Destiny Reborn : Love Beyond Time

2. Introduction

The room bathed in the warm hues of dawn, as the sun painted the sky with shades of orange. The sliver of light found its way through the parted curtains, dancing across the peaceful face of a young woman nestled in her bed. She resisted the intrusion of the morning by squeezing her eyes shut, pulling the covers higher.

Yet, the persistent alarm shattered the fragile cocoon of dreams for the third time. A delicate hand emerged from beneath the sheets, navigating toward the source of the disturbance. The snooze button was pressed with a half-conscious determination. The other hand lifted the covers just enough to reveal the glaring digits on the alarm clock—5:42 in the morning.

"I still have enough time for a nap," she mumbled to herself, sinking back into the softness of her pillow.

The sun continued its ascent, and the alarm, with its final decree, disrupted her brief respite. Annoyance etched across her face, she sat up, pushing the rebellious strands of hair away.

"This damn thing won't let me sleep peacefully," she grumbled, silencing the alarm once more. Her eyes, heavy with sleep, landed on the wall clock, displaying an alarming 8:30 am. Panic surged through her as she inspected the betrayed alarm, realizing it had been ringing incessantly due to her overconfident dozen alarms.

The illusion of time shattered, she leaped out of bed, a blur of motion as she sprinted towards the bathroom, clutching a towel. In a whirlwind, she transformed from a disheveled dreamer into a corporate professional, ready for the day's challenges. A quick appraisal in the mirror confirmed her readiness, and she snatched her ID card, proudly declaring her as "Ms. Ragini Malhotra."

The race against the clock continued as she stumbled into the hall, juggling her laptop and almost dropping her bag. In the midst of the morning chaos, her mother, Anjali, greeted her with a knowing smile in the dining room.

"Good morning, my dear Ragini. You're late again," she remarked, the warmth in her voice tinged with concern.

Ragini's pleading eyes sought understanding. "Please, Mom, tell me Dad hasn't assigned more overtime projects. I can't handle any more."

Anjali's smile remained, but her words carried a weight of responsibility. "I talked to him. He didn't seem angry, but he's concerned. He wants to see you take over the company. You need to be more responsible, Ragini."

A mix of relief and trepidation crossed Ragini's face. "I understand, Mom. I'll be more responsible. But I have to go. If I miss this meeting, I'll lose a week's worth of sleep."

Anjali's expression hardened. "You say that every time, Ragini. Next time, I won't save you from your father."

Ignoring the warning, Ragini rushed out, leaving the echoes of her promises hanging in the air. The car door swung open, her bag tossed onto the back seat. With a deep breath, she started the engine, the day unfolding before her in a rush of responsibilities and unspoken expectations.

The drive to the office was a test of Ragini's patience, navigating through traffic with a sense of urgency that mirrored the accelerated beat of her heart. Her watch became both a companion and an adversary as she darted toward the company gate. Handing her car keys and a few bills to the security guard, she implored him to park the vehicle, then sprinted past colleagues, each greeting ignored, and barricaded herself in her office. As the door closed behind her, she leaned against it, chest heaving, trying to slow her racing breaths.

Seated, she found a moment to compose herself, fingers tracing the well-arranged details in her file. Confidence flickered back, a fragile flame in the face of her mounting anxiety.