Chapter - 1
First Thoughts and Forgotten Memories
"I hope things are going on smoothly as I want them to, Mark." her voice echoed through the corridor, as she walked along the glass walls, her reflection shimmering as the sun rays reflected on the glass.
"Yes ma'am. Everything is getting along smoothly, as you wished ma'am." said Mark, her personal assistant.
"It better be... else, you know the consequences too. Right darling?" the threat in her voice was clearly visible.
Mark nodded tension clearly visible in his eyes. True, her voice did sound cheerful and teasing, but below that bell-chime voice was a hidden threat which went along very well with her words.
"You what Mark? You really are very sweet for words. But, I can guess what you are up to and don't even think about it." she said, as she turned to face him, her eyes hard and red with anger.
"Maybe not now Miss. Shekhawat. I know that you are quite busy with the partnership business. So, I guess I'll have you another day." he said, his travelling from her head to foot, as if undressing her with his glance.
"You wish, Mark Steve! Now run along and look after the preparations for tomorrow's meeting." she said before she left, leaving a smirking Mark behind.
"Miss. Shekhawat! You think you are irresistible huh? Just wait and watch. You'll soon know the only mistake of being born beautiful." he said, before he left.
~*~
"Tomorrow is day bro and I can't believe that you are still not ready!" Sharon shouted impatiently from across the room, to her brother who was busy with the laptop.
"Sharon! Tomorrow is not just any party day, but it's a party that is hosted for the merging of the Singhania and Shekhawat Industries! So, as the Managing Director of Singhania Industries, I have to focus on the contract more than the party. So, just buzz off." he shouted back to his troublesome sister, whose major motive in life was partying.
"Mr. Singhania! What is the use of hosting a party, when you'll not be looking good? Looks and presentation are the most important aspects of a party." she pouted from across the room.
"Sharon! I've got to finish this presentation for tomorrow. I don't want to mess up things at the last hour. Looks matter least to me now. Everybody loves my style. And you know the fact that girls literally die for me." he said as he smirked, momentarily annoying Sharon.
"Uff! You know what? Either you think too much about yourself or you don't bother about yourself at all. And as far as the presentation is concerned, I'm sure Taani would have taken care of it." said Sharon, casually, making Rey snap out of his work at the mention of her name.
"Who?" he asked bewildered, as he watched Sharon taking out a dozen suits from his wardrobe.
"Taani... she's the MD of your co-industry. Rishi uncle's daughter." said Sharon, preoccupied with the suits in front of her.
"Have you even seen her? You are talking as if you know her since years already?" he asked her, his focus completely diverted from the presentation.
"Of course I have! Do you have short-term memory loss or something bro? She was my childhood friend and your enemy! You both used to fight like tom and jerry." shouted Sharon indignantly from across the room.
"What? Enemy? Do I even know her?" he thought to himself as he picked up his laptop again, but he was not able to get his head into the presentation.
Somehow, his thoughts kept flying back to her. He was at a loss to understand how he could actually forget an enemy whom he knew all his childhood. He tried to get his attention back on the presentation with great difficulty, only to fail miserably. Enraged he shut the laptop and went out to the garden, his mind wandering down his memory lane recalling his childhood. Though he couldn't remember much, he recalled one voice, her's, which rang through his ears, "You lose, Singhania. I told you right? You are an eternal loser!" and he remembered how he used to hate that tone, that voice.
"How the hell did I forget?" he thought for the zillionth time as he thought about her.
"Whatever Rey... a big day tomorrow. Just don't mess your head up with anything else. Whoever she is, I'll find out tomorrow." he thought to himself.
"I'll be waiting for you Taani Shekhawat..." he said, as he walked back to his room, his thoughts fixed on her.
~*~
"How your day at the office today Tanz?" asked Swayam, as he opened the door for his sister, who seemed to half-asleep outside the door already.
"It was wonderfully hectic Peachy!" she exclaimed as she hugged him tiredly.
"Awww... you looked dead to your feet. Go to bed early now, because it's a big day tomorrow." he said, as he pushed her towards her room.
"But Peachy, I've got to finish my presentation for tomorrow!" she whined as was being pushed inside her room.
"Don't worry Tanz... I've already finished it for you! So now, go get some sleep." said Swayam, winking at her.
"Really! Thank you so much Peachy! You are the best!" she shouted at the top of her voice, forgetting for a moment that she was actually tired.
"Hey... don't knock me over. Go get some rest now. You are supposed to meet Reyaansh at exactly 9 o' clock tomorrow." he said as he led her to the room.
"Who?!" she asked bewildered as soon as she heard him. Reyaansh...why was that name so familiar to her?
"Reyaansh! He is the MD of Singhania Industries! Ranvijay uncle's son." said Swayam, as if expecting her to remember each and every detail.
"Do I even know him?" she asked, puzzled. The name did seem familiar to her, but she was just not able to remember his face or anything else about him.
"What the hell? You don't remember? Reyaansh Singhania... you worst rival till your 4th grade? Until you moved to New York?" asked Swayam, surprised.
"What? My rival? I actually know him?" she thought to herself as she locked her room. Things still didn't seem to fall in place.
"I'll be waiting for you Reyaansh Singhania. Whoever you are, I'll find out soon." she thought to herself before turning the lights off, his dreams awaiting her.
Anupamaa
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