Taking a glance of the paper in hand, he reads the document
from top to bottom once more. Reading it for the last time he keeps it down on
the table and stretches his hand towards the pen holder, when his personal
assistant, Cheki, walks into the office, with a bag hanging down from her
shoulder. Flipping over the paper in front of him, he takes out the pen and
looks at Cheki forcing a calm face. Walking directly towards his table, she
stands, staring at the paper in front of him. Fortunately, she cannot read the
words.
“Aren’t you going? It’s 6.”
Cheki asks looking at pretentious smile hiding behind the
worried face of Ap Tshenchap, expecting him to say, “Let’s go.”
Grabbing the phone, he checks the time and looks up back at
Cheki, “I have an urgent meeting tonight.”
“Okay.”
Without saying more words, turning her face away from him,
she walks out of the office. He keeps looking at her until she disappears out
of his sight. Then, he turns over the paper and holds the pen in position to
sign the paper. This morning, Dema walked into his office with lots of
conditions. Among the conditions, most important of all, is the agreement
document. Dema wants a legally signed paper stating that if she marries him,
all debts of her mother will be waived off. He has been thinking about this all
day. Now, he has to sign the paper as Dema left saying, “I want the signed
paper by 6 today.”
Sitting next to her sister Dema, who is busy with notebook
covering, Deki looks at her, “Thank you, Ashim.” Dema is not sure of the reason
behind her sister thanking her. Grabbing her phone from the table plugged in
for charging, she checks the time. It’s 6. Now, she has to meet the manager and
get the signed paper. Getting up, she looks back at Deki, “Write the names by
yourself, I will be back very soon.”
Walking past the counter, she walks out without checking if
her mother is in the kitchen or not. She walks up the inclined rough road
connecting her canteen and the manager’s office, taking gentle steps thinking
about today. This morning, going to the manager’s office, she had asked for a
legally signed document. In addition, she has mentioned three more conditions:
Firstly, as his wife, she will stay with him in his house; then, he is allowed
to make any number of girlfriends as long as he agrees the first condition and
thirdly, she demanded that she has to work in his company. Having given these
conditions, she walked out of the office and took Deki for school shopping as
her mother agreed to send Deki to school, as she mentioned that she is ready to
marry the manager. When they were in town, they met with the manager’s wife.
Having heard that she gave birth to a son very recently,
Dema talked to her about her interest to be a babysitter. She left saying, “I
need to talk with my hubby. I will inform you, if I need one.”
It’s dark now. A few bulbs hanging down from the corners of
the office, brighten the surrounding and she finds light in the manager’s
office. Walking inside to the receptionist table, she greets the security
guard, pretending to be new to this office.
“Is Dasho still in the office?”
“Yes. How can I help you?”
She does not know what to say so she says, “Call and inform
Dasho that Dema is here.”
She stands as he makes the call. Keeping down the phone, he
looks back at her.
“Please! Office is up that way.”
She nods and starts walking up the stairs, heart throbbing
hard against her chest. Throat dried up, palm sweating, taking her legs off the
last step, she walks along the corridor to the manager’s office. Taking a long
breath, grabbing the door handle, she pushes the door.
On seeing Dema, he keeps the pen back into the pen holder
and slides the signed document into the drawer. As she stands at the door,
looking very nervous, he stands up smiling.
“Wooh! Here comes my woofy---wifey!”
Dema stands frozen, as he walks towards her. Walking past
her, he closes the door gently but does not latch it. Taking his hand slowly on
to hers, he feels the warmth. Taking his mouth behind her ears, he asks, “Did
you sleep with your boyfriend?”
Dema stands silently without answering him. Holding her
hand, he lifts up; standing in front of her, he keeps his forehead on hers and
asks, “Did you sleep with him?”
Taking her eyes away from his, she whispers, “I did but we
didn’t do.”
“Really?”
He asks, taking his mouth slowly on to her neck when she
pushes him away saying, “Where is the signed paper?”
Standing a few meters away from her, he smiles eyes burning
with lust, “It’s in the drawer. I approve even the other three conditions. You
can stay with me in my house, I will give you work here in the company and I
will not even make girlfriends, you are my soul.”
“Give me the signed paper,” insists Dema, looking at him
boldly, not believing his words.
Outside the office, a car approaches the parking. Parking
the car, a woman gets out and walks towards the receptionist table. As the
woman gets near to him, he stands up and greets, “Good evening, Dasho Aum.”
Without even talking to him, Dasho Aum walks up the stairs, as the security
guard stands making a worried face, remembering the girl who went up a few
minutes earlier. He is not sure if he has to call and inform the manager about
his wife.
Back in the manager’s office, walking towards her, eyes
fixed on hers, Ap Tshenchap grabs Dema’s hand and pulls her towards the table.
Sliding the drawer, he takes out the paper and hands it to her. Taking the
paper, she reads it. Finding the signed legal stamp at the bottom of the
document, she looks back at him.
Walking towards her, he takes her hand and fixes his eyes on
hers. Running his fingers under her shirt up her back, he takes his mouth on
her neck when the phone rings and a knock comes on the door simultaneously.
To read previous and forthcoming chapters, please do follow
Facebook Page, ‘Phurpa’s Writing Cave.’
Story by: Phurpa Dorji (PJIKKS)
Chapter 7 Tomorrow @9PM
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