched the scarf from him and pushed him to the floor. Landing on the floor in a heap Akash made no move to get up, only watching as Akhil gently gave Laila back her scarf. Shaking, Laila accepted the scarf before looking at Akhil in confusion when he extended a hand towards her.
"Let me take you home," he asked and stood back as she started walking forward. Sitting in his car, Laila took out her phone and called her older sister. “Yeah, Didi, I know. Well, you can’t come and meet him. No, I’m fine. Yeah, I’ll be home soon. No, don't tell Ami and Abu,” she looked over when Akhil had slid over into the driver’s seat and ended the call.
They were driving in silence for some time before Akhil pulled up in front of the cafe. “May I buy you a drink,” he asked as they entered the cafe and Akhil raised his hand to show two fingers to the waiter who nodded before showing them a booth.
“Sure,” Laila muttered as she slid into one side of the booth while Akhil slid into the other. “Black coffee,” Akhil said before looking at Laila who skimmed the menu and said,”Uh, small hot chocolate, please.” The waiter nodded and left to get them their drinks while Akhil sat back, not paying attention to his ringing phone.
“Thank you,” Laila said as she played with the salt and pepper shakers. Smiling, Akhil shrugged and defended himself,”I didn’t do anything that any other man wouldn’t have done. But, if you don't mind me asking,” Laila cut him off by finishing his sentence,”Who is he?” Blushing slightly, Akhil nodded to which Laila looked down and said,”He’s my elder sister’s ex-boyfriend. They met in college. I didn’t know about him until I intercepted a letter he had sent to our house for our Father. Didi’s getting married and he doesn’t like that but he doesn’t love her. He used her for money because he promised her that when he managed to create a successful business he would ask for her hand in marriage.”
Laila sniffled and Akhil gently handed over his handkerchief before apologizing,”I’m sorry. You don't have to continue.” Laila’s hand shook as she wiped her tears and shook her head. “No. It’s fine. Didi tried to explain to our parents that she wasn’t ready but she couldn’t tell them about Akash because it’s not seen as right. Anyway, he disappeared for a while before showing back up again and asking for much more money. Didi realized that he didn’t love her and rejected him but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He began to blackmail her by sending pictures and videos to our house, thinking that she would eventually break down. She didn’t but I’ve been meeting with him so that nothing gets back to our parents. I don't know what’s going to happen now but it won’t be good.”
Once she finished she sat back and blinked trying not to cry. Akhil opened his mouth to say something but the waiter was already there with their drinks. Thanking the man, Akhil began to drink his coffee while Laila slowly enjoyed her cocoa. “I wish I could help,” Akhil said after a moment before looking up and trying to stifle a laugh. Arching an eyebrow, Laila asked him why he was so amused and he pointed to his face before pointing to the corner of her mouth.
Laila tried to wipe her mouth but apparently the whip cream wasn’t coming off so Akhil leaned forward and with a gentle hand cleaned it off her face. Blushing, Laila grabbed the handkerchief from the table and wiped off the rest of her face.
The two were broken out of their trance when Laila's phone began to vibrate. Looking at it, she sighed before starting to grab her wallet out of her bag. Akhil stopped her with a wave of his hand before saying,”I asked if I could buy you a drink, not if you could pay.” Laila shook her head but Akhil had already pulled out a few bills of cash and placed them on the table before waving the waiter over.
“Thank you,” Laila said again as she stood up but Akhil stood with her and gently grabbed her arm. Looking down at his hand Laila raised an eyebrow and Akhil let her go before ducking his head and squeezing the back of his neck. “Tomorrow,” he said as he looked up and Laila’s hands tightened on the bag that she had slid over her shoulder before Akhil elaborated,”I mean, if you can. Would you like to meet up?”
Laila blushed before staring into his eyes and seeing the honesty. Biting her lip, she nodded before softly speaking,”I’ll be here.” Akhil nodded and Laila took that as her cue to leave as she walked away. Looking back, she waved and Akhil waved back before leaning against the table and watching as Laila sat in the car before it sped away.
The waiter looked between Akhil and the door before hesitantly tapping him on the shoulder. Flinching, as he was broken out of his thought process Akhil smiled and accepted the change before he looked at his watch. “Shit,” a curse left his mouth as he noticed that it was already 1:30. Rushing out of the cafe he drove towards the office before running upstairs as he tossed the keys to one of the parking attendants.
Rushing into his office he stopped when he saw his Father sitting in his chair. “So, I see you’ve finally finished your lunch,” the older man quipped as he put the pen that he was previously holding in his hands back onto Akhil’s desk.
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