# 9 THE RHOPALOCERA EFFECT
5:30 pm
I switched on my laptop and went through the list of backgrounds that Misha had sent me for our Music launch.
Misha , she is like a sister to me. Well she was the first one to rag me at school but then slowly we turned out to be thick friends and above all brother and sister. And ya she is Alena's best friend too.
There were just ten days for the recording and yet we were to make three songs. And handling this work, music and top of all the new "Bride! " was becoming hell difficult.
I shut down the laptop frustrated and decided heading back home.
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.
.
It was around six when I reached home and apparently found the door open.
I looked around. No one. I remembered having fired the maids. So I went upstairs.
I opened the door to the bedroom and to my utter surprise it was so clean. I looked around dreamily.
"Petrin ...... Impressive...... but where is she ?? !!"
I looked around the room just when my ears caught the noise of the water.
I looked at the bathroom door.
"Time for some fun.... Ha ha ha..... "
I switched off the lights, the room was absolutely dark and tiptoed towards the door of the washroom. I waited there for sometime and finally heard her turn off the knob, stopping the flowing water.
Soon the knob of the door turned and as soon as she stepped out I made my move...
"BOOOOOO...... " I shouted.
She screamed and I don't know what she did, pulled me for support I guess and we landed on the floor. She on top of me.
I felt a sudden amazement and on top of that she kept looking at me but didn't once tried to get up. This was a different kind of feeling. I had been spending time with Alena but this... This sudden kind of rhopalocera effect .... this was NEW.
Her eyes... They were nothing like I had seen in Alena's eyes that were plain ,but Natasha's eyes were so deep and so expressive.
She was looking into mine as if trying to find answers, answers to the questions I knew she feared asking.
She stood up suddenly, breaking my trance.
"Leonid...What is all this ? !! "
"What ???? "
She went and switched on the lights, blurring my vision for a moment.
I rubbed my eyes and looked in her direction.
"Why did you switched off the lights ??? " she asked.
"And why did you fell over me ? !! " I snapped back at her.
"You screamed suddenly."
"Yeah... but that doesn't mean you would fall over me !! "
She muttered cursing me under her breathe.
I stood up.
"Don't even trying sticking to me... " I said in my defense.
I could see her anger raising.
"And and... What the hell are you doing in my room.... Get the hell out of here... you can take any other room ... Not this... And take all this shit stuff of yours and out from here" I said pointing at her luggage.
"Leonid ...... These idiotic pranks.... Its lame okay!! "
And with this she took her luggage and walked out if the room.
"Its just the beginning..... Petrin !! " I said laughing and shut the door.
***********
I moved in to a room far away from his, provided all other rooms were locked. It seemed he had planned it all. Nevertheless I found it more suitable to stay here than with that Monkey Monster.
The room was comparatively small but peaceful. There was one single bed and even though my height wasn't much, I knew I wouldn't fit in it. It was so small. There was a washroom attached to it. And also the other stuff. One dressing arena, one bedside table and there was a window too, though the scenery wasn't like the previous one but anyways.
I kept my stuff at their respective places and freshened up. I had no hope for food cause I knew if I stepped out of this room I had to see his face and most importantly the day was a mess so I read some lines from that special book before I laid down on the bed.
"Life never stopped, no matter what happened, it never stopped.
It forced us to move on and fight, when all we wanted to do was give up and fall.
Life never stopped and it never allowed to stop
And that fills us with both grief and gratitude."
I stared blankly at the white ceiling and then at the fan which went round and round at a constant speed.
I seemed to be draining out of energy. The surroundings seemed to fade away and soon I was lost in my dream arenas .
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I didn't know for how long I slept. But nevertheless it felt good. I stretched my arms and rubbed my eyes when suddenly
my eyes fell on the clock.
7:15 am
Holy crow! I had fifteen minutes to reach work. I hurriedly dressed up and left.
7:45 am
I ran inside the building. I was 15 minutes late for the first time.
I saw Joy looking at me in surprise.
I smiled at him and left for my cabin.
The lift door opened to my floor and I stepped out. I started walking towards my room when I heard shouts from Leonid's cabin. I recognized the other voice to be Anya ma'am's.
I stood silently at the door and listened.....
"Leonid ... I want this work to be finished by the end of this week .... "
"Anya... you know that ... I have to make songs .... there's just a week left... "
"You really think I care for your songs... Oops.... I don't... But ya....these files must be there on my table at end of this week ...... "
"Anya....... "
"You have less time ... But that's all because of your laziness.... You kept things pending and its none of my business now....... The work should be completed... "
I found a pat on my back. I turned around.
Oh god! I could kill Leonid for this.
"What are you doing ?? "
" It's none of your concern....and why do you want to know ? !! "
"General Knowledge.... "
"Mack ... Just leave."
I heard Anya ma'am bang her fists on the table. And I don't know for what reasons I felt bad. Leonid was known for singing. Music seemed to drain away all his anger and fear. It was known to all that he and his band were signing a deal but Anya ma'am, she was only concerned with things that mattered to her. I never understood why Leonid was working here at the first place. Anyways, it just wasn't my business.
"Natasha ..... "
God! Can't he see I am busy. Why can't he just leave.
"You know what! " I said turning towards him.
"You stay here ... I'm going .... "
I entered my cabin.
I took a deep breath and kept the files and the bag I was carrying on the table.
" Natasha focus. " I said to myself and looked around the room. None of my files were pending so, I decided going for a round.
I stepped out but he was still standing there.
"Natasha .... I need to talk to you.... "
"Mack...This is not a cafe to sit and talk .... "
I started walking and he kept on following me.
"Natasha ...... Please..... "
"Natasha ......... "
He kept on pleading.
"Just once and that's it.... After that... You need not talk..... Please.... "
I found every one looking and waiting for me to answer. Damn! Like every time I had to be in such a situation where I had no other option but to say a yes.
"Okay fine... 10 minutes ... Lunch time... "
"Thank you so much.... " he smiled at me.
"Now if you don't realize... I have work.... "
I exited the area as fast as I could.
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I went through the files of nearly all the staffs and noticed that the sales was rising. This did give me a relief.
I went around through some more files, finally reaching Ivan's desk.
I smiled at him as he handed over his file to me. I really was impressed.
"Ivan ... Your department is really doing good.... "
"It had to be as I'm the Head .. " he said patting his own back.
"Ahhhh..... "
"Natasha.... will you come along for lunch ?....?? "
"No... I have some work... "
"Please Natasha ..... I know you are meeting Mack... you can join me after talking with him !!"
"Are you like spying on me!! "
"No... Joy told me.... "
"I shouldn't have said a yes" I said in disappointment.
"Give him a chance sissy .... "
"You are saying this ??? ..... "
Ivan was going to tell something when I heard someone calling my name.
"Natasha .... "
"And here comes your hubby !!.... " teased Ivan .
I raised my eyebrows when I realized that I was going to be bashed heavily. It was 8:45 and I still hadn't served him his coffee.
"Ivan ... I gotta go.... he , for sure gonna create some scene ... bye ! "
He smiled at him and I made my way to Leonid's direction , mentally preparing myself to get heavily taunted and bashed.