Chapter : New Job

Niki woke up in the morning with the same thoughts running through her mind—Aditya's return, the mysterious guy she met at the club, Raavi's sharp reaction, and Sums' comforting words. But among all this, the thing that confused her the most was the guy she had bumped into.

She still regretted throwing up on his car, but the strangest part was that he looked familiar.

She stopped overthinking and got ready for college.

---

Meeting Raavi at College

As soon as Niki reached college, she ran into Raavi, who was now pursuing her post-graduation.

"So, are you okay now?" Raavi asked in a teasing tone.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better now," Niki replied.

Raavi looked at her carefully. "Doesn't seem like it. Your mind is somewhere else."

Niki remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Something strange happened at the club last night."

Raavi raised an eyebrow. "And what was that?"

"I bumped into a guy… and then…"

"Then?"

Hesitating, Niki said, "Then I threw up on his car."

Raavi stared at her for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. "Oh God, Niki! Did you seriously do that?"

"Yeah," Niki lowered her head in embarrassment.

Raavi was still trying to control her laughter. "Then what happened?"

"Then… he was really mad. But when I apologized and offered money, he didn't take it."

Raavi shook her head. "You should be thankful he didn't just throw you out of his car!"

Niki took a deep breath. "The weird thing is… I feel like I know him from somewhere."

Raavi's amused expression suddenly turned serious. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Niki said. "But when I look at him, it feels like…"

"Like what?"

Niki fell silent. She couldn't even understand her own confusion.

Raavi sighed. "Did you ask his name?"

"No…"

"How can you be so dumb?" Raavi glared at her. "At least you could've asked for his name!"

"Bikky told me… his name is Aarav Malhotra."

Raavi froze for a second. "Aarav Malhotra?"

"Yeah, why?"

Raavi seemed to be thinking. "I feel like I've heard that name before…"

Niki's heart started pounding. Was there really some past connection?

-

Niki returned home from college to find her mother in the kitchen and her father reading the newspaper. Everything seemed normal, but she knew things weren't as easy as they appeared.

She went to her room, placed her bag down, and sat on the bed. Resting her head against the wall, she took a deep breath. The same thoughts had been troubling her for days—her family's financial situation, their struggles, and her future.

She still remembered how, four years ago, after her accident, her father had to take a loan for her medical treatment. The expenses were so high that their savings had been completely drained. Even now, they hadn't fully repaid the loan.

Her brother was studying abroad, which required a lot of money. And now… her sister's wedding.

Niki had overheard her mother telling her father, "A wedding is expensive, but we can't take another loan right now."

To which her father had replied, "I'll manage, don't worry."

But Niki knew he was hiding the truth. He was working tirelessly, yet their financial situation remained the same.

She clenched her fists. "Not anymore," she told herself.

She had to do something. She had to stand on her own feet.

She got up, opened her cupboard, and went through some old documents. There were a few scholarship certificates, but they weren't enough. She needed a job—one that would not only help her family but also allow her to work toward her dreams.

Then she remembered—the café.

The day she had been waiting for her friends, she had realized she needed to take her dreams more seriously. And now, this was the right time.

She immediately picked up her phone and dialed Bikky's number.

"Yes, madam? What's up?" Bikky's voice had the same teasing tone.

"I need a job at your café," Niki said directly.

Bikky was silent for a moment before replying, "You still have time to rethink. A café isn't just about sitting and drinking coffee—you'll have to work too."

"I want to work, Bikky," Niki's voice was firm this time.

"Alright, come tomorrow. But one condition—don't ask about the owner's name!"

"Since when did you become so mysterious?" Niki rolled her eyes.

"Since our story began," Bikky laughed.

Niki hung up the call and took a deep breath.

This would be her first job. Her first step toward the dream she had decided to chase.

---

The First Step at the Café

Niki sat in her room, still holding her phone. Bikky had told her to come the next day, but something he said had caught her attention—the café was owned by a big company.

"A big company?" Niki muttered to herself.

She thought it must be some business group, but what difference did it make? All she needed was a job.

The Next Day – At the Café

Niki pushed open the door and stepped inside. The familiar aroma of coffee lingered in the air, and the warm lighting gave the place a cozy feel.

Bikky was behind the counter. Seeing her, he grinned. "You're here? Great! Come, sit."

Niki silently took a seat across from him.

Bikky placed a glass of water in front of her and said, "Look, this job isn't a big deal, but I want you to think carefully. This café isn't just some local business; it's a branch of a major company."

"Which company?" Niki asked.

Bikky casually replied, "Omega Group."

A frown appeared on Niki's forehead. The name sounded familiar, but she didn't pay much attention to it.

"Omega Group?" she repeated.

"Yes, the one that manages multiple high-end hotels and restaurants," Bikky said nonchalantly.

"Okay… and why should that matter to me?" Niki shrugged.

"It doesn't—unless you start asking questions about the owner," Bikky smirked.

Niki narrowed her eyes at him but chose to ignore it. All she needed was a job; who the owner was didn't matter to her.

"So, when do I start?" she asked.

"From today," Bikky handed her an apron. "Come on, let's get you started."