Samar stepped out of the house and closed the door with an audible click. She still did not notice him.
He began to walk around her and get on with his day when she finally rose to her feet. The sun hit her face in front of him and the wind threw her hair over her face. Her hands were muddied, both holding bunches of weeds. But sharp blue eyes scorched at him even through the strands of her lashing hair.
“I apologise for my tone last night,” she said.
“Are you apologising because I am your boss?”
“You are not my boss, Atharva is.”
“Until you are not in Jammu.”
“I am not going to Jammu.”
He couldn’t help it. “Your apology tone could use some work.”
“So could yours.”
He held her stare, waiting her out. She would blink. And move away.
She did not.
“I went too far,” Samar finally relented. He was an asshole, but to very few people. And only those who deserved it. Amaal was the last person to deserve it.
“So then, give me in writing that I am not responsible for your media management and I will put Fahad on to it.”
“Don’t make a mountain out of it, Amaal. It was a bad night. Let’s move on.”
“No.”
“Is this some sort of revenge for what I said?”
“I did not vie for revenge when youdidit, why would I vie for revenge when you said it?”
His mouth fell shut. She was right. She was always bloody right. And lately, she had become so cool, calculated, grown up. The years that had touched her here in KDP had hardened her. Or was it just towards him?
“Email me,” she clipped, and began to turn away with her weeds and muddy hands and flying hair, and he couldn’t let it end here.
“Listen.”
She did not stop.
“Amaal!” He grabbed her elbow. She shirked it and turned on him with violent eyes. He recoiled. “If I cannot stop you by grabbing your hand, you cannot either.”
Samar swallowed, seeing a completely different woman.
“You are responsible for my media management as you are for all the founders. Let me know what you need from me and I will provide.”
“A decent attitude,” she bit out. He blinked, looking away.
“You have a line of interviews today and tomorrow at The Lalit, mostly sit-downs. Fahad will accompany you.”
He whirled his eyes to her — “You will accompany me.”
“No.”
“Then I am not turning up.”
“As you wish.”
