CHAPTER 4

The next morning, I awoke feeling refreshed, my mind already buzzing with the day's upcoming events. I quickly stretched and glanced at the time-almost 8 AM. My brother, Sanjay, would likely still be deep into his work. I headed downstairs, still feeling the weight of the day ahead.

As I entered the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, but my focus was elsewhere. There, sitting at the table, was Sanjay, eyes glued to his laptop, typing furiously. His concentration was evident, and the soft hum of the keys filled the otherwise silent room.

"Good morning, Sanjay," I said, my voice light, trying not to disturb his focus.

He looked up from his screen, his face lighting up as he recognized me. "Good morning, Vidya! Remember, you need to be there by 3 o'clock, and please, dress formally."

I nodded, a slight rush of anxiety bubbling up inside me. "I'm well aware of that! So, where's mom?"

I grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter, taking a satisfying crunch. It was crisp and sweet, a perfect start to the day.

Sanjay's attention was already back on his laptop. "Mom and Dad went to the temple."

I couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of nerves. "If I go there at 3 o'clock, what time will you be there?"

He didn't even look up from his screen as he answered, "Probably around 4 or 5, I guess."

"Really?" I pressed, a frown creeping onto my face. "That late?"

"Maybe," he said with a shrug, completely absorbed in his work.

"Have you sent me the address yet?" I asked, already feeling a bit overwhelmed by the mounting pressure.

"Not yet, but I'll do it now," Sanjay replied, tapping away on his keyboard.

I felt the tension rise in my chest. "Alright, once you send it, I'll decide what dress to wear."

"Okay," he responded, his voice distracted.

The day passed in a blur, and soon, it was 3:20 PM. The car ride to the office had been long, filled with my scattered thoughts. As I arrived at the towering office building, I couldn't help but stare up, my jaw dropping at the sheer size of it. The glass walls gleamed under the afternoon sun, casting reflections of the bustling city below. I could feel the weight of the place, its sophistication almost suffocating.

I stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath before making my way toward the main entrance. The glass doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and I was greeted by the cool, sterile air inside. As I walked through the grand lobby, I passed sleek marble floors and artfully designed decor. A few employees were on their phones, chatting amongst themselves, their footsteps echoing through the spacious hall.

"Vidya, you're here. Good luck!" I whispered to myself, feeling a small knot tighten in my stomach.

I approached the receptionist, trying to appear confident despite my growing nerves. "Excuse me, may I ask if I can meet Mr. Rawther? I'm Sanjay's assistant."

The receptionist looked up from her computer and smiled politely. "Oh, just a moment."

She picked up the office phone and spoke in hushed tones, while I waited anxiously, my heart racing with every second. Finally, she hung up the phone, her eyes meeting mine. "Please have a seat. He will be with you shortly."

I nodded and gave her a quick smile before sitting down on the plush sofa nearby, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me.

Time seemed to stretch on as I waited. My thoughts kept circling back to how I got into this position in the first place. As I stared at the marble floors, I overheard a heated conversation nearby.

"Sir, we only have two days left, and the submitted project count is five. Two more projects are delayed."

I turned my head, and my heart skipped a beat. There, walking past me, was none other than 'Kathir Rathore', accompanied by his assistant. He was commanding and confident, his sharp gaze focused on the task at hand, his footsteps steady and purposeful.

"I want the other projects on my desk before 6 pm! Got it?" Kathir's voice was firm, his authority undeniable.

His assistant stammered, trying to find the right words. "But, sir..."

Kathir's eyes narrowed, a slight tightening of his jaw. "Got it?"

The assistant, clearly intimidated, quickly nodded, barely daring to make eye contact. "Got it, sir."

Kathir didn't waste another moment and continued walking, his assistant trailing behind him like a shadow.

I sat there, completely frozen, my mind racing. "What? Is this Kathir's office?" I whispered under my breath, my nerves spiking. This couldn't be real.

The conversation from the two men nearby snapped me back to reality.

"What's up, man? What's wrong?" one of the guys asked, his voice low.

"There are two more projects that haven't been submitted yet, and Kathir wants me to hand them over before 6 pm," the first guy replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.

I listened closely, my instincts telling me something was wrong.

"Have you tried calling them?" the second guy asked.

"No! Even if they submit the projects, I'm going to reject them! And Kathir will definitely listen to me," the first guy said, his tone full of smug satisfaction.

"What's your plan?" the second guy pressed.

The first guy leaned back, a dark glint in his eye. "I'm going to throw a wrench in the works. When I reject those two projects, he'll be forced to find a new client. And I'll keep turning down every project that comes his way. In the end, I'll break his spirit and slowly dismantle his arrogance."

I felt my chest tighten, my heart racing as I pieced together the truth. Do they mean Sanjay's projects?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A wolf in sheep's clothing in Kathir's office? I thought bitterly. And he keeps them so close.

At that moment, both men glanced over at me, and I quickly pretended to check my watch, trying to act casual, though every nerve in my body was on edge.

The second man eyed me curiously. "Who are you?"

I jumped at his sudden question but managed to mask my surprise. "Umm..." My voice faltered for a moment, but I stood up, forcing myself to appear calm. "I'm here to see Mr. Rawther."

The first guy raised an eyebrow. "Oh, are you that 'DRM' client?"

I froze, a wave of panic hitting me. If I tell them that I'm here for Sanjay's project, they'll never let me meet Mr. Rawther! I thought urgently.

I shook my head, trying to deflect their suspicion. "Umm... yes," I answered hesitantly.

The second guy smirked but said nothing. "Alright, wait here. He'll be here shortly."

"Okay," I murmured, sinking back onto the sofa, my mind swirling with confusion and fear. The tension in the air felt suffocating as I waited for what was to come.

Hours passed before Sanjay finally arrived. I let out a sigh of relief as he sat down beside me, his presence immediately calming my nerves.

"Hey, Vidya," he greeted, his voice warm.

"Hey, Sanjay. Do you know I've been waiting here for two hours and no one has come?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice.

"Well... maybe he's busy in a meeting. Do you want to go home?" Sanjay suggested, his expression softening with concern.

"No, let's go together later," I replied quickly. I couldn't leave him alone-not with all the drama unfolding here.

"Okay," he said, nodding in agreement.

We waited another ten minutes before three men entered the hall. Two of them were the same guys who had been speaking about sabotaging Kathir's project earlier.

"Hello, sorry for the delay," Mr. Rawther said, offering a handshake to both Sanjay and me.

We exchanged pleasantries, and he motioned for us to sit. I couldn't shake the unease building inside me as I sat next to Sanjay.

"Mr. Rawther, I'm Rawther, and this is Paul and Thiren," Mr. Rawther introduced, nodding toward the two men.

Sanjay began explaining his project to them, but I couldn't stop watching Paul and Thiren. I knew exactly what they were up to. They would do anything to derail Sanjay's project.

Mr. Rawther nodded as he listened to Sanjay's explanation. "Hmm... I like the ideas! Let Paul decide, though, since he's the supervisor for the 'SSMA' project."

Paul picked up the project files, flipping through them slowly. "Hmm... I don't think this is what I want! And I'm sure Kathir will also reject this project."

I could see the disappointment on Sanjay's face. His shoulders slumped as Paul continued, completely dismissing his hard work.

"We are also doing our best for our project," Paul continued dismissively. "It's not about how much effort you put in; it's about how the project can help us with our business plan. Yours is not the right fit, sorry."

Sanjay tried to explain, his voice quivering with frustration. "But, sir, I spent three weeks on this project. I put in a lot of effort and lost sleep over it."

Paul didn't even give him a chance to finish. "We don't care about how much effort you've put in; it's just not what we need."

I watched Paul place the files on the table, his movements stiff and deliberate. The silence that followed felt heavier than I could bear.

"We're sorry, Sanjay," Mr. Rawther said, his voice distant, as if he hadn't just crushed someone's dreams.

I saw the disappointment flood Sanjay's face, and my heart ached for him. He didn't say a word, but I could see the way his shoulders slumped as he reached for the project. His hands trembled slightly, but he held it tightly, trying to maintain his composure.

I couldn't just sit there and watch this happen. Not after all the hard work he'd put in.

I turned to Mr. Rawther, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. "Can I meet Sir Kathir?"

Thiren shot me a look, his face cold. "No, you're not allowed to meet him without an appointment."

"But I want to see him right now! He might like the project ideas!" I didn't care anymore. This wasn't just about me; it was about Sanjay, too.

Paul let out a scoff, his voice dripping with condescension. "Excuse me? I'm the supervisor here for this project. Kathir appointed me to handle everything. I know what's best for this company. And your manager's project isn't worth anything to us."

I couldn't take it. I felt my chest tighten, my vision narrowing. I stood up so suddenly that sofa slightly scraped across the floor, loud enough to snap anyone out of their thoughts. Sanjay's hand landed on my arm, but I wasn't backing down.

"What do you mean, a stupid project? Do you know how hard he worked on this?" My words came out like a dagger, sharp and full of anger.

Mr. Rawther sighed dramatically, clearly annoyed. "Huff... troublemaker, send them out."

I couldn't believe this was happening. I didn't care if they wanted to throw us out. I wasn't leaving until Kathir knew the truth.

Security entered, two men who didn't look like they cared about anything except following orders. They moved toward us, but I stood firm, blocking their path.

"I want to see Kathir!" I shouted, my voice ringing out in the cold room.

Just then, I saw him. Kathir. He wasn't looking at me, but I could feel him as he walked past. My heart skipped a beat. This was it.

"Let me see Sir Kathir!" I shouted again, not caring who heard.

Kathir stopped in his tracks, his body stiffening. He closed his eyes for a second, like he was trying to block out the noise. Then he opened them, and I felt the weight of his gaze, like a punch to the gut. His jaw tightened, and I could see the anger burning in his eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" His voice was low, rough, and filled with frustration.

I couldn't back down now. I looked at him, my heart pounding in my chest, but I stood tall. "Sir, I overheard your employees discussing a plan to sabotage your new project, 'SSMA.' They intend to reject the project ideas on purpose, until you give up and fail."

I could see the anger flicker in Paul's eyes. "Hold on a minute! When did I say any of that?"

I didn't hesitate. "I haven't mentioned anyone's name yet, Paul. But your outburst just now speaks for itself."

I could see the panic creeping into Paul's face, but I didn't care. Kathir was watching him now, and I could see the storm brewing in his eyes.

"Sanjay, where's your project?" Kathir's voice cut through the tension.

"Right here," I said, holding out the project file. My hands were shaking, but I forced myself to hold it steady as I passed it to him. Kathir's fingers brushed against mine, and I felt a jolt run through me. He didn't even look at me as he opened the file, scanning it quickly. His face was unreadable, but his jaw tightened the longer he looked at it.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he pointed at Paul.

"You're fired." His voice was cold, final.

Then, he turned to me. "And you're hired."

I stood there, stunned. Did he just say what I think he said?

"Wait, what?" Paul's voice cracked, his desperation clear. "I've been working here for two years!"

"Stacy!" Kathir called, his tone sharp. Stacy appeared instantly, looking like she was ready for whatever was next.

"Yes, sir?" she replied, her voice calm.

"Make the necessary arrangements."

Stacy nodded and left without another word, moving like she was used to this kind of thing. Kathir didn't even spare a glance as he turned and left the room, the project file still in his hands.

As soon as he was gone, Stacy glanced at Paul, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Paul." Then she turned and followed Kathir.

I stood there, still trying to process everything. My mind was spinning. I didn't expect any of this.

Sanjay, however, seemed to be the only one who wasn't shocked. He punched my shoulder playfully, a grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, Vidya, you're hired! Congratulations!"

I blinked, completely caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Didn't you hear? Just now, Kathir hired you and fired Paul!" Sanjay said, his face lighting up with joy. "Thank you so much, Vidya. Because of you, I get a second chance."

I felt his arms around me in a hug, but my mind was still reeling. I could barely process what had just happened.

"Why did he hire me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Sanjay just smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. "I don't know, but I think he sees something in you."

I stood there, lost in the whirlwind of emotions. Why me? Why not Sanjay, who deserved this just as much? I didn't understand, but somehow, I was part of something much bigger than I had ever imagined.