Good morning, Dr. Bakshi.

Megha smiled politely as she walked into the hospital corridor.

“Good morning, Miss Mallik,”

Dr. Bakshi replied, glancing up from the patient file in his hand.

Just then, a ward boy rushed toward him.
“Sir, patient ready hai…?”

Dr. Bakshi nodded and walked ahead. Megha followed him casually, but the moment her eyes fell on the patient lying on the stretcher…
everything around her seemed to stop.
Her breath hitched.

“S… Shehnaaz…?”

The floor beneath her feet felt like it slipped away. She hurried forward, her heart racing, staring at the unconscious girl.

“Kya hua ise? Kahan mili ye aapko?”

Megha asked anxiously, her voice trembling.

Dr. Bakshi looked at her, slightly surprised.
“Aap inhe jaanti hain?”

Megha nodded quickly.

“H… haan… ye meri friend hai… aur meri cousin bhi…”
Dr. Bakshi nodded in understanding.

“abhi thodi der pahle meri car ke saamne achanak aa gayi thi. Shayad dhyaan nahi tha… aur phir faint ho gayi. Main inhe turant hospital le aaya.”

Megha’s eyes widened in shock.
“Car se takra gayi thi…?”

she whispered, looking at Shehnaaz’s pale face.

“Haan. But don’t worry, serious injury nahi hai. Weakness aur stress zyada lag raha hai. Dehydration bhi hai. Abhi stable hai… thodi der mein hosh aa jayega.”

Megha finally let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
She slowly walked closer to the bed and sat beside Shehnaaz, gently holding her hand.
Looking at her unconscious face, Megha whispered softly—
“Pagal ladki… tu apna khayal kab rakhegi…”
Her mind was filled with questions—
Kal raat kya hua hoga…?
Shehnaaz iss haal mein kaise pahunchi…?
And somewhere inside, Megha already knew…
Shehnaaz’s heart had been breaking for a long time.

.
.

Megha’s hands were still trembling as she looked at Shehnaaz lying unconscious. She quickly took out her phone and dialed Shefali’s number.
The call connected after two rings.
“Hello?” Shefali’s voice came from the other side.
“Shefali… main Megha bol rahi hoon…” Megha said, her voice tense.
“Haan bol… sab theek hai na?”
Megha swallowed hard.
“Shehnaaz hospital mein hai.”
For a moment there was complete silence on the other end.
“WHAT?!” Shefali almost shouted.
“Kya hua usse? Kaise?”

“aaj… woh road par faint ho gayi thi… Dr. Bakshi ki car ke saamne aa gayi…

unhone hi hospital admit karaya. Abhi stable hai… lekin abhi tak hosh nahi aaya.”

Shefali’s breathing grew heavy.
“Main abhi aa rahi hoon.”
Her voice was firm now, worried but determined.
“Tum wahi ruko, Megha. Main bas nikal rahi hoon.”

“Haan… jaldi aana,” Megha said softly and ended the call.
She looked back at Shehnaaz, still holding her hand, silently praying she would wake up soon.

.
.
.

Scene Change

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL

A black Mercedes-Benz slowly stopped at the grand entrance of The Imperial.
The driver quickly stepped out and opened the rear door.
A pair of elegant heels touched the ground… and then she stepped out.
For a moment, it felt like the entire entrance went silent.

She was stunning—tall, confident, wearing a perfectly fitted wine-colored dress, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders, dark glasses resting on her sharp features. Her aura wasn’t just beautiful… it was powerful.

Guests, staff, even people passing by—everyone turned to look at her.
She removed her sunglasses calmly, revealing her sharp, intelligent eyes.
She was Urvashi Bakshi…
CEO of Fortune Magazine…
and known in business circles as a woman who never failed at anything she decided to do.
She walked inside with slow, confident steps, the sound of her heels echoing on the marble floor. The receptionist straightened instantly.
“Good afternoon, ma’am.”
“I have an appointment with Mr. Siddharth Kapoor,” Urvashi said, her voice calm but authoritative.
“Yes ma’am, sir is expecting you.”
Meanwhile…
Inside his office, Siddharth was going through some files when his secretary knocked.
“Sir… Fortune magazine ki CEO madam aa gayi hain.”
Siddharth leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk appearing on his lips.

“SEND HER IN.”

A few moments later, the door opened.
Siddharth looked up casually… but for a brief second, even he paused.
Urvashi walked in, composed and confident , very sexy and hot 🔥

“Mr. Siddharth Kapoor,” she said, extending her hand.
“Urvashi Bakshi,” she introduced herself, though she knew he already recognized her.
Siddharth stood up, shaking her hand lightly.

“WELCOME TO THE IMPERIAL.”

Both of them smiled politely… but behind those smiles, both were already assessing each other.
Two strong personalities.
Two sharp minds.
And neither of them used to being impressed easily.

.

For a moment, there was a professional silence as Urvashi opened her tablet.

Urvashi spoke first, in a calm, professional tone.

“You’ve built this place quite well, Mr. Kapoor. The Imperial has become a strong brand in a very short time.”

Siddharth smiled slightly.

“It wasn’t short… it just looks short from the outside. Five years of sleepless nights don’t get printed in magazines.”
Urvashi let out a soft laugh.

“Fair point. Media only shows the success, not the struggle.”

Siddharth leaned back in his chair.
“And Fortune Magazine shows both… that’s why people actually read it.”

Urvashi tilted her head, amused.

“So… expansion plans?” she asked,
not yet starting the formal interview.
“Delhi and Dubai,” Siddharth replied.
“Delhi is almost finalized. Dubai is still in negotiation stage. Hospitality market wahan competitive hai… but profitable.”

Urvashi nodded thoughtfully.
“International branding ke liye Dubai is a smart move. Investors mil jayenge?”

Siddharth gave a confident half-smile.
“Investors tab milte hain jab brand par trust ho… and I’ve worked hard for that trust.”
Urvashi observed him for a second.

“You sound very sure of yourself.”
“In business,”

Siddharth said calmly, “if you’re not sure of yourself, no one else will be.”

Then Siddharth spoke casually—

“MS. BAKSHI, AAP YE HOTEL DEKHNA CHAHENGI?”

Urvashi smiled slightly.

“Yes, Mr. Kapoor… why not?

Waise bhi interview se pehle place dekhna interesting hota hai.”

Siddharth stood up, picking up his blazer.

“THEN LET ME GIVE YOU A TOUR.”

They started walking through the hotel corridors.

Walking through the hotel
Urvashi looked around, observing everything carefully—the décor, staff behavior, lighting, ambience.
“Impressive,” she said honestly.

“Luxury hotels toh maine bahut dekhe hain… but yahan warmth bhi feel ho rahi hai.”

Siddharth smiled faintly.

“THAT’S THE IDEA. LUXURY BINA WARMTH KE… SIRF DECORATION REH JAATA HAI.”

Urvashi glanced at him, slightly impressed by the answer.

After a moment she said—

“Actually… main aapka interview restaurant mein baith ke lena chahungi. Aur agar possible ho toh… koi achhi si dish try karte hue. Agar aapko koi aitraaz na ho toh?”

Siddharth chuckled lightly.

“NAHI NAHI… BILKUL NAHI. CHALIYE.”
.

.

THE IMPERIAL RESTAURANT

They sat at a corner table with a beautiful view of the city.

A waiter came.
“Good afternoon, sir.”

“KUSHAL KO BOLNA CHEF’S SPECIAL BHEJE,”

Siddharth said.

Urvashi raised an eyebrow slightly.
“CHEF’S SPECIAL? AAP RISK LE RAHE HAin… Ya Confidence Zyada Hai?”

Siddharth leaned back in his chair, relaxed.

“Confidence. Mere best friend ka restaurant hai… disappointment ka chance kam hai.”

Urvashi smiled faintly, turning on her recorder.

“SO, MR. KAPOOR… LET’S BEGIN.”
Siddharth nodded.
And the interview began… but neither of them knew that this meeting would soon connect to events that were already changing  their lives....