VEDA

[ The Fruits by Paris Paloma playing ]

The sound of her heels clicking on the white marble floor was louder than the music playing through her Airdopes.

Her Glory?

Fucking, marvellous.

"She's coming,"

"Quickly hide the sharp and fancy objects,"

"Pass over Madam's blazer,"

The office ran in chaos as she finally steped outside of her cabin. She, Vedvati Pawar or globally known as Veda Pawar, the so-called psycho mechanic of the tech hub and 'The Witch' of the buisness society.

Her sharp eyes shifted from the piled-up blueprints to her secretary, Vinay, who was holding out the coat for her.

Then, almost like an eagle flapping its wing her hand reached out to remove the left earpiece. She swayed her hands back lifting the corner of her lips into a sadist smile.

The hall dropped silent, dead silent and the only thing audible was the continuous tap of her heels moving around the desk of employees. Veda halted infront of a newbie and picked up the knife-like nail filer from her table.

Shivers ran down the spine of that new girl who accidentally dared to meet the pair of cat-shaped eyes of her boss.

Vinay, standing behind Veda, shook his head at the new girl who failed to keep his order to hide the shiny and fancy objects.

Veda poked her middle finger with the tip of the nail-filer, hard enough to ooze out blood, but it didn't. "Looks premium" she said raising her left eyebrow, "I'll pay you later for this, any problem?"

In panic, the girl shook her head as quickly as she could.

The silence in the hall was broken by abrupt clapping of her hands, "Alright" she shouted catching everyone's attention "Good work all of you!" She put her hands on her hips, this time with a genuine smile she announced "And so to praise your work, from this New Year the headquarters agreed for an increment of ten per cent in your salary."

Pleased they all looked, pleased she won't let them be "Otherwise we all know the unemployment rate of our country,"

Waving her hands off, followed by Vinay and her PA Ananya, she left with her remarks "You all should be glad that you don't fall in that category."

"Have you done what I asked for?" Veda asked Anaya, leaning against the elevator's mirror, hand folded, eyes closed while Vinay pushed the button for the parking lot.

Ananya hesitated, pulled her hair behind her earlobes, adjusting her big glasses she replied "Yes, ma'am," and began to read out the checklist, "Collecting your health report, done. Emails, check. Year-end tax report, done. Adding salt to Kyra ma'am's coffee, done. Edinburgh flight, booked."

Ananya paused and was met by the anxious face of Vinay with a half-open mouth, he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Repeat the fourth one" he said, eyes shut and let out a sigh.

"Adding salt to Kyra ma'am's coffee?" Ananya repeated.

With a pasted smile he turned to his madam, not even a single day she let pass without getting 'him' in trouble and this same experience has now developed a new habit of 'arguing through the eyes' between them.

Veda raised her one eyebrow, one eye shut closed into a 'So what? She kept calling me a bitch so I behaved like one,' attitude.

Defeated, Vinay shook his head accepting his fate, that now he has to deal with their Project Manager Kyra Gill during Veda's absence.

Darjeeling was as cold as it has always been at the end of the year. Harsh, rough and sometimes suffocating for those who longs for an embrace for warmth.

"Drive me to my parents" she ordered, leaving a warm trail of breath but soon changed her decision "Leave it, drive me only to Chowrasta, Vinay. I'll take the steering from there myself."

"What? Get inside, we'll drop you" Veda snapped at Ananya who was standing cluelessly at the car's door, she immediately took a seat beside, thanking her politely.

"You know? I can drive you to Siliguri" Professionalism left Vinay's body as he confronted, watching Veda almost drifting to sleep.

"No need-"

"You really need to sleep properly, Veda. You are basically striving yourself up on doses of black coffee"

This was it. The final declaration of being off duty by her secretary and turning into the stubborn 'her Baba's favourite' sleep possessive coach.

She doesn't even need to argue, because the result of the winner of the argument is clear.

"That is why I'm going on vacation-"

"Alone?" he scoffed

"I find solace in being alone," she backfired,

"You get in different kinds of trouble being alone,"

She snapped, removing her glasses "What is your problem?"

Vinay didn't answer, he pulled over the car at Chowrasta and waited for Ananya to leave calmly.

Thud!

The door closed and his head moved toward her with zero fear. The irony of this man maintaining professionalism during work hours is incomparable.

"The last time I remember leaving your side was when you kissed Avinash Chowdhary being a total drunkard." Shamelessly, those words were enough to embarrass the hell out of her apathetic self, and he said that out, shamelessly.

She blinked once.

Twice.

"Shut up and drive me to Shiliguri" was her only reply.

Veda shifted watching him focus back on the road then rested her head on the windowpane feeling the cold wind brushing back her loose strands.

A hundred thoughts flooded her head but none were able to make her feel like a human. No matter how hard she tries or advice she follows the only thing she is able to feel is either anger or anger. The only emotion she could identify- she doesn't know what fear is, empathy is, or what it feels like to be happy.

All the emotion that even a one-year-old can distinguish. She can't.

Such a curse that has no cure.

But lately, there is one feeling that is tangling in her heart, "Should we stop by the orphanage?" Vinay asked, "No" came the reply. Something that makes her chest tighten and throat lump, but like everytime she can't define this one too.

All she knows is that, this was a completely new one.

"I met him yesterday and brought gifts for other children too" she spoke, chin pressed to her palm.

For a moment Vinay stayed silent and just peacefully watched her gaze drifting to different stalls they were passing by. A small smile crept on his lips as he saw her eyes going all doe-shaped gawking at over-roasted corn and chai at the red light.

"You sure you are ready for Rishi, right Veda?" the tiers screeched when he turned the gear to run on NH-110.

"You have doubts? I've been learning to take care of him for 6-7 months" she replied with a yawn covering her mouth.

"It's not about taking training or parentin, lil sis," he slowed down the car watching her drift to sleep and muttered to himself "You are not even able to take care of yourself properly."

_______________________

Vinay left to meet his mother and grandparents after dropping Veda off at her parents' house. The drive was long enough for her to take a power nap.

By eight she freshened up and packed her stuff for the one-and-a-half-week-long vacation.

And by ten she would be departing for London from Bagdogara airport, then will be changing the flight for Scotland.

"You sure you'll be alright alone in this freezing cold, Vidii?"

The sudden voice of her twin sister from behind made her jolt causing the lipstick she was applying to smudge across her cheek. Paro or Parvati entered, munching on her til-puli, her curls bouncing back. She flopped herself on the bed.

"It's not the first time I'm travelling alone" Veda replied wiping off the lipstick from her cheek, she caught Paro throwing some unreasonable looks at her through the mirror.

Paro rolled on the bed, now lying on her back, her hair falling across the bed's edge "I did not mean by travelling, it's about being alone in the cold" and she started laughing at her own ridiculous joke.

"You're disgusting"

"And engaged" Paro flaunted her engagement ring waving her fingers. It's been two weeks since her fiancée proposed to her and made their relationship official.

In irritation, Veda threw the wet towel she was wiping her hair with on Paro's face. "Ami tomar jaan le lebo-" the same wet and soggy towel came back flying in her direction which she easily caught.

( I'll take away your bloody life)

"Ami amar jaan toke khusi khusi de debo" the reply came sarcastically.

( I'll give you my life with a gentle smile )

Paro sat up with crossed legs, watching Veda trying her best to put Kajal in her eyes which she is worst at, she sighed with a smile, "Come here, I'll do it"

Veda silently sat down in infront of her sister with khol kajal in her hand, "Maa is stressing a lot nowadays because of you" Paro spoke softly while applying the khol in her eyes.

"Veda"

"Hmm"

"Atleast consider meeting one or two families, who knows you'll find something you never expected. Do it for Maa Veda, she is so stressed that even if you like girls she's ready to accept that too" Paro finished applying the khol perfectly in her cat-like sharp eyes.

"What?" Veda blinked.

"You can tell us if you have a girlfr-"

"No, what the hell are you talking about?" Irritatingly Veda shot up, and sat beside her grabbing her boots.

"So you do like boys?" Paro bend only to meet her sister's irritating face with a frown.

"I don't know, I just don't- what does it feel to like something or dislike. I'm a neutral being Paro, why do I have to choose between things? Why do I have to like or dislike something?" she tentatively explained to Paro, with constant sighs and shrugs.

The thought of staying with someone, under their personal boundaries is complex to her. Not because she is scared, but because she does not understand.

Why should she dress up for someone? How can that make them feel good? Why should she bind herself to a person for a lifetime?

Why should a person take care of her? They won't get anything from doing that, so why?

Paro sighed, "Listen-"

"But if that would put Maa at ease then I'll meet them," Veda finally agreed slipping her tote bag on her shoulder and placing the suitcase on the ground.

She was ready to leave, just then "Vidii Didiiiii" their youngest sister came hopping like a rabbit.

"How do I look?" Sia or Sita asked twirling for a fit check. A sling bag across her shoulder, wearing a thick coat over a dress with woollen tights and a fur shawl.

That tiny 16-year-old maniac reached nearly Veda's shoulder.

"Oh your dress is pretty too," she clapped once pointing at Veda's A-line knitted white dress.

"Ya! if you wear your shawl this loose then you'll get a sore throat for sure" Instead of complimenting, Veda first scolded her little sister, wrapping the shawl properly around her neck she asked "Where are you headed to?"

"Shimla" Sia smiled, with all her teeth beaming "you forget? You're the one who paid for my school trip, Baba was too kanjoos..."

"Ahhh Baba-" Sia screamed as their Baba twisted her earlobe.

"That was because you kept jumping and hopping here and there," Deepak Chakraborty, their Baba said leaving Sia's ear and their Maa came behind him with curd in a bowl.

A short, round and curved woman in a plain red saree and cardigan, Anita, their mother, huffed climbing up the stairs.

"Eat this before leaving for your trip" Anita put a spoonful of curd in Sia's mouth, then she went forward to feed Veda the same way.

"Mumma" Paro called out in a flattery tone "you know what Veda just agreed to?"

Veda gave her big eyes saying no. Failed. Paro bends down to her Maa's ear level spilling out the tea. Nevertheless, she thought that her mother could gasp this louder "Socchi?" Anita asked to confirm.

All heads turned towards Veda as she gave a flat nod.

"Mera baccha" she hugged her tightly in affection.

( My child )

All her mother now longs for is to see her daughter settled in a decent family—like a proper lady and someone who would take care of her.

But they were unaware that no creature made of flesh and blood in this world has the power to prevent inevitable.