CHUNDARI PENNE (PART 5) - A SHORT STORY ABOUT LOVE

(If this is the first time you have come across this short story about love, we would recommend you start reading from PART 1 first at - http://goo.gl/lWmL7X. In case, you missed out on PART 4, you can find that at - http://goo.gl/B8Nync. But if you have already read everything else, then please continue)

After Karthik had rode off, Preet stood smiling for a few seconds, then headed to her room. She first had a hot water bath, then ordered food from room service and by 10 was asleep.

It was day two.

"Is everything OK?" Preet asked him as they sat surrounded with papers around them.

"Yes," he replied without looking up from his mobile.

"Then why are you lost in that stupid phone of your's?" she questioned him.

"I am looking at the show timings of a movie," he stated still engrossed.

"Planning to take your girlfriend?"

"If she existed then yes. Friends actually. That is if we finish on time," Karthik smiled and said.

"We can work faster if you put all your concentration here," uttered Preet irritatedly.

Karthik looked up and kept his mobile on the table. Looking straight at her, he said, "You have my full attention, Chundari Penne".

Preet glared at him, then broke her gaze by saying, "Great. Now give me the sales figure for Nov last year".

They finished everything on time. While packing, he asked her, "Are you leaving after the review tomorrow or spending a few more days here?"

"Day after tomorrow. Leaving immediately after the review would be too hectic," she confessed.

"Want to catch the movie with me and my friends tonight?" he asked.

"Which movie?" Preet questioned.

"Charlie. It's a romantic thriller about a girls search for someone," he replied.

"English?"

"Malayalam actually. But they will have subtitles," he replied

Karthik's mobile rang just then and he started speaking in his native language. After cutting the call, he looked at her and apologised.

When they finished packing, they walked towards the time office. Midway, Preet met Usha and stopped to chat. Karthik carried on.

"Done?" Usha asked her.

"Yup. Was just leaving," Preet confessed.

"I saw you two for lunch today. Is there something brewing between you two? I mean do you like him?" grilled Usha.

"What rubbish. We just get along well. That's it. Nothing else," replied Preet.

"Well, I hope it's just that. Trusting someone so quickly would be just stupid," said Usha giving her a quick hug and leaving.

Though Usha left, her words didn't. Preet walked slowly towards the time office, where Karthik was waiting for her.

"Can you call the driver, please?" she told the security.

"Why? I thought we were going for Charlie," he protested.

"Well you assumed that. I never said yes to anything," Preet replied coldly and then looking at the unsuspecting security guy angrily asked him to call the driver.

"So, you won't let me drop you as well?" he asked.

"You will get late for the movie. And anyways, I don't want to be indebted again," said Preet.

"Preet," he protested, but just then his mobile rang. While he was speaking on his phone, the car came and Preet quickly ran towards it. Without looking at Karthik, she sat in the car and drove off. When she reached her room, she burst into tears.

(It is Preet's last working day with Karthik. What do you think will happen next? To find out more, read PART 6 at - http://goo.gl/cJhKag)