6/12/2020 - At Shiva office , T nagar ,Chennai.

Shiva's P. O. V :

Things were getting out of hand and I was becoming nervous. I wasn't able to completely enjoy the moment or push it away. I expected to get pushed away but I wasn't. My mind was being boggled with confusion but I wasn't ready to break away from the kiss.

" Oohhhh! " I heard a scream from behind and instantly pushed Aparna away from me.

It was Hari, gawking at us, holding a torch in his hand.

" Is this how you take care of deadlines Shiva? " Hari said to me laughing.

Aparna closed her face with her hands and ran back inside.

I walked to Hari and caught his collar. He had a stupid grin on his face.

" Don't you dare talk about this! " I said to him and he nodded smiling.

I released him and Hari loosened his neck.

" Is this right Shiva? " He asked me.

" What? " I asked confused.

" What you are doing with Aparna! You are giving her hope, can you still take responsibility for this? " He asked.

I rubbed my face with my hands and let out a long breath.

" If you don't take a decision now, she would be the one who will suffer. " Hari said and walked inside.

I sat down on the nearby empty chair and rested my head on my hand.

I tried hard to reason myself, but I couldn't. More than the doubt on me, I couldn't believe why Aparna didn't stop me. She was always the one with huge self respect, she knows my state. She was the first one to tell me to stay away, yet she didn't stop me today.

The power finally came back, I shook my head and walked back inside the office.

Things were back to normal and everyone started working.

I walked back to my seat and slightly glanced at Aparna, her face was back to the devil mode. She showed no sign of distraction.

I turned back to my screen and started working. The time ran thoughtlessly, though I was tensed about the deadline, I didn't feel depressed. Because someone else was taking all the stress for the entire firm.

By around 6 in the morning, I rushed back to my home to fresh up.

Amma woke up hearing me open the doors. She walked out with a sleepy face.

" Do you plan on living in your office? For that salary that you are earning, you need not do this much. You can take it easy. Anyway you have Appa's shop to support you. " She said.

It has been nearly three days since I saw her. And the first thing she tells me is to take over the shop.

" No , really, do you care about my firm at all? " I asked my amma.

" What are you saying? I really care about it. " She said.

" If you really do, then you definitely should know by now that I am going through a difficult phase. Yet, instead of supporting me, you want me to give up. " I said in a low tone.

" I am saying for your own good! " She said.

" Thanks a lot! " I said sarcastically and ran upstairs.

The next day was the most hectic one. Nobody had time to sleep. Yet we all pulled it up.

We took shifts and were working 24 hours. I came back to home the next day morning, and feel asleep mindlessly.

I woke up by around 10 in the morning and rushed out.

When I walked downstairs, I saw the face, I didn't want to see even in my worst nightmare.

" Hello! You called for me, remember? " Anjali said to me.

I wanted to believe that it was a dream. But it wasn't.

" What are you doing here? " I asked mindlessly to her, as I sat down to wear my socks and shoes.

" I thought you were missing me so much " She said with a sly smile.

" Where is amma? " I asked getting up.

" She went shopping with my dad!" Anjali said.

" Great! " I said and took a step towards the door.

She pulled me back by holding my hand.

" Are you sober now? " She asked me.

" What? " I asked gritting my teeth.

" Ohh, so you don't remember anything that you said to me last week? All the lovely words you told to me? " She asked.

" What the fuck are you talking about? I don't have time for your chit chats" I asked irritated. As if the project stress was not enough, god sent this devil to torture me.

" Great, it's good that you don't remember! , and don't worry, I ll leave for jeya aunty's house in the noon. Can we meet in the evening? " She asked.

I shook off my hand from her grip and walked out.

I started my bike and drove back to the office. Thankfully , it wasn't raining again.

I walked to my seat and sat down nervously. The interns were back and the office was filled with people once again.

Aparna walked to me with a file in her hand.

" Shiva, can you check this? " She said to me and placed the file in my hand.

Her face was slightly pale than yesterday, she was shivering a bit.

" Yeah, okay! " I said.

She smiled and then turned back to walk to her seat.

The next moment , she collapsed to the floor. The image I would never forget in my life.

I rushed to her and placed her head on my hand. Everyone rushed from their seats, Shwetha splashed water on Aparna's face, but she didn't open up her eyes.

" Everybody move! Let some air come in!" I shouted. Hari started vigorously blowing air with a file.

" Aparna, wake up! " I kept repeating her name mindlessly.

I lightly slapped her cheeks and shook her head. Karthik got the water bottle from Shwetha and splashed the water hard on Aparna's face.

She finally opened her eyes and breathed out.

I helped her sit back up.

Karthik handed her the water bottle and she drank the water.

She shook her head slowly.

" Are you okay? What were you thinking really? ,after all the scolding you got from me,you dare to faint like this? " I asked looking at her.

" Today is Sunday right? " She asked me confused.

" Yes " I said.

" So, tomorrow is the deadline? " She asked.

" Is this necessary now? , I am going to kill you Aparna, did you eat breakfast or not? " Shwetha asked.

" We are supposed to submit our proposal tomorrow? " She asked.

" Yes " I said.

" But, what if we submit it today? " She said.

I looked at her confused.

" But how can we? " Hari asked.

" Why not? " Aparna said.

" What do you mean? " I asked her.

" I mean that, we have completed the work a day before the deadline. " She said.

The entire office looked at her shocked.

" Wait, are you serious? " Karthik asked.

" Yes, we are supposed to be a part of a challenge remember. The firm which wanted to compete with us, did that to make sure that we don't get this project. That's why I wanted to surprise them. " She said.

I was so shocked that I couldn't believe her words. Till now, I didn't really believe that we will complete tomorrow, but she made us do it a day before.

" You are unbelievable! So you literally made us all do the work in 6 days to get back at them? " Hari asked.

" Shiva, look at the files, immediately, call up Latha, arrange for a meeting in the evening! Let's surprise them! " Aparna said smiling widely at me.

I hugged her with all my might. I didn't care who were gawking at us. At that moment, all that mattered was her. Even when my own parents didn't believe me, she did and she made me do it.

I nested my head on her neck as tears started flowing down my eyes.

She hugged me back and that was it, the meaning of the word - warmth.