Second chance

Beep. There was a text. Good Morning Honey. Will there be at your flat at 9 . Can i see you in green today? Subha saw he message and cuddled her pillow once again. It was 6.30 in the morning. It was Wednesday and being the middle of the week it didn’t any bring enthusiasm to her. She wanted to sleep some more but she knew she would end up late. Forcing herself out of the bed, she went to pick her milk cover and The Hindu .

You look ravishing! Shiva smiled gleefully seeing her in a Olive Green Kurti paired with a teal legging. She had left her hair loose. The new hair cut with lots of fringes made her face look pretty. She wore green ear rings and a Fast Track. Teamed with a black leather pouch and formal shoe she looked elegant.

“Thanks “, she smiled back and took the pillion. Shiva adjusted the mirror to get enough glimpse of her and rode his CBZ casually. Yardley was doing its magic.

“Breakfast?”, He turned to her.

“ I have it packed Shiva. Let‘s have it at office. I guess we are late”. She said pointing at her watch.

“OK”. He said and rode to the office.
It was a medium scale robot design and manufacturing firm catering to Indian FMCG and Steel Industries/ Both were Electrical Engineers. Subha was in the design department and Shiva worked in the Projects. They knew they were financially lagging compared to their counter parts in IT sector but they felt satisfied and content.

As Shiva rode in the office, Chandru smiled at them. He was Shiva’s bestie and a Mechanical Engineer. Shiva got down and walked slowly. He was a dark guy.
Around 5 ‘8” and well built. His dark thick hair which was just below his nape had curled up in sweat and he wiped it as he walked towards his cabin.

Subha turned back to see him once. He was not the most handsome man she had seen ever. But he was definitely the man who had earned her trust completely.

She smiled and walked to the wash room to check her looks.

“Hey Subha”, peeped Bhuvi, her HR. “You look fab today”.On a date?

“ Thanks Bhuvi “,Subha replied adjusting her hair . “ Not today”.

She did look gorgeous today. She smiled at herself and clicked a selfie in her Samsung Galaxy.

One year back same day she was in the hospital struggling to come out of the depression and hyper tension she was suffering from. She had sleepless nights and her BP was rising alarmingly that she had become a lunatic unconscious of what she was doing.

She kept on thinking of the same events and screamed her lungs out. She couldn’t accept the betrayal or the loneliness that had come n her life all of a sudden .

She lay in the hospital bed thinking of a fantasy world where she was ever smiling.
It took three months for her to regain herself. To walk straight and talk without stammering.

To face crowd and to say a friendly hello to men.
She looked liked a tramp outta hospital. She never bothered to groom herself. Her hair was brown and looked very dull. Her eye brows were thick and were begging to be trimmed. Her collar bones showed how many days had it been since she had ate healthily. Her skin had lost his shine and she was looking 30 + at the age of 24.

Today, she is a confidant person who looks very professional and happy. Who is smiling and optimistic. Who takes tasks head on and is very committed. She is getting appreciated for her work and sincerity . And above all she has someone who is madly and genuinely in love with her. He adores and takes care of her. She smiled once again and walked back to her cubicle.

There was a brown cover in her desk. She picked it up and opened it carefully to unwrap a cover . She froze and quickly regained herself. It was letter from her EX HUSBAND

 

Subha took the brown parcel and weighed it casually and thrashed it. She knew it would contain some photos of her marriage to her EX and maybe an emotional blackmail letter which by now created nothing but an irritating itch in her.. She relaxed herself looking at the screen in front of her and said to herself “ I AM OUT OF It !”. Taking a deep breath and a sip of hot Coffee that was placed in front of he,r she logged in her system and checked her mails.

There were the usual mails assigning tasks to her by her Manager and a few general mails. A few needed immediate attention. She scrolled the mailbox slowly when there was a mail from Krishna .Hesitating a bit, she clicked the mail.

“Hey Subha, Y didn’t u pick my call last night?”

She felt her temper rise. Krishna wad her President and in his 60’s. He was a short man around 5’2” , thin , with grey hair. He wore flat specs. He walked a bit fast than necessary and had a squint eye. He was hot headed and a ‘know it all” person and hence people felt pathetic to having any discussion with him .

Since it was male and machine oriented industry , number of female employees were comparatively less and it was only three in the engineering department. Subha being young and attractive naturally became an eye catch for many.

Krishna had a crush on her from the day she came for the interview and tactfully created chances to meet her in private. Though Subha was well aware of his intentions and expressed annoyance firmly, his attitude and behavior didn’t seem to change .

He had called her last night at 10 , but Subha avoided the call. Thinking of a better way to deal the old man she looked at her mobile. Shiva had texted her to join for breakfast.

She rose up picking her bag.

“You just came now. Where are you leaving? “Came a shrill high pitched voice

Subha turned around to see Geetha Madam walking out of a cubicle.

Geetha Madam was the Management Representative in the company. She joined in as a secretary to the MD .25 long years have passed and now she is now the MR and the Single Point of Authority .She commanded and demanded anybody regardless of their age and experience. She was the only person who can budge into any person’s business.She felt any second spent without working as a waste to the management .

“Breakfast Madam”, Subha said in a tone of resentment.

“Oh, you could have had it at home, It’s already 10.” She said pointing at a clock which showed 9.41
Subha left the place without uttering a word.

“Hey wassup, Why do you look dull baby?” Enquired Shiva opening the box

“Wow. Sandwich. Lovely “, saying so he picked a slice and brought it towards Subha.

At that moment she forgot everything and gave a weak smile.

“Wassup? R u feelong OK?” He looked worried .

“Yeah. I am Ok” replied Subha looking away..

“Is it Krishna ? “He asked looking tensed

She bit her lip and looked at him in despair.

“Iam going to kick him Subha”, so saying Shiva rosefrom the chair.
“No please don’t”. Subha shrugged.

Shiva held her hand softly. Looking into her eyes he said” You are such a sweet innocent angel. I will take you away from all these very soon. Just give me some breathing time”

She smiled. He was the only reason for the light and glow in her face. He was the only reason for the smile and hope in her life. He has taken her into his life with open arms erasing all her pains from the past. He treated her the way she wanted to be treated.

He was not yet settled in his career. He was not earning enough. But he was confident and hard working, He was sincere and longed for appreciations and respect. He held a high degree of self respect .

She looked at him deeply and bit her sandwich. She knew her day was going to be long and tired. She had to work with the new logic and trouble her brains with all the mathematical calculations . Geared up , she rose and walked back throwing a sweet smile to Shiva.

He sat back looking at her in admiration