XI. Cancer

Here are some aesthetics about Avni and Abhi.

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Avni

I removed all the files and placed them on the ground while coughing. I am allergic to dust, and I have this stupid task assigned to me. After removing the files, I left the room to get some fresh air. I coughed frequently because of the dust. I wiped the sweat off my face and leaned against the wall beside the door. Just then, Karthik sir came out of his room. He saw me leaning against the wall. I found pity in his eyes. He came towards me.

"What are you doing here Ms. Arya?"

"Mr. Goenka ordered me to clean this room", I mumbled in a low voice already exhausted.

"But it is not your job. You were supposed to take a day off today."

"No, sir. I can manage", I was determined to complete this work. I want to prove my strength to him.

Karthik sir sighed. "Ok, I'll not stop you. It is up to you. Did you sign the contract?"

I completely forgot about it. I signaled for him to wait a minute and went inside the room. I forgot where I kept it. I saw that paper on the desk. I came out and observed Karthik sir, as he was answering a call. He is dedicated to this company and especially to his employer.

I patiently waited until he answered the call. After he ended the call, I handed him the contract papers. "I have signed this. I have no doubts regarding this. Just inform me how many days we will be staying here".

He took the papers and nodded his head. "Make the preparations to leave in a week. I'll inform this to Sir". He turned to leave.

"Can you tell me where I can find cleaning supplies?"

"I will send a person here to help you with cleaning". He left me there waiting for the person to arrive and help me. "Karthik sir is not as cruel as he looks". I heard a response and blushed that I thought aloud.

"He is not cruel at all dear. He is the kindest person in this company." A woman in her mid-thirties came to me.

"Sorry mam, I shouldn't have said that."

She touched my arm and gave me a gentle smile. "There is nothing to be sorry dear. I heard that you need help." She is dressed in a beautiful saree and I doubt that she was working here.

"Sorry, mam. Nevertheless, I can manage. Thanks for your generous offer." She chuckled softly at my polite request.

"You are really smart dear, I am Damini Goenka", she offered me her hand. I am shell shocked after hearing her name.

"Sorry, Mrs. Goenka. I couldn't recognize you", I shook her hand and introduced myself after apologizing. "I am Avni Arya, newly recruited assistant for Mr. Abhi Goenka".

"I know about you dear. After all you are Akshaya's best friend". She squeezed my shoulder in support. "Come on, I will help you with your task", she smiled and we both started working on files arrangement. We chatted about some normal things and I learned many things about her.

Damini Goenka wife of Vinay Goenka, whose brother was Rudra Goenka. They were abroad closing a deal and could not attend the anniversary of the company. She came here, as she wanted to see Abhi. I knew that Vinay Goenka treated Abhi and Akky as their children but Damini Goenka having the same feelings the same was a new thing for me.

"I am really happy that Abhi is declared as CEO of the Meevin. That kid deserves that position. He should have already been in that position if that Rajput's daughter is not involved". Did I mention that she completely loathes me? Except for her loathing towards me, she is just mind-blowing. She is a down-to-earth person. We chatted about my college and she shared some of her experiences in business. She urged me to call her aunty. We arranged the files in their respective places and it was almost noon.

"Oh dear, it is lunch break. Go and have something." She shooed me out ignoring my protests. I sighed and left the building. There were many hotels in the area. I found a diner across the building. The restaurant was mildly busy. I luckily found a corner table and sat there waiting for the waiter to arrive at my table. I observed other patrons giving me weird looks. I frowned at that. I found a restroom and rushed there to check my appearance. I scowled seeing my hair struck out on top of my head, dust coating my face and top of my dress. I looked like a tramp. Damini aunty could have warned me about my appearance.

I did my best in wiping all the dust off. I struggled to tame my hair, it was not possible at all. I wet the hair on the top of my head and smoothed the hair. I braided my hair to give it a decent look. After a total of 15 minutes, my appearance was good. I left the restroom after checking my appearance once again. I went back to my table and flushed as others still looked in my direction. I ordered a 3-course meal and tried to focus only on food. When the food finally came, it felt like an eternity. I eagerly devoured my meal as I skipped my breakfast. I burped after I completed eating. I heard someone chuckle and searched for the person and then I saw him. Abhi Goenka sitting at the table in front of me with his back towards me. I identified him easily as he was the only one wearing a suit. Did I burp that loud?

I scowled at that thought, I felt self-conscious and took a tissue from the holder in front of me and wiped my lips. He turned back and looked at me in the eyes. His blue eyes had a great intensity in them that I forgot what I was doing until he stood up and came towards my table. I threw the used tissue aside. I still have some feelings for him. I did not wish to see him now. I wanted some time to forget about my feelings towards him. Before he can come and sit with I tried to leave but he caught my wrist and forced me to sit in the chair and he occupied the place beside me. Now he blocked my escape. I am now stuck between him and the window.

Please Avni is strong, I mentally chanted.

"Mr. Goenka. My lunch break is done and now I want to leave and complete the task you assigned to me."

"But you completed your task, Ms. Arya". I frowned at his words, I had more than half the work to complete.

"Bu-", he cut me off by waving his hand.

"That room is a storeroom. My aunt told me that you are a great asset to the company. So there is no work for you today." I glare at him spitefully, how he can order me to clean a storeroom. The nerve of this guy.

"Then can I go home Mr. Goenka", I gritted out with my clenched teeth.

Abhi

She is just adorable in anger, like an angry kitten. I know it was not a good thing to let her clean the storeroom. There was no fun in that?

Anyway, I got a big lecture from my aunt about starting to treat her well. Her exact words were,

"Abhi, Avni is a beautiful and innocent soul. You should treat her well. I know you are ordering her around as revenge. This is not you. Be kind to her. She just came into the company." Damini Aunty, I love her so much. She had treated me as her son and given me more priority than Aarav.

Coming back to the angry kitten in front of me. "Cool down kitten; give me some company till my friend comes."

"Kitten! Do not call me that. I am not a cat. I am just your employee, I am a middle-class girl who can do anything for money, and I do not have any standards to keep your company." Avni gave me a taunting look throwing my words directly at me. "Am I wrong sir?" She blinked her eyes innocently. I did not find that funny at all.

"Are you mocking me?"

"How can I even think of mocking you, sir? You are the almighty Abhi Goenka, I don't want to face your wrath." I was certain that she was mocking me. I leaned into her and she tried to move away from me. She glared into my eyes when she found no escape. I found her eyes more alluring as the sun shone behind her.

"Don't mock me, angel. You don't want to face my wrath." I breathed down her neck and she shivered.

"Am I interrupting?" I whipped my head up to see Rohan standing behind us, that bastard was smirking at me. I looked back at Avni ignoring the intruder and Avni was blushing with an adorable pin color on her cheeks. I smirked at her. I leaned back in my chair and signaled for Rohan to take a seat in front of me.

"Well, what do we have here?" Rohan teased me. I gave him my best glare and he kept quiet but there was mirth in his eyes. I turned towards the black-haired beauty.

"Angel you can go now. Come to the office tomorrow at sharp 8 am and bring your certificates and passport." She nodded not lifting her head. As I stood up to allow her to pass, she fled out of here in a blink leaving me there gaping at her.

"She is something else", I mutter under my breath. I sat down in my previous spot. Rohan laughed gaining my attention, "It was funny". I frowned at that, I did not understand what was funny.

"What is funny?"

"Oh, man! You are whipped."

"No I don't have any feelings for her", I know those words were wrong. Nevertheless, I do not want to admit my feelings towards her. "Just leave it, Rohan."

"Ok, I will not discuss it. When are you leaving for New York?"

I was grateful for the distraction. "I was planning about it. I still have some things to take care of. I may be a week." We started discussing some business deals. Rohan although owning his hotel has invested in our company and a majority shareholder. He bought our shares when we were suffering losses and in return, Meevin and Oberoi's were partners in the hotel and resort business. We had our lunch.

"I will come with you to New York, I have some business to attend there", I nodded at that I have no objection.

"I will inform you about my departure when everything is confirmed", we left in separate ways.

I went to my office and found a frantic Karthik pacing outside my cabin. "What happened Karthik?" At my voice, he lifted his head and he relaxed seeing me.

"Sir your father and uncle are in your cabin."

This was not good. They never visit me together, there was something fishy about it. "Karthik you are done for the day", he nodded and left without asking any questions.

I entered my office, in the middle of the room was my desk and chair. There were two more chairs opposite the desk. Two couches beside the entrance, fireplace in one corner and to right of the desk with a mini table and an armchair in front of it. Towards the right of my desk a wooden bookshelf with some important files and books. A large painting on the wall behind the desk. Near the bookshelf, there was a glass wall giving me the view of greenery. I found my uncle and father observing the view, by seeing their postures I knew something was wrong.

I cleared my throat to gain their attention. They both turned around with a weary expression on their faces. "What happened?" They both looked at each other after listening to my question.

My father came forward, placed his hands on my shoulder, and squeezed it. I love my dad so much even when he was not present in my childhood busy in the office, my uncle Vinay Goenka filled that role. "I know you hate me. I will never say that your hatred for me is wrong. I just have this last wish to ask you", he took a deep breath, "and you will have the final decision regarding this".

My father was struggling to breathe, Vinay uncle came and supported my father when he was about to fall. He made my father sit on the couch. "Abhi your father's health is deteriorating daily, it is the reason why we wanted to introduce Ms. Rajput and you becoming the CEO, one thing was delayed by 6 months. We thought we have some time but we don't", he sighed. I was terrified for my father after listening to his words. "Your father has lung cancer."

As those words left his mouth, I felt words were stuck in my throat. My father has cancer, I didn't know that. I feel terrible, I should have been there with him. I was enjoying my life having one-night stands stressing my father. I went near my father, fell on my knees, and placed my head on his lap.

"Why dad? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did not want to stress you and I am fit I will come alive out of this", he started massaging my head. I felt at ease.

Vinay uncle urged me to get up and sent my father home to sleep, as he got tired early. "Abhi I feel terrible doing this. However, your father is in stage-2. He is going to England to get medical support. The survival rate is great over there. But he must be stress-free."

"What can I do to help uncle? I will do anything please tell me", I urged him with tears in my eyes.

"Abhi, your father never worried about you knowing your capability. But he is always worried about the company which now you will take care of and Ms. Rajput", he hesitated telling in telling me the last words.

"You should marry her according to your father's wishes for lifelong without a divorce."

I took a sharp breath hearing them. I can manage to marry her but I am worried about my feelings towards Avni. After hearing the word marriage, her face just popped into my mind. For my father I can sacrifice anything, I will marry anyone to keep my father alive.

"I will marry Ms. Rajput."

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Heya guys,

Here is your update, please tell me how you feel about it.

Will Abhi marry Ms. Rajput forgetting about Avni? Oops both are same. So how is Abhi going to feel about it. Any thoughts?

Vote and comment it really makes my day by seeing them.

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