Chapter 93: Curiosity Of Heart
Author's Note - Chapter 93
Hey, my Lovely Readers! 🌸
I hope you're all doing fantastic and feeling like the stars are shining just for you! ✨
I want to apologize for the slight delay in updating, but I've been putting my heart and soul into making this novel the best it can be! While I aim for perfection, it's more important to make each chapter meaningful, and that sometimes takes a little extra time. I truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
Each story is shaped by its characters and the incredible readers behind it—you. So everything that's happening in this story is a reflection of your love and support, and I hope we continue this beautiful journey together. 💖
However… I've noticed that after you read, there's hardly any feedback! 😢 How am I supposed to know your thoughts and feelings if you don't share them with me? So, I'm asking you all to leave a comment, an emoji, or a GIF to let me know what you think! It could be as simple as a ❤️ or 😍—anything! Your feedback fuels my motivation for the next chapter and keeps me going strong.
Thank you for sticking with me and for being a part of this wonderful journey.
Love always,
~ PENOLA.S💖
P.S. Stay connected with me here:
📸 Instagram: @psole23.words
📘 Facebook: Tale's Of Word
🎥 YouTube: @psole23_words
Let's keep creating magic! ✨
The meeting had concluded, and the boardroom buzzed with a quiet hum of satisfaction. Rudra leaned back in his chair, meticulously flipping through the project files once more, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. Ravi and Aarav exchanged subtle glances as they wrapped up their conversations with Anaya and Janvi. The women stood poised, professional, and prepared—qualities that hadn't gone unnoticed.
As the group dispersed, Aarav's gaze lingered momentarily on Janvi. Something was different about her. The subtle change in her appearance—a newfound confidence in the way she carried herself, a stylish yet understated elegance in her outfit—caught his attention. She wore a cream-colored blouse tucked neatly into a pastel skirt, paired with modest heels that complemented her poised demeanor. It wasn't flashy, but it was undeniably polished.
Aarav raised an eyebrow, curious. When did she change her style? he wondered to himself but quickly pushed the thought aside.
Janvi, meanwhile, felt a strange pull as she noticed Aarav's lingering gaze. She fidgeted slightly, adjusting the files in her arms, and turned to Anaya. "Who are those two men beside Rudra Sir?" she asked, her tone casual but laced with genuine curiosity.
Anaya, who was adjusting her watch and preparing to leave the room, paused and looked at Janvi with a knowing smile. "Hmm, you mean Ravi and Aarav?" she asked, a teasing edge in her voice.
Janvi nodded, slightly hesitant. "Yeah, the one in the brown shirt... Aarav, is it? He seemed... different."
"Different?" Anaya's eyes sparkled with amusement. She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Did something happen? Did he say something?"
Janvi hesitated, her mind flickering back to the brief exchange during the meeting. Aarav's initial bluntness had caught her off guard. "Not really," she replied, her tone measured. "Just... his approach seemed a bit sharp. Maybe I misunderstood."
Anaya tilted her head, studying Janvi for a moment before breaking into a warm laugh. "Oh, Aarav can be blunt sometimes. It's his way of testing people. Don't take it personally." She glanced at her phone. "But hey, let's not dwell on that. We've got work to do. I'll tell you more about them during lunch—if you're free!"
Janvi smiled despite herself. "Alright, deal."
Anaya glanced at the time and broke the silence between them, her tone shifting into a playful lilt. "Okay, Janvi, let's get back to work. I'll let you know when you have some free time. Ohki and shuuuu," she said, giving her a bright, babyish smile. The playful tone was meant to lighten the mood, but it served as a reminder of how quickly the day was passing.
Janvi managed a small, appreciative smile, but her mind was still buzzing. Her eyes drifted back to the faces she had met earlier, especially Aarav Singhaniya. There was something about him that she couldn't quite put her finger on, a certain coldness that had made her feel uneasy. She knew she would have to get used to his presence if she was to continue working here, but for now, her curiosity gnawed at her.
As she was deep in thought, a voice interrupted her musings. It was Kunal, walking toward the pair with an expression of mild frustration. His eyes were fixed on a sheet of paper in his hands, and his brow was creased with a look of concern.
"Janvi," Kunal said, pausing before her desk. He glanced at the papers scattered across her workspace, his tone firm but not unkind. "Can we take a look at the report you submitted today? I noticed a few mistakes. Can you rewrite it? Anaya, you've got a bit of free time, right? I need you to help her with this. I'll hand you a coding file; maybe you can make some sense of it while you're at it," he said, holding out a sheaf of papers toward Janvi and a coding file toward Anaya.
Janvi felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She hadn't anticipated making any errors and had hoped that her work would meet expectations. Her fingers trembled a bit as she took the report from Kunal, her eyes scanning through the pages quickly.
Anaya glanced at the file, then back at Janvi, and her expression softened. "Of course, Kunal. I'd be happy to help," she said, trying to sound reassuring. She gave Janvi a sympathetic smile before standing up and walking over to her colleague.
Janvi looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and gratitude. She mumbled a quick thanks, her voice laced with a bit of hesitation. "I— I'm so sorry. I thought it was fine," she said softly, her eyes still glued to the page in her hands.
Anaya smiled gently, sitting down next to her. "It's okay, Janvi. We all make mistakes," she said, her tone calming. "Let's go through this together. I'll guide you, and we'll get it sorted out in no time," she added, her voice carrying a note of confidence that seemed to steady Janvi's nerves.
As they began to work through the report, Janvi felt a strange kind of relief wash over her. Anaya's ability to break down the problem and help her see it more clearly was impressive. With each suggestion, Janvi's confidence grew, and she found herself more focused, gradually gaining a deeper understanding of her work and the process behind it.
While Anaya explained the logic behind the coding she was working on, Janvi listened intently, feeling a spark of interest she hadn't anticipated. As she got to grips with the complexities of the coding and the strategy involved, her eyes lit up with understanding. Anaya smiled approvingly, noticing the shift in her demeanor.
•••••••••••▫▫▫▫⑄⑄⑄▫▫▫▫•••••••••••▫▫▫▫▫⑄⑄⑄▫▫▫▫•••••••••••••❥•••••••••▫▫▫▫⑄⑄⑄▫▫▫▫•••••••••••▫▫▫▫▫⑄⑄⑄▫▫▫▫•••••••••••
Meanwhile, Aarav Singhaniya had managed to sneak out of the meeting room unnoticed. As he rushed through the busy hallway, his eyes scanned the crowd in search of his 143 candidate. The image of her bright, curious eyes still lingered in his mind, and he was determined to find her.
Aarav had always been focused and dedicated to his work, but something about her had piqued his interest in a way that went beyond a simple curiosity. He knew he couldn't let this chance slip by; he needed to make sure that he understood her and her capabilities better.
As he pushed open the door to the café adjacent to the office building, his eyes immediately found her. She was hunched over her desk, furiously writing and frowning in concentration. Her fingers danced across the keyboard, and her eyes were fixed on the screen as she worked through the challenges in front of her.
A smile flickered on Aarav's lips, his brow softening. He watched her for a moment, noting how she had changed. Her hair was neatly styled, and she had an aura of determination around her, a focused intensity that he found intriguing.
He approached her quietly, his footsteps echoing softly in the otherwise silent room. When Janvi finally noticed his presence, her eyes widened, and she froze mid-sentence, her fingers stilling on the keyboard. She swallowed hard, looking up slowly, her eyes locking with his piercing gaze.
Aarav offered a slight nod of acknowledgment, his expression stoic, as he spoke in a low, deliberate tone. "I heard you're having a bit of trouble with the report," he said, his voice edged with an air of confidence. His tone wasn't unkind, but there was a certain formality to it that made Janvi feel like she was standing under the eye of a jury.
Janvi blinked, her cheeks flushing as she glanced down at her hands nervously. "Y-yes," she stammered. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't realize I'd made any mistakes. I'll redo it right away," she added, her tone tinged with embarrassment.
Aarav raised an eyebrow, looking down at the report in her hands. His eyes glinted with interest as he studied the document for a moment before speaking again. "I see. It's not the end of the world," he said, his voice flat but not unkind. "But you should take the time to learn the details better. Sometimes, it's not just about knowing what to do, but why," he added, his words laced with a subtle undertone that hinted at deeper expectations.
Janvi felt a knot form in her stomach, a mixture of frustration and embarrassment coursing through her veins. She felt a surge of irritation toward his seemingly aloof attitude but quickly suppressed it. She nodded curtly, trying to mask the surge of emotion. "I'm trying to understand," she muttered, her voice carrying a hint of stubbornness.
Aarav's eyes softened for a moment, and he gave her a small, almost imperceptible smirk. "I can see that," he replied, glancing at Anaya, who was intently engaged in her work. "Just... keep going. Focus, and it'll get easier."
He lingered for a beat, his eyes returning to Janvi, who looked back at him with a mix of resentment and determination. Then, he turned, his eyes shifting back to Anaya, and offered a polite nod before exiting the room. As he left, Janvi felt a surge of frustration wash over her, a bitter taste settling on her tongue.
Anaya watched him go, glancing back at Janvi, whose expression had shifted to one of contemplation mixed with frustration. She placed a comforting hand on Janvi's shoulder. "Don't mind him. He's... well, that's just Aarav," she said, shaking her head in amusement.
Janvi huffed, glancing back at her screen with a determined gaze. "I'll prove I can do this," she muttered to herself, her voice low but firm.
Anaya smiled softly, feeling a surge of pride. "That's the spirit," she said warmly, trying to infuse her tone with confidence. "Let's keep at it. You're doing great," she added, offering a genuine smile that seemed to break the tension in the air.
The two women returned to their work, the intensity in the room rising as they focused on the task at hand. As the afternoon wore on, the sound of keyboards clicking and pens scribbling echoed off the walls, each woman feeling a renewed sense of determination in their eyes.
And just as Janvi vowed to prove herself, Aarav found himself thinking about her—her sharp mind, her determination, and the fire that burned behind her eyes. He knew she had the potential, but she was still a diamond in the rough. He had a feeling that the hunt was far from over.
❥❥❥❥❥ ❥❥❥❥❥ ❥❥❥❥❥ ❥❥❥❥❥ ❥❥❥❥❥ ❥❥❥❥❥
The office was in full swing. The sound of typing keyboards, ringing phones, and the occasional murmur of colleagues moving about created a constant buzz in the air. It was the typical chaotic yet organized world of Singhaniya Corp—a world in which both Anaya and Janvi had found themselves entwined. After the morning's meeting with the three men—the stoic Rudra, his sharp-eyed brother Aarav, and the ever-present Kunal—the two women returned to their workstations. But something about the encounter lingered in the air, especially for Janvi.
Anaya looked at the time, the sharp click of her wristwatch breaking through the quiet. "Okay, Janvi, let's get back to work," Anaya said with a playful glint in her eyes, her voice light and teasing.
"I'll let you know when you have some free time. Ohki and shuuuu," she added with a soft chuckle, mimicking the tone of a mischievous child. The funny babyish tone helped break the lingering tension between them, but Anaya also wanted to ensure that her colleague didn't feel too overwhelmed by everything happening around them.
Janvi managed a weak smile, trying to mask the thoughts still swirling in her head. Her mind kept replaying her first impressions of Aarav Singhaniya—those cold, calculating eyes and the way he carried himself so confidently. Unlike Rudra, whose calm yet authoritative presence was unmistakable, Aarav had an aura that felt more distant, colder. His sharp words earlier that day had left a bitter taste in her mouth.
As Janvi tried to focus on the task at hand, her eyes unconsciously wandered toward the door. Through the glass windows, she saw Aarav moving briskly down the hallway, his posture exuding purpose. There was something about him—his meticulous movements, his air of detachment—that drew her attention. Janvi's eyes lingered on him longer than she cared to admit, but she quickly shook her head and turned back to her screen, pushing those thoughts away.
Anaya, who had been watching Janvi quietly, noticed her distraction. But instead of commenting, she decided to keep the mood light. "Don't worry," she said with a wink. "I'll tell you everything when you get some free time. But for now, let's focus."
Janvi nodded, grateful for Anaya's attempt to break the tension. She knew she would need to get back into the rhythm of things. She was still adjusting to the office dynamics—especially the presence of the men, who, in their own way, seemed to demand both respect and fear.
Just as Janvi began typing, Kunal approached their desks, carrying a pile of documents. His serious expression contrasted with the usual relaxed atmosphere in the office, and Janvi instinctively straightened up in her seat.
"Janvi," Kunal said, his voice even but laced with a hint of concern, "Can we look at today's report? I noticed a few mistakes that need to be fixed. I'll need you to rewrite it." He handed her a folder, his gaze moving between her and the screen where the report was displayed. "Also, Anaya, you've got a bit of free time, right?" Kunal continued, shifting his attention to Anaya. "Could you assist her with the corrections? I've also got this coding file. Maybe you can help with that while you're at it," he added, handing Anaya a file that looked technical and intricate.
Anaya took the coding file and looked at Janvi with a knowing smile. She could see the subtle tension on Janvi's face. The last thing Janvi needed right now was another mistake, and the pressure of fixing it was evident. But Anaya had learned long ago that in the world of corporate life, perfection was the only acceptable outcome. She stood up and moved to Janvi's side, her voice calm and steady.
"It's okay, Janvi," Anaya said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "We all make mistakes. I've been there." Her fingers lightly grazed the keyboard as she scanned the report, her eyes taking in the details quickly.
Janvi's face flushed with embarrassment. She wasn't used to making mistakes, especially not in front of Kunal. She had been working hard to prove herself in this new role, and now, it seemed like everything was slipping away. "I— I didn't realize," Janvi murmured, staring at the pages. "I thought I had it right."
Anaya gave her a gentle pat on the back, sensing the stress creeping up on her colleague. "It's okay, Janvi. Don't stress. Let's go through it together, step by step. You'll see where it needs fixing," Anaya said with a bright smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Janvi felt a mix of relief and gratitude. She had heard rumors about Anaya's work ethic—how sharp and efficient she was. Janvi had even heard some of the other team members speak of her as a role model. But this was the first time she truly saw it in action. Anaya's methodical approach and calm demeanor helped ease Janvi's anxiety. They worked side by side, each contributing their expertise as they went over the report again and again, correcting every detail.
As they worked, Janvi couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Anaya. She had already noticed that Anaya was a natural leader, even in her quieter moments. But it was in these interactions, these small gestures of kindness and support, that Janvi truly saw what made her different. Anaya wasn't just a colleague—she was a mentor; someone who could help guide her through this new world.
☍☍☍☍☍☍☍☍______☍☍☍☍☍☍☍☍______☍☍☍☍☍☍☍☍______☍☍☍☍☍☍☍☍______☍☍☍☍☍☍☍☍
Meanwhile, Aarav had left the meeting room, his expression unreadable as he strode down the hallway. His mind, however, was anything but calm. He couldn't stop thinking about Janvi. There was something about her—her sharpness, her determination. But there was also an uncertainty about her, an unfamiliar hesitancy that piqued his interest.
Aarav pushed open the door to the café adjacent to the office building. His eyes scanned the room, quickly scanning for any signs of her presence. There, seated at a corner table, he spotted her—Janvi. She was hunched over a laptop, her focus entirely on the screen in front of her, her brow furrowed in concentration. There was something captivating about the way she threw herself into her work.
Aarav leaned against the doorframe for a moment, watching her. It wasn't the first time he had noticed her, but it was the first time he allowed himself the luxury of truly observing her. Janvi's sharp eyes, the intensity with which she tackled her tasks—he had underestimated her at first. There was no denying it now. She was impressive.
After a brief pause, he pushed himself off the doorframe and approached her desk. Janvi looked up when she felt his presence. Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Aarav.
"Janvi," Aarav's voice was measured and calm, though it held a certain sharpness to it. "I heard you're having some trouble with the report," he said, his eyes locking onto the screen in front of her. "It's not the end of the world," he added, his tone unexpectedly softer than it had been in the meeting earlier. "But you should take more time to pay attention to the details. It's not just about getting it right—it's about understanding why it's right."
Janvi stared at him for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. "I… I'll fix it right away," she said, her voice tight but firm. She didn't like being corrected, especially by someone who had barely spoken to her. But there was something about Aarav's presence—his authoritative, yet detached air—that made her feel both uncomfortable and compelled to prove herself.
Aarav raised an eyebrow, observing her closely. "I'm sure you will," he said, his voice softening just a touch. He paused for a moment before offering her a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. "Just keep going. Stay focused. You'll get it right." With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet room.
Janvi watched him leave, a swirl of emotions flooding her chest. She wasn't sure if she should be grateful for his advice or irritated by his bluntness. The coldness he exuded made her want to retreat, but his words lingered in her mind.
Anaya, who had been quietly observing the exchange from the corner of the room, gave Janvi an understanding look. "Don't worry about him. That's just Aarav for you," she said softly, offering her colleague a comforting smile. "He's not the easiest person to talk to, but when he speaks, you know he means business."
Janvi nodded, trying to push away the unease that had settled within her. "I'll show him," she muttered to herself, her eyes determined. "I'll show him that I can do this."
Anaya smiled at her, her voice gentle but encouraging. "That's the spirit," she said warmly. "You're doing great, Janvi. Keep it up."
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and the rhythmic clicking of keys. Janvi found herself more focused than ever, the challenge of proving herself driving her forward. As the evening wore on, the office began to empty, and the quiet was punctuated only by the occasional murmur of voices.
Aarav, meanwhile, continued his search for the perfect candidate. His thoughts occasionally drifted to Janvi, but he quickly pushed them aside. There was no time for distractions—not with everything he had to accomplish. Yet, as he walked out of the office building and into the cool night air, something told him that this was only the beginning of something much more complicated.
To be continued....