Afterglow

1 | On Board

[October 2022]

Tanisha woke up with a pounding headache, her surroundings unfamiliar and hazy. As she blinked away the remnants of sleep, memories from the previous night flooded back, and she felt a surge of panic wash over her. She was in a hotel room, lying in bed next to a man she didn't recognize .

As she turned to get a better look at him, her heart skipped a beat when she realized who he was. Where did they meet when did they get in this position. Everything is haywire.

Tanisha's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized what had happened. The alcohol had clouded her judgment, leading to a moment of indiscretion that she deeply regretted. With a sense of urgency, she quickly gathered her clothes and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake the guy up.

Once dressed, Tanisha hurried out of the hotel room, her head spinning with a mixture of shame and regret. She needed to get out of Dubai as soon as possible, before the situation escalated any further.

Back in her apartment, Tanisha reached for her phone, her hands trembling slightly as she dialed her assistant Maya's number. Maya picked up on the second ring, her voice crisp and professional.

"Good morning, Ms. Ambani. How can I assist you today?" Maya said, her tone polite but businesslike.

"Maya, I need you to get the jet ready for me," Tanisha said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm leaving for India immediately."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Maya responded, her voice laced with concern. "Is everything alright, Ma'am? Do you need me to come over?"

Tanisha shook her head, even though Maya couldn't see her. "No, Maya, I'm fine. I just need to leave for Mumbai as soon as possible. Can you make sure everything is ready for my departure?"

"Of course, Ms. Ambani," Maya replied, her tone softening with understanding. "I'll take care of everything. Just let me know when you're ready to leave."

"Thank you, Maya," Tanisha said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I'll be ready to leave within the hour."

With that, Tanisha hung up the phone and began to pack her belongings, her mind still reeling from the events of the night before. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to get into such a situation, and she vowed to be more careful in the future.

As she waited for the jet to be prepared, Tanisha sat alone in her apartment, the weight of her actions pressing heavily upon her. She knew that she would have to face the consequences of her actions, both personally and professionally. But for now, all she could do was focus on getting back home to India and putting this unfortunate incident behind her.

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮----------------✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

[One Month Later]

Tanisha sat across from her friend Radhika Merchant at a cozy restaurant in Mumbai, a faint smile playing on her lips despite the discomfort she had been feeling lately. She had been looking forward to this meeting with Radhika, eager for some much-needed distraction from her recent health issues.

As they perused the menu, Tanisha couldn't help but feel grateful for Radhika's presence. Radhika was not only her best friend but also her to be sister-in-law.