Vihan turned to Shruti, his eyes locking onto hers as he extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Miss Singh," he said, his voice warm and professional. Shruti nodded, her smile polite, and shook his hand briefly. "It's my pleasure."
His gaze flicked to Vikram, who was still seated, his face dark with anger. Vihan's expression remained neutral as he turned to Rishi. "I want to talk to Miss Singh," he said, his tone firm but courteous. Rishi nodded and turned to Vikram. "Mr. Vikram," he called out, gesturing for him to leave. Vikram's face twisted in frustration, but he stood up and stormed out of the room. Rishi followed closely behind, closing the door softly behind him.
Once they were alone, Vihan's demeanor shifted. His earlier commanding aura gave way to a more serene and relaxed attitude. "I apologize for yesterday," he said, his voice sincere. Shruti waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, please don't. I understand you must be busy."
Vihan smiled slightly. "Rishi told me about everything regarding the project," he said. "But I suggest we can do a go-through." Shruti nodded, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "Sure," she said, opening her laptop and starting to explain her idea. Her passion and expertise shone through as she spoke, and Vihan listened intently.
Vihan's gaze was fixed on Shruti as she spoke, his eyes tracing the contours of her face. He found himself captivated by the sparkle in her eyes, the gentle curve of the bridge of her nose, and the soft shape of her lips. His attention was absorbed in the moment, and he was oblivious to everything else.
It wasn't until Shruti's voice broke the spell that Vihan snapped back to reality. "Mr. Suryavanshi?" she asked, her brow furrowed slightly in concern. "Huh?" He blinked, his mind refocusing on the conversation. "Is it okay, or should I change this?" she asked, her eyes seeking his feedback.
Vihan cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. "Oh, it's completely alright," he said, his voice a little rough from being caught off guard. Shruti nodded, seeming to accept his response. "Very well," she said, standing up. Vihan followed suit, his eyes never leaving hers.
As they stood, Shruti extended her hand, a professional smile on her face. "I'm looking forward to working with you," she said, her voice confident. Vihan took her hand, his handshake firm. "Same here," he replied, his voice low.
After a brief moment, Shruti released his hand and left the room, leaving Vihan standing alone. He let out a frustrated sigh and ruffled his hair, his eyes fixed on the floor. "What is wrong with me?" he murmured to himself, a mixture of confusion and annoyance etched on his face. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was losing control, that his usual composure was slipping away.
The next day, Shruti sat in her office, surrounded by the familiar comforts of her workspace. Her secretary, Trisha, and the general manager of Aurora, Gaurav, stood before her, awaiting her instructions. "How's the preparation going?" Shruti asked, her eyes scanning the documents on her desk.
Trisha nodded, opening her laptop. "I've prepared the reports, including the list of products, their contents, and the budget," she said, turning the screen towards Shruti. Shruti's eyes scanned the contents, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Let's not include too many preservatives," Shruti said, her voice firm. "Our aim is to give consumers pure organic products. Preservatives are important, but make it less." Trisha nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she typed.
Shruti turned to Gaurav, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you do what I asked for?" she asked, her voice crisp. Gaurav nodded, his expression confident. "Yes, ma'am. I've explained everything to our manufacturing department. They will start as soon as you order," he said.
Shruti's expression softened slightly, a hint of approval in her voice. "Good," she said. Her gaze turned back to Trisha. "Trisha," she called out.
"Yes, ma'am?" Trisha replied, her eyes meeting Shruti's.
"Give a copy of this report to Mr. Suryavanshi," Shruti instructed. "And take their opinions on the reports." Trisha nodded, her face expressionless.
With a nod, Trisha and Gaurav stood up, bowed slightly, and left the office, leaving Shruti to her thoughts.
In the evening, Shruti sat in her office, engrossed in her work, when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she said, her voice calm and inviting. Trisha entered, a look of professionalism on her face.
"Ma'am, I sent the reports to Mr. Suryavanshi like you said," Trisha reported. "But he said there's a problem in the reports that he wants to discuss." Shruti's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the news.
"Okay, I'll call him later," Shruti replied, her voice even. But Trisha hesitated, her expression uncertain. "Ma'am, actually..." she began, her voice trailing off.
Shruti's curiosity was piqued, and she looked up at Trisha expectantly. "What happened?" she asked, her tone gentle but inquiring.
Trisha took a deep breath before speaking. "Mr. Suryavanshi said he wants to discuss it with you in person," she said, her voice clear. Shruti's eyes flicked to her watch, and she calculated the time. After a moment's thought, she nodded.
"Okay," she said, standing up and picking up her handbag. "Inform him that I'm going to meet him in a while," she instructed Trisha. Trisha nodded, her face expressionless. "Okay, ma'am," she said, turning to leave and send the message to Vihan.
With a sense of purpose, Shruti prepared to head out, her mind already focused on the meeting with Vihan and the potential discussion about the reports.
Meanwhile, at the PharmaCorp building, Vihan sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the documents in front of him. Rishi knocked on the door, and Vihan looked up, his expression expectant. "Sir, Miss Singh said that she will be here in a while," Rishi reported, his voice professional.
A satisfactory grin spread across Vihan's face as he leaned back in his chair. "Arrange a dinner at the best restaurant in Mumbai," he instructed Rishi. "And someone to escort Miss Singh." Rishi nodded, his face expressionless, and left to carry out Vihan's instructions.
At the entrance of the Sunrise tower, Shruti emerged outside the door, her eyes scanning the surroundings, when someone approached her. "Miss Singh," the person called out, his voice polite. Shruti turned her attention to him, her brow furrowed slightly in inquiry.
"Mr. Suryavanshi sent me to escort you," the driver explained, his smile courteous. Shruti's expression turned skeptical. "Escort me? But I could've come on my own," she said, her tone light.
The driver gestured politely. "Please, this way," he said, indicating the car parked nearby. Shruti hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Oh, okay," she said, getting into the car. The driver closed the door behind her, and she settled into the comfortable interior, wondering what the evening had in store.
As Shruti gazed out the window, she noticed the scenery passing by and asked, "It's not the way to the PharmaCorp." The driver replied, his voice calm, "Mr. Suryavanshi arranged the meeting at the restaurant."
Shruti's brow furrowed slightly as she thought to herself, "Why arrange a whole dinner for such a trivial thing?" She wondered if there was more to the meeting than she had initially thought.
At the restaurant, Vihan sat at a table, waiting for Shruti's arrival. Rishi and Vihan's secretary, Amrita, sat at a discreet distance, observing their boss's unusual behavior. "It's weird to see our boss like this," Amrita commented, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rishi nodded in agreement. "I know, right? I've been working with him for five years, and I've never seen him this impatient." Amrita's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Yes, I even heard that he doesn't like wasting time. Coming here for such a trivial meeting, it's really strange."
Amrita turned to Rishi with a questioning gaze. "By the way, who is this person?" she asked, her voice filled with intrigue. Rishi replied, "She is the chairperson of the Sunrise group, Shruti Singh."
Amrita's eyes widened in surprise. "Chairperson at such a young age?" she asked, her tone incredulous. Rishi filled her in on the background. "I heard something happened to her father six months ago. After that, she took over the chairperson's position."
Amrita's curiosity deepened. "Just six months ago? But our boss never works with inexperienced ones, so why did he agree to collaborate with the Sunrise group?" Rishi shrugged. "I don't know. He saw her when she came to our company a month ago. Since then, he's been gathering information about her company. And when she offered a proposal for the collaboration, he immediately agreed."
Amrita's gaze flicked to Vihan, and then back to Rishi. "Hey, could it be possible that our boss is...?" she trailed off, her eyes sparkling with speculation. Rishi's expression turned thoughtful. "I think so too," he said, his voice low.
Amrita's eyes locked onto Rishi's, her expression mischievous. "Right?!" she exclaimed. But Rishi's response was unexpected. "He definitely needs a psychiatrist," he said, his gaze fixed on Vihan's profile. Amrita playfully hit him on the arm. "Stupid! I meant that he's probably in love," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rishi's eyes widened in surprise. "Love? Vihan Suryavanshi? Never!" he exclaimed. Amrita winked at him. "Never say never," she said, her smile enigmatic.
Shruti stepped out of the car and onto the sidewalk, where a staff member was waiting to escort her to the restaurant. He led her to the table where Vihan was seated, and as she approached, Vihan looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. He immediately stood up, his movements smooth and polished.
"Oh, good evening, Miss Singh," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. Shruti smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good evening," she replied, her voice friendly.
Vihan gestured to the seat opposite him, his hand sweeping across the table. "Please, have a seat," he said, his smile inviting. Shruti nodded, her gratitude evident. "Thank you," she said, settling into the chair.
As they sat down, Vihan's expression turned apologetic. "Sorry to trouble you," he said, his voice sincere. But Shruti waved her hand dismissively. "No, no," she said. "Actually, I was thinking that why did you go all the way to book a restaurant for such a trivial thing? We could've met at your office."
Vihan's smile grew wider as he leaned back in his chair. "You agreed to come all the way here to meet me for such a 'trivial thing'," he said, his voice playful. "So I should at least treat you to dinner." Shruti's eyes sparkled with amusement, but she still looked unconvinced.
Vihan picked up his glass of wine, his eyes never leaving hers. "Think of it as a celebration for our collaboration," he said, his voice smooth. Shruti nodded, her expression softening, and picked up her glass. The clinking of the glasses seemed to seal the deal, and they both sipped their wine.
Vihan and Shruti were engrossed in conversation, their laughter and discussion flowing effortlessly. Meanwhile, Amrita and Rishi observed them from a distance, their eyes fixed on the pair. Rishi's expression was one of surprise and curiosity. "Amrita... did... did you see?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Amrita's eyes sparkled with amusement as she gazed at Vihan. "Yes, look at his smile," she said, her voice equally low. Rishi's eyes widened in astonishment. "I never saw him smile like that," he said, his tone filled with wonder.
Amrita's grin grew wider as she leaned in closer to Rishi. "I'm telling you, he is in love," she said, her voice filled with conviction. Rishi looked at Amrita, his expression skeptical, but Amrita's grin only grew wider. He turned his attention back to Vihan, still trying to figure out if Amrita's assessment was true.
As the dinner came to a close, Shruti stood up, her movements graceful. "I should leave now, it's getting late," she said, her voice polite. Vihan immediately stood up, his eyes locked onto hers. "Let me give you a ride home," he offered, his voice courteous.
But Shruti shook her head, her smile firm. "No, no, please. I'll go by myself. Thank you so much," she replied, her voice appreciative. Vihan's expression was polite, but a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes, leaving Amrita and Rishi to wonder if their suspicions were indeed true.
As Shruti turned to leave, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and her legs wobbled beneath her. Vihan, who was standing close, caught her just in time, his arms wrapping around her to steady her. "Miss Singh!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. "Are you okay?!" he asked, his eyes scanning her face.
Shruti nodded, her face pale. "Yeah... I... I'm just a little dizzy," she replied, her voice weak. Vihan's grip on her tightened, and he gently guided her back into her seat. Rishi and Amrita, who had been observing from a distance, quickly ran towards them, their faces etched with worry.
Vihan's expression was firm as he turned to Rishi. "Call the driver. We're going to the doctor," he instructed, his voice brooking no argument. Rishi nodded and quickly pulled out his phone to make the call. Shruti, however, protested. "There's no need for the doctor. I'm really okay," she said, her voice still weak.
But Vihan was insistent. "No, you are not," he replied, his voice firm. He turned to Amrita. "Amrita, help me," he asked, his eyes locked onto hers. Amrita nodded, and together they supported Shruti, gently taking her by the shoulders and guiding her outside. As they walked, Vihan's arm remained wrapped around Shruti's waist, holding her steady, his face set in a determined expression.
At the hospital, the doctor emerged from the private room, and Vihan, who had been waiting impatiently outside, quickly ran towards him. "Is she alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
The doctor's expression was reassuring. "She's just exhausted, maybe because of lack of sleep and nutrition," he explained. "She'll be okay after a good rest and a proper diet." Vihan's face relaxed slightly, relief washing over him. "Thank you, doctor," he said, his voice sincere.
After the doctor left, Vihan entered the private room, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He saw Shruti sleeping peacefully on the bed, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath. He sat down beside her on a chair, his gaze drawn to her sleeping face.
His eyes lingered on her features - her long lashes resting on her cheeks, the gentle curve of her nose, and her soft lips. "She is so beautiful," he murmured, his voice barely audible. For a moment, he forgot about everything else, captivated by the serenity of her sleeping form.
But suddenly, he snapped back to reality, his mind racing with thoughts. "What am I even doing?" he muttered to himself, ruffling his hair with one hand in a gesture of frustration or confusion. His eyes darted away from Shruti's face, and he tried to shake off the strange feelings that had been building up inside him.
He gazed at her face again, his eyes drawn to the delicate features. A strand of hair had fallen onto her cheek, and without thinking, he reached out to gently tuck it behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her skin, and he felt a sudden jolt. He swallowed hard, his eyes locked onto hers as he stared at her face up close.
But just as he was lost in the moment, her eyelashes flickered, and he quickly pulled away, his movements abrupt. Shruti's eyes slowly blinked open, and for a moment, she seemed disoriented. As her gaze focused, she took in her surroundings and sat up with a start.
"Are you okay?" Vihan asked, his voice filled with concern. Shruti's eyes met his, and memories of the evening came flooding back. She looked at him, and her expression softened slightly as she recalled the events that had led her to this hospital room.
Shruti quickly got up from the bed, her movements swift and decisive. Vihan's expression turned gentle, and he advised, "Hey, you should take a rest." But Shruti's thoughts were elsewhere, and she apologized profusely. "I'm very sorry to trouble you, Mr. Suryavanshi," she said, her voice sincere.
Vihan's response was immediate and reassuring. "There's no need to apologize," he replied, his tone calm. Just as they were talking, a knock on the door interrupted them. Shruti's face lit up with recognition as she heard the voice on the other side. "Manish uncle?" she exclaimed.
Manish entered the room, his face etched with concern, and rushed towards Shruti. "Shruti beta, are you okay?!" he asked, his voice filled with worry. Shruti reassured him with a smile. "Yes, uncle, I'm fine," she said, her voice soft.
Manish's gaze turned to Vihan, and he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you so much, Mr. Suryavanshi, for taking her to the hospital," he said, his voice filled with appreciation. Vihan's response was characteristically humble. "There's no need to thank me," he replied.
Just then, a nurse entered the room, her presence gentle but firm. "You both please wait outside. I need to check up on the patient," she said. Vihan and Manish nodded in unison, and they stepped outside the room, leaving Shruti to the nurse's care.
Outside in the hallway, they both sat on a bench, the soft glow of the hospital's fluorescent lights casting a gentle ambiance. Manish let out a deep sigh, his expression tired and worried. Vihan turned to him, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Mr. Basu?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Manish's response was a bit delayed, as if he was lost in thought. "Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," he said finally. "I'm just... I'm very worried about her." His eyes drifted towards the room door, his gaze filled with concern. Vihan followed his gaze and then turned back to Manish. "May I ask you something?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Manish's expression turned receptive. "Of course, what is it?" he replied. Vihan's question was direct. "Miss Singh always looks so tense. Is there any problem in the company?" Manish leaned back against the bench and exhaled, his body language relaxed but his eyes still filled with worry.
"You must have heard about her father," Manish said, his voice low. Vihan nodded, his expression understanding. Manish continued, his voice filled with admiration. "Since then, she's been handling the company alone. She saved the Sunrise group from going bankrupt. She's working day and night without eating and sleeping properly." Vihan felt a pang of sadness inside his chest as he listened to Manish's words, his heart going out to Shruti.
Manish's expression turned melancholic as he stared at the ceiling. "Sometimes I feel bad for her. She's too young to handle so much alone," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. After a pause, he turned to Vihan, his expression practical. "You should head back, Mr. Suryavanshi. You must be very busy." Vihan nodded reluctantly, feeling a sense of understanding and empathy for Shruti. "Um... okay," he said finally, standing up. "Good night, Mr. Basu."
