Chapter 242 - You cannot do that Shreya…

"You… You cannot do that Shreya…" Zeenath said. For once there was panic in her voice though only very mildly.

That moment she realized that in spite of all her walls and in spite of all the conscious distancing she had done, she had somehow come to think that Shreya was going to be around her for life. Even she did not know when that happened, but when Shreya said she was going to detach herself away from her, Zee actually got to know how close she was to Shreya.

"What do you expect from me Zee? What do you take me for? Some kind of a plush toy you can cuddle with whenever you wanted and then leave it alone when you are fine. You guys are my only FAMILY, Zee. And you know what a family means to me. I don't know about you, but for me at least you were part of the family… my family. A person I love and trust… And you did what? You told me I have no right to meddle in your affairs whatsoever. And for what? I sent you a prank photo?" Shreya had gotten up from her chair by then and was standing right in front of Zeenath.

"I am sorry to say this but if you have thought that I am someone who puts up with shits like that and still can go on with you as if nothing ever happened, I will make it clear, I am not that person. I am a trusting person but not a stupid one… I am not someone who brings people closer to me because they are pitiful. And I am not some saint or someone running a charity."

Zeenath did not know what to say anymore. All she could do was stand there frozen to a place like a statue while everything Shreya was telling kept echoing to her in her head.

"You can leave now, Zee. We are done here… And like you had said so clearly that day, I will never ever meddle in anything about you ever again. As long as you do the job I give you, you will get your appropriate salary." Shreya said and dismissed her promptly.

Zeenath did not even know how she actually got out of Shreya's office or how she ended up in front of Srinivas's office. But before she could comprehend her actions, she was already walking into his office without even knocking.

When Srinivas looked up from his work when he heard the doors open, he never thought he would come face to face with Zeenath… that too in such a state. She looked dazed and completely frozen. Her face was pale.

He got up from his place and approached her and asked hurried, "Hey, what happened? Why do you look like this? Do you have a fever?" He stacked questions concerned.

Zeenath snapped out of it and looked up and started talking, "You… you go talk to Shreya. She listens to you, right? Can you just tell her I did not mean anything I said that day? That I was just having a mental breakdown or something? She… she said she cannot be my friend anymore… she is my only friend… I do not really have anyone other than her you know… So, you just go tell her I am sorry…"

Even though her speech was coherent enough, she did not seem like she was aware of what she was telling. But the panic is her voice was clear as day.

Srinivas pulled her to the couch and stopped her blabbering by giving her a glass of water.

"Okay, okay. Now, first drink this before talking anymore…" He extended the water right in front of her face.

"You will go talk, then?" Zeenath asked without really even taking the glass or giving it any attention at all.

"Yes, yes. I will go talk to her. Now drink this first…" Srinivas said once again shoving the water into her hands.

Zeenath actually drank a bit this time.

"If you have calmed down, now tell me what happened will you?" Srinivas asked.

Zeenath briefly told him what Shreya had said to her without even thinking. At that moment, she did not really care. If felt like she would go crazy if she did not share it with someone.

Srinivas listened to the while thing attentively and said, "I will go talk to Shreya… but maybe you should actually think about what Shreya told you because she is actually right on all counts about you. You are like a tortoise or something… as long as something you deem risky happens, as simple as a confession, you end up hiding yourself completely in your personal shell. It's hard being a friend to someone who won't let you close to them you know?"

"Use that big brains of yours and think, Zee… Maybe what she needs from you is not a half-assed apology… an apology that wouldn't count for anything at all if you are not going to change the way you treat her." Srinivas said and walked out. And he actually did go to Shreya's office.

He actually found Shreya lying on the couch face completely buried against the cushion.

He knocked on the doors to get her attention and walked inside.

"What do you want now?" Shreya asked lifting her face off of the couch.

"Nothing... I am just here to check up on you actually… you gave Zeenath a nice scare…" Srinivas commented coming to stand beside her.

She let out a sigh and buried her face back in and said in a muffled voice, "I am fine… You go check on Zee. You have to take advantage of the situation like these if you want to even put a dent in her armour."

But then Shreya looked up and continued after a short pause with a sly smile, "Well, I see you have put quite a dent on her armour if she actually went to you after that epic argument she had. Nice job…"

Srinivas frowned and asked cautiously, "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Definitely…" Shreya said smiling.

"You know, she is not the only having a problem with sharing? Even you are the same… You guys are almost identical! maybe you should actually take your own advice." Srinivas added giving her a knowing smile. After all, if Shreya was as unaffected as she is pretending to be, she wouldn't have talked as such to Zeenath.

"Did you come here to annoy me now? Or because you cared? If you are here to get justice for your girlfriend, you can get out! I don't care," Shreya said irritated turning her face away from him.

Before Srinivas could say anything, there was a knock on the door and Anne walked in.

"Hey, Anne. What is it?" Shreya asked.

"Eh, there is one Mr. Abishek Mehra waiting for you… he is asking for an appointment. What should I do?" Anne had a confused frown on her face. It was mainly because in all the time she had worked with Shreya, this is the first time she had encountered such a situation. Even after the announcement, Shreya was really not the one to meet clients and staff. All the administrative part of the company is done by Akash and Anand… so nobody comes to meet her or calls her at all. So, this was one unique incident she did not know how to deal with. So, she came straight to Shreya to clarify.

Shreya's eyes widened as she subconsciously looked at Srinivas.