Broken I

19

ARNA

Ivan vechukutu mudiyala

"Vandi edunga, boss," I said, not turning my gaze or answering his question about how I found him.

"Arna," he called, making me finally turn to look at him.

"Sollunga, sir," I replied, formally.

"Enna da, papa, kovama ?" he asked softly, starting the car.

"Pesatha," I hollered, my frustration evident.

"Ennaiku matta poranu theriyala da nee," I added, irritated.

"Na enna pannen ?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Nee enna than pannala, Mr. Aryan ?" I shot back, my irritation not waning.

Aryan Kumar is Samriddhi's boss, aka her obsessed lover. Sam can be naive, but I am not. She may not know his intentions and behaves like a normal girl who has a crush on her boss, but I am nowhere near as innocent as her.

Sam and I operate on different wavelengths. While she may embody naivety, whimsy, and charm, I am characterized by cunning, danger, and allure.

My observation has led me to uncover Aryan's  fixation on Sam. I detest individuals like him; obsession is a toxic trait. However, amidst my disdain, I discern a rare sincerity in Aryan's affection. His love is true, but his actions are sometimes questionable.

Never mind.

If I say Aryan is a villain, it raises questions about my own self. So I won't. He stalks her everywhere, and that's how I recognized the black hoodie guy as none other than him.

"Enna da, papa, un anna pavam illaya ?" he asks.

"Onnum sollrathu illa. Nee mattuna nanu mattuven," I said, my tone firm.

"Athu ellam onnu agathu. Nee chill aa iru da," he said, parking the car in front of a five-star hotel that also has a lodge owned by him.

"Ethuku inga vanthurukom ?" I asked, getting down from the car.

"Va, soldren," he said as we walked in. Everyone bowed before us. He didn't give any expressions, while I nodded at them slightly in acknowledgment.

We both got in the lift and went to the restricted floor. This floor is off-limits to everyone except Aryan, me, and his very close friends. I have been to his place before.

He opened the door for me, and I entered. There is nothing to fear with Aryan as he already acts like my elder brother. He has unofficially adopted me as his younger sister, without any formalities.

This is how he sees our relationship.

He walked to the cupboard and picked up a white bag with the Apple logo on it and handed it to me.

"Enna ithu ?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.

"Unaku gift," he said, as I sat on the couch.

"Avaluku rose, ennaku gift aa ?" I asked with a bored reaction.

"Athu vera, ithu vera," he said, trying to differentiate between the two and sat across me.

"Athu aaluku, ithu thangachikku," I explained.

He shook his head in disbelief.

"Unaku than eppavo vangunen. Nee thana kannama poita aprom..."

"Background check panniya ?" I asked, cutting him off.

I had already asked him not to do a background check on me. Over time, he started to behave like a elder brother, and I don't want him to know that I am a prostitute's daughter.