Ethereal

Tacenda

Tacenda
(n.)things better left unsaid

"Open the damn door, Risha!" Naman banged on the door one last time before settling opposite Nirvan. Risha had locked them in the room like toddlers when they refused to apologize.

"We could have just said sorry," Nirvan murmured.

"I wouldn't have meant it," Naman replied calmly.

"Me neither. You have no right to talk about Kaia."

"And it's okay for you to investigate her?" Naman shot back.

"Don't raise your voice. I can't afford her hearing this." Naman rolled his eyes.

"I overheard Maa and her mami(aunt) talking..." Nirvan began, his voice steady. He patiently recounted the entire story to Naman, relieved to finally get it off his chest.

"That's- that's, have you found out anything yet?"

"Nothing, nothing at all."

"That's weird..this doesn't seem like her"

"I know, I should've just asked her probably"

"Don't do that. I'll take care of it.
And I'm sorry. I really mean it"

"Just don't let Kaia know anything, I don't want her to stress over nothing"
Naman smiled looking at Nirvan

"What?"

"It's good to see my little brother in love"

"I'm not in love" Nirvan said in a stern voice

"Good god you're still in that never ending marathon of yours"

"There is no marathon"

"God I really hope so, you can't afford to lose her"
Nirvan sighed putting his head down.

A wave of calmness was felt through the room, even without saying much they had resolved their problems.
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Nirvan's voice reverberated through the Finance Department, the force of his frustration palpable as he slammed the folder onto the desk. "Where are the god damn files?"
The senior staff member, steady in contrast, calmly assured him, "Sir, it was issued already."

In the tense silence that followed, Nirvan demanded, "Which one of you imbeciles filed it? WHICH ONE OF YOU FILED THE BLOODY AUDIT?"

A timid voice emerged from the crowd, belonging to a young woman in a crisp white silk shirt. "I did, sir," she admitted, her nerves evident as Nirvan's intense gaze fell upon her.

Ruhi, sensing the tension, introduced her as Kaia Kapoor, their new employee. Nirvan's anger simmered at the mention of her last name, but he maintained a cold demeanor. "Where are the files, Kaia Kapoor?" he asked sharply.

"I filed them, sir," Kaia responded, her voice trembling slightly. Nirvan's strides were purposeful as he approached her, pushing the files into her hands.

"Then find the files too," he commanded before swiftly exiting the room. Kaia took a deep, shaky breath, steeling herself for the task ahead, before following him out the door."

"Can I talk to you?" Kaia asked shakily.

"Ms. Kapoor, I am busy," Nirvan replied curtly as he left for his room.

"What was that?" Ranbir, who had witnessed the whole event from afar, questioned the already furious Nirvan.

/Flashback/