beyond the Dreams :the past is not what it seems

chapter 13 : File Fiasco

I woke up with a start, my heart racing, as the same dream lingered in my mind. King Viraaj Singh Chauhan, the 15th-century king, was back, his thoughts echoing in my mind. I could sense his determination, his plans for battle, his strategic thinking. I sighed, wondering why my subconscious was still holding onto this. I thought I had found closure, but apparently, my mind had other plans.

I got out of bed, got fresh, and had breakfast, trying to shake off the lingering feelings of the dream. As I headed out of the house, I realized I had left my car in Veeranshu's office parking lot yesterday. But when I reached the garage, I was surprised to see my car, all new, polished, and fixed. I knew only Veeranshu could have done this.

A mix of emotions swirled inside me - gratitude, annoyance, and a hint of fear. I got in my car and drove to his office, my mind racing. As I arrived at his office, I steeled myself for another confrontation. Little did I know, this time, it would be different. This time, the stakes would be higher.

As I entered the office, the tension was palpable. I could feel the weight of Veeranshu's gaze, even before I saw him. I began walking towards his desk, but Kevin, his assistant, intercepted me with a warm smile.

"Good morning, ms.Sengupta . Please, have a seat. Veeranshu is in a meeting right now, but he'll see you as soon as he's done."

I nodded, not minding the wait. As I wandered around the waiting room, I couldn't help but notice the opulence that surrounded me. The plush sofas, the crystal chandelier, the expensive artwork on the walls...it was like walking into a five-star hotel. I whistled softly to myself, wondering just how rich Veeranshu was.

The waiting room was a testament to his wealth and power, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of professionalism wash over me. After all, I had a job to do, and I was determined to work with him efficiently, despite our complicated connection .

As I waited, two girls approached me, their designer heels clicking on the marble floor. They were both impeccably dressed, their hair and makeup perfectly styled. One had long, curly brown hair and a condescending smile, while the other had short, blonde hair and a scowl on her face.

"You're the new one, right?" the curly-haired girl sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "We've been looking all over for a file, and it's gone missing. And now, we find you roaming around, probably snooping around where you don't belong."

The blonde girl chimed in, her voice equally harsh. "Yeah, you're probably used to a much smaller office, aren't you? A middle-class girl like you wouldn't know the first thing about handling sensitive documents."

I felt a surge of indignation at their accusations and their condescending tone, but I kept my cool, knowing that I had done nothing wrong. "I haven't seen any file, and I'm just here to meet with Mr.Rajput ," I replied calmly, standing my ground.

The two girls sneered at me, their eyes filled with contempt. "You're probably used to stealing to get ahead, aren't you?" the curly-haired girl said, her voice dripping with venom. "Well, let me tell you, we don't tolerate thieves around here. You're new, you're inexperienced, and you're clearly not trustworthy."

The blonde girl chimed in, her voice equally harsh. "Yeah, you're probably used to a much smaller office, where they don't care about security or integrity. But this is a top-notch company, and we can't have people like you compromising our work."

They continued to insult me, their words cutting deep. "You're just a little middle-class girl who can't handle the big leagues. You're probably used to getting by on your looks, not your brains. And now, you've gone and stolen a sensitive file. How pathetic."

I felt my face burning with anger and humiliation, but I refused to let them see me break. I stood my ground, my eyes locked on theirs, and said, "I haven't stolen anything. And I'm here to work, not to be bullied by the likes of you."

Just as the two girls were about to unleash another verbal barrage, a commanding, dominant, and rough voice cut through the air, silencing them instantly.

"Enough!"

The voice was like a whip crack, sharp and authoritative, leaving no room for argument. The girls' eyes widened, and they took a step back, their faces pale.

Veeranshu stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with intensity, his jaw clenched in anger. His presence was imposing, his aura commanding attention and respect.

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two girls. I felt a shiver run down my spine as Veeranshu's gaze locked onto me, his eyes burning with a fierce protectiveness.

"Mahira, come with me," he growled, his voice low and husky. "Now."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out of the room, expecting me to follow. The two girls watched us leave, their faces sullen and resentful, but they knew better than to cross Veeranshu.

I asked Veeranshu, "Would you mind if I talk to the girls again about the file? I don't like my name being uncleared."

Veeranshu's expression changed, and he showed a fleeting emotion - maybe a mix of pride, surprise, and admiration. He nodded, his eyes gleaming with approval.

"Go ahead, Mahira. Handle it however you see fit. I trust you."

His words were like a vote of confidence, and I felt a surge of determination. I stood up, and Veeranshu gestured to the door, indicating that I should go and resolve the issue.

As I left his office, I felt his eyes on me, and I knew that he was watching me, waiting to see how I would handle the situation. I was determined to clear my name and prove myself, not just for my own sake, but also for Veeranshu's trust in me.

I cornered the girls, my eyes blazing with determination. "I know you two are hiding something. Tell me the truth, or things will get ugly."

The curly-haired girl sneered, but I could see the fear lurking behind her eyes. "We don't know what you're talking about," she stammered.

I leaned in, my voice low and menacing. "Don't play dumb with me. I have evidence. I know you two were arguing over a file earlier today. "

The blonde girl's eyes darted to her friend, and I knew I had them right where I wanted them. "You're not as sneaky as you think you are," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now, tell me the truth. What happened to that file?"

The curly-haired girl caved, her voice trembling. "We...we were working on a project together, but we had a disagreement. We both stormed off, leaving the file behind. And then...we panicked. We didn't want to get in trouble, so we blamed you."

I felt a surge of adrenaline as the truth finally came out. "You framed me to cover your own tracks," I accused, my voice cold and hard.

The girls nodded, their faces pale and guilty-looking. I turned to leave, but not before delivering a parting shot. "You should have owned up to your mistake instead of trying to ruin my reputation. Now, let's go find that file and clear my name once and for all."

With that, I turned on my heel and strode out of the room, the girls following me like sheep. We searched the conference room, and finally, we found the file, hidden away in a corner, just as I had suspected.

As we walked back to our desks, the curly-haired girl turned to me, her eyes filled with tears. "We're so sorry . We were wrong to blame you , and we shouldn't have doubted you."

I accepted their apology, and just then, Veeranshu emerged from the shadows, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Ah, I see you've finally confessed," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You two are lucky
Mahira here is a better person than I am. "

The girls cowered, but I stood tall, my eyes locked on Veeranshu's. I knew he was the kingmaker, the one who held the power to make or break careers. And I knew he was watching me, testing me. But I wasn't afraid. I was ready for whatever came next.