In the Evening...
In the car...
Reyansh comes down to his car to head to dinner. As he gets inside, he finds Swayum in the car. But he doesn't seem surprise by his presence, in fact, Reyansh asks him for something that maybe he asked him to bring, "Did you bring it?" Swayum brings a pen out of pocket and hands it to him. "This work well, right?" Reyansh confirms. "Can it even record from inside my pocket," he asks as he tucks in his jacket's chest pocket. "I use it when I treat a lot of patients," Swayum tells him confirming that it works. "Ok!" Reyansh says happily as he fixes his suit.
"But I'm asking you, why? Why are you borrowing a recorder all of a sudden?" Swayum voice his question. Reyansh gives him a knowing look. "You told me to heal myself," Reyansh says as if that answers his question. Before Swayum can counter back, Reyansh almost pushes him out by saying that he is getting late and needs to leave. After Swayum leaves, Reyansh press the record button and says, "You just wait, Ria Kapoor." A dangerous glint lighting his eyes.
On the streets...
Taani is walking aimlessly on the streets with no fix destination to head to. "Just when you think that things can't get any worse, they do. I have learned that in the last ten hours," Taani talked to herself as she walked pulling her jacket closer to avoid the cold wind. "So I don't know have the energy to rerun the things word to word so here's a short summary," she starts.
Last ten hours...
So I met my Boss today. Apparently she is only school "friend", Ria Kapoor. Yay, me! Note my sarcasm. Anyway, she meets and greets me like we were best friends in high school instead of hated foes, with a fake sweetness and mild condescension. Though in the morning, I actually thought she really meant it or maybe I just wanted that she meant. Sigh. Regardless. I told her I am planning to resign for the diamond lost warranty so she won't have to worry about the awkwardness of one of her former classmates now having to call her Madam. But she "kindly" informed me, that quitting in such a small industry would leave me with a bad reputation in the future.
Keeping her "advice" in the back of my mind, I went to meet Simmi Khanna. She correctly guessed that I want to resign. How on earth is she so good in reading people!? Or am I just transparent?! Hmm. Anyhow, Simmi tells me that many aspiring designers (like ME!) are put down for their poor backgrounds and lack of rarefied taste and the first instinct is to quit. Then she went for a punch in my guts! Leaving me breathless. She told me if I don't have born requirements to succeed here, at least I ought to have the guts to tough it out and not quit. Then before I can hand in my resignation, she leaves. Great! That went...well!!
Done with all this and in need to talk with a real friend, I went to meet Aditi. I shared the news that Ria is the President's wife. Aditi is stunned that "Kapoor Cheater" has done so well for herself, since her reputation way back when was just a man-stealer. Kapoor Cheater was a nickname that Aditi and me gave her because of her actions. Aditi vows to dig up dirt on Ria. Though she is thrill with this new job, I'm really indifferent. Really! I have to much on my plate to bother about others.
Just then I get a text with a long lists of things to get. Wonderful! Another errand. Because of no way out of this plus I would at least would have something to do, I leave to get the things while leaving Aditi on this new mission. This time when I delivers the packages, Ria allows me inside to show off her grand digs. Really, knowing that it is her house, I was not interest but I did. Arghh... I shouldn't have. Now that I have decided to keep this job, I told Ria that I will treat Ria not as a former classmate but respectfully as the President's wife. Though she pretended that she's not asking for such airs but she clearly was enjoying this. I had no other option but to this right now so tolerated her.
Aditi calls me out to reveal the dirt on Yoon Joo. Ok, so I have to agree. Now, I'm even interested! What is better to know some dirt on your high school enemy who also happens to be your Boss at the present time and still the same, pretty much. So Aditi uncovers that when she lived in France, her name was Ria Malik. She unofficially married a man there (having their own ceremony in a church but not filling papers) and took his last name. There is even a picture of Ria in a white wedding dress in a church, Aditi showed me. Aditi says Ria must've dumped that poor sap when a better chance came alone with the President of GN Fashion. [Hint: Reyansh's previous surname was Malik😉]
Aditi adds that Shivam had not reported to work that day, which made me worried over his whereabouts. He still does not pick up my calls, so I rush to the Alovera store to see if the refund can be issued more quickly. He has to be avoiding me because of the bills that he still needs to pay! He has to! I went to return the Alovera purse my boyfriend Shivam gave me as a "breakup present".
The saleslady at Artemis apologizes to me, but frankly states that they may not be able to refund at all. There is a defective stitching in the bag that would have rendered it unsaleable. She told me that however way I got it, the bag is actually not meant to be sold by the brand. But I was sure that my bag is not a counterfeit, or illegally distributed, but I really hope that the saleslady can give her the refund soon. I mean it can't be counterfeit?! Right? Shivam? No, no. It can't be. I just wanted the return that I didn't even get.
As I was leaving the store, I got called by Chairman's secretary. He told me that me that the company suspects Shivam kept irregular purses to sell on the side. In panic, I go Shivam's apartment but he is not home! There I see only piles and piles of bills and collection notices stuffed in his mailbox. It broke my heart even more. When Aditi found out about this, she even advised me to stay away from him but how can I? He is my boyfriend!!! I can't just leave him! I care about him! I wanted to yell that so I did what I wanted to left to look for Shivam but just then I got a text to do another errand for Ria! Arghh!! God, doesn't she have anybody else to run errands??? No, because she have you! That is your job! Taani thought to herself sarcastically.
I make another parcel delivery to Ria's house as she prepares for the dinner party for the new Alovera President. This time she tells me to put the bags in her closets. As I enter, I see it it filled with designer goods.
Realizing just how unattainable my dreams might be, and I decide to take my leave. As I'm about to get on the elevator, she bumps into Prithvi, who's returning home. Prithvi recognizes me and kindly asks me to take care of him and his wife. He also admired my motto - "L'effort est ma force." I was confused as to how he would know my motto if he wasn't at the interview. He reveals that he watches videos of all the interviews with his wife. With his wife?! So that means Ria knew I had interviewed for the company! That means I was accepted because Ria had pulled some strings!
At that moment, Ria comes out to the foyer to see what was taking her husband so long to enter the house. She sees me glaring at her, and glares right back. Prithvi takes his leave, and Ria confronts me! So, did she hear the truth? She actually had the guts to come out and ask me that!!
But I had enough for a day, my quota for a day was over. I just wanted to get under my cover and forget all this ever happened. I feign ignorance and says that she'll just be taking her leave. She scornfully says that my reaction to all this is no fun; perhaps because I am currently in a lower status can't really do much against Ria? i just smile at her. Does Ria think she just won? Because in my book, Ria is not a winner.
I never thought highly of her but now never especially when she isn't ashamed and says that she got to this place by her hard work and effort (in landing a rich man). Ouch, that hurts! Then she says that there is nothing for me to look down on her for. Now that hurts a lot! I might even get a bruise. Then she went for the last blow. She pits on my face that in fact, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't even have gotten this chance.
I couldn't say anything to that so I left from there. I went back to Shivam's apartment and this time I sat down on his porch. I remember all the happy times that we spent together. I remember how once we were both working as mascots, which was tiring and backbreaking work. Afterwards Shivam had promised me that he'll not let me work so hard and give her a more comfortable life.
Just then I get a call on her phone and the other person doesn't say anything. But I knew it was Shivam and I told him that I missed him, calling him an idiot. He starts crying and hearing him cry I start to cry also. Soon, we are both sobbing into the phone. Before I can say anything else, he hangs up so I run to his work place to find him.
While I was talking to this lady, who works there, if Shivam is back at work and begged to give him a chance to explain. Just then that secretary of the Chairman of Alovera comes and asks me if Shivam is my boyfriend and how long we've been dating? I told him 6 years. Then he reveals that Shivam is deep in debt and has a terrible credit rating. Then he advice me! What is with everyone advising me today! Huh! He tells me to cut her losses now and dump him. Then he makes a big claim how all women would do this in her situation, and that HE knows this because he's an EXPERT in female psychology. Seriously! I mean this is not even funny or I have just lost all my sense of humor.
So I had to do, what I had to do. I had to give him a piece of my mind and that is exactly what I did. I announces confidently that Shivam didn't steal those irregular bags and he'll be back to explain. And I DEFINITELY didn't need him lecturing me like a know-it-all, when he's simply the secretary of the President! Jez, what does he think of himself? Stop acting like the Chairman! I spat the words that it's clear that he has never been in love before, so he knows nothing! With that note, I swans out leaving him sputtering that he has been in love(she didn't hear that).
Flashback Ends...
Ria's Flat...
President Khanna, Ria, and Simmi line up to welcome Reyansh Singhania. The elevator door opens and Reyansh steps out with his trademark smirk. All the color disappears from Ria's face and her mouth drops open.
Instead of hosting the dinner in triumph, it becomes a reserved affair for Ria. Simmi does all the work for instance, complimenting Reyansh, "Rumor has it that you came up with all the recent marketing strategies Alovera used in Korea." Reyansh smiles and says, "Due to my personal experience," he looks up at Ria as she looks up at him and looks away. He continues, "I gave deep thoughts to the Korean psyche and they were the results. It just seems like they just want more and more," he explains. Advantage Reyansh.
Simmi notices that Reyansh keeps talking to Ria, but that she doesn't respond satisfactorily as the wife of Prithvi, thus increasing her disappointment in her sister-in-law. Prithvi is curious as to what "experience" Reyansh had that was significant enough to make him come with the "higher prices" marketing strategy. "Well, about that, if we have time in the future..." Reyansh replies while watching Ria from the corner of his eyes.
In the wine cellar...
When Ria comes down to the wine cellar to grab a bottle of wine, Reyansh follows. Ria points out that he's as petty as before, and tells him to not let her lose all she has now. Reyansh just gave his trademark smirk. Countering-back, he points out she's as selfish as before, and assures her that he's not her to let the cat out of the bag. He's just here to return something to her, he tells her with a with a meaningful smile.
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