Chapter - 14 "The Hug I Waited a Lifetime For"

Office – Aarohi in Shock

Aarohi sat frozen, struggling to process the fact that this company belonged to Nirvay. How did I not realize this sooner?

After a few minutes, she gathered herself and walked over to Dhruv.

Aarohi (hesitantly):

"Dhruv… can I meet the CEO?"

Dhruv (without even thinking):

"No way! He's the CEO, not Champak, that anyone can casually meet him."

Aarohi (softly):

"Please…"

Dhruv (teasingly):

"Why do you need to meet the CEO? Just trying to compare who's more handsome — me or him?"

Aarohi (serious):

"I'm really not in the mood for jokes."

Dhruv:

"Madam ji, CEOs are always super busy. You need an appointment and a valid reason — you have neither."

Aarohi:

"Can you help me, please?"

Dhruv (thinking, then explaining):

"Look, usually Neha ma'am personally takes the reports to the CEO. And if she's unavailable or busy, our Shruti goes. No one else from the marketing department ever goes there."

Aarohi:

"Does Nirvay sir ever visit our department? It's been a week, but I haven't seen him anywhere."

Dhruv:

"He's the CEO, Aarohi. He doesn't drop by. And yeah, there's a private lift next to his office. It directly takes him to his personal parking area at the back of the building. That's why we never see him coming or going. Nirvay sir is like a Marvel superhero — always appearing and disappearing!"

Dhruv (proudly):

"But listen, I do have some connections. I can maybe get you an appointment through his personal assistant. My reach goes all the way up, okay?"

Aarohi (curious):

"And what exactly would you tell his PA?"

Dhruv (grinning):

"I'd say — 'Aarohi Singh from the marketing department wants to meet the soon-to-be CEO, to confirm once and for all who's the most handsome person in this entire office!'" [bursts out laughing]

Aarohi (unamused):

"Very funny."

She quietly returned to her desk, her mind restless.

Aarohi (thinking):

At this rate, I'll never get to meet him… If Nirvay wanted to meet me, he would've done it by now. What should I do? How can I meet him?

That entire day, she kept trying to find ways but nothing worked.

Night – Phone Call with Sukhi

Aarohi (urgently):

"Sukhi, the company I'm working for — it's Nirvay's company."

Sukhi (pretending to be surprised):

"Really? Did you meet him?!"

Aarohi (disappointed):

"No… and I don't know how I'm supposed to."

Sukhi (teasing):

"Oh, so you want to meet him?"

Aarohi:

"Yes, I do."

Sukhi:

"Wow, someone's serious now…"

Aarohi (mocking tone):

"Anyway, I'm hanging up. I have office tomorrow. Unlike you, I'm not dreaming about marriage and kids. Bye, good night."

Sukhi (laughing):

"Good night, Miss No-Time-For-Marriage!"

Aarohi smiled faintly as she ended the call, but deep inside, she knew — tomorrow, she had to find a way .

Office – After Lunch

Dhruv (excitedly):

"Aarohi! You must be so happy today! Neha ma'am isn't here, and guess what? Nirvay sir has asked for a file from the marketing department. I told Shruti to send you instead."

Aarohi (surprised):

"Really?"

Dhruv:

"Yeah. Just remember, when his personal assistant asks, 'Shruti from marketing department?' — you say, 'No, it's Aarohi from marketing department.' Got it?"

Aarohi (grinning slightly):

"Okay."

Dhruv (playfully):

"And yeah, don't bother saying thank you! You've been buying me coffee for a whole week — from your own money. I'm already paid in full!"

Aarohi:

"Very funny."

Lift to CEO's Office

As Aarohi held the file tightly in her hands, she stepped into the private lift.

Her heart was racing, emotions swirling inside her — excitement, nervousness, confusion.

It was impossible to put those feelings into words.

I'm really going to meet him…

When she reached the CEO's floor, she walked towards his personal assistant's desk.

Aarohi (softly):

"Hi, I'm from the marketing department. I need to deliver this file to sir."

Assistant:

"Shruti, right?"

Aarohi (calmly):

"Yes."

Assistant:

"Okay, go ahead."

Nirvay's Cabin

Aarohi knocked gently.

Nirvay (without looking up, busy typing):

"Yes, come in."

Aarohi stepped inside.

Aarohi (emotionally):

"Nirvay."

Nirvay froze.

His fingers paused on the keyboard.

Slowly, he looked up — and there she was.

Nirvay (stunned, standing up immediately):

"Aarohi? Please… this time, don't misunderstand me. Please just listen to me—"

But before he could finish, Aarohi ran to him and hugged him tightly.

Aarohi (whispering, almost in tears):

"I missed you, Nirvay."

Nirvay was completely taken aback — his heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected this.

But then, slowly, he hugged her back, holding her close.

Nirvay (softly):

"I missed you too."

After a few seconds, Aarohi gently stepped back, both of them feeling a little awkward but happy.

Aarohi (calming herself):

"How's Jai?"

Nirvay (smiling):

"Much better now. He's in 10th grade."

Aarohi (genuinely happy):

"That's good."

Both stood silently for a moment, realizing how much they still meant to each other.