Abeeha and her team, accompanied by Ayesha, were en route to their destination when disaster struck. The bus they were traveling in suddenly sputtered and came to a halt, its engine emitting a distressing clunk.
Abeeha quickly disembarked, only to be met with the driver's irate expression. "How did this happen?" he thundered. "Didn't you check the bus before we left?"
Abeeha glanced at her watch, her mind racing with the implications of their delayed arrival. Time was of the essence, and they couldn't afford to waste a single minute. Just then, Yaksh and Rahul appeared, their faces etched with concern.
"We don't have time for this," Abeeha muttered, her eyes locked on the driver. "What happened?"
The driver shifted uncomfortably, his expression defensive. "I had the bus checked before we left, ma'am. I don't know what went wrong."
Ayesha turned to Abeeha, her voice tinged with worry. "What do we do now? Shouldn't we call for another bus?"
Abeeha's gaze swept the deserted landscape before responding, "We've already traveled for two hours, and the meeting starts in just one hour. We can't afford to wait for another bus."
Rahul spoke up, his voice laced with pragmatism. "Is it a coincidence?"
Abeeha pulled out her phone and stepped away from the group, her voice barely audible as she spoke into the receiver. A few minutes later, she returned, a look of relief washing over her face. "The bus will be here in 20 minutes."
Rahul glanced around, his eyes settling on a nearby park. "Let's wait there until the bus arrives."
Abeeha nodded. "Alright, you all go ahead. I need to grab something from the bus."
As the others walked towards the park, Yaksh lingered behind, his eyes fixed on Abeeha. She emerged from the bus, her gaze meeting Yaksh's, and for a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Abeeha's voice broke the silence. "Were you worried about me?"
Yaksh's expression remained impassive, his voice devoid of emotion. "I'm just doing my job. I don't get paid to worry."
Abeeha's eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "Really? Then tell me, which security company's boss comes personally to provide security?"
Yaksh's expression remained inscrutable as he spoke, "I don't think it's necessary for me to explain myself to you, Abeeha."
Abeeha's laughter was like music, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "You're not willing to acknowledge it, are you? That you, too, harbor feelings for me. I adore you, Yaksh. I love you so much."
Yaksh's silence was deafening, his gaze unwavering. Abeeha's smile faltered for a moment before she continued, "I understand the purpose behind your silence, but I don't comprehend the reason. We should clear up these misunderstandings, Yaksh. Bottling them up inside only leads to greater misconceptions."
Yaksh's voice was low and even, his words measured. "Abeeha, please comport yourself. In the line of duty, it's best to keep personal feelings at bay. And as for misunderstandings between us, I'm not aware of any."
Abeeha's eyes welled up with tears as Yaksh's words cut through her like a knife. "It's just that I'm in love with someone else," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Abeeha's voice trembled as she spoke, "You're lying! I don't believe you!"
Yaksh shrugged, his expression unyielding. "Believe what you want, it doesn't change the truth."
Abeeha's face crumpled, and she felt a sob rising up her throat. But then, with a sudden burst of determination, she reached out and grasped Yaksh's hand, pulling him into a tight hug.
"I know you're lying to me," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "You're trying to push me away, but I won't let you. I'll cling to you like the wind, and I won't let you go."
Abeeha hurried back to Rahul and Ayesha, her face still flushed with emotion. "Do you think Yaksh is really in love with someone else?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rahul placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Abeeha. "That place is empty."
Just then, the luxury bus Abeeha had called for arrived, its sleek exterior gleaming in the sunlight. The group quickly boarded the bus, and soon they were back on the road, the tension and drama of the past few minutes slowly fading away.
As they arrived punctually, Abeeha and her team made their way to the meeting room, flanked by security personnel stationed outside. Just as they were about to enter, one of the young women from Abeeha's programming team approached her, a look of concern etched on her face.
"Ma'am, your step-sister Sohana is missing," she whispered urgently.
Abeeha's eyes widened in shock, her voice barely above a whisper. "What...?"
Yaksh, Rahul, and Ayesha exchanged surprised glances, their faces reflecting their astonishment at the revelation that Abeeha had a step-sister.
Abeeha's composure crumbled, her voice trembling with worry. "How could she just vanish?"
She turned to Yaksh, her eyes blazing with a mix of fear and accusation. "Where is she?" she demanded.
Yaksh's expression remained impassive, his voice detached. "Why are you asking me?"
Abeeha's anger boiled over, her voice rising. "Don't play dumb with me! You know something, don't you?"
Abeeha's anger reached a boiling point as she glared at Yaksh. "I saw you with Sohana myself, right before the bus arrived. Now, where is she?"
Yaksh's expression remained stoic, but Abeeha's words had clearly struck a nerve.
Just then, the door to the meeting room swung open, and Sohana stepped out, a look of innocence on her face. The group's collective gaze shifted to her, their faces etched with surprise.
Abeeha's eyes narrowed as she took a step forward. "What are you doing here?"
Sohana's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, "You told me to come here ahead of time."
The group's attention shifted back to Abeeha, their faces filled with confusion. Abeeha's eyes widened in denial. "I did?"
Sohana nodded, a hint of confusion creeping into her voice. "Yes... didn't you?"
Ayesha intervened, her voice calm and measured. "Abeeha, you're being unfair to Yaksh. You're the one who told her to come here before us."
Abeeha's gaze shifted to Yaksh, her eyes brimming with tears. The two locked eyes, the air thick with unspoken emotions. For a moment, time stood still.
Then, without a word, Yaksh turned and walked away, leaving Abeeha feeling shattered.
With a heavy heart, Abeeha composed herself and stepped into the meeting room. Inside, she was greeted by Maryam, the CEO of Eclips Gaming, their rival company.
Maryam's smile was warm, but her eyes gleamed with a competitive edge. "Abeeha, it's great to see you. I must say, I'm intrigued by your decision to meet with me."
Abeeha's expression was guarded. "You know exactly why I called this meeting, Maryam. You're not here to discuss a merger, are you?"
Maryam's laughter was melodious, but her eyes betrayed a hint of surprise. "Whatever makes you think that, Abeeha?"
Maryam smiled sweetly. "You're so quick to trust, Abeeha."
Abeeha's face darkened with anger. "You deceived me, Maryam. I'm leaving. I won't waste another minute here."
Maryam's voice was calm and collected. "Leave before checking your phone? Abeeha, you might want to take a look."
Abeeha's eyes narrowed. "What's the point of this, Maryam?"
Maryam's smile grew wider. "I sent you a video. Take a look and tell me what you think."
Abeeha's curiosity got the better of her, and she hesitantly pulled out her phone. Her eyes scanned the screen, and her expression changed from anger to shock.