106 The pyramid of dreams
She called him again and then again and then again.
But none of her calls were answered. Curious and worried, she rushed back towards his office room. As soon as she came out of the lift and turned towards Raymond's cubicle she saw David pacing outside the door. His expression looked like doomsday was fast approaching.
"Hey, David!!! Where is Raymond? Any meeting ongoing?"
He was flabbergasted to see Akira there. He was still unsure what she was to Raymond but his sixth sense told him that he had to stop her from entering Raymond's office.
"Hi, Akira. Yeah, Boss is in an important meeting", he said.
"Oh I see", she said all dejected.
"I will tell him you were looking for him", he said and smiled briefly.
"No that's ok. It's nothing urgent", Akira said shrugging the whole thing off and turned to walk towards the lobby.
"He is a busy man you see. He has been stuck there for the last two hours. I am also waiting for the meeting to be over", he said and waved at her as she left.
She heard him and stopped.
"You said last two hours", Akira asked.
"Yeah", David said.
"But half an hour back he was with our team in a meeting", Akira stated with an expression filled with questions.
"My bad. I tend to make things over-dramatic", David said and laughed nervously.
Semi-convinced she walked towards the lift to go to the cafeteria. It didn't look like she was going to her first date after all.
Her enthusiasm had bubbled down and to be honest she was a bit sad too. But she understood the predicament of the situation. She wasn't like those other girls who would fuss around for their guy being late. She pretty well understood that people do have other liabilities and that was because she was way too mature for her age.
On her way to cafeteria she texted Raymond,
"Carry on with your meeting. Got to know about it from David. Don't worry, I am on my way to the cafeteria and will buy something for you too" - Akira
He didn't reply, again. But she was ok with it. She understood that his time, unlike hers was extremely precious and tabulated to seconds. She picked up a two-seater table at one corner and ordered stir-fried noodles for herself. She had also ordered a takeaway meal of Caesar Chicken salad and one Walnut Panini for Raymond.
She had her food all alone by herself. It was nothing weird for her as she was used to staying alone like this even in her college. She had just one friend in college with whom she sometimes socialized but she was always busy with social activities and red-cross. So most of the time she had her food alone, under some tree or bleachers.
After completing her lunch she picked up her takeaway pouch and checked her phone. He had still not replied. Her upset heart was dragged into concluding that he was still stuck in the meeting by her mind and she took the lift to the first floor. Her mind wandered with hundreds of thoughts of what could have been? She was happy and content with what she had. She remembered the incident in the morning and smiled unknowingly. She didn't even realize when she raised her hand and touched her lips with her fingers. Just thinking about him made her happy.
But the moment the lift arrived and the doors opened on the first floor, she got the shock of her life..
In the lobby she found Raymond standing with his hands twined with Scarlett and she was leaning onto him. She looked at them in disbelief and like her worst nightmare had become true. He tried to take out his hands immediately from Scarlett's but she wrapped her other hand tightly around his arm and leaned even further. He stood there all helpless unable to free himself from her. His eyes wanted to tell her a hundred things but right now they looked all worried and helpless.
Seeing them all twined up, Akira understood that this was the meeting that was going on. Probably that's why David stopped her from entering his office. And that's why he didn't even bother to text her or call her. She had been stood up, AGAIN. The takeaway bag was now mocking her. She tightened her grip around the bag and marched away to her cubicle.
Once she reached her seat, she immediately sat on her chair to get a grip. She didn't cry, not even one single tear came out. Probably it was anger that was still reigning over her emotions.
Again someone else was chosen over her. Someone who was taller, prettier and curvier than her. She sighed and leaned back on her chair,
"When will you learn Akira. When will you learn?"
She picked up the takeaway bag and threw it in the dustbin. Then she ran upstairs to hide herself and her emotions in the terrace. The only place which brought her solace in this concrete paradise of lies and hypocrisy. This time she wasn't angry with Raymond or Scarlett. She was angry with herself. She knew this was one of the possibilities and still decided to sail into the unchartered territories. She was bound to be trapped in the storm. She was bound to be broken. But what she didn't know was the fact that the storm could come overnight.
Raymond couldn't fathom the intensity of damage that had been done. He knew there was no way to repair it. But he was desperate to get her back. He wanted to talk to her and tell her about the whole thing but his hands were literally tied up. His frustration was at its peak.
He looked at Scarlett and said,
"At least can you give me my phone? I won't take calls. Just need to send an important text"
"Everything can wait Raymond. After all it's for our baby", Scralett said and gently caressed her belly.
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