Chapter 241 - I do not need a thank you card from you, Zee.

Zeenath stood outside Shreya's office biting her fingers. She did not know how to approach her after what she had said to her on that day. Shreya hadn't contacted her at all after that day.

Even her job assignments were given to her through Akash. Even when they had the meeting, she did not behave any different than usual but during meetings, Shreya always had an air of distance. So, Zee did not know if it was just her, or was she really cold to her.

When she was still contemplating on whether to go in or not, Anne walked towards the door with some files in her hands.

"Uhm… You need anything?" Anne asked politely. By now, she actually got the hang of how things worked at her job and she was coping pretty well. She also knows the people around Shreya and who and all have access to the floor and stuff like that. So, she did know of Zeenath even though she did not really have a conversation with her before.

Zee came out of her trance and looked at Anne.

"Ah�� no… you go ahead. I will wait here until you come back…" Zee offered generously.

Anne gave her a look but still went in since Shreya had asked for these files asap.

After a knock, she walked in and approached the desk.

"Madam, here are the files you asked for…" Anne said keeping them on Shreya's desk.

Shreya was busy with work. So, she did not really look up but still said, "Thanks, Anne. Can you bring me a cup of coffee…? Make it strong!"

"Right away…" Anne said but did not leave.

Shreya looked up at her hesitating self. "Is there something else?" She asked.

"Uhm. Yea, Miss Zeenath is waiting for you outside." Anne mumbled timidly. She did not want to rat out but then it did not seem like a secret either.

"Ask her to come in," Shreya said and went back to work.

"Yes, ma'am," Anne said and exited the office.

Zee was still outside the doors.

"Madam asked you to come in…" Anne said politely holding the doors open for Zee.

Zeenath made a fist of her hands and actually went in. She just stood there in front of Shreya's desk watching Shreya flip through some files. There was no other sound except for the sound of Shreya turning pages.

Zeenath cleared her throat loudly to gain her attention.

"What do you need, Zeenath?" Shreya asked looking at her reluctantly. Don't know how it would look to a normal stranger, but to those who did know Shreya, they could easily detect the alienation in her voice right away. There was something formal and distant about the voice.

"I… I just…" Zee stumbled not knowing what to say. Especially after seeing Shreya like this. Zee did not like that tone Shreya was using with her. Shreya had never used that with her.

When they met first in school, this aloof person who did not care about anything or anybody… this rebellious brat who did not listen to anyone… not even the Principal suddenly got attached to her.

Once Shreya saw Zee being cornered by some other kids from other rich families… Just when Shreya was about to jump in and have fun, Zee herself sent them running for their money. Her comebacks were beyond perfect.

From then on, Shreya took it upon herself to actually drag around Zeenath everywhere she went. They were two people who everyone did not dare to cross. They never went looking for trouble but they never really backed down from trouble either.

Zeenath never did initiate contact but she enjoyed Shreya's company. But they got separated when Zeenath had gotten admission in a university far from the city. But somehow Shreya tracked her down all over again.

A bond built between them over time… Zeenath thought it was strong enough without her having to put effort into it. But looking at Shreya now, she knew she was wrong. A relationship needs two people to survive.

Shreya patiently waited for her to continue. But her eyes did not have any warmth. They just coldly and stagnantly gazed at Zeenath.

"I am sorry about that day… I was out of line." Zeenath told at last.

"It's okay. Anything else?" Shreya said in a dismissing tone.

Zeenath did not know what to do… She had never taken a step forward in their relationship… Shreya just always accommodated her.

"I am really sorry Shreya. I mean it. I know I was rude that day… and I am sorry…" Zeenath tried desperately once again.

"I am not angry, Zeenath. And it is not what you said that is making me behave this way… The problem is that you actually meant every single word you said that day… And don't try to deny it because you and I both know that you did… I know you don't like to have people beside you, Zeenath. You don't like people being in your life. I always knew that but I turned a blind eye to it as long as you just let me be there for you… but I was wrong. I realized I cannot do that anymore. I cannot be there for a person who is not going to appreciate it." Shreya said with a straight face.

"I do appreciate it, Shreya. I really do…" Zeenath defended herself. But then she did not have any defense for other things Shreya said because they were true. She was really grateful to Shreya for putting up with her for so many years but she never properly let anyone actually into her life. She always kept everyone at a distance, emotionally.

"I do not need a thank you card from you, Zee. I am not running a f.u.c.k.i.n.g charity here. You know me better than that. But that's the problem right there… you do know me but I cannot say the same about you. And I am sorry to say this, but I cannot do this anymore. I cannot stand there on the sidelines and still smile at your face as if we are the best of buds. You want to drown yourself into an abyss, I cannot stop you. But I am not going to be around you to watch it happen either… I do not have the courage for something like that." Shreya frustratedly ran her hands over her face quite harshly.

Zeenath just stood there dumbstruck.

"You… You are firing me?" Zeenath asked in disbelief.

Shreya looked up at her once again frowning, "Of course not. But I am your employer, and you are my employee. That is all there is going to be between us hereafter…" There was a heaviness in her voice when she said the last parts.

Shreya was someone who will emotionally invest herself in abundance when it came to people she likes… people she takes as family.

For her, neither Pritham nor Zack are any less family than Akash or Anand.