Niharika's POV
Closing my eyes and relaxing a bit on my office chair, I went back to my college days.
It was 3rd August, fifteen years ago when I first saw Arpit. He was my classmate during graduation. Sitting alone on my college desk and waiting for the professor to come, I had been checking my emails, when he entered the class and sat down beside me. I observed his movements as he kept his almost empty bag near my bulky bag which had many books.
"Hi. Actually this is my first day and it's been a week since college has begun, I am a bit late to join the course. Please could you share your notes with me? I want to know what all topics have begun. Please guide me", he spoke timidly to me with a slurred speech as I looked at him wide-eyed.
I helped him with the notes and we even had our lunch together in the college canteen, wherein, he asked, "By the way, what's your name?"
Smiling at his innocence, I said "Niharika Sehgal" and embarrassed at my foolishness, I enquired his name.
We both laughed at our deed that we exchanged our names after sitting together for four hours.
I was happy that I got a friend in college. Being an introvert and depressed at my current state, I never made friends in college and no one came to talk to me.
*****
Mr. Bose knocked at the door of my cabin compelling me to come out of my thoughts. He enquired if I had shortlisted some candidates to which I asked are there only six applications.
"Madam, we got others too but they didn't clear the interview with the team. Out of these six, you can see since you will be heading this project. Otherwise we will publish the advertisement again", said Mr. Bose.
"Okay then, call Dr. Arpit Khandelwal for the interview at 11a.m on Monday."
"He is the best choice, madam. Having graduated from your college, he got his doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge. He had been working over plants since fifteen years in the industry. He was previously working with Jurlique in Australia", Mr. Bose began to blabber.
"Call him. Let's see if he would work with us or not", said as I picked up my bag for leaving the office.
*****
During the ride back home, I remembered the days of our college when Arpit and I used to spend time together taking classes, studying in the library and sharing our thoughts, our fears and our plans of life. People thought we were into a relationship but he was inclined towards his career and I had a responsibility for my parents' business after them. Though I had planned to propose to him on the last day of college but it never happened.
Thinking of the altercation between us, I stiffened with anger. I don't know the reason why he reacted that way even till today.
"How could he speak to me like that?"
I will definitely teach him a lesson now, I mentally planned. After all, I had a chance to show that I am his employer.
Niharika's POVReaching home at around seven in the evening, I freshened up and came in the lobby to find Sapna who had already set up the dinner table. Sapna is indeed a hard working lady. After the death of her husband, she began working here. For last two years, she has proven to be a good friend. She handles a bit of my work in the study and takes care of my house.I had my dinner and I went to my study. I had to review the marketing strategy of our products. Though I have trustworthy employees around me, I still check each and every detail of my company.I remembered my mother used to emphasize over knowing each and every detail of the work one is doing.Thinking of my mother, a tear crept from my eye.I felt devastated and lonely. I wish she were with me. She would have been proud of me.However, life is never the same. I began visualizing the unfortunate day when I lost my parents.*****Fifteen years agoDad and mom inaug
Arpit's POVHaving my dinner, I checked my email from 'The Exquisite'.HelloWe are delighted to inform you that you have passed the interview with the HR Department of the company. There is the last interview with the company's MD who will be directly handling your project. The interview is scheduled on Monday, the 29th of July, 2019 at 11:00 A.M in the 'The Exquisite House', 12th floor. Kindly acknowledge your presence.RegardsThe Exquisite TeamI was utterly surprised at the third round of screening in a way as if they are hiring freshers. I doubt who the fool is the MD. By the way, an interview for the post of Scientist by a Managing Director sounds unique. I wish I were abroad and my resume could speak for me. Unfortunately, I have lost all hopes.Life has other plans or else my mother would have shifted with me in Australia peacefully.Anyway, I wrote an acknowledging email and planned to reach the office on Monday.*****
Arpit's POVReaching home, I checked my email to find a mail from Niharika, the girl I had hurt the most and my would-be boss. A strange feeling crept inside me.The mail read -HelloDr. Arpit Khandelwal, this is to inform you that you are provisionally selected as the Senior Scientist for the project - "Production of anti-aging skincare products herbally" led by Dr. Niharika Sehgal, Managing Director - 'The Exquisite'Kindly report your proposal for the same within two days of this email.RegardsDr. Niharika Sehgal*****Well! Her email bragged of her superiority. Oh! God, she is still the same. I doubt whether my Niharika has even grown up or not. I chuckled at the thought of my Niharika.I remembered the past. The days when we used to enjoy to the core. I had a kind of crush over her. I mean I have never had such an attachment with any other girl in my life. I wanted to propose her for a relationship after establishing
Niharika's POVMy day at the office was fine except for the interview I had with the one and only, the arrogant monster, Dr. Arpit Khandelwal. No doubts, he is still the same, confident and no-nonsense type. He was visibly irritated by mine 'seem to have' phrase, which I commented indirectly wanting to see if he could hide his emotions or not. He has turned really handsome and was looking marvellous in his blue business suit. His amber-green eyes were deep enough for me to dive into them. I avoided looking in his eyes.Later, I went to the construction site of my new factory and monitored the things there. I had to talk with the engineer and architect there. The progress of the factory-site was going well.I had a fashion event that evening. Dressed in an elegant purple evening gown, I attended the event. My cosmetic products were advertised there. It was a blissful evening to combat the morning interview until my business rival, Mr. Vikram Walia arrived at the par
Arpit's POVIt was drizzling this morning. I love rain. Well! It is because I used to enjoy the rains with Niharika during college. Whenever it rains, I remember her. So many years have passed but it seems it's just a previous day. No doubt my sister complains that I am stuck in the past. She was too innocent in those days. I wonder if she has changed a lot. She has surely moved on. After all, we aren't teenagers anymore and she doesn't even know that she is indeed, special to me. She doesn't even know that I was attracted to her and I haven't felt such an attraction with anyone till now.Since I will be meeting her today because it is my first day for work, I remembered one of our stupid adventure which gave me goosebumps literally.*****Once during our second year, she had been wearing a white top and black jeans. It was during the month of September and it started pouring like cats and dogs. Niharika and I were studying together on the lawn. She removed a
Niharika's POVIt was raining today. I used to love rains at a time but now I despise rains to the core. It was raining when I lost a good friend. The guy whom I loved, respected and liked the most insulted me on a rainy day. The guy whose dreams I thought were mine shattered all my dreams and this rain wiped those broken pieces years ago. Drinking my coffee, I began visualizing the past once again.Remembering those idiotic college days, a tear skipped from my eye.During our second year in college, out of no reason Arpit had begun behaving weirdly. I knew about his finances. I knew he had some tensions. I thought he needed support and as a good friend, I spoke over the phone when he shouted at me leaving me broken into thousand pieces. Ideally I should have stopped the things right away but I planned to mend everything and decided to speak to him in the class next day.It was raining on the day when I decided to speak to him. I remembered I wore a white kur
Arpit's POVI had been waiting to meet Niharika today primarily because I had planned to apologize for my selfish deeds in the past. I couldn't control my urges and I bombarded my anger on her disturbing her throughout. Infact, the worst thing is I didn't even apologize to her before leaving the college.I remembered that I had planned to apologize to her on the last day of college. It was our last examination of third year and we were bidding goodbye to each other marking the end of our college life. I had dressed up in a maroon T-shirt, the one which she had gifted me on Friendship Day. I had worn it almost after a year. In the exam hall, I was restless, how to talk to her and what would I say. Completing my exam in time, I rushed towards her examination room. She came out of the room after the bell rang, handing over her answer sheets to the invigilator.She walked past me. I tried to stop her, I called her but she didn't listen. I ran past her and stood in fron
Niharika's POVI immediately contacted Mr. Bose informing him what Mr. Walia had said. We focussed over the people knowing about this project. Only me, Mr. Bose, Arpit and Sapna knew about it. I couldn't imagine who could betray me. Mind pointed out at Arpit but instincts did not. Mr. Bose has never done anything like that despite having several opportunities in the past. He is the one whom I could trust. Sapna is kind of mysterious but what would a house maid do, I thought brushing off all these thoughts.While discussing the things Vikram could do, we realized possibilities are endless. My annual fashion show, international deal and shares are under a serious threat apart from the research project, I realized.During the discussion, one of my employees came up with a letter. Upon examination, we realized it was a court notice. A woman named Niyati Verma had complained against our facial cream in the consumer forum. According to her, many customers in her beauty s