The colours of love

Who? Someone close.

I sat on the bench in the garden hugging myself. My tears would not just stop. Rubbing my stubborn tears, I tried to silence my cries. Just then I felt a hand on my head. I was little disappointed when I saw Attaya standing next to me. She smiled and sat next to me. She put my head on her lap and started patting on my head. I crushed her saree in my tight fist as I cried my heart out, and remembered the past week.

Last week has been a hell for me. My husband wanted to take me our for dinner on Tuesday. He had informed me about it the previous day and i had agreed. But on Tuesday, my boss, called me for a meeting. Apparently, Darshini and Nithin's marriage was the 25th marriage organised by EXQUISITE, and she wanted to surprise them with something and wanted a brainstorming session for her abstract thought . I agreed because it was only five, and I would be done by an hour or so. After one hour of discussion, I realised this is going to go on forever. So I excused myself, and called Dev. But I could not reach him, because the line was busy.  So I called his Secretary, who informed me he was in the meeting. So I asked her to inform my husband that I will be late. I went back to the discussion. I did not understand why it was important for her to come to decision that day, itself. That too, it was just us. It wasn't even discussion, it was me giving ideas and her rejecting it. By eight was getting irritated.

"Sorry, Ma'am but I am out of ideas. Give me sometime, I will come up with something, soon."
"I expected better from you Ms.Manya," she commented with a disapproving look.

Not bothering about the comment much, I rushed down to see the chauffeur waiting for me. I asked him go to the restaurant directly and I asked him to call Dev and inform him because I could not reach him. But the traffic was enormous. It seems the roads are always busy between six and eight. When I reached, it was already half past nine. Our dinner was supposed to be at seven and I knew Dev is punctual. Dev was in his car going through office files. I went and knocked on his window glass. He opened the door and said, "You look tired, how was work?"
"I am sorry, I...."
"It's okay. I understand, duty calls. But next time make sure you inform me."
"But I did inform your Secretary."
He frowned and said, "Secretary? I did not get any message. It must have skipped her mind."
Other than the that, we had good time. I was content with the quality of not quantity of time we spent together. But I also felt guilty because of inconvenience I have caused him. I know he did not say anything but I also know that he was not happy with his schedule disrupted.

I did nothing to rectify my mistake. I left early to the office and came back home late. My boss was loading me with work. She made me design, plan and manage the entire events. And I have been stuck there all the time. I knew I was not giving enough time to my family but I had to prove to the world that I was not a gold- digger. I managed to be there for Muffin's admission at school, somehow. I have not been able to spend time with my daughter. I feel bad about that too. I still want her to tell me about her day. So, I decided that I will pick her up from school and that will be, mommy- baby day out.

On Friday, I informed my boss to let me go early and she had agreed under the condition I complete my work . By lunch, I had finished my work, but just as I was about to go out, I was called back because Darshini and Nithin had come. They wanted to talk about catering. Cursing, I went inside. On my way, I called Dev and but I could not reach him. Then I called his chauffer and asked him to pick up muffin. He said that he was busy with the work Layla,  gave and he would ask someone else. Layla is the C.F.O. of Vallabhaneni Educational Institutions.
I asked  him to call me back me when she was picked up.

For the next few hours, I drowned myself with work. Work is my safe heaven. When I worked i forgot about other things. When I reached home in a cab, Attaya asked for Muffin. She had not come home yet. I freaked out and I called the chauffeur, he said he will find out who picked her up. After some time, he called back to inform me that no one had gone to pick her up, it was a miscommunication. Not listening further i rushed to the preschool.  The management told that there was no student and that every one had left.