Chapter 6 - "What are the odds!"

A/N - Hello readers!

The last chapter provided a glimpse into Aryan's and Imlie's past a little more. They're both broken, dealing with life's dukh, dard, peeda (I totally stole this term). They will find each other, its just a matter of time. We ended the last chapter with Aryan getting ready to acquire Bhaskar Times.

Read on to see how they meet again!

Enjoy!

Love,

AA

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The conference room at Bhaskar Times was buzzing this morning. The front of the room had been set up with a head table and a podium, and the office peons were running around arranging chairs for a supposed audience. A sound team was testing mics and speakers at the head table and the catering staff was arranging bottles of water and refreshments on the side of the room.

Imlie stepped into the office and made her way to the area where interns desks were arranged side to side, quietly watching the organized chaos around her.

Reaching her desk, she settled her bag next to her computer monitor, and turned to one other intern, Aarohi, who had joined BT with her and liked to come into the office early like her.

“What is going on, do you know?”, Imlie asked.

“This?” Aarohi cocked her head towards the conference room, and continued, “I heard someone say there’s been some changes in management at BT. Think they’re going to make an announcement today.”

At her comment, Imlie turned her gaze towards the office door of the President of BT, Mr. Sharma. The door was closed.

Wondering if he was affected by the said management changes, she spun back to her desk, getting ready to start work. She knew Bhaskar Times had been going through a tough time, with readership of their flagship newspaper dwindling.

There was a time when BT was considered one of the biggest newspapers in the country. But in more recent years, with digital and social media taking over, BT hadn’t done a great job at catching up with the changing trends and other media houses had left them behind. There had been talk of major changes at the topmost leadership, even rumors of a buyout, for some time now.

As an intern, all Imlie hoped for was that all the changes in the company still gave her the opportunity to learn and build a name for herself in the world of journalism.

As she mused over the repercussions for herself, Imlie heard Mr. Sharma’s office door open behind her and turned around.

By the time she looked, she saw a tall figure walking outside the office with his back to her. Although she didn’t see his face, she could tell he wasn’t someone she had seen around here before. He was sharply dressed and towered over most people around him. Mr. Sharma followed in his stead, balancing a flurry of paperwork in his hand, his usual confident demeanor lost.

A few minutes later, everyone was asked to assemble in the conference room.

Here we go, Imlie thought.

Following the rest of the staff into the conference room, Aarohi and Imlie decided to take a seat in one of the back rows as a silent show of respect to more experienced staff.

The air in the room exuded anxious excitement. A loud murmur rumbled through the chamber as everyone chattered about the impending announcement, making speculations.

Imlie settled into her seat and leaned back, looking at her hands folded in her lap.

Suddenly, the room fell quiet. Imlie looked up to see what caused the rumble to die down and saw that the current senior management had started settling on the head table, Mr. Sharma taking the podium. He looked tired.

“Good morning, everyone”, Mr. Sharma stated into the mic. “We are assembled here today to make an important announcement. As some of you might have heard, we are making some changes at Bhaskar Times.”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed at Mr. Sharma, expressions varying from anxious to worried.

Mr. Sharma continued, “In the recent past, we have seen some challenges in staying ahead of the rapidly evolving journalism industry. To give us a leading edge over our competitors, we have decided to accept the acquisition offer from the Rathore Group of Industries. We are confident that this acquisition with help Bhaskar Times build back its reputation and help us tackle the nuances of the developing market.”

Imlie looked around the room and saw some heads nodding, uncomfortable shifting in other cases.

“I am sure you will have several questions. I want to give the new management a chance to answer them directly. Without further ado, please welcome the new CEO of Bhaskar Times, Mr. Aryan Singh Rathore”, Sharma declared into the mic and looked to his left towards the entrance, his hand held out in welcome.

Imlie’s ears perked up upon hearing the name, and her head snapped in the direction of the entrance.

She held her breath as her face lost all color watching the man who had haunted her dreams for the past few days amble into the room, his walk graceful, effortless.

Hey Sita Maiyya! What are the odds!

Her gaze followed Aryan as he climbed up the podium and looked at the audience. Aryan looked around the room with an air of natural confidence. Nervous anticipation flooded over Imlie.

Aryan cleared his throat and addressed the room, “Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Mr. Sharma, for the kind introduction. I am Aryan Singh Rathore, your new CEO.”

Imlie closed her eyes momentarily and slid lower into her seat, not ready for him to discover her yet. She needed some time to process this strange twist of fate before another encounter with the man who had the ability to mess with her senses with his mere presence and proximity.

This can’t be happening! What am I going to do?

After his speech went on for a few minutes and his deep voice washed over her like warmth, she opened her eyes and dared to look at him again.

Dressed in a dark grey suit with a crisp white shirt peeking from under his waist coat, he looked every bit the daunting tycoon he was. His tone was no-nonsense and business-like, yet it affected her at a deeper level.

Just how it had in Shimla.

The circumstances in which they’d met were unusual, and at the time it had felt right to leave his house unannounced with the money left on the table. She would never see him again, after all. Never in her wildest of dreams had she imagined that the same man would be standing in front of her as her new boss just a few days later.

No, no, no…this was not good.

He had already thrown her off after the first meeting, frequenting her thoughts after she came back from Shimla. She tried and failed at keeping the memories of his gaze, his voice, and his touch out of her mind. That was scary enough. Now he’d be around the whole time!

Imlie chewed on her lower lip nervously.

Once he saw her, he’d likely recognize her. What would she say to him? How would she explain leaving without saying anything?

She attempted to take a deep breath, but it came out in shallow intervals. Trying to calm her nerves, she pondered.

He’d most likely not even recognize her. He was much too important and she much less significant for him to spare her a thought after she left his villa in Shimla. If at all, she was just a squatter for him.

It’ll be okay, Imlie. You just need to keep your head low and focus on your work.

After what felt like several minutes, Aryan completed his note and the audience erupted into applause, bringing Imlie back from her stupor.

The staff sitting in the audience started shuffling out of the conference room to get back to their desks, some of them helping themselves to the refreshments. Imlie stood up, assured that she’d be hidden well in the crowd.

Following the slow-moving group, she turned and looked at Aryan again. He was busy talking to the management members at the head table.

Just as she was about to turn back in the direction of the exit, as if Aryan sensed her gaze and lifted his head, looking directly at her. Their eyes met, and Imlie froze.

Aryan frowned, forgetting what he was saying to Mr. Sharma. He’d felt an inexplicable need to look in the direction of the departing crowd, and he was left stumped.

Before he could make sense, someone behind the two eyes staring back at him gave her a nudge, and she hurried out of the room.

Was that…?

No. It can’t be.

Why not, though?

He hadn’t asked her where she was from or what she did.

That had to be Imlie Narayan. He could not mistake those eyes. Those were the most beautiful pair of eyes he’d ever seen. Eyes that held so much pain and yet, promise. The three dots on the chin. Yes, it was definitely her!

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Aryan pushed the door into the office that used to be Mr. Sharma’s but will be renovated to be occupied by him. Bhaskar Times was a distress acquisition. The company was in trouble. He’d have to spend a lot more time here over his other businesses, at least until things stabilized.

He’d have to ask Arvind Jiju to keep an eye on all other operations in the meanwhile.

He needed to start with reviewing the company accounts and marketing strategy. Mr. Sharma followed into the office with the documents he’d asked for as he settled into the chair behind the desk.

They were going to review the documents together, but first things first. Aryan had to confirm what he saw, but he wasn’t sure how to ask. Would it sound suspicious if he just asked about her? How would he explain knowing her?

You are the bloody CEO of this company now! Since when did you start worrying about what anyone thought?

Resolute, he turned to Sharma and asked, “Mr. Sharma, is there an Imlie Narayan employed here?”

“She’s one of our interns who started last week, Sir. Bright kid”.

Yes! It was her.

“Do you know her, Sir?”

“No”, Aryan blurted hurriedly, then regretted immediately, realizing how stupid that must sound about someone he just inquired about using her very name.

“Ummm, I mean I don’t know her directly. An acquaintance mentioned she might work here”, Aryan lied. “Anyway, are those the documents I asked for?”, he dismissed the topic, holding his hand out for the file in Sharma’s hand.

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Dear Lord! He saw me.

Stupid Imlie. Stupid, stupid Imlie!

What were you doing looking in his direction?! There was a look of recognition on his face. He’d recognized me. Oh my God, he’s going to fire me!

Imlie hyperventilated sitting at her desk. Shaking her leg nervously, she bit her nails. What am I going to do now?

God Imlie, you need to calm down. She knew she was assuming the worst.

He didn’t seem like an unreasonable man. He had let her stay the night after realizing she was innocent, had he not? He would not terminate her employment because of an unrelated incident. Or so she hoped.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed out of her chair and headed to the office pantry.

She’d need a strong cup of coffee to get her going today.

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