Five minutes
"Riya's point of view,"
"I desperately want Harsh back in my life; please do whatever you can to make that happen. I can't live without him." I'm not sure what happened to me so suddenly, and I can't hold back my tears.
"Ankur, please beg him to return to my life; his concern for me, his love for me, these sentiments remind me of him. Please tell him he can be upset with me if he wants to, but please don't leave me alone like this."
After hearing my sobbing, he tried to soothe me down by saying, "Riya, calm down. You're harming your health by crying like this."
"I'm not pleased to see him with someone else; how could he marry anyone other than me?" He offered me his shoulder, saying nothing to me when I couldn't keep quiet despite his continual consoling. I didn't lift my head from his shoulder until all of my tears had dried up.
"Let's go, relax," he said as soon as I stopped crying. He took my hand in his and led me back to his flat. I was nervous about staying with Ankur in his flat. However, I kept it a secret from him. He asked me to lie down on the bed and then walked out into the hall, picking up the pillow from the opposite side of the bed.
I was missing Harsh a lot today; the way he used to make me sleep with my head on his chest, brushing my hair from my face, his loving words, everything. Harsh cannot delegate my position to anyone else. Would he have made his wife sleep with him in the same manner he used to make me sleep? Don't punish me too hard for my one mistake; my inner wisdom has vanished since I saw him with someone else.
I'm envious of his wife, but there's nothing I can do about it. It would be preferable if I did not meet him again while I was here. I need to finish my project as soon as possible and return to America.
I did not know when I fell into a deep slumber, engrossed in my thoughts.
The annoying alarm disturbed my sleep, buzzing on my phone in the morning.
My head was burning with pain, and my eyes were growing heavy from crying too much the night before. I had swollen eyes.
"What the hell? How am I going to work in this state?"
Ankur knocks on the door and asks, "Riya, may I come in?"
"Yes,"I replied as I sat on the bed.
"How are you feeling now?" While holding a glass of lemon water in front of me, he inquired.
"My brain appears to be more balanced today than it was yesterday, but my head is in incredible pain."
"It's no problem. I'll bring you food while you rest." He said as he walked out of the room.
"Thank you, Ankur, and please accept my apologies for last night."In hushed tones, I said,
"In a friendship relationship, both the words "sorry" and "thank you" are forbidden."
"Yes, I know, but I disturbed you by showing up unexpectedly on this night, and you couldn't even have a good night's sleep because of me." Because of me, I know he slept on the couch in the hall all night.
"You do not need to follow any formalities with me, and you are free to come here whenever you want. However, please do not worry about me by calling me like this before arriving the next time, as I was terrified last night."
"Okay," I said with a pout.
"I'll bring you breakfast until you're fresh." After saying this, he walked out of the room, leaving me alone in the room.
On my phone, I received a call from Mr. Joseph. "Riya, how are you doing today?"
I understand why he called. That is why I spoke to Mr. Joseph directly and without etiquette.
"I'll see you in exactly one hour, and yes, please bring your COO with you to our meeting." I spoke clearly and hung up the phone.
"Ankur, I need to get to the hotel right away since I have a very important meeting in an hour." I exited the room and stood at the kitchen entrance.
"The meeting is in an hour, but how would you attend it in this state, with your eyes completely red and swollen?" He inquired, his voice apprehensive.
"Don't worry, I'll figure it out,"
"But how?"
"Please leave it to me;" I promised him I was in perfect health and that I would be OK.
"Okay, if you have any problems, please contact me." I walked out of his building and into my hotel room.
Riya Mittal, you must not let your work be halted because of a personal issue. Get ready as soon as possible and attend this important meeting.
When I looked in the mirror, my red eyes and the black circles around my eyes made my face appear dull.
To get ready, I took a quick shower and put on my formal shoes and maroon shirt from my closet. An elegant black blazer complimented my attire. I got out my cosmetics kit by tied my hair up in a high ponytail. Yes, makeup can help me disguise my swollen and red eyes.
The meeting will start in half an hour. I swiftly strapped my blue-dial wristwatch to my wrist. This watch always makes me think of Harsh's love. When he got his first paycheck, he bought me this watch as a present. To complete my business attire before leaving the hotel room, I put on a pair of stiletto heels.
I'm back at Allen Industries. I pulled up in front of Mr. Joseph's office building and parked my car. Even before I could enter the building, Dinesh was waiting for me outside in the parking lot.
"How are you doing today, madam?"
"I am good,How are you doing today, Dinesh?" I said, smiling as I looked at him. But when he saw me, his face was filled with amazement once more.
"I'm alright, madam; please go this route." He tried to be my guide again by showing me the way, but that's not a problem; he's just doing his job.
"Madam, good morning." When Ms. Rita noticed me going through the reception area, she stood up from her chair.
"Hello Ms. Rita, I'd want to meet Mr. Joseph." Her terrified expression made me laugh.
"I am sorry, madam, for not recognizing you yesterday." She replied in a frightened tone.
"Never mind, Ms. Rita. However, judging a book by its cover is not always appropriate." I know she was judging me yesterday because of my outfit, and she refused to introduce me to Mr. Joseph because of it.
"Good morning," Mr. Joseph. I remarked this while staring at Mr. Joseph, who was excitedly awaiting my arrival in the meeting hall.
"Good morning, Riya, and please have a seat." He remarked this while pointing to a nearby unoccupied chair.
"What happened to your COO?" While checking the time on my wristwatch, I inquired.
"Sorry for taking so long to respond." He replied as he walked into the meeting room. He still appeared as handsome as ever, dressed in a black shirt and grey formal paint, but I was well aware of the cheap-thinking man lying behind his handsome face.
"Mr. Khurana, you're 5 minutes late. Do you realize how valuable these 5 minutes of my life are to me?" I inquired, my tone irritated.
"Please pardon me, madam." After listening to me, he looked at me with amazement.
Mr. Joseph, is furious with Rachit for arriving late, as I told you. "Ms. Riya is a very punctual person who prefers to arrive on time, not before or later."
"I'm sorry, sir, and I'll make sure this never happens again." In a hushed voice, he lowered his neck and said;
"I will sign this business deal with you, but there are a few conditions." Wasting no time, I made my argument with him in straightforward language.
"Conditions??" Mr. Joseph was taken aback and stared at me with amazement.
"Yes. Mr. Khurana will give this project top attention, and the deadline I have set should finish all the work. I will handle this deal in a unique way. If you accept my terms, I am ready to sign this contract right now."
"I agree with all of your terms." Rachit responded almost immediately after I finished speaking.
"Are you sure about that?" I inquired, my brows furrowed.
"Yes, without a doubt." With his gaze fixated on my face, he replied.
I pulled the deal papers from the file on my side and extended them towards them, saying, "Mr. Joseph, please sign the deal."
After witnessing my signatures on those papers, Mr. Joseph was taken aback and looked at me in awe.
"Best of luck, Mr. Khurana." Before leaving the conference hall, I double-checked that the deal had been signed.
"Working with you, madam would be a pleasure for me!" With a broad smile on his face, he replied.
"I hoped so," as I took a deep breath and quickly exited the office building.
