Chapter 42

Nandani had just bumped Aryaman from his position as the person who had done the 'Worst Phone Breakup' in history. It seemed reasonable, given that her life had come crashing down around her, to allow herself a period of indulgence.

She stumbled downstairs. It was for the first time, that she was leaving the hotel suite since she had arrived this morning, from Manik's place, and found the small hotel store open in the lobby. The first thing that had gone right for a while, she thought. The freezer proved fruitful and after paying for a pint of Ice cream, she stumbled back up to her room and kept it on the bedside. She then watched it melt on her bedside table while her brain endlessly replayed the past day.

Somehow she then slept for a few hours but was awake before the alarm bell rang at 5:30 a.m. She knew it was high time to get everything together. Today she would face work.

She arrived at Crystal's partially open office door three hours later, with a pit in her stomach. She smoothed invisible wrinkles from her black skirt then knocked. She prayed and hoped for the easing and calmness of the mess in her mind at that moment.

All morning she had wondered what a person was supposed to wear when she went to the gallows and then landed on something similar to funeral attire. The black skirt and blouse matched her dreary mood.

She was half wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole before she turned around. But she found no such luck.

Crystal's eyes betrayed no hint of emotion when she saw her. "Nandani." Her voice was equally flat. "Come in."

Nandani sat in the chair across from hers and Crystal closed the door behind her before taking her own seat. When she did, she leaned forward.

"What happened yesterday?" Crystal asked without a prelude.

Sarah told her about the battery dying on her phone overnight, not the part about her best friend finding out about her and her brother.

Despite Nandani trying to keep it professional, her voice cracked as she spoke. "I am so sorry, Crystal. I knew yesterday I had screwed this up, and I should have come to you then, but I thought I could figure out what to do. But I guess I still do not know."

Crystal looked at her for a long time before responding. It looked like she was trying to decide something. Whether it was to fire her or scold her, Nandani did not know. When Crystal finally spoke, she sighed. "Nandani, this is a hard business. I know moving a meeting last minute that had been fixed for months, is not an entirely reasonable request. But then the fashion industry is not reasonable. Fashion does not give many second chances."

Nandani could tell very well where this conversation was going.

"Many people go their whole careers without getting first chances. This was yours." Crystal paused, tapped a long finger on the corner of her desk. Nandani wondered absent-mindedly if Crystal had ever played piano. This was what her mind did when it felt like a bomb had gone off in it.

"I don't know what to say." Nandani tried honestly. "You went out and helped me in introducing people when you did not have to. I repaid you by not showing up."

Somehow Nandani felt even worse than last night, though she had not thought that was possible. The pit in her stomach had grown. She felt as if she had fallen into a dark endless tunnel.

Crystal's eyes were intense on hers. She had to look away for a moment, and her gaze landed on the floor. A far more comfortable place to look. She knew she had to grow up and take responsibility. She forced herself to look back at Crystal.

Crystal's eyes had softened slightly. "Nandani. You work harder than almost anyone I know. You are here before everyone and stay back even when others have left. You are a smart girl and you have a good heart." She then smiled. "Despite your classes and studies, you were so focused on finishing your business plan. On doing it right."

Nandani thought that all that did not matter now because she had ruined it all in the end. She felt like a child, completely unable to deal with the consequences of her actions. "I don't know what to..." Nandani gestured helplessly. "I know I cannot fix this. But please tell me I can someday make this up to you. Somehow."

"I understand how much this label means to you. And you have put in the hard work so far to get there, and I believe you have what it takes to see this through." Crystal sighed. "Which is why I am going to find another time that you can pitch."

A big breath whooshed into Nandani's lungs. "I am sorry, what?"

"Your friend Mukti showed the designs, and I took the liberty of sharing the draft you sent to me last month. While Mukti still could not answer any hard questions about the business plan, I think the clothes and the draft aroused their interest. I will find another time next month when you can present the business plan step by step, and answer questions via teleconference from San Francisco," Crystal informed her.

Nandani felt as if a boulder had been lifted off her chest. There had not been many second chances for her. This was the one she badly needed. "That is amazing. Thank you, Crystal. Thank you so much for believing in me. I promise I will not let you down." She instantly felt lighter. She was determined not to let this pass her by.

Crystal smiled. "Now we get back to work. We only have you for two weeks, and I do not want to waste a second of your time. Go see Sharon about those accounts for the March campaign."

Nandani felt like she had dodged a bullet and wanted to go dancing out of Crystal's office. She had just had a giant reality check and was determined not to ignore it.

After the initial high wore off, reality set in as she worked hard at her desk the rest of the day. It had been less than two days since she had been on cloud nine the whole night with Manik, and the morning after. Now one harsh lesson later, she knew she had been right all along. Letting a guy interfere with the most important thing in her world was a recipe for disaster. And heartache.