Author - Jui Purohit.

*Click here for the previous part(8)*  Akash booked a room in the hotel that was on the road opposite to the BigStar Corp company.  He changed into comfortable clothes and relaxed on the bed. Feeling a slight headache, he massaged his forehead. But didn't get any relief. So he decided to step down and look for medical stores.  Medical stores was nearby so he didn't need to walk any further. He bought the needed medicine. As he was walking back to the hotel, he saw Tara getting into a car. The same man who was accompanying her in the elevator, loaded her luggage in the boot. He then got seated in the front seat, while Tara at the back. The car seemed like a private vehicle not a cab. It was an expensive one. Tara rolled down the window and her face was now clearly visible to Akash. She looked sad, like she had cried a lot.  Akash wanted to cross the road and approach her but the car drove off.  "What's happening with Tara? Who is that man and why did she go with ...

*Click here for the previous part(7)*  Tara stepped out of the elevator, equally stunned to see Akash.  "Akash!", she exclaimed. "Hi! What brings you here Tara?", he asked excitedly.  Tara looked at the person standing besides him. The man looked at Akash and then to Tara and gestured her to walk towards the office, as he started to move ahead. Tara's face slumped a bit. "Akash I've to go. I'm sorry but can we talk some other time?", she said as she rushed to catch pace with that man. She dragged her trolley bag hastily along.  "Is she being threatened? Is she in trouble?" Akash pondered standing there as he saw her leaving. "Should I ask? No. This is a commercial place. I cannot create a scene here. It will affect my work too. She should be here for a job or something. But she seems young, like a college girl. I guess, I shouldn't cross my boundaries. It's her personal affair", his brain kept arguing with his heart....

*Click here for the previous part(6)*  "Hello! Yes, just landed. Will take a cab and call you, once I reach", Akash said over the phone. Akash took a cab and told the driver to stop on the way if he locates a decent food joint. "Let's grab something to eat and head for the day", Akash said to himself.  He reached his destination. "I've reached. You guys be ready. If I need anything be available on your phones. Let's hope for the best. We will crack this deal", Akash said to his business partner.  'BigStar Corp' read the huge sign board at the entrance of the tall building. Akash entered and told the receptionist about his appointment.  "Hi! I'm Akash Rao, joint partner Stellar Solutions", Akash told her. "Mam is waiting for you. Please proceed to the 2nd floor Sir. MD's cabin is to the left", the receptionist said. "Thankyou", Akash said and he advanced.  The office area of the company was huge. Spa...

*Click here for the previous Part(5)*  Akash returned to his seat and found Tara absorbed in the photograph she was holding in her hand. It seemed like a family picture. Akash cleared his throat as he sat down. Tara's reverie was broken and she looked at Akash.  "Missing your family?", Akash spoke warily, not sure of his words. He didn't want to ask her personal questions, sounding ambiguous or crossing any boundaries. He was mindful of the fact that the young girl was travelling all alone for the first time. Tears rolled down Tara's cheeks. She hastily wiped them and put the picture back into the bag. "Hmm....I miss them....alot", Tara said. And she clasped the book in her hand.  Akash sensed that he had hit the wrong cord. So to divert the topic he said, "So what are you reading? A love story?". Tara looked at the book in her hand 'Once upon a heartbeat'. "Yes it's a love story", she said, trying to sound normal, coverin...

*Click here for the previous part(4)* "Would you like tea or coffee Sir? And you Mam?", the airhostess brought in the refreshments.  "I will have a coffee", Akash said. "And what about you Tara?". "Do I need to pay?", Tara asked Akash. "No Mam it's complimentary. If you want the snacks you'll have to pay", airhostess said pointing to the sandwiches placed in service trolley.  "Then...I'll ...have tea", Tara said. "Green tea or the regular tea Mam?", airhostess inquired.   "The regular one with milk and sugar", she elaborated, glancing at the hostess and again towards Akash. The airhostess handed over their orders and moved on. Akash smiled at Tara.  "Sorry am I causing trouble to you?", Tara asked. "No! Why would you say that? You can have the tea you like. I prefer coffee", Akash tried to mitigate.  Tara pursed her lips and nodded. She went back to reading her book while sip...

  *Click here for previous Part(3)* The flight crew started the preflight safety briefing. Tara followed the airhostess earnestly and taking out the instruction pamphlet, carefully read through all the guidelines. She seemed quite sincere. Once the hostesses dispersed Tara opened her book.  Akash checked the texts on his mobile phone and put it on flight mode. He glanced at Tara. She appeared anxious.  "Are you alright Tara? Feeling a bit nervous?", Akash spontaneously asked. "Yes, as I earlier said it's my first time flying", Tara replied.  "She seems anxious but there's no excitement about her new experience", Akash's soliloquy.  The flight started taxing and Tara clutched the armrests. And as the flight gained momentum, the book fell off from her lap. Tara wanted to pick it up but couldn't dare to move.  Akash saw all her struggle and said, "Tara isn't it fun to fly? We don't have wings but we can experience the flight sitti...

*Click here for previous part(2)*  "Did you comfortably get through the security check?", Akash was tempted to ask but on second thought, it would've been too obvious, as she was already here. He decided to just drink his coffee and finish his work. So he peeped into his laptop once again while trying to sip coffee from the steel glass. And he stopped to see, he had mistakenly lifted the empty glass. So he rolled his eyes up and lifted the glass with coffee. He heard a soft chuckle, and saw that the girl was glancing at him with a grin.  As Akash saw her, she quickly turned her gaze to the book. Akash smiled and gulped his coffee. He continued working on his laptop and there was an announcement for the flight. Akash read the flight information display and began to proceed towards his gate. "Excuse me", he heard a soft voice and turned back. It was the petite girl standing behind him. "Can you help me please?", she asked Akash, showing him her boarding ...