| Colliding Hearts |

| Chapter Three: The Challenge |

Blaze Of Truth Office

Jishnu's pupils dilated in shock when his eyes fell on the person sitting on the chair in the interview room. For a moment, he couldn't believe his eyes and he had to confirm his doubt by checking the name of the person on the board. He rubbed his eyes to clear the haze of shock away and glanced at the gleaming red board on the worktable.

Deepak Sharma. Chief Reporter.

"DEEPU?" Jishnu screamed, his tone a blend of astonishment and excitement.

"Finally!" Deepak jumped up from his seat and sprung forward from above the table, engulfing Jishnu in a tight hug. The latter stared at the articles that chaotically fell all around the floor.

"You haven't changed!" Jishnu laughed as he returned the hug. "But when did you join BOT and WHY? I'm sure it happened recently because if it's been long, you would have told me during one of our phone calls!"

"I'm sorry, Jishnu, I had to hide it from you because I knew you wouldn't be happy. But you are right, I joined just an year ago when Vishal Kaka-"

"Why, Deepu? I'm not blaming you for not telling me but why did you join?"

"Why are you joining?"

"I have my reasons and I'm clear about why I'm here. I'll explain all those later as it's a long story. But you answer me!"

"For Shri. At that time, the Chief Reporter of BOT had resigned due to the fact that the company was running on the track of downfall. I couldn't see her struggling with all the blows. I was working in Ahmedabad at that time if you remember. I left that job right then and joined BOT to help Shri."

"You have such a big heart to help her out but you had no time to help me at any point of time, did you?" Jishnu raised his eyebrows, a saccharine smile forming on his features.

"You already started fighting?" Deepak placed the back of his palm on his forehead dramatically. "Let's get your interview done first. Let's discuss what all help you took from me after that."

"One moment... I heard Roshan is the Managing Editor. Does that mean you are working under him, bro?"

"Under him? No way! He's from the Editing Department. I make sure I've nothing to do with him as much as possible until it's really necessary!"

"Why so? He also seems to have supported your dear sister a lot!"

"He did. I do not deny that. But you know my equation with him. I can't deal with him and his antics calmly!"

"You are a strange creature, Deepu." Jishnu rolled his eyes as Deepak chuckled, pulling the chair for the former to sit down.

"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Jishnu Vyas! Shall we start the work? Let not people think that I made the interview easier for you because you too know that I'll make it tougher!"

"Well, I knew it the moment I learned you are the interviewer, Sharma Ji! You are an expert in making things more and more complicated!" Jishnu shrugged as he and Deepak settled down in their respective places, and the latter smacked the former's head.

______

"You have gone bonkers, Shri, you are absolutely foolish!" Roshan shouted, pacing restlessly in the Proprietor's chambers with the Proprietor herself and the Chief Reporter seated on the couch, both uncannily silent.

"Roshan, have some limits set on your tongue! She's our boss!" Deepak decided to break the vow of silence after bearing with the Managing Editor for more than ten minutes patiently.

"Boss? Don't talk as if she has started or established this company, or if she has any eligibility other than being Vishal Uncle's only daughter! She has proved that point once again by hiring JISHNU VYAS in the company!" Roshan looked like a monkey walking in fire as he glared at Shri who seemed composed.

"Roshan, please calm down!" Shri cleared her throat and pressed her palms together. "And please maintain an air of professionalism, and talk to your colleagues with some respect."

"With whom? With this Deepak? Who came a year ago and has the audacity to advise a senior employee like me? Or with you who seem to have lost your brains! You are hell bent on destroying the stability of the Blaze Of Truth!"

"Just fire him!" Deepak whispered to Shri in suppressed anger as she smiled a bit and shook her head in denial.

"His reaction is natural, Bhai."

"It does not give him the license to demean everyone, Shri. He's so full of himself! I'm not saying this because I've had issues with him. The point is he cannot speak in this way to you!"

"Leave it. He had contributed to the betterment of the company. What do you think will happen if I fire him? What about Kapoor Uncle? For all that he did, this cannot be the proper way of paying him back. I owe them so much-"

"I wish Kaka was here! A single word wouldn't have come out of this guy!"

"If only he was fit and fine, I wouldn't be going through any of these turmoils..." Shri closed her eyes as Deepak squeezed her palm gently.

"Shri, no one except this stupid Deepak will back your stupid decisions! After all, Jishnu was his favorite!"

"He was your friend too, Roshan." Deepak sighed, a sardonic shade taking over his face. "A close friend!"

"I don't remember such senseless things. After all that had happened, only people like you can remember him. I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Jishnu did not do anything wrong, Roshan," Shri maintained the same politeness in her tone as before. "It was his father who had supposedly done something. Why are you judging Jishnu on the basis of his late father?"

"So what, Shri, so what? He's not some God reincarnate, he's the son of that very same father! Like Shveth Vyas had betrayed Vishal Uncle, Jishnu will also betray you, Mark my words!"

"Alright, Roshan! Prove Jishnu dishonest, deceptive and inefficient. Prove that he has wrong intentions and he's not suitable to be our reporter. If you can prove it, I'll be able to fire him without any trouble. I don't want to kindle any enmity with him or anyone, Roshan. That's the only reason I've accepted his proposition to join BOT. If we need to turn him down, we need to be reasonable and not emotional."

"Challenge accepted!" Roshan flared his nostrils and marched out of the room, folding the sleeves of his shirt.

"I don't have a good feeling about this challenge, Shri." Deepak glanced at Shri who met his gaze with amusement.

"Why, Bhai? Do you already know that your friend is not honest and sincere?"

"Honesty and sincerity are a lot more dangerous than deception can ever be!" Deepak said gravely. "What if Jishnu proves that your father was-"

Shri did not say anything as she kept staring at the red walls of the room, an emptiness settling into her large eyes.