The autumn breeze swirled through the trees, leaves swayed back and forth sending shivers down her spine and she encircled her arms around her chest feeling a little cold.
She regretted not bringing any jacket while leaving her room, but in her defence, she had no idea the weather would be cloudy and windy for the day.
Her grip on the coke can in her hand tightened a little, but it didn't help her much since the can itself was freezing cold.
Diverting her attention from the cold, she angled her head to the subtle noise she could hear from a far, apart from the noise of the few vehicles passing by the road.
Several kids were learning karate from the karate class in the neighbourhood and her feet stopped moving abruptly observing them from a distance.
The kids were learning new things, smiling, playing, making a noise and for a moment she envied them.
She envied how carefree they were, envied how some of their parents were waiting to receive them after the class, but the only thing she didn't envy was the phase of life they were in.
She never wanted her childhood back.
Taking a sip of the chilled beverage, she walked ahead to a nearby bench and sat their comfortably.
She noticed a few more people on the other benches, some sitting alone like her, some in groups, some busy in their phones, some laughing, some utterly quiet.
The quiet ones were just occupying the bench, staring ahead at particularly nothing, probably lost in some deep thoughts that made her wonder what they must be going through to make an escape to this place.
Not like the laughing ones could have been the happiest with their lives, it was just that they had friends to relax with and forget about their problems, she thought.
The constant vibration of her phone broke her chain of thoughts and she brought the phone out of her jeans pocket to check who was calling her on a holiday.
The phone screen flashed an unsaved number and she swiped up bringing the phone near her ear.
"Hello."
"Hello, Miss Vartika Jha.?"
"Yes. speaking."
"Our sir would like to meet you in person in an hour. I will text you the address, please be there on time."
The voice from the other end of the call said, in a calculated tone.
"Wha-"
She couldn't complete her words as the call was already disconnected much to her surprise.
What?
She stared at the phone confused, when the phone vibrated again with an incoming message.
"Had I applied for a new job.?"
She asked herself trying to recollect her memory, re-reading the message she received from the same number that called earlier.
Rechecking the address the caller had just sent she couldn't fathom what was it for and deleted the message right away.
Life was literally going to be hectic the next day in her office; thus, she refused to hover over a strange unknown call in her holiday.
"Can I borrow your hair dryer? Mine is broken."
Divya said in urgency, showing off her broken hair dryer.
"It's been broken since a month now."
Vartika replied as she packed her lunch box.
Time was already running out for her and her lousy roommate who always went on short of something, wasn't helping her much in the rushing hours.
"Uh yeah .I will use yours just for this once."
Divya urged making Vartika sigh and she turned around to face her.
"The problem is not you borrowing for once or twice, the problem is you taking things and not willing to give them back.
I brought my hair dryer from your cupboard yesterday only."
Divya frowned at her reply, throwing a glare at her direction.
"Hey I only asked you because I'm a little bit short of money these days to buy a new one. You don't have to be so rude."
Vartika narrowed her gaze at how her roommate's tone was suddenly changed from sweet to sour, then moved her eyes to the unpacked delivery boxes laid on Divya's bed.
"These are gifts from my boyfriend.
Someone who hasn't dated since her birth, can't digest the affection others receive."
Divya taunted rolling her eyes.
"Then ask your affectionate boyfriend to buy you a new one."
Vartika pointed a finger at the broken hair dryer in her roommate's hand and grabbed her bag walking out of the room.
"What a bitch."
Divya muttered under her breath, throwing away the dryer in fury.
The mess was a messy place to live in, Vartika and her roommate knew it.
But since it was affordable, non-chaotic from the absence of the landlord, and was at a walking distance from her office she decided to squeeze in for few more months and ignore her roommate as much as possible.
Stealing a glance at her wristwatch she hurried out of the building, closing the gate at her back only to find a man in a 3piece suit standing there, staring at her only.
"Are you Miss Vartika Jha.?"
The man asked, while her brows knitted together trying to remember if she knew the person but the sunglass, he had on his eyes didn't help at all.
"Uh yeah. But who are you.?"
She asked.
"Why didn't you come to the meeting yesterday.?"
Vartika looked at him more puzzled for a moment, and the guy went on to explain further.
"Our sir wished to meet you yesterday.
I even sent you the address, but you didn't come.
And you didn't even respond to the calls aftermath."
"Oh."
And it struck her that instant.
That unknown call from yesterday.
"Was it you who called me.?"
"Yes. But kindly explain why didn't you come."
"What's there to explain?
As far as I remember I haven't applied for a job anywhere."
Vartika replied nonchalantly.
"You thought I called for a job interview.?"
The guy stared at her, curiously.
"Didn't you?
Then what's it about?
And make it quick, I'm getting late."
Vartika murmured, stealing a glance at her wristwatch again.
"You are already late for your office.
And it's not my place to explain anything, I am here to pick you up and take you to my sir."
The guy replied calmly.
"What? Who are you? And who is your sir?
And why should I go with you.?"
Vartika looked at him perplexed.
He looked decent from his looks, but his intention seemed doubtful to her.
"If you are going to keep asking me questions, then you would waste both of our times.
To get your answers you have to come with me now.
And if you are doubtful then you can take a picture of my car number plate to report to the police later, in case anything happens."
The guy explained pointing at his car behind him.
"Who is going to report if I die on the way.?"
She rolled her eyes.
The guy let out a sharp breath growing frustrated, but however maintained his calm.
"See I am a mere secretary and I'm just doing my duty.
I don't know how many enemies you have to anticipate someone would kill you on your way but now can you please come; I'm really running out of patience."
She kept mum at his insistence, rethinking possibilities of any kind of dangerous situations she could face, but then he was right.
She didn't have any enemies to kill her in the broad daylight, so it wouldn't hurt to meet someone desperate to see her face.
"Okay I will go with you."
She quickly typed an excuse to her boss, and followed the guy to his car, unaware of what waited for her.