"Two souls collide, a spark, a start,

A fleeting glance, yet a racing heart."

"Destiny's thread, tightly intertwined,

Two hearts, one past, forever aligned."

AUTHOR'S POV(VAISHNAVI):

The bustling streets of Bangalore welcomed Vaishnavi with chaos—honking cars, shouting vendors, and the sticky warmth of the city. She pulled her suitcase along, her face calm despite the turmoil within.

What a messy day to have, Vaishnavi thought. Traveling was exhausting enough, but staying alone in an unknown city for three days added to her frustration. Her friends were attending their interviews together in mumbai, laughing and enjoying each other's company, while she was here—alone.

But Vaishnavi had mastered the art of masking her struggles. Her smile was her armor, concealing every ounce of disappointment beneath. She wasn't one to be walked over; she was sharp-tongued with those who deserved it and a sweetheart to her loved ones.

Checking into the hotel her father had booked, she sighed deeply, allowing herself a brief moment of rest. The plush mattress seemed to embrace her exhaustion, and within moments, sleep claimed her. Tomorrow would be a big day.

The next morning arrived with a crisp breeze and a golden sunrise. Vaishnavi dressed sharply—confidence reflected in every detail of her attire. Telcas Company was a towering glass structure, reflecting both power and prestige. Despite her father being the CEO of a renowned IT company, Vaishnavi had chosen to build her path from scratch. No shortcuts, no privileges.

Inside, the interview process was...strange. The questions were brief, the interviewers uninterested. She noticed their eyes skim over her résumé without care. There was no pressure, no challenge—just a bland routine.

Her instincts buzzed. Something's off.

The truth hit her like a slap when she overheard two employees whispering near the water cooler.

"Why bother sitting through these interviews when the placements are already fixed?"

"I know, right? It's all for show. The selected candidates are already decided."

Vaishnavi felt her blood boil. She had spent years preparing, countless nights studying, only to be a pawn in a rigged game.

Without hesitation, she marched to the reception desk, her voice cutting through the room, "Call your CEO. Right now!"

The receptionist stammered, "M-ma'am, is there a problem?"

"A problem? Oh, there's more than one. I don't care if this is how you run your circus, but someone here is going to explain why you're wasting people's time!"

The room grew silent, and eyes turned toward her. But Vaishnavi didn't care about the scene. She cared about justice.

Suddenly, from behind her, a smooth, commanding voice broke the silence.

"Madam Ko Pani Pilao," the man said. 

(serve water to madam)

The tone—was it laced with concern or mockery? Vaishnavi didn't wait to find out. She spun on her heel and headed for the exit, her pulse pounding. As she knew no matter how much she protested  about it or try to make an issue it will go unnoticed as she was merely an intern.

She was determined ,never to work in this type of environment ever ,against her principles.

AUTHOR'S POV(RITVIK):

The sun glinted off the towering glass windows of Telcas Company, casting an imposing reflection of power and prestige. Inside, the air buzzed with the hum of conversations, clicking heels, and ringing phones. Amidst this, Ritvik Khurana walked through the entrance, his presence commanding attention.

Dressed in a sleek, custom-tailored suit, his sharp jawline and confident stride made heads turn—especially those of the women in the lobby, their eyes trailing after him. But Ritvik was oblivious to their stares, his focus locked on the screen of his phone.

He was here for one reason only: to attend a meeting on behalf of his brother, Vihan. Telcas Company, known for its ruthless business strategies, was familiar territory to the Khurana family. After their fathers death the only person to hold the family strong and with power was Vihan and ritvik looked up to him. Sure he was easy going person but when it comes to professionalism he becomes a whole different perosn .

A polite voice broke his concentration. "Sir, the CEO is currently overseeing interviews. It will be about 10-15 minutes. You may wait in the office near the reception," the secretary informed him.

Ritvik gave a curt nod and walked to the office area, his men flanking him. Settling into a chair, he immersed himself in his work, ignoring the fluttering glances from nearby employees.

That was until a sharp, fiery voice pierced through the air.

"Call your CEO! I want to meet them. Right now!"

Ritvik's eyes flicked up from his phone, his attention caught by the scene unfolding at the reception.

A young woman, facing her back towards him,  Fierce stood her ground against the receptionist. Her tone was edged with both anger and determination.

His curiosity piqued, Ritvik turned to his aide. "What's going on there?"

One of his man , leaned in. "Sir, it seems she's here for the internship interview. I heard the placements were already decided, and this... confrontation might be because of it."

A smirk tugged at Ritvik's lips. Interesting, he thought. Not many dared to challenge a system they knew was rigged.

His voice was smooth, almost amused, as he instructed, "Madam ko pani pilao."

Aryan hesitated. "Sir?"

Ritvik's eyes didn't leave the girl. "You heard me. Let's see how she quenches her fire."

As the receptionist hurried to comply, Ritvik watched the girl's back —unrelenting, raw, and unapologetically bold—storm out of the building, her anger palpable in every step. Something inside him wished to have a look at her face but he knew he couldn't.

And something unfamiliar stirred within him.

LATER in the meeting room ,

Ritvik stood before Arjun Malhotra, the Vice President of Telcas.

"I expected you tomorrow," Arjun said, leaning back with a smirk.

Ritvik chuckled. "Couldn't resist. Telcas always finds a way to entertain me."

Arjun raised a brow. "The girl?"

Ritvik's eyes gleamed. "You saw her too?"

Arjun nodded, his expression amused. "She had quite the spirit. Stormed out before I could offer her something... better." 

Ritvik's lips quirked. "She doesn't need offers. She needs a challenge."

Arjun tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Are you suggesting...?"

"I want her in the internship program," Ritvik declared, his tone firm. "But  give her offer letter and shift her to our company at Mumbai branch, i think you can do that knowing you owe me so much more than this."

Arjun smirked. "You're intrigued, aren't you?"

Ritvik's gaze turned distant. "I admire... courage. And something tells me her story isn't finished here."

The feeling whatever it was a foreign feeling for him. But he wasn't amongst the one to back up....

AUTHOR'S POV(VAISHNAVI):

 The soft hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in the room as Vaishnavi tossed her bag on the couch and collapsed onto the bed. The city lights flickered through the window, but her mood was anything but serene. Frustration bubbled inside her, and she needed to vent.

Grabbing her phone, she hit the video call button. Within seconds, Rivan's face appeared on the screen, his expression softening the moment he saw her scowl.

Rivan: "Whoa! Someone's on fire. What happened?"

Vaishnavi didn't waste a second.

Vaishnavi (bursting out): "Do you know how bastardly they were?! I swear, Rivan, I've never seen such a sham! The whole interview was fixed! FIXED!"

Rivan: "Wait, what? What happened? Start from the beginning."

Vaishnavi (pacing): "I was so ready, Rivan! But those morons—" (she throws her hand up) "—they barely asked anything! And then, I find out... it was all for show! The placements were already decided! Can you believe it?!"

Rivan (frowning): "Are you serious? That's... messed up."

Vaishnavi (huffing): "Yeah, well, I didn't take it quietly. I marched straight to the reception and demanded to meet someone with a brain—"

Rivan (cutting in with a half-smile): "Oh God... what did you do, Vaish?"

Vaishnavi (gritting her teeth): "I called them out! Loud and clear! I was this close to flipping the reception desk—"

Rivan (grinning): "Classic you."

Vaishnavi (throwing her hands up): "And now... Saisha's not even picking up my calls! Where is she?!"

Rivan (calmly): "Relax, Vaish. She's probably knocked out. It was a long day for her too, remember?"

Vaishnavi's shoulders slumped as the adrenaline began to wear off.

Vaishnavi: "Ugh... You're right. It's just... I'm so mad, Rivan. I wanted to punch something!"

Rivan (softly): "Yeah, I know. But what's done is done. Now listen to me." (He pauses, waiting until she meets his gaze through the screen) "Breathe. And... don't let today's crap mess with tomorrow's shot. You've got another interview, right?"

 Vaishnavi pressed her lips together, nodding

Rivan: " Either way, you're walking in there tomorrow with your head high, like you always do. Right?"

Vaishnavi's lips twitched into a faint smirk.

Vaishnavi: "You always know how to make me calm down."

Rivan (grinning): "It's my superpower."

Vaishnavi (with a playful eye-roll): "Fine. I'll kill it tomorrow. But if they pull something shady Too—"

Rivan (laughing): "Then you can flip the entire building. Deal?"

Vaishnavi (chuckling): "Deal."

The call ended, and silence returned to the room. Vaishnavi lay back against the pillows, the anger still simmering, but a new determination brewing beneath it.

SAISHA's POV:

It was finally the day—the day I would face my interview. My heart raced with excitement and nervousness. Out of the two companies I had applied for, Midcon and the renowned Veltrix Enterprises, today was Midcon's turn to test me.

I adjusted my blue official suit, feeling the crisp fabric against my skin. It felt like armor—my shield of confidence. As I stepped into the hotel lobby, I spotted Rivan, waiting for me. He was deep in conversation with two men, his posture relaxed but authoritative.

The moment his eyes met mine, the men gave polite nods and walked away. I approached him with a raised brow.

"Who were they?" I asked curiously.

Rivan slid his hands into his pockets casually. "Just a couple of people Dad knows from business. They stopped by to say hello."

I nodded, brushing off any curiosity. "Alright then. Let's go."

Rivan grinned. "You ready to ace it, kiddo?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I smirked.

He chuckled. "Good. My interview's at Zentor Group today. Let's both crush it."

We exchanged a quick fist bump before parting ways.

The atmosphere at Midcon was intense. The waiting room buzzed with quiet tension as candidates like me sat, rehearsing answers and flipping through resumes. I could feel my pulse quicken, but I told myself: You've got this, Saisha.

The hours blurred into minutes. Before I knew it, I was in front of the interview panel. The questions came rapid-fire, but I met each one with steady confidence. When they threw me a tricky situation-based query, I responded with a smile and a sharp solution.

By the time I walked out of the interview room, a strange calmness settled over me. I knew I had done well.

The sky had turned to shades of amber and lilac when I stepped outside through the main entrance. The cool evening breeze brushed against my face. My phone buzzed, and I checked it—no messages from Rivan yet. I tried calling him, but he didn't pick up.

As I waited, a strange sensation crept over me—like someone was watching. I froze, my eyes scanning the crowd. People moved about, but no one seemed out of place. Yet, the feeling persisted, sending a cold shiver down my spine.

I swallowed and fumbled for my phone again. My fingers hovered over the call button when—

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I gasped and spun around, my heart leaping to my throat. "AH!"

But the familiar face stopped me mid-scream.

"Rivan!" I slapped his arm. "Are you insane? You nearly killed me with a heart attack!"

Rivan doubled over, laughing. "Your face—priceless! I swear you looked like you saw a ghost."

I scowled, my pulse still racing. "Not funny!"

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. But from your freak-out, I can guess the interview went well."

I huffed but couldn't help the small smile tugging my lips. "Yeah... it actually did."

Rivan's playful grin softened into something warm. "Knew you'd nail it. Now..." he tilted his head toward the street. "How about we celebrate with some dinner?"

The tension in my chest eased, and I smiled fully this time. "You're paying."

"Obviously. Victory treat," he smirked.

That night, exhaustion wrapped around me like a heavy blanket. I didn't even bother to check my phone, completely forgetting to update MaskedMan about how my day went. My fingers barely touched the screen before sleep dragged me under.

And in the silence of my dreams, I missed the notification—a message from him.

MaskedMan: "How did it go today, gummy bear?"

HEY CUTIES PLZ VOTE AND COMMENT SO THAT ILL KNOW YOU LIKE THE PLOT .

HAPPY READING LOVIES.

LOVE ALL, GOD BLESS.