Read Don't Change :: "Mr. Roy"

I still remember the day when I saw her for the first time. That day was frustrating for me, but Muskan spread her smile like always.

I was a guy who enclosed myself between the walls of books and expectations. She pulled me out into the outside world along with her. Before meeting her I was just breathing, eating, studying, and sleeping. She taught me how to live life. She taught me how a smile can change the world.

Muskan’s smile was her introduction. But when I met her after 10 long years that smile had lost its way. It was not there. Instead, she had a crease on her forehead. Why?

If things were in my hands, I would have hugged her tight amid so many people at that time. But the look with which she was looking at me was screaming and telling me, "Sit right there, Jay. Don't come near me."

For me, Muskan's wish comes first. I can never disobey her. Her aura, vibe, and personality seemed a little changed at that moment, but I had no time to notice that because I was in the seventh heaven.

Thus hiding my happiness I greeted her like a businessman.

"Sir she's our executive manager and also our team leader for this project. Ms-"

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Muskan Singh."

Riya thought that she was introducing them, but when Jay cut her in the middle and extended his hand to guess Muskan's name, she felt as if they already knew each other. But for her, this assumption was proved to be wrong when she got an explanation from his side.

"How do you know our ma'am's name? You guys have met each other before?"

"Yes, of course. I've met them before."

Hearing Jay's answer, a wave of fear ran across Muskan's face. Which he caught.

"I mean, in the documents. You only said that she is your team leader. I saw it in the files."

Riya and everyone else were convinced by this lie of Jay except Ted. Because he knew that he had not read any document that contained any such information, but he remained silent. And the meeting went on.

The discussions went on smoothly and both the parties seemed quite satisfied. It was time to leave. When everyone was leaving the room one by one, the Deputy CEO of Roy’s wanted to talk with Muskan. Thus he asked both Riya and Ted to leave the room for some time.

“Ms. Riya, can you lead me to the cafeteria? I need to grab something to eat.” Even though Ted was unaware of things, he still understood his assignment from his boss and attempted to take Riya with him and give them some space.

With Muskan’s permission, she led the way to the cafeteria.

"Hi Muskan, how are you? I can't believe I'm seeing you here. I also went to the reunion yesterday, hoping to meet you, but after going there I found out that you never come to reunions. You have no idea how happy-"

On the school grounds, in the dusk when the sun was slowly drowning in the horizon. At that time there was something else drowning. Little Jay and Muskaan's innocent young love.

"We have to stop seeing each other now. I want to break up with you."

A stunned Muskan stood there without saying anything. She didn't understand what had happened. In an instant, her beautiful dream was shattered in pieces. Her first love left her. He made decisions for their relationship, all alone. The 18-year-old girl stood there for hours without any movement until she got a call.

The wound which she had received ten years ago, her injury must have become old but it had yet not healed. And with Jay appearing like this, it turned raw again. The Muskan with which Jai had come to meet, remained at the same place on that day. So the girl that is here is someone else.

Present

"You are mistaking me for someone else. I am not who you are thinking. If you have nothing to talk about work-related, then please excuse me. Because of your sudden arrival like this uninvited, I had to leave some of my work unfinished.”

Saying this she left the room. Shocked, Jai was left behind. He was not surprised because Muskan had left without talking to him, but the Muskan who smelled like a blooming flower in the morning, why was she so quiet?

Seeing the room getting empty, Ted went inside. "Is she her?" He asked his boss with expectations filled in his eyes.

"Yeah." He answered Ted's question in a low, deep voice.

After finishing their work, both of them left after informing them that they will talk with the full team together next time.

“Maam? What happened inside? Do you already know each other?” Curious, Riya bombarded Muskan with her questions as soon as their guests left. But was rejected by her senior as she was not looking in the mood of gossip. Muskan also left after some time, back to her home.

Jay Pov

Today was a very different day. It is as if it brought me a basket full of happiness but with many questions in it. Muskan was like that because of me, wasn't it? I don't know why her nonchalance is pricking me so much. Whom should I ask about this?

That’s when a name came to my mind.

“Kareena”

She would be the best person to tell me about my Muskan. About what happened in these past 10 years.

“Don’t even think about it? Don’t think about contacting her best friend. She won’t answer you. Don’t you remember meeting her yesterday?”

Either this kid is a psychic or he knows me very well. How did Ted come to know what I’m thinking?

While thinking about stuff that happened Jay got a message from Urvi asking for a casual meetup, randomly.

Why did Muskan react that way? Was she hurt? Or she had moved on from her past? Will Kareena resolve Jay’s questions? Why did Urvi call for a meetup?