Outside, Riya immediately stood up.
“What happened?” she asked.
Shanaya exhaled deeply.
“I think… I fought with my boss before even getting the job.”
Riya’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
Shanaya shook her head.
“Long story…”
Inside the cabin—
He looked at her resume again.
A faint, almost unnoticeable smile appeared.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
And just like that—
It wasn't just a bad start anymore.
It was the beginning of something complicated.Someone came and told everyone-”You can go now—if you’re selected, you’ll receive a call.’”
And guess what -“She gets selected.”
The next morning, Shanaya reached the office early—this time very early.
No risks.
No mistakes.
As she entered, she heard a familiar voice—
“Shanaya!”
She turned.
“Riya?!”
Both smiled instantly.
“I got selected!” Riya said excitedly.
“Me too!” Shanaya replied.
They both laughed in relief.
“What position?” Shanaya asked.
“HR trainee,” Riya said. “I’ll be working with the HR team.”
“That’s amazing!” Shanaya smiled.
“And you?”
Shanaya hesitated for a second.
“Assistant Manager… directly under the boss.”
Riya’s eyes widened.
“Directly under the boss?! That strict one?”
Shanaya sighed.
“You have no idea…”
Before they could talk more—
A familiar voice interrupted.
“Office is not a social place.”
Both of them froze.
Shanaya slowly turned.
There he was.
Her boss.
Calm. Sharp. Watching.
“Good morning, sir,” both said together.
He gave a slight nod.
Then his eyes shifted to Shanaya.
“You’re five minutes early.”
Shanaya blinked.
“That’s… good, right?”
He looked at her blankly.
“We’ll see if it stays that way.”
Riya looked between them, slightly confused.
Something is off… she thought.
“Riya,” he said, “report to HR. They’ll guide you.”
“Yes, sir.”
She glanced at Shanaya before leaving, silently asking what’s going on?
Shanaya just gave a small later look.
Then his attention came back to Shanaya.
“Come with me.”
Inside the cabin—
Same room.
Same tension.
He handed her a thick file.
“Complete this report before lunch.”
Shanaya looked at it.
It was huge.
“Sir… before lunch?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Problem?”
She immediately shook her head.
“No, sir.”
“I don’t like excuses,” he said.
Shanaya sat at her desk, slightly irritated.
Pehla din hai ya test chal raha hai…
She started working.
Fast.
Focused.
Determined.
Time passed.
She didn’t even notice.
Until—
“Lunch?” Riya whispered, appearing beside her.
Shanaya looked up.
“Oh… already?”
“You’ve been working non-stop!” Riya said.
Shanaya smiled tiredly.
“Almost done.”
Riya leaned closer.
“Waise… boss se pehle se jaan-pehchaan hai kya?” she teased softly.
Shanaya sighed.
“Road pe fight ho gayi thi kal…”
Riya’s eyes widened.
“WHAT?!”
“Later,” Shanaya whispered. “Please.”
Shanaya completed the report and walked to his cabin.
She knocked.
“Come in.”
“Sir, the report is ready.”
He looked up.
“Already?”
“Yes, sir.”
He took the file and started checking.
Silence.
After a few seconds—
“No major mistakes.”
That was it.
Shanaya almost rolled her eyes.
Bas itna hi…
She turned to leave.
Suddenly—
The lights went off.
The room became dim.
Shanaya stiffened slightly.
She didn’t like darkness.
“Backup will start,” he said calmly.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly.
But her voice wasn’t steady.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
without saying anything—
He switched on his phone flashlight and placed it on the table near her.
Soft light spread around her.
Just enough.
Shanaya looked at it.
Then at him.
He wasn’t even looking at her.
As if it didn’t matter.
But it did.
“Thank you… sir,” she said softly.
He gave a small nod.
Nothing more.
Lights came back.
Everything is normal again.
“Back to work,” he said.
Cold. Professional.
Like nothing happened.
Shanaya stepped out.
Riya was waiting.
“So??” she asked immediately.
Shanaya exhaled.
“He’s… impossible.”
Riya laughed.
“And?”
Shanaya paused.
“...but not completely bad.”
Riya smiled knowingly.
“Hmm… interesting.”
Inside the cabin—
He leaned back slightly.
Thinking.
“She argues…”
“Works fast…”
“And still says thank you.”
A faint smile
appeared.
“Interesting.”
And just like that—
their story moved one step ahead.
Still full of friction.
But now—
with the first hint of something softer.
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