Part 4 – The Lovers

Lost in each other, Karan and Samiksha wanted to spend their entire lives in the city of love under the starry sky.
“Sami.”
“Hmm.”
“There’s a beach nearby. Come, let’s go there. Shall we?”
Smiling, she looked up into his eyes, and her sparkling eyes had the answer.
“Yes, I am a beach kid.”
“Come then.”

They both drove to a beach nearby.
As it was late at night, there was no one around.
Karan had taken off his coat long ago and was in his white shirt. Samiksha looked like an angel in a white dress. Both stepped on the sand and started walking towards the sea hand in hand.
There were some white flower plants in bushes around.

Karan picked a flower and dressed it in her loose hair.

“I love flowers, especially in a woman’s hair. They make them more beautiful.” As he ran his hands through her hair, she was shy and lowered her eyes.
They started walking ahead.
When the waves were nearer, Sami caught his hand tight. She was super excited to feel the touch of water with the man she loved.
As the waves touched their feet, she jumped out for joy and was excited.

Laughing and holding

each other’s hands, they walked along the waves. Karan stopped her by catching her hand.
She glanced in anticipation of what he was up to.
Cupping her face in his palms, he brushed his thumb on the cheeks. They had turned cold because of the breeze. He swiped the flying hairs from her face and looked deep into her eyes. He kissed her forehead gently.

She reciprocated

her feelings by embracing him.
“Shall we go back now?”
He nodded. After kissing her forehead, they returned to their car and drove towards their hotel room.

After dinner, both of them went to their respective rooms.
Samiksha tied two plaits, her hairstyle for the night. Lost in thoughts of Karan, the moments spent with him a few minutes ago lingered in her mind. It surprised her how badly she missed him. As Samiksha came out of her washroom, there was a knock on her door. Just the thought of the possibility of him being at the door made her heart start racing. The mere memory of the kiss they shared some time ago made her blush.

She opened the door

and found him folding his hands across his chest.
She welcomed him in. He embraced her, and she rested in his safe, protective arms.
Running his fingers on both her plaits, he admired her cute look with a smile.
“These look so pretty on you.”
She smiled at the compliment. “I love wearing these at night.”
“Hmm. Do wear them often, for me,” said Karan.

He held her face

gently in his hands.
“Samiksha, I love you.”
“I love you, Karan.”

Flight travel was much easier and enjoyable for Samiksha during their return from Italy. The apparent reason was that she had lost her heart, but found the magic of love in the trip.

“Hmm. So, how was your trip?” He asked with his smirky smile.
“It was good.”
He kissed her cheek and said,
“Magical things take time. Patience is bitter, but its fruits are sweet, right?”
She showed her tongue, teasing him, and ran away. Turning back, she smiled at her man.
He waved her bye and left from there.

Karan dropped her off at home.

“Mom.” Samiksha barged into her home, calling for her mom.
Her mom was happy to see her back, and they both hugged.
Samiksha gave her the nightie she had purchased for her mom. Both chatted till late at night about her first trip out of the country.
Mrs Samuel could sense a different Samiksha from the extra glow on her face. Her cheeks turned red when she mentioned Karan in the chat.

“So, how is your boss as an employer? Did he take proper care of you on the trip? Hope he was always with you there in the foreign country.”

“Mom,

He is very, very caring. He is very particular about the safety of his employees.” After saying this, she hugged her mom.
“Hmm. I’m glad he’s a true gentleman, as I had visualised him when we met first.” Mrs Samuel sensed her daughter’s timid behaviour but held back her thoughts.
“Let’s sleep now, Miksha.”
Samiksha cuddled with her mom and closed her smiling eyes.

Saru served Karan dinner and was about to leave.
“Saru, what about your brother’s job? Did he go for the interview?”
“Yes, sir, of course. He will know their reply after a day.”
Saru left after thanking Karan. Karan had always been supportive of Saru, and she, too, was a good caretaker.

The next day, Karan called a meeting of his employees. He briefed them about the new project they had with The Platinum Group. By collaborating with this group, he planned a chain of hotels.
After the meeting, he asked Samiksha to meet him in his office, and everyone dispersed.
“May I come in, sir?”
Samiksha opened his cabin door and entered with a vibrant smile.
“Yes mam..do come in”, he replied with the same zeal.
She sat in the opposite chair and was ready for the notes.

He got up

from his chair and instructed her to write.
“Dear sir, we are glad to be associated with you.”
The letter was done. Pausing near chair, he bent his head from behind and looked at her.
She was cautious as she could see the people outside his cabin and looked at him nervously.

“Karan, I am uncomfortable with so many people out there.”
She pointed at the see-through glass wall of his cabin.
He smiled and looked at her face. Sensing her discomfort, he spoke,
“They cannot see us, baby. But we can. Alright, don’t worry. I won’t make you uncomfortable.”
She smiled at his understanding of her feelings.

“All done? May I leave?” She questioned with a smirk.
After his nod, Samiksha left and proceeded towards her cabin. As her phone beeped, she saw a text from an unknown number.

The next day,

Varsha came into Karan’s cabin.
“Sir, here is an envelope for you. The mail carrier delivered just now.”
“Who has sent it, Karan?” asked Aarun.
Um, no idea.”
He opened the envelope to find some photos of Samiksha with an unknown person inside. The photos showed the two having a conversation across a table.

Karan did not know the person in the photos and wondered why they were sent to him.
As he was thinking of calling Samiksha to ask, his phone rang.
It was the CEO of the Platinum group of companies.
“Yes sir, how can I help you? Very glad to hear from you.”
“I just wanted to inform you that the deal between our companies has been canceled.”
Karan got up at once, annoyed by the reply and questioned him,
“Pardon me. May I know the reason?”

“Sorry to say yesterday my manager was called for an urgent meeting by your Secretary, Ms Samiksha. He had received a letter asking for the deal cancellation between our companies. So he questioned her, but she was vulgar to him and insulted him. That’s it. We cannot continue as a business hereafter. Thank you.”
And he disconnected the phone.

Karan was at a loss

of words when Aarun questioned him. He was fuming with what he had just heard. He started wondering why Samiksha had not informed him about this meeting. How dare she speak rudely to the client, resulting in the deal being cancelled. Aarun was trying to figure out the reason behind Karan’s sudden change of mood.

Karan called Samiksha’s cabin, but the phone kept ringing.
He rang Varsha and asked about her whereabouts.
Varsha replied that Samiksha would be a half-hour late for work today.

There was a knock on his door. It was Samiksha.
She entered and walked towards Karan.
“Karan, I need to talk to you.”
“My employees address me as Sir or Mr Karan.”
The cold tone in his voice dismayed her, and she froze.

Aarun was shocked at his behaviour and still wondered who had called Karan. Samiksha’s eyes were full, but she managed to guard her feelings.

“Sir, I wanted to inform you that …”
“The deal with the Platinum group is called off, right?”
She was startled.
“You already know?”
“Yes. Also, I am aware of how you met that manager in secret and insulted him badly. Do you have the courtesy to inform me what is happening in my company?”
She stared innocently at Karan.
“Karan, let her speak what she wants.” Aarun interfered.

“You keep out of it. Yes, Ms Samiksha, go ahead. What else do you want to do now? Insult me too?”

Now a tear fell

from her sad eyes. She glanced at him and Aarun and stepped out of the cabin, humiliated.

Aarun also left as he was annoyed by Karan’s behaviour.
He arrived back after an hour and glared at Karan.

“What? What are you staring at me?”
“Nothing. I am just seeing what a person who has lost something precious looks like.”
Karan continued his angry look and ignored Aarun.

“Hey, listen, ok. Had just been to the cafe where Samiksha met that idiot manager. She somehow told me that cafe’s name before leaving.”
Karan kept glaring.
“I had to find out what had happened. That manager was impolite to Samiksha.
He rudely spoke to her and asked for unpleasant favours.”
Karan was shocked to hear this.

“Samiksha got a message from a person from that company. He said they wanted to talk about something very urgent within ten minutes.

You were busy

talking with our important client, the Khanna group. So she left on her own to find the reason behind this meeting..
Over there, she was unnecessarily bashed by that manager. He was misinformed that we wished to cancel the deal. I told you what else that moron asked her.”

“And you know what? After that meeting, Samiksha went home to find her mom unconscious. A neighbour helped her. Poor soul. Fortunately, the doctor said it was only due to low blood pressure. She came here in the morning to find some solace with you.”

Karan was stunned, shocked, hurt, and at a loss for words. After returning to his senses, he said, “Can you please call Samiksha?”

Aarun replied.
“She left Karan. She has resigned.”

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