Rekindled Hearts: The Journey Of Transformation[ONC2024]

|#23. The Mistaken Past |

Vineet is thoughtful as he watches Anusha and Kunal leave the office. Ruhana hugs him, expressing her happiness, while he just smiles. She assumes he's not happy with her ways of doing the deal.

"Vineet, are you still upset? You said you wouldn't intervene, and now, you're not responding. What are you thinking?" She asks, gazing at him.

"Ruhana, have you searched about this company, Byteforge?" He asks, his words coated with concern.

"Vineet, they called for the deal. And I trust them, they seem quite professional." She replies while settling on her chair.

"You see what people want to show you. You can't say if they're professional and that too, truly." He gazes at her.

"They have done some nice deals, Vineet. I think we must trust Kunal and his team." She responds without looking at him.

"Ruhana, you– you're again going down the wrong path." He tries to convince her with his arguments another time.

"Vineet, please, when you have decided, you will not intervene in my matters. Why are you in thoughts now? You didn't intervene all the time I was talking to them, and now you're convincing me that I shouldn't deal with them. Why? Don't you know, I work on my terms? And I make the terms; the other party has to follow them." She gazes at him sternly.

He sighs deeply. This girl has again jumped into her arrogant mode; she's always a tough nut to crack on the business front. After facing all the hardship, her focus is still on the profits that she can earn on the business front and, at the same time, on expanding her business. Well, anyone would behave like this when they've been ditched by the people they loved with all their heart.

He still wants her to rethink her decision, but Ruhana is adamant and she wants to do the deal on her terms. Life has been harsh to her and she has learned to put conditions in front of the people she's working with. And right now, Kunal has agreed to all the conditions that she kept in front of him.

Little does she know that a storm is standing at her doorstep.

*****

Kunal and Anusha are on their way home, and there's a smirk playing on the former's lips. Anusha tries to convince him another time, but it seems like Kunal has made up his mind.

"Kunal, she was being very cautious. I don't think you'll be able to crack this deal."

"Please Anusha, at least you must help me. You're telling me what Ruhana is going to do. Don't you remember what she did with me? She thinks she can do anything. I agreed to every condition put by her, just to make her taste her medicine." Kunal says, gritting his teeth in anger.

He trails down the memory lane.

Back in the past, Ruhana, Kunal and Anusha studied in the same college. Ruhana was the topper, while Kunal was a backbencher who only used to pass. He was involved in all the bad activities along with the senior students of the college. It was during her last year in college that Ruhana came to know that some boys were planning to sneak into the staffroom and steal the exam papers. At first, she didn't pay heed to it, but after consistently listening to this, that too, from Kunal, she started suspecting him.

One night, she decided to follow Kunal and find out the truth. Around midnight, she sneaked out of her room and found Kunal and his friends on the hostel premises. She decided to follow them, maintaining a distance.

To her utter surprise, she finds herself in front of the principal's office, and she watches them sneak into the room and steal some exam papers. She's shocked at the moment but tries to record everything. They made jokes that no one would be able to catch them, and they'd pass the exams easily. Little did they know that their mistake would be revealed the next morning.

The next day, the news spurred in the college and the exams were postponed. The students were called in for inquiry, as the teachers suspected that this could be done by any in-house student, especially the ones living in the hostel. When Ruhana was called, she showed the video recording to the principal and Kunal was rusticated from the college. Kunal took it as an insult, and he tried to misbehave with her in front of the teachers, but Ruhana slapped him hard on the cheek.

"How dare you touch me, Kunal? You're rusticated, yet you want to misbehave with me because I exposed you? Why did you do it at first? Can't you study? Just because people like you, students like me suffer. It's a good thing that you're rusticated." She shouted at him.

"I don't know, why do your parents believe you every time you tell a lie? I hope you will learn something from this lesson. Now, leave! And... and don't ever try to come in front of me." She warned him.

Since then, Kunal has grudges for Ruhana. She had slapped him in front of the college, shouted at him and of course, she got him rusticated from the college and his parents couldn't do anything. And to take revenge for his insult, he's back again.

"Ruhana is unaware that I am the same person. Now, I will bring her back to ashes and she will get to taste some insults. It'll be fun." Kunal exclaims while Anusha nods her head in disgust.

*****

Ruhana is unaware that the guy she has signed the deal with is the same person she hates. However, all she cares for is profit and she's getting it either way. She's busy typing something on the laptop when there's a knock on the door. It's Barkha, her friend.

"Barkha! Long time, no see! How are you?" She gets up from her seat to hug her friend.

"I am fine, Ruu. Anyway, did I disturb you?" Barkha asks, taking her seat opposite Ruhana.

"No! Just give me a second." Ruhana says, and she completes her task and closes the laptop.

"Yes, tell me. What brings you here?" She asks, holding her hands in hers.

"Another profit for you. Manav wants to meet you. I went to the Hotel Hilton for a meeting, and I found him there. He said he wanted to talk to you regarding the project. Also, he asked for my assistance too." Barkha breaks the news.

"Great, did he tell you any time?" Ruhana asks.

"No, but he said he'd be comfortable any time; though, we will need to visit his office." Barkha says, telling all the details to her friend

"Alright, let's block the ten a.m time slot with Manaba and then I have a meeting with the with the ByteForge CEO." Ruhana informs her about the newly signed deal with Kunal and Anusha.

Barkha is truly happy for her friend. They talk for a little while and then Barkha leaves; she also has other meetings to attend.

*****

Several days have elapsed, and Ruhana has started working with ByteForge. Some things seem off to her, but profit has been her main concern, so she started the project at her own risk.

Everything is going smoothly until one day, when Ruhana is left shocked by a phone call. She learns that the prices for the TechCouture shares have dropped. Also, a piece of news is doing the rounds that she has her hands in a scam. Ruhana is shocked at the moment.

She has never been a part of any scam. She doesn't double-cross her clients; she works hard on her deals. She's not involved in any scam. It seems like the stars are not in her favour now.

As she desperately waits for Vineet to arrive, a police officer, Vikrant Singh, enters her home and accuses her of something she has not done, leaving her beyond shocked.