"What? You mean you both have to work together?" Rahul asked, his voice tinged with surprise and perhaps a hint of concern.

"Yeah, and I can feel that this cooperation won't be as simple as it looks," I replied, a touch of apprehension in my tone, recalling the events from the conference room just a few hours ago.

In that conference room...

"Ranbir beta!" Dad greeted him with a warm hug, followed by the warm welcomes of all my brothers. I remained standing, quietly observing the exchange. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, knowing that this person, with whom I had no desire to associate, was suddenly thrust upon me as a partner in the company where I would be spending the next few months.

After everyone had exchanged pleasantries, Dad turned toward me and said, "And this is Mahira. You must remember her from your childhood, right? She will be working with this company for a few months now."

"Hi," Ranbir said, extending his hand and taking a few steps forward to stand directly in front of me, separated only by the table.

"Hi," I replied, my greeting accompanied by an awkward smile. Neither of us seemed eager to engage in further conversation, and with that, we all settled down to discuss the impending business collaboration.

Throughout the meeting, I could sense Ranbir's eyes occasionally drifting in my direction, but I didn't dare to meet his gaze. I was acutely aware that if our eyes locked, it would disrupt my concentration on the pressing business matters at hand. It struck me as audacious that he would still have the nerve to steal glances at me. After all that had transpired, he ought to have known that he no longer had any claim to my attention or any expectations from me.

His boldness in looking my way despite our complicated history left me feeling a mixture of irritation and disbelief. It was as though he believed he could simply disregard the turmoil he had caused in my life and carry on as if nothing had happened. In that moment, I resolved to remain steadfast and resolute, focusing solely on the professional aspects of our partnership and refusing to let any personal entanglements cloud my judgment.

Dad began to elaborate on the purpose of the meeting, saying, "As we all know, Ranbir's company is well-regarded in the field of packaging. We've decided to collaborate with him to strengthen our position in the business world."

I was well aware of Ranbir's successful business, and it had always been a standalone entity, not requiring any external partnerships. This sudden move left me perplexed. I couldn't help but wonder if this collaboration was truly a strategic business decision or if it had something to do with the close friendship between our families.

Recognizing that it was only my first day, I chose to keep my doubts to myself. Raising questions at this early stage might only stir unnecessary chaos and tensions within the company. It was crucial for me to take the time to observe and understand the dynamics at play within the organization before making any judgments or assumptions. Patience and a careful approach were key as I embarked on this new chapter in my professional journey.

Dad's announcement about the first project sent a surge of mixed emotions through me. "As for now, this partnership needs to work on the first project before finalizing everything else," he explained. "So, we have decided on three people for this project. Rishi, who has extensive experience in this department, will be leading. Ranbir, as our partner, will also be involved. Lastly, I want Mahira to work alongside them and contribute to this initial project."

Hearing my name in that context felt like a sudden jolt. The realization that I would have to collaborate closely with Ranbir on our very first project together was far from ideal. It seemed like the universe had a knack for throwing me into situations I had hoped to avoid, and this was undoubtedly going to be a challenging start to our partnership.

As the meeting concluded, everyone started to file out of the office one by one. I had intended to wait until everyone had left before allowing myself to process my emotions and return to my office in a more composed state. However, my well-laid plan was quickly thwarted.

Rishi, accompanied by Ranbir and his assistant, suggested, "Mahira, why don't we discuss some points before we call it a day?"

I looked at Rishi, and at that moment, I realized that he was well aware of my history with Ranbir. My brothers had always been privy to my childhood crush on him, and they used to tease me relentlessly about it. Rishi, being one of my brothers, not only knew but had also attempted to play matchmaker at some point when the circumstances between our families were different. However, things had taken a sour turn, and our families had separated on unfriendly terms, rendering all those previous plans futile.

The past seemed to cast a long shadow over the present, and I couldn't help but wonder if Rishi's suggestion to discuss points with Ranbir was motivated by more than just professional reasons. It was clear that my brothers had not forgotten about my feelings for Ranbir, and this unexpected twist added another layer of complexity to the already intricate situation I found myself in.

I addressed Rishi, my tone firm and cold, as I tried to make it clear that personal matters were off the table. "The situations are different now, bhai," I said, using the Hindi word for brother. "There's nothing possible anymore in our personal lives. Please understand that. As for the professional situation, I need some time to process all this sudden information. We can discuss the business aspect tomorrow."

With that, I left the office in haste, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with Ranbir. His remorseful gaze, I believed, would only complicate matters further, and I needed some distance to collect my thoughts and emotions in solitude.

Back in my office, I reached out to Rahul and recounted the events of the day. After a thoughtful pause, he asked, "What do you plan to do now, Mahira?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "I don't know, Rahul. But I've committed to working in my father's company, and that means I'll have to find a way to work with him," I replied with a sense of resignation. "I'll just have to ensure that I keep my personal and professional life separate, no matter how challenging it may be."

...............***...............

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