Conflicted Desires – Part 8

We have embarked on the story of Rohini and Vikram, and a super talkative grumpy parakeet – Keezo. To read the previous part of the story, click here.

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A week later.

“Yes, I am going to sign the papers today, which will make ME his legal guardian, which also means, I can get rid of this naughty little terrorist, whenever I want,” Rohini told her son jokingly over the video call.

“Oh, come on Mom! You love him more than me, you just don’t agree. Isn’t it right, Keeeeeezooooo” Raunak hollered from the other side.

Keezo started fluttering around in his cage listening to Raunak’s voice. Their bond is deep and Rohini loves to have any presence of her son in the house, even if it is in the shape of a funny little parakeet.

“Okay so tell me again, how do you know this Vikram guy?” Raunak asked casually.

“He came for a counseling session with his niece and heard Keezo calling me names. That’s when he saw him and asked about the license.” Rohini explained in short.

“I hope he is genuine and not duping you for some money, Mom” Raunak sighed.

“Of course not! He is a Supreme Court senior advocate, why would he try to fleece his niece’s counselor?” Rohini defended him almost instantly.

Raunak was too taken aback, “Okay okay, chill Mom, geez… what has got in you? You don’t usually react like this.”

Rohini took a long breath and exclaimed, “I know what I am doing. This is the right way of adopting birds or animals of exotic species.”

“You got it, Mom, sorry, I didn’t mean to rattle you,” he supplied calmly.

It was not Raunak who rattled her, but she was nervous meeting Vikram today at his office, which happens to be in the same building as her counselor training center. The only place she calls the office and goes to every fortnight for training and education purposes. She doesn’t like mixing personal and professional.

CORN! CORN! Screeched Keezo breaking Rohini’s spell, ‘yeah yeah, getting up buddy!’ she grumbled at her parakeet.

Two hours later, she was entering Vikram’s office where the assistant guided her to his chamber. Senior Advocate Vikram Sethi’s nameplate was hung outside his door in black and gold. The office has a minimal design with floor-to-wall cabinets alphabetically holding books. Light brown upholstery of furniture and dark tanned wooden table.

There was a peculiar fragrance in the place, she was unable to locate the smell. Spicy, woodsy with the undertone of burned citrus. It’s too good, she made a mental note to ask his assistant about the room freshener.

Vikram was not in the room and she took the side sofa, the wall beside her was adorned with accolades and many pictures of Vikram receiving some sort of felicitations. She was intrigued by one specific picture which had her husband’s organization’s logo. Something fluttered in her mind, a fleeting feeling she couldn’t point to, but her mood plummeted.

Vikram entered the room while talking on the phone, his voice deep, he smiled at Rohini gesturing for a minute to finish his conversation. Walking over to his chair he sat down while powering his computer.

Rohini started checking her phone while waiting for him to finish the phone call. She was checking her work schedule for the next week when she felt eyes demanding her attention. She looked up from her phone and found Vikram looking at her with a deep gaze.

His eyes somehow always intimidate her, even after their friendly dinner last week, she somehow feels anxious under his dissecting eyes.

Vikram finished the call looking at her, “you look great” he said from his chair.

Rohini was fidgeting with her phone and just smiled back, “I am sorry for taking up your busy time, let me know what needs to be done, and then you can get back to your work.”

“Work is just taken care of” he waved towards his phone, “I am free until late evening, so we can sign the papers here and then grab a quick lunch across the street?” he asked gauging her reaction.

Rohini was taken aback, “No! I mean, it is okay, you don’t have to bother. I will complete the paperwork here and then must visit my center on the upper floor.”

“You have an office here, and I am not aware of it?” Vikram was surprised.

Redness crept over Rohini with his voice of surprise, “Well, technically it is not my office, I mean, I am not the boss. But yeah, I sort of helped a friend when she was establishing the counselor training center. So, I come here every fortnight to lecture and train aspiring counselors.”

“Just my luck! So, I get to meet you every fortnight, amazing” he said more to himself than to anyone else. Anyone would appreciate this kind of attention, but Rohini gets fidgety with unwanted attention.

To be continued…

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024

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