Eeshani, without realizing it, went on crying, her voice shaking like a fractured ditty. But presently, there was the sharp, cold voice behind her:

You can go cry somewhere else. Curse not my hotel with thy bad omen.

She was frozen in her voice. Her tears stopped instantly. She slowly turned around and bowed her head.

Vikrant was staring at her with his cold eyes.

Eeshani appeared to be a frightened child before him. Her dress was a light pink, floral, full-length dress. Her eyes were still wet with tears, and her cheeks and nose were very red with them—but this, of course, only made her prettier.

She was only twenty, but the appearance was that of a cupidate, innocent girl.

Once Vikrant looked her up and down, in a cold and commanding voice. "What are you doing here? Did you not want to be on leave today?

Startled, Eeshani hesitated. She raised her head and looked at him with his threatening expression. The tears that had filled her eyes but half an hour ago appeared to evaporate in terror.

"Answer me!" Vikrant barked suddenly. "What are you doing here?"

The scream shook her whole body. She stammered in an attempt to compose words. Something important to me was lost... S-sir... I just came here to look for it."

Vikrant scowled and pulled his eyes. He put both hands in his pockets and gazed at her downward eyelids. His tone was cold. You are certain something of yours was stolen here?

Eeshani nodded quickly.

Vikrant sat up on a nearby chair, stuck a cigarette in his mouth, and lay back slowly smoking before inquiring, "What important thing went missing?"

Scared Eeshani stuttered and said, M-my phone... my phone is lost.

Dangerously dark was the face of Vikrant at the word phone. His eyes widened, though he soon steadied himself, shaking his head.

Then he shouted in disgust, "You cuckoo! You are here in the middle of the night to have a phone? Never heard of your parents teaching anything, did they? Girls should not be roaming around at this time of day. Don't you feel afraid?"

The very reference of her parents caused Eeshani to fill up once again, and she burst into tears.

At the sight of her weeping, Vikrant wept a little—but was at a loss why she should weep. But her sobs were irritating him.

"Quiet!" he shouted. Another word and I will fling you off this building!

To terrify her, Eeshani instantly stopped and could barely snort.

Vikrant looked up at her in a furious voice and said, Are you not ashamed of yourself? Making a fool of herself crying about a dumb phone?

Eeshani stood gazing at him with open, confused eyes, and her face was unreadable, as though she did not comprehend his meaning.

It was bitter in her mind that she thought, Do I appear in your life like a small child crying because of a mislaid telephone? What does he think of me? Or perhaps he is becoming old and fantasizing. Here a girl is weeping her eyes out, and he believes it is about a telephone? Unbelievable. I came to soothe my sore, and seeing him, my sore has just increased.