IT'S SHOWTIME !!!

"What were you up to? Hope I didn't disturb you?", Shawn asked.

"Umm... nothing important", she replied with a calm demeanor trying to pull herself back from the figments of old memories.

"Actually sorry to bug you this late, but I guess I misplaced one record of my patient in the papers that I gave you. Can you please help to check the file if that's ok?", he asked.

"Oh, but actually I have already given the file to Raymond. I can ask him to take a picture of the record and send it to me. Will a picture work?", Katherine asked.

"Yeah that would be ok", he replied.

"Are you still at the hospital?", Katherine asked.

"Yeah just finished my shift. I wanted to call you yesterday, but my shift got over pretty late and I didn't want to disturb you that late so called you today", Shawn replied.

"Since when do you have to think so much before calling me, Shawn? I was your 3 am friend. Remember?", Katherine retorted.

"You yourself have told the reason, Katherine. You were my 3 am friend but that was like years ago. Anyways good luck to you and your bother in your mission. Let me know if there is anything else that I can help you with".

Shawn's word sliced her heart into two but she was mature enough to handle her emotions.

"A couple of years don't change everything, Shawn. I am still the same", Katherine replied.

"Let's not get there Katherine. You and I both know that it will not end well", Shawn said and sighed.

Katherine had nothing to say. In front of others, she was always the one with a smart mouth with witty replies. But when it came to matters of her own, she would turn into a record that was never played.

Shawn sensed the silence and changed the topic,

"You had food?"

"I did. It's 11 pm, Shawn. what do you think?"

"Right Right, I was just so caught up with things. I don't have a clue of time and space"

"Don't sweat it, Shawn. I will send you the picture as soon as possible",

"Ok then, you can go back to doing whatever you were before I disturbed you. Bye Katherine".

She stared at the phone in silence for some time and then sent a text message to Raymond.

---

Vikram woke up all excited and enthusiastic.

It was the day for which he had been waiting for so long. Today was the first day of Akira in his office. He had always wanted to keep her close to himself, but her being the epitome of righteousness, he knew that she would never join in his company. So finally when it was happening today for real, he was very very excited.

The first thing that he did was to text Akira that he would be picking her up, even though it meant a one and a half hour detour for him.

He took out his new suit and a tie to go with it and placed it on his bed before going to take a bath. When he was choosing his shoes, he was surprised to see a new housekeeper enter his room to change the flowers.

"Where is Bella? Are you new?"

"Good Morning Sir !!! Bella had called in sick as she has jaundice. So she might take a month or so to recover. I will be filling in for her. I am Joey by the way".

"Umm.... ", Vikram just shrugged and went to the washroom.

The moment Joey saw him enter the washroom and heard the water run, she tiptoed towards the study corner and started flipping through all the files.

Then suddenly she found a file with Raymond's name on it and she immediately started taking the pictures and sent them to David as instructed. She took all the details of Scarlett present in the file. Then she tried to search for his chequebook to see if she could figure out anything from the used page imprint.

But as she was searching, she heard the sound of the water stop.

She immediately fled the room.

Vikram got all dressed up and double checked himself before stepping out. As he went down, he saw his parents having breakfast.

"Aren't you looking dapper today", Mrs. Shah commented.

"Oh C' mon mom I always look good. Get your eyes checked", Vikram said and picked up the car keys.

"Peter told me that Akira is joining in your office from today. Is that why you are so dressed up today?", Mr. Shah stated it casually and then looked at his son to see how he reacted.

"Can you guys just let it be?", Vikram said and left for Akira's place.

"I was just saying", Mr. Shah said and smiled

He and his wife continued eating their breakfast while Vikram zapped his car to Brooklyn as fast as he could.

---

Akira got ready and then logged in into her blog.

His good morning message was already there to bring a smile on her face as soon as the page opened.

"A new day a new beginning,

Be a knight in shining armor,

and let me hear the tales of your winning.

Gee that's the lamest way to say Good Morning !!!" @RodeoMaverick

Her heart was filled with warmth and joy to see his message. That was all that she wanted. Just one indication from him. Then she held the pendant in her hand and whispered,

"Can you hear me? Just text something if you can".

A couple of minutes later she found a reply popping up.

"Don't tell the poem was bad. Because I already know it is" @RodeoMaverick

Akira giggled and said,

"I am leaving for Abacus in 10 minutes".

She took a pause and then said,

"I am wearing a pantsuit today and it's so ill-fitted and ugly that I look like a misfit in hell".

She waited for him to say something in return as soon as possible because Vikram had already texted that he was about to reach,

"Now my crazy head feels a bit sorted. RELIEF it is". @RodeoMaverick

Akira giggled again and then logged out of her system and went outside the door to wait for Vikram to arrive.

"Someone is looking really nice today !!!", Akira said as Vikram got out of the car.

"And what happened to you? You are a graphic designer and not a paralegal for God's sake. What on earth are you wearing?", Vikram asked seeing her wrapped head to toe in that ugly pantsuit.

"Well, it's my business lady attire. I want people to take me seriously", Akira retorted back.

"Well in all seriousness Akira just ditch this and wear anything else that you can. Freaking pajamas will look even better", Vikram said slightly annoyed with her air headedness.

Raymond was having a good laugh hearing the conversation though.

Akira stomped on her feet and entered the car with her fists all clenched in anger.

Vikram pinched the space between his brows and then said,

"Fine!!! You win. I feel like you have been bitten by a rabid dog. You are acting so weird these days Akira", Vikram said and started the car.

"Well, then you are weirder. Great way to wish me luck on my first day", Akira said and turned her face towards the other side of the car and mumbled.

"All because of you".

"Excuse me?", Vikram asked.

"Nothing. It's the rabidness speaking", she said and waved her hand, dismissing his question.

"Fine, I quit. My bad. I just wanted you to make a good first impression on others in the office. That's why I insisted", Vikram said looking at her.

She turned towards him and realized that she had been acting all edgy. Even she didn't know what had gotten inside her.

"Raymond, what have you done? Will, I will ever be the same again?", she thought and sighed and then replied.

"It's just that I want people to know me for my work and not for what I wear to the office. And by the way why do I need to make an impression on others when I am friend's with their boss's boss's boss", she said and smiled looking towards him.

He looked at her all amused and then shook his head and said,

"You amaze me Akira".

"I know", she said and smiled back.

Meanwhile Raymond removed his headset and saw multiple message notifications from David.

He opened the messages and saw all the pictures which David had sent and his mouth opened in shock.

"How much low will you stoop Vikram?"

"IT'S SHOWTIME", Raymond said and clenched his fist with resolve.