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Chapter One : The shinnings from past.
"The most inefficient and self-harming thing a person can do is go out looking for love. Let it find you when the time is right and you're out doing what you love to do. Only then will you find it in its truest form."
-A.J. Darkholme, Rise of the Morningstar
She had been listening on to the unnecessary rambling of her boss for almost an hour and a half. It made her head pound miserably, the man was a great mentor no doubt but he was not good at making decisions. She'd been working under him for two years now and she knew him to his bone.
"Mr. Sethi!, Sir, I know you mean well but I'm telling you I do not need a partner at the 'Symphony' project. I can handle it alone." She tried convincing him.
"I know Ms. Trivedi that you can, I was willing to but with your family issues it will get very stressful for you. Your grandmother isn't well, your father needs you from time to time for his help. I've never seen it as a hurdle but this time I don't want you stressing out. You are handling the 'Gypsy' project next. I want you to be fine." Anand Sethi treated his employees like family and yet this women felt different to him, she had the greatest potential but chaining family issues.
"Anand Sir I am fine and will be. I know things are not going according to me, my parents are not doing well with their life but I can manage it." She implored.
"Anika, my child understand this, you're good with your work, but I need your ferociousness somewhere else. I've assigned a Co-head of the project. He'll be joining us all today evening at my house for a success dinner for the last project. You're invited." he beamed at her fuming face and gave an assuring nod.
This irked her very much. Anika Trivedi was never the topper or the studios one in school but she did well in her college cleared the best placement and she'd been working in it since three years now. There had been various set backs in life for her, from a mismatched family to cunning friends and yet the most disturbing of all was 'him'.
There's always a deep connection a heart feels towards it's first love interest and Anika felt it too, but she never came out from the heartbreak. He kept disposing her off even after having the same friend circle, he always have and he always will she'd accepted it, but at the cost of her trust in men as a better half.
The night had loomed over the sky in a prevailing darkness, a storm had been in the forecast today. She had called a cab a few minutes early than expected and had reached the venue quite comfortably. She had met a few colleagues, exchanged pleasantries and had a drink. She was on her second glass of wine when her boss made an entrance in the hall. She turned around and waited for him to reach out to her, after a minute or two she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Anika! You look absolutely gorgeous. Blue suits you." Sethi appreciated her.
"Thank you, Sir. I guess no..." She turned herself into another direction only to meet with a face she'd memorised ever so effortlessly. He stood there in front of her looking handsome than ever and her heart skipped a beat. Her breathing stopped for just a microsecond and then she was out of the trance.
"Anika I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Oberoi, your partner for Symphony." he introduced the man to the lady who looked stunned a moment ago.
"Hello An.. Ms. Trivedi. It's nice to see you again." Shivaay stammered helplessly.
"You two know each other? That's great and to think of it you didn't want anyone to work with Anika. How do you know one another?"
"We were classmates in high school Sir. Hello Mr. Oberoi." She explained.
"Well I guess the project will be a thorough success. Enjoy the party you two." and Anand Sethi left the two individuals alone for good.
She glanced above and smiled at him in a courteous way to which he nodded. Not having much to talk and lacking the will for it the two parted ways. Soon enough the function ended and everyone departed to their houses. Anika took a cab and reached her apartment at sharp 9, after a quick checking up on her parents she sat down and called the one person who provided solace to her uneasy nerves.
"Hello Love, What is up with you? Excellent dress Ani." he rambled on.
"Om I'm not in the mood for your rambling." She rebuffed him gently.
"What's wrong Bache?! You're fine right?" her best friend asked her in absolute fear.
"I.. I'm fine. I've been assigned a new project, Symphony, it will construct a huge revenue for the company but I've been assigned to work with a partner." She told him.
"And you want to do it alone. Come on Bache just stop thinking too much, she or he will be a newbie get your work done, stupid girl." Om chided.
"Om.. The person assigned to me is Shivaay." and she waited for the long coaching session that was on it's way.
"What the.. Seriously? You have an alien to tame dude. It will be fine as long as you know, you remember the promises you made, to yourself." Om tried to calm her down.
"I thought you'd lecture me." she said smiling.
"I think you'll be fine." and just like that the two talked into the hours of night.
_o_o_
The day came into existence with everything but calmness. The lass was extremely nervous, partly hopeful and slightly sad. The entering of Shivaay in her life had bought all the dead nerves alive once again. The man awoke the deepest emotions in her, no one gets under her skin like he does and that is what she feared. Loosing to him was not another thing she wanted from her destiny.
She grabbed the cup of coffee before entering her cabin and threw the glass door open only to be shocked to her wits. He stood there gazing at her photograph shelf, a frame in his hand that depicted one of the happiest days from her life. The day every one in the group went out, he went too, but just cropped off the picture.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in a higher tone.
"Um.. N-Nothing I came to say... It's nice meeting you, I'm glad I'm working with a friend and.." he was startled but managed to get his composure.
"I'm sorry Shivaay but I would really appreciate that you don't mention it to anyone that we are acquaintances from before, it really gets on the gossip trails." she replied firmly with a smile. A smile that screamed strict professionalism.
He left her cabin immediately after what she'd said to him in a fit of awkwardness. The thought had never left him since yesterday night, just how changed she was, so much mature, totally opposite of the shy teenager when he had last seen her,but he couldn't get over the pride that settled on her face and didn't drop even for a minute.
He felt that she was nothing like the girl she used to be, Anika Trivedi was a complex specimen of a woman he'd never denied that but some thing that he cannot place his finger on has changed. He knew she genuinely liked him back then but before it went any further he'd made himself very clear.
"Ah Shivaay! My newest recruit. How's the day going for you?" Mr sethi asked entering his room which was in front of Anika's.
"Yeah definitely sir, a little dull though that's it. I wanted to talk to you about the designs and how should I go about them."
"Oh, I have absolutely no idea Shivaay, You need to talk to Anika to get through. Did you.. Ahh! I see.. Wait up... Kumar send Anika here." Sethi buzzed the intercom.
"Did you call for me, Sir?!" she entered after a curt nod and not once glanced at the person sitting on the opposite side of her boss.
"Yes Anika, I am afraid I can't seem to see any progress with the project. I told you, you're together on this one."
"Yes sir I remember correctly, but I can't come up with something good to discuss with Mr. Oberoi. I am working on it, it'll be ready in two hours." she replied.
"Anika, you two work here or in your cabin, draw your plans together and then after mixing them up create a new one. I can't see why is it such an issue with both of you. Do it Anika." He got up and went away, while anika constantly looked at the floor.
"My cabin, in half an hour. Get your designs." after saying this she left too,while he sat there sitting on his revolving chair trying to decipher what's wrong with his old acquaintance.
They worked for about two hours straight, without any unwanted chatting and whenever he tried asking for coffee she'd refused politely which felt very rude to him. After an another hour passed they were done for the day and absolutely exhausted. Anika sat in her chair and tied her disheveled hair in a messy bun and took an uneven breath.
"Anika.. Do you want to go for dinner? Or maybe just... Get together to either one of our places to finish the blueprint by the day after?... I mean.. We already wasted hours.. And" Shivaay kept rambling on while Anika listened to it giving an uninterested look.
"Shivaay we didn't waste the time, the deadline is after three days we're with the time,plus I'm really tired I'd like to just rest for the night. Thanks for asking." She replied and got up instantly packed up her things and left with her scooty keys.
_0_0_
"Hey Mumma!? How are you.." She asked her mom.
"I'm fine Bacha, how was your day? Did you eat anything?" her mother always fretted over her as she was an only child.
"Yes I made rice and Dal, did you and Papa eat?" she asked.
"Beta Papa is busy with your grandmother, so we've not eaten yet. It's fine though." and so the duo talked for half an hour and then with a cup of coffee Anika sat on the sofa in her living room chatting with a few friends, when she got a text from an unknown number on WhatsApp.
'Hey Anika,
This is Shivaay, I thought it was necessary to have each other's numbers. Save it.'
She sighed deeply visibly irritated and texted a simple Okay in order to just stop his nagging messages.
Days flew by and to Shivaay's dismay Anika always remained strictly professional with him, which irked him. His own behaviour had started to get confusing, he waited for her to talk to him, asked for coffee now and then to which she had declined. The other night they were staying late for work and she bluntly refused for a flask of water that he had bought for her even though she was clearly thirsty.
"Hello? Om.. Shivaay here." finally he had called his old friend.
"Hey hello man, how's work going?"
"Om I've landed up in the company where Anika works. We're Co-heads on the same project."
"Yeah I came to know, nice, it must be weird after so many years working together."
"I don't know Om, she's become different. Never talks to me, it's all strictly professional. I mean people in the office barely know we were friends back then."
"Don't mind Shivaay, but it's all okay, it's not like you guys were inseparable or something. She liked you and you kinda disposed her off at almost every aspect. Be it love or friendship. Yes she's changed, but she's so strong and independent. Let her be my friend." saying so Om kept the phone down and called Anika to tell what had just happened. To which she calmly replied 'why have I fallen for such a jerk?'
Mr. Sethi had organised a small party in his house to introduce the investors to his key employees. Anika had gone through a bit of extra burden in order to look presentable, a pretty teal green Saree with a black blouse was destined to work. Shivaay had worn a black coloured suit with a dark green shirt within.
"Wow.. Something looks too gorgeous to look at." Ravi a fellow employee working with Anika came to her with a drink which she took politely.
"Don't bother Ravi, if Neelima isn't here doesn't mean you can flirt with me." she laughed and chatted with her friend feeling lightheaded after such long time. It didn't go unnoticed though. Shivaay boiled up seeing the comfort level she was displaying towards another person.
As the days went by Shivaay's irritation knew no bounds, with Anika being such a snob about anything he suggested other than the project and clearly not defying him which she used to do a lot has made an impact on him. Mr Sethi has planned to send his two Co-heads to Mumbai to have a meeting with the investors and show them their designs. The duo had agreed and off they had left the premises.
The moment Anika met him at the airport his heart skipped a beat just to see how freaking gorgeous she looked in a pair of simple salwar kameez. They've been given seats beside each other and Anika had sat on the window seat with her diary in her hand. As the plane took off she gazed at Shivaay to see him sweating profusely to which she laughed making him relaxed.
They reached their destination in two hours time and checked in the hotel. Rest was on both their minds, after a few hours sleep Anika texted Shivaay to be ready for the meeting as the investors have invited them for dinner. Anika opted for a black bodycon dress with halter neck and Shivaay jeans and t-shirt with a black blazer.
"I hope you liked the designs Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. I apologise for any mistakes if you feel anything needs even a slightest change do tell us." She talked in a manner that screamed posh.
"Yes David, I know you might think the designs are a bit rushed because they're done in a hurry. But I guess you are fine." Shivaay spoke in between.
"They're done in a hurry are they?.. Well Mr Oberoi I did not have the idea that you rushed my project work. I thought I was very clear Ms. Trivedi that time doesn't matter, I want the best for Symphony." Shivaay had professed the company's vulnerability in front of an investor trying to be all macho in front of Anika and he had legitimately screwed up.
" I'm sorry Mr Robinson I think what my colleague said was just an expression, we did work day and night on this I guess that's why he feels it was rushed. I assure you we're doing the best designs you can get." She tried holding the fort.
"Hmph! Okay Anika! But no more hurry. My husband wouldn't like any mistakes." and the rest of the dinner went in complete silence with the Robinson couple showing some affection to each other and the other two individuals throwing murderous glances at one another.
After the greetings were exchanged the couple departed. Anika gave an angry look to the person standing next to her and moved her head side to side in absolute displeasure. Her this reaction angered Shivaay to the core, she muttered a 'You have to ruin everything' under her breath and tried stomping off but the man beside has heard her. He prevented her from walking any further and pulled her harshly towards himself.
"What the heck is your problem?! Why are you being such a snob?" he yelled at her.
"Me?! ME?! I'm being a snob? What do you think of yourself you stupid idiot. You nearly cost the company a fortune because of your need to be better than people" she looked in her eyes and shouted at him.
"Are you even serious?! How can you be so sure? I wanted the client to know that we're completely honest!" he replied back.
"Wow really?! Are you like dealing for the first time? If you have no idea about the client you let the other one who does deal with him. Why the f**k did you want to freaking intervene.. I swear if the deal.."
But before she can finish that sentence she was silenced by his hard ferocious lips on her soft dark painted ones. He ravished her lips thoroughly with a shuddering expertise, while she was shook to her bone but kissed him back ultimately.
The man had done something extremely stupid in the heat of the moment.
He'd reopened the wounds of a silly little Swan who loved him to the moon in back.
Never once thinking of the consequences he's enduring upon himself.
