She sat on her bed, staring into nothingness. The room was dark, her mind pondering over the incidents of the past, and eventually, tears streamed down her face before she could stop them. He entered the room and sighed deeply. He sat beside her on the bed, reaching out for her hands. She looked at him blankly, not knowing how to express her feelings. All she could feel was distress, sorrow, and a lot of guilt.
“Please, stop thinking about that. It happened; we can’t get all of it back,” he insisted.
“It was all my hard work,” she retorted, her eyes teary.
“I know, but we can build it back, you know. Why are you always sitting in this dark room?” He darted his eyes around the room.
She looked at him for a few seconds, and then she realized, yes, he was right. Two months had passed since that incident, and she had enclosed herself in this very room. Of course, it had been a great deal to her, and losing it had hurt her, but she shouldn’t give up, right?
“Listen, you need to gather your courage and step out again. Why do you want people to see that the hardworking girl, the superstar, has vanished somewhere? You are the same girl. You need to break your cage and then show the world that a little failure can’t define you,” he said, his tone gentle and his eyes fixated on her.
She didn’t reply, instead stared at him, trying to understand his words. He held her by her shoulders, shook her, and then as their eyes met, she broke down into tears, in the safe haven of his arms, while he didn’t say anything, instead embracing her, trying to be a comfort to the lady he loves.
*****
Ruhana Malhotra, once a vibrant and full-of-life girl, lost her charm due to an incident that broke her. She was an entrepreneur who ran a successful business in event planning, Euphoria Events Limited. She had curated it all from scratch, amplifying her passion. However, as they say, destiny's plans often differ from our own. The same happened with Ruhana.
It was a fine day. Ruhana was at her office, busy in a meeting with a client, Rishi Awasthi. He demanded that she organize a wedding and all its festivities and asked Ruhana to send her best team. Since they had a tie-up, Ruhana couldn't deny him. She assured him that her best team would assist him with the wedding.
Soon, Rishi left the office, and Ruhana was reminded of another meeting by her PA, Smriti. They had to meet another business entrepreneur, Sameer Mehra, who dealt with logistics and operations and offered staff services to event planning companies. He wanted to collaborate with Ruhana and promised loyalty in their business dealings.
They had decided to meet at Hotel Hilton. Ruhana reached the hotel with Smriti and took a seat at a corner table. They reviewed the discussion points, and within ten minutes, Sameer joined them. They ordered coffee, and Sameer began explaining the key points he wanted to emphasize in their deal.
Ruhana was impressed by all the points Sameer suggested, and after further discussion, she decided to sign the deal. However, she sought some time to review the deal papers, and after a little hesitation, Sameer agreed. They parted ways on a happy note.
Little did Ruhana know that her life was about to change.
*****
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Ruhana returned to her safe sanctuary, happy about her very productive day. She plopped down on the couch to unwind for a few minutes. Her lips curved into a smile as she reminisced about her day, fully satisfied with how her day took a beautiful shape. A few minutes later, she walked into her bedroom, put her phone on charge, and as she began walking toward the washroom, her phone rang, breaking the tranquility in the room. She turned to check her phone, and it was her friend, Vineet Kumar. She immediately picked up the call and responded with her infectious enthusiasm, she often showed around him.
“Vineet! I thought of calling you in a while. How are you?” she asked, the smile never leaving her face.
“I’m good! And you know what? I have many things to tell you. Why don’t you come over for dinner?”
“Oh! You always coax me that I work a lot. Now, look at yourself, you’re doing the same.”
“Okay, deal! Tomorrow, we’re having breakfast together. I’ll wait for you.”
Finalizing the plan for the next day, Ruhana smiled satisfactorily. She freshened up quickly and changed into her comfy night suit before walking into the kitchen to prepare a quick meal for herself. She prepared vegetable rice and a cup of hot ginger tea. Sitting in peace and having a simple meal tends to calm her down. A cup of hot tea calms her down and makes things seem better at the end of the day.
Finishing her meal, Ruhana decided to go through her emails and take a brief note of the day's meetings and the upcoming ones too. It’s her way of planning a new day. After finishing her tasks, she picked up a book, her habit of reading before bed. As she lay in bed, she felt a sense of relief washing over her.
As she laid in peace, her mind wandered over her friend and colleague, Vineet Kumar. She met him when she was establishing her business, they met at an investor’s office and soon their friendship flourished. They grew accustomed to each other and Vineet became her close confidant. He’s always happy in her achievement and it’s the same from her side. The warmth of her blanket soon settled in and she drifted into sleep with the sweet thoughts of her relationship with Vineet and a new hope. Certainly, a new day would bring a lot of opportunities.
*****
Ruhana came out of her trance and looked at Vineet. She found him offering her a cup of tea. He pushed a sandwich toward her, but she refused to eat anything. Vineet sighed deeply. He couldn’t lessen her pain, but he wanted her to move forward. Sitting and grieving over the pain wouldn’t help, he knew, and he wanted Ruhana to understand the same. But she had been unable to overcome her grief. After all, she had worked hard for it. Life hadn’t been easy for her, yet she decided to make her own mark and prove her worth to a society that had always considered her less. She looked at him, her eyes teary from remembering that past incident.
“I did not know that Sameer was a fraud. He spread that fake news everywhere, Vineet. No one wants to work with me now,” Ruhana said, her voice laced with emotion.
“Ruhana, it’s not like that. We will find an opportunity. When you curated it from scratch, why can’t we do it again?” he asked, his tone filled with concern for her.
“I don’t have that power, Vineet. It’ll need all that research, cases, designs, and everything, that too from scratch,” Ruhana said, her tone weary.
“You have to embrace the power, Ruhana. You can’t give up. When you can create something from scratch, you can revive the business again. If people have one reason to doubt you, we will give them ten reasons to trust you again. Please, you have to stand up again, for yourself and for the world,” he said, his tone convincing.
Ruhana looked up at her friend. She knew he was only trying to push her toward a better future. She also knew that she had to pick up all her broken pieces and get to work again; only then could she revive her company, Euphoria Events Limited. Stressing over what’s lost was not going to help her, and she knew it, but still, she couldn’t gather the courage to take a step forward. She jolted back to reality as Vineet’s words struck her.
“New Year is near, Ruhana. I want to see you take one step forward. We will take one step at a time. I don’t want to see you crying anymore, Ruu. Please, cheer up, we must find our ways, all by ourselves, and this New Year, I want you to soar high with your company,” Vineet said, boring his eyes into hers.
“Are you sure I will be able to do it all over again?” she asked, doubt lingering in her mind.
“Of course, Ruhana. And who said you’re alone? You’re not alone in this. I am here with you, and I will help you in every way possible,” Vineet said, his tone filled with concern for her.
Ruhana looked at him, her eyes filled with tears, still conveying her inner turmoil. She reached out to hold his hands, intaking his warmth as if it was the strength she required to pull off the stunt again.
Truly, there’s no specific time for a new beginning. When you decide to do something new or have a goal to accomplish, that’s the right time for a new start, be it your life, business, or even love.
******
After much persuasion by Vineet, Ruhana finally ate the sandwich, grateful for his company. Meanwhile, he announced that he had to leave for some business work and that Ruhana could stay as she was. She immediately grew concerned for him and realized that she had been taking all his time, and he too had stayed with her during this period.
“I’m sorry, Vineet. I didn’t realize that I was hindering your work,” she apologized quickly.
“No, Ruhana. You didn’t hinder anything, nor are you hindering it now. It’s just that I have an important meeting, and I have to go. I will be back by the evening,” he said, trying to comfort her.
“Yeah, but you were with me all the time, and it’s kind of hindering your life because you didn’t pay attention to anything else,” she said, her tone laced with concern.
“You are my friend, and helping you was my first priority, Ruhana. I know you’ve understood whatever I said today. You will need to take a step, and I’ll be there backing you up. Things happen, but they shouldn’t hinder our lives and ethics,” he said, tapping her cheek softly.
Ruhana watched him as he smiled at her and picked up his things before leaving the house, of course, not before asking her to take care. She nodded and after locking the door, she moved into her room.
For four months, she had been living with Vineet at his apartment, and he had been generous enough to allot a room to her that had been his office space. He had been kind, supportive, and caring too. He always listened to her without any assumptions or judgments and had always encouraged her to move on. It was Ruhana who couldn’t muster the courage to take a step forward. As she sat on the bed, reminiscing about the past, her mind wandered to the day of her downfall.
When Ruhana informed Vineet about the deal she was about to sign with Sameer, he seemed thoughtful. Of course, they came across many people in the business world, but not everybody is trustworthy. He just made a casual check and asked about the said guy, and she dismissed his doubts with a wave of her hand.
“They are from EventSync Solutions, Vineet. I have also met Ms. Akanksha Mittal, who’s the owner of this company. I had some discussions with her already,” Ruhana informed him, and he sighed.
“Then, it’s good. These days, you can’t trust people, Ruhana. And I got scared because I was about to face a huge loss, though I found out about it in time,” Vineet said as he shared an anecdote where he was about to sign a deal but then discovered that the people were frauds, and so he was scared for Ruhana.
“Don’t worry, Vineet. We’ve been here; nothing bad is going to happen. Anyway, I am going to sign a deal with EventSync Solutions. Are you coming along?” she asked, hoping to have him by her side as she signed the deal.
“I wish I could come with you, Ruhana, but I have a meeting too, so we will meet tonight at your home,” he offered, and she quickly accepted it.
The two friends parted ways, all set for their work of the day. They might not be able to meet every day, but they know that they’re in each other’s thoughts, and spiritual presence means more than physical presence.
*****
After signing the deal with EventSync Solutions, Ruhana’s joy knew no bounds. Her business was thriving, and she couldn’t ask for more. The rest of the day passed in a blur, and as she returned home, she was greeted with a surprise visit. She was overjoyed to find Vineet at the door, and she pulled him in and embraced him tightly. She told him about her deals and how she hoped that her upcoming event would be a big hit.
“Vineet, Mrs. Raina Awasthi, the ace fashion designer, approached me to organize her fashion show. She wants us to handle all the details, and this is such a big event. I am so glad. Things are finally falling into place,” Ruhana informed him, delighted by the impromptu meeting with the client and the offer to organize the fashion show.
“I am so proud of you, Ruhana. You have done it all by yourself. If it had been anyone else, they’d have backed off, but you didn’t step back,” Vineet praised her resilience and determination.
“Vineet, when you want to achieve something, you have to put everything at stake. Kuch paane ke liye kuch khona bhi padta hai. I have put my everything into this business, Vineet; I can’t lose it,” she replied, her head held high with pride.
“You have worked so hard, Ruu. You will get the success you deserve, and this is just the first step,” he said, his tone laced with excitement.
“Yep, I hope the same. By the way, what brings you here?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Hey, you said you’d give me a treat. Now that you’ve got the deal for the fashion show, you must treat me, you know,” Vineet said, his tone mischievous.
“Oh yes, we both deserve a treat, but you will help me,” Ruhana chuckled, rolling her eyes at her friend.
“As per your orders, ma’am,” he bowed down before her, causing her to giggle.
They made their way into the kitchen. Ruhana asked him to brew some coffee for them while she prepared vegetable upma, a simple yet healthy meal. It’s their favorite dish, and the prospect of savoring a simple meal together was promising for the two of them. As they worked in sync, the aroma of fresh coffee and upma filled the surroundings. Meanwhile, Ruhana set the dining table, and they sat to have their meal. It had been a long time since they sat and enjoyed a meal together.
“Vineet, I think we’re eating together like this after six months. It’s been a long time,” she said, reminiscing about their last meeting.
“Yep, Ruu, we’ve been busy lately,” he replied, his tone soft.
“Yeah, but you know what? We should do this occasionally. Having a meal like this is surreal, and with you, it’s a silent yet merrier affair,” she said, her tone soft.
“Really? I mean, you enjoy my company?” he asked, looking into her eyes.
“Oh, Vineet, is that even a question to ask? You’ve been my friend since I came here. You’ve seen me struggle and build this company. It’s clear you’re the only best friend I have,” Ruhana replied, her tone genuine.
Vineet giggled at the moment, his eyes filled with admiration for her. “Ruhana, I will always be there,” he said.
She smiled, and they finished their dinner soon. He offered to help her clean up, but she didn’t accept his offer. Instead, she asked him to go home and rest. He agreed, and soon the two parted ways. Ruhana cleaned up, showered, and got into bed. As she lay there, she reflected on her day. She realized that Vineet had been a part of her life every day, whether it was a significant day or a normal one. That’s when she realized that they were more than friends, at least from her perspective. She smiled at the realization, though she didn’t know if Vineet felt the same. She fell asleep in no time, unaware that her life would change the next day.
Ruhana woke up earlier than usual. It was just 6 am, yet she felt refreshed. She brewed a fresh cup of ginger tea and walked onto the balcony. The weather was cool, and the soft coos of the birds made the environment beautiful. Additionally, she could see the sunrise right from her balcony, and all of this was nothing but surreal for Ruhana. However, the tranquil moment was disrupted by the ring of her phone. She ran into the room to pick it up, assuming it was Vineet’s call. Little did she know, her world would shatter in the next moment.
As she picked up the phone, her world came crashing down around her. It was a call from a client who blamed her for their loss. They canceled the recent deal they signed with Ruhana’s company. As Ruhana turned on the television for news, she found that EventSync Solutions was in the news for the frauds they had committed. She was shocked, and as she researched the company, she learned many things she never knew. Some unforeseen complications and contractual loopholes had led to financial drains, leaving Euphoria Events Limited in jeopardy.
Ruhana sat blankly on the bed when her phone began ringing one after another, leaving her in distress. She hurried to the office, which was in a mess. Some of her clients were waiting for her, and as soon as she entered the office, they accused her of cheating them and demanded their money back, which they had paid and invested in her company. She tried to explain her viewpoint to them, but none of them bothered to listen. She saw her business falling apart, and as the repercussions of the deal unfolded, her loyal clients and investors began to withdraw their support. They thought that it was Ruhana who was deceiving them in the name of her legal business. The sudden financial loss shattered her hard-earned empire, plunging her into a chasm of despair and stress. The foundation of her dreams seemed to crumble as she struggled to navigate the overwhelming challenges.
That day, as she sat in the confines of her room, the accusations from her clients and investors replayed in her mind, pushing her into distress, and she finally broke into tears, unable to bear the pain of the loss.
*****
Ruhana came out of her trance, and tears trickled from her eyes. The incident that happened two months ago still felt fresh. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw her past reflection smiling at her. Yes, the confident, passionate girl from the past had gone behind the curtains, but as she looked at herself, Vineet’s words from their earlier conversation rang in her ears. He had tried many times to get her to work, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“You will have to try, Ruhana.”
“You’re not alone in this; I am always here for you, you know.”
“We will give them ten reasons to trust you again, Ruhana. We will bring your business to the top again.”
“You don’t deserve to be stressed, Ruhana. Come out of your cage.”
She looked at herself. It was the first time in many days that she had looked at herself carefully. Her eyes looked puffy, and the usual glow of her face was missing. She had never imagined this moment would come in her life, but hey, this isn’t the end, is it?
The realization dawned upon her that she had been crying in distress, mourning her loss, and had lost her courage too. Meanwhile, all this time, she had the possibility of reviving what she had lost. As she was busy contemplating her thoughts, the doorbell rang, and she hurried to open the door, hoping it was Vineet. After all, he had promised her that he would be back home soon.
Indeed, it was Vineet. She moved aside to let him enter the house while she brought water for him and asked about the meeting he had attended. He told her of his achievement, that he had secured the deal, and it would help him earn some good profit. Ruhana smiled at him, congratulating him, and this time, he noticed a change in her demeanor.
“Ruhana, is everything okay?” he inquired, trying to understand what was on her mind.
“Yes… um… Vineet, I need to talk to you,” she said hesitantly, while he glanced at her, his gaze concerned.
“Tell me, Ruhana, did you get any other call from Sameer?” he asked about the fraudster, while Ruhana shook her head negatively.
“Vineet, I have made a decision,” she said, her tone urgent.
“What is it? I hope you haven’t made any hasty decisions,” Vineet asked, his tone laced with concern.
“Nope, Vineet. You always say that I must move on, and that I should revive my business,” she said, her eyes fixated on him.
“Yes, Ruhana, you will have to prove your innocence, and I know that you can prove all the allegations wrong, bring Euphoria Events Limited back to life, and eventually reach the top in the business world,” Vineet said, his tone filled with confidence.
She reached out to hold his hands, squeezing them lightly. She looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude for all the care he had extended towards her during her tough times. Her other friends didn’t even call her; they just offered to help her, while he took her to his home and even gave her the freedom to stay as long as she wanted. She realized that no one she had met in her life had been like Vineet, not even her own parents. Right now, she wanted to show him that she could step up and revive what belonged to her and was still hers. She didn’t want to let him down. The corners of her lips curved into a smile as she cast a look at him.
“Vineet, you’ve been like a guiding light in my darkest hour. You have let me be the way I wanted to be. You didn’t judge me; instead, you have always encouraged me to do my best. Yes, I was hurt. In fact, I am hurt. The pain of losing my business will stay with me for as long as I live, because I didn’t see it coming, Vineet. It will be a lesson for my future,” she said, looking at him, and he could sense her sincerity.
“You have often brought joy to my heart, Vineet. You’ve stayed by my side when my parents left me. Well, they were never with me, but you were, and I know you will always be by my side. I have decided to work again, Vineet. Will you help me?” she asked, her gaze fixed on him.
Vineet smiled. He had been waiting for this day for a long time, and he was glad that Ruhana had made this decision. “Of course, Ruhana. I knew you would make this decision someday. I am so happy,” he chuckled, unable to contain his excitement.
“It’s all because of you, Vineet. And you know what? I have realized one more thing,” she said, her tone laced with amusement.
“And what is that?” he asked, rolling his eyes at her.
“You’re different, Vineet. And all that you’ve done for me isn’t just something that only friends do. You have healed me, Vineet, from all those pains and the stress of the past incidents. You’ve always been selfless and so giving towards me. It’s not just friendship, but a step ahead,” Ruhana said, boring her eyes into his.
“It’s nothing but love, Vineet, and I know you’ve been hiding it too. You’ve given me a reason to rejoice, to find that there’s still hope to get back what’s lost,” she said, as she touched her forehead to his.
Truly, she had found her joy in his proximity, and his selflessness, care, and love had made a home in her heart. She recognized that Vineet was her true soulmate, the person who understood her deepest fears and dreams, and loved her in a way no one else ever had. Vineet said nothing but pulled her into a close embrace, knowing that his love and courage would rebuild her self-confidence, and his girl would be back on track.
Resting her head on his chest and listening to his steady heartbeat seemed like a lullaby to her tired soul. In that brief and silent moment, they had confessed the love they held for each other. They didn’t need words because their eyes and mutual emotions did all the talking. They decided to become each other’s strength to achieve their goals and be the reason for each other’s joy. As Ruhana and Vineet embarked on this new chapter together, their love story became a beacon of hope, showing that there are always moments to rejoice and love even in the darkest phases of life.