Sia's POV
We called our assistant designer, Yash to select everything. We selected all types of things which were required for our project. It was all very interesting. I loved every minute of it . Mr Kapoor was placing the order for many more pieces.
I was going through other things for my personal use.
We were still there when someone called my name, I turned to find my cousin Ruchi with her mom. Ruchi was the daughter of my father's younger brother. We used to live in the same house earlier but 5 years ago, we shifted to another house.
Both of them were coming my way. I never got along with her. I didn't want them to meet Mr Kapoor, so I excused myself and went in their direction.
" Hello beta... How are you? " Chachi said with a fake smile.
" I am good chachi ji... How are you? "
" On top of the world... You see, so many marriage alliances are coming for Ruchi. Everyone is just crazy about her. They just want her hand in marriage. And why not she is so beautiful. We are just thinking which one to select. You see so many options are there. "
Chachi was as big a snob as her daughter was. I just smiled at that. She was my paternal uncle's wife.
We all used to live in our ancestral home but there has been some bitterness due to differences of opinion between my dad and uncle. So we shifted.
" We were about to tell your parents about it. Anyways what about you?? Are they looking for some suitable boy for you? They must start doing it now. It won't look good if the younger sister gets married before the elder one." She said, smirking at me.
" No, I am not interested in getting married right now. I have to concentrate on my career first. It is important to be independent. "
" What nonsense!! No girl of our family has ever worked. I don't know why your parents and that over smart and protective brother of yours put some sense into you. How can Bhai sahib allow you to work? What is the need? What is the logic of doing a job if you were born with a silver spoon? " Chachi said again laughing at me.
" Let it be chachi ji... you will not understand the importance of being financially independent. I want to be independent and my family respects my decision. They understand that it is good for me. My father is not an orthodox man, in fact he is very progressive. We don't care what people say. " I was really angry the way she was talking about my family.
But my parents always taught me to behave myself in front of my elders so I replied very politely.
" By the way, has anyone shown any interest in you?? You must groom yourself beta. See, what have you done to yourself. If you groom yourself, I am sure someone might get interested in you. " She said looking at me, as if I was dirt and did not even tried to hide her expressions.
" I am sorry to say this chachi, but I am not some object in the market, that some potential buyers should show some interest in me. I am a human being and I am happy the way I am. I can't be fake. "
" Ha... You can't compete with me. So you are jealous of me. " Ruchi said too quickly, till now she was smirking while her mom was insulting me.
" Oh please, don't flatter yourself. I agree that I can't compete with your fakeness but I don't even want that. You can't even talk smartly. All you can do is gossip, talk about latest fashion , movies, men and batting your fake eyelashes at silly boys. " I was angry now. She was not elder to me, so I could say such things to her as well.
" Awww... you forgot my one quality sis. That I know how to make all those men crazy about me. Even your all time crush. Poor you, he was dying for my attention. I hope you still remember. "
" You can have him and all those dimwits by all means, I don't care. And please excuse me, unlike you, I have important work. Every minute of my time is important. All the best for your groom hunting. Good day, chachi ji. " I said and turned on my heel and marched towards where Mr Kapoor was.
The assistant was there but I couldn't find Mr. Kapoor there, maybe he had already left or he must be looking for other things. I took the seat near the assistant designer.
Mr. Kapoor came back within 5 minutes. He smiled at me and then asked me if we could leave? I just nodded and we came out of the place.
Mr. Kapoor asked me, If I wanted a coffee. I had actually started feeling that I was about to have a severe headache. I touched my head and pressed it a little and nodded my head.
We went to Starbucks which was there in the same mall and ordered coffee. He was looking at me and I was looking everywhere but him. I just hope that he did not hear anything chachi or Ruchi said.
We had our coffee and he talked about the project and the way he was planning to do it.
Right now he was in charge of most of the things as Rahul ji was not here. He seemed very excited about this deal and was happy that he got a chance to contribute to it. We had some nice time discussing the work. He was not that bad when he was not teasing.
We came back to the office. I was sitting at my work place and all the things Ruchi said started bothering me. She should not have talked about him...
The mere thought of what happened at that time, left a bitter taste in my mouth. My eyes got a bit moist. somehow I felt a bit of pain in that old wound . I hadn't thought of that for 6 years at least. But today, my mind went down the memory lane...
I was crazy about Aman and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. He got to know about my crush and we started talking over the phone and later on he invited me for a party along with my cousin. I asked my cousin if she wanted to come to a party she came with me. That day I heard him saying a few very nasty things to his friends, which changed my life.
I was shocked beyond limits and felt pathetic... I was very angry with myself for being so naive and gullible.
I came to know that I was an idiot. I was planning my whole life with him and he used my feelings to manipulate me to introduce him to my very hot cousin.
My cousin Ruchi was smart and beautiful. She was 5'4" fair and had light brown hair and eyes. All the guys in our school were crazy about her. According to them , she was smoking hot... And all the guys wanted her to spend some time with them.
Ruchi was very pretty but I always found her very fake. She was just 6 months younger than me so we were in the same class. She was totally an attention seeker and was mean, selfish and rude with all her family members but was extreamly sweet in the presence of others specially boys. She was literally addicted to the attention she used to get from them.
I felt sick that day and I insisted that we come back home. Ruchi didn't want to come back but she had to otherwise chachu ( younger brother of my dad) would have scolded her. She threw many tantrums to gain attention but I was already numb to feel anything. I said that she could stay if she wanted... but I was leaving. I knew she could not stay. She stomped her feet and followed me.
Even Aman pleaded with me to stay... He said he would get me the medicine, if I was not feeling well. He made a puppy face trying to make me feel as if he was feeling bad that I had to go. He said that he wanted me on his side as his date. But he didn't know that I heard what he said to his friends.
I came out of the party with him still pleading and Ruchi glaring at me. It didn't bother me as I had learnt my lesson. I settled in our car and started it. Ruchi had no option but to hop in the car. I drove away as soon as she slipped into the car and closed the door.
I reached home and went to my room. That day something died in me and I decided never to fall in love again. I didn't want to get hurt again.
My crush tried to talk to me again in the school but I gave him a cold shoulder. He was shocked with my indifference towards him. He asked me what was wrong, but I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't even look at him.
That was the last year of our school and I ignored him and his friends for the whole year. It has been 6 long years since that fateful day and I haven't thought of him or any other guy till date. I don't trust anyone now.
The intercom on my desk rang and I came back to the present day with a jolt.