The Strings Of Heart

14

Sitara POV

"We are going to the canteen, you going somewhere?" Isha asked as I started packing my bag.

"Yeah, I'm leaving." I smiled.

"What? You didn't attend the classes yesterday and now you are leaving." Nithya says standing beside Isha and Pranav.

"You are leaving? I thought you will join us for lunch." I looked at Pranav.

"Yes, maybe some other time I will join you three." Nithya and Isha nodded their head while Pranav looked like he wanted to say something.

"Bye guys." I looked at my phone to see my sister's number.

"I'm coming."

"Mumma send the driver to pick you up. You have the files with you right?" She asked I started walking down the staircase. There were students filling the corridors as it is the lunch break.

"Yeah... Yeah." I ended the call and walked towards the gate which took me about ten minutes to reach. I yawned getting into the car, once settled pulled the files from my bag.

"You have the permission card with you?" I asked the driver. Without the card, we can't cross the college gates.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good."

I went through the files once again, I made some side comments written on the papers. I really dislike the paperwork but mumma likes it better if I went through them.

Mumma wanted me to go through these files. I don't wanna explain each point, so I just wrote it down with black ink. The board meetings and weekly office meetings are boring, nothing less I need to attend them.

The huge office building came into my view, I rolled my eyes remembering how boring it is.

Not all of them are lazy idiots like the board members. I don't even understand why they are members of the board in the first place. If things were in my hand I would've fired them instantly.

I walked in and the receptionist stood up in fear. I nodded my head when she greeted me.

I pressed the button and waited for the elevator. Getting into it, I pressed twenty. I started using my phone leaning against the side.

Aarav shared a meme, messages from my gang, reply from Kabir. PPT from Nithya and Pranav. There were few friend requests.

I typed quick replies to the gang and Kabir. Abhinav joined defence so it's kind of difficult to contact him regularly. I'm happy for him as he joined the stream which make him happy.

Sung, Beth and Joel went to Kingston University, Gaurav and Krishika joined St Xavier's, Mumbai. Recently Gaurav asked Kirshika out for dinner more like a date. I bet they are going to get into a relationship by this week.

Aryan is in Delhi like he said, he joined Delhi university with his girlfriend Aditi. He used to text us on a regular basis before but now he hardly replies. Must be busy with his girlfriend...

I stepped out of the elevator once I reached the floor. We are having a weekly meeting with department heads.

"Ma'am, this way." I wanted to tell him I know but stopped myself from saying.

Everyone in the building got habituated to my dressing. The employees wear a uniform, men white formals while the females wore blue cotton saree. They all wear the same plain saree every day with a sophisticated bun.

They all look very formal and totally opposite to me. I entered the conference room and made a beeline towards my seat. The board members were looking at me but looked away when I raised my brow. 

I handed my file to mum, the presentation began. My sister's and mum's personal assistants started noting down everything.

Should I get a personal assistant too? I thought as Elora asked a few questions.

"What are your opinions, Sitara." My mum asked and every eye in the room turned to me.

I let out a sign, placing my chin on my palm I looked at the manager who gave the presentation.

"The annual income of a middle-class person is about 1.2 lakh if he wants to build a house by taking a house loan. Then he would go for a range in between 5-15 lakh for land."

I looked at the number figures on the screen. "The construction would cost him about five lakhs. They would contact us if we can give them the house they what under their budget. It's easy nowadays, and low budget house constructions? Sounds cool."

I explained more to myself than to them. "The statistical figures are wrong, make a new graph and contact the civil engineering department." I pointed out.

"Hmm, good. Even I had the same thoughts as Sitara. Good that she pointed out," mum says giving me a proud smile.

I didn't say much as I stayed quiet. The rest of the meeting went on and on... As they spoke about other projects as well.

"Did you have your lunch?" Elora asked as the meeting ended. Mum is going to visit some plots along with her personal assistant.

"Nope, I'm hungry. Buy me a large chicken pizza. I'm carving pizza for some reason." I tell her rotating in my chair.

"Sure." She is texting someone. I don't wanna peek but I already saw the name. She is texting David.

It's been what two months? That I last saw him. The game night was the last time I saw him. I heard Elora telling mum that he is busy and got only three hours of sleep every night.

I don't wanna agree to with this but I may or may not wanted to see his tall figure and the smiley face. I shook my head as weird thoughts started in my head. "Let's go."

Elora drove to the nearby domino's. "We are having a get-together dinner tonight."

"Ugh." I groaned looking out of the window.

"Don't worry about it, you will pass the dinner as always."

•

"Sitara..." I glanced up pushing my laptop away to see Fareeha Aai.

"Are they are here Aai?"

"Yes, Aishu is calling you." I nodded my head before looking at Kabir. We are doing a video call.

"Bubie Kabir will call you later. I need to go now." I tell looking at the screen.

"Sure, text me when you are done with dinner. Bubie..." I ended the call and went downstairs. Everyone is already settled down in their seats. This time Aarav left a seat beside him for me.

I sat beside him and Pihu sat on my left. The food served and I finally saw him, he looked good laughing at something Rishi said.

He didn't attend the last two dinners, I didn't expect him to be here this month but here he is. His mother Tanu sat beside Aarav's mom. She looked too bossy which didn't settle down with me.

"I have good news to announce." My mum said gaining everyone's attention.

"I'm sending Elora aboard, she got a job and she wants to go there. I decided to send her as it was the first time she asked something for herself."

My gaze shifted to my sister who looked shocked. Everyone cheered for her as I ate my food silently, I'm happy for my sister.

"Even David is leaving next week, I'm so proud of my son." Tanu, David's mum said.

"Are you leaving to Russia?" Pihu asked. I looked at David briefly as he nodded his head agreeing.

"Why are you leaving? didn't you do residence last year?" Pihu asked as David gave her an awkward smile.

"David is done with his residence but he will be working for a few months there with the top tier doctors." David's mother Tanu spoke on behalf of David.

"Oh, I'm going to miss you," Pihu said, I rolled my eyes stuffing my mouth with rasam rice.

The banter about everything went on and on. They didn't involve me nor I cared to join theirs banters.

There were a few time when Aarav commented about a few things which made me laugh. At least someone shares the same opinion as me about David's mum. She is like the lady Hitler, who needs everything to be perfect.

"Is your best friend Christian or Hindu? I mean his name is David and his mom's name is Tanu." I ask Elora as she sat beside me after dinner.

David and his mom left along with others. It's only Elora and I decided to watch a movie together.

"His father is Christian and his mother is Hindu. He is Hindu."

"Was? Why isn't his father not there in the picture anymore?" I looked straight as I don't want her to know that I'm curious to know about this.

"Hmm no, his parents had a love marriage but soon after David was born. His parents got divorced as his father fell in love with another lady."

"Sucks," I say thinking about David.

"Kind of, that is why Tanu aunty raised David strictly and properly. She doesn't want David to end up like his father." Elora explained.

"So what's his full name? Like is it only David or?" I asked turning to look at her.

"Taman David Fernandes." That's a good name 

"Taman sounds good," I said as she chuckled.

"Yeah, but he prefers David."

"So David speaks with his father?"

"Yeah, even though his mother doesn't like it. David has a good connection with his dad." She spoke passing me the pillow.

I nodded my head and watched the movie. I don't want to ask her more questions about him so we spoke about her new job and about the house she is going to live in.