A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Meeting Annika Singhania

The grand ballroom buzzed with activity as Annika entered, a steely resolve masking the nervous flutter in her stomach. With a practiced smile and a brief pep talk to herself, she glided into the room, her eyes scanning the crowd for Mr. Mittal. As she made her entrance, a hush fell over the room, followed by a flurry of murmured inquiries about this captivating newcomer. Annika, accustomed to drawing attention, held her head high. While she was a seasoned attendee of business functions, this party was a different beast – filled with faces from outside her usual circles. These people knew Arnav, but not her or Ruhi.

Undeterred, Annika accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and made a beeline for Mr. Mittal. After introductions and pleasantries, she goes towards the garden.

Fifteen minutes after Annika's arrival, Shivay entered the ballroom. A mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces greeted him. He made his way towards Mr. Mittal for a brief discussion, then headed to the bar for a drink.

As he swirled the amber liquid in his glass, a snippet of conversation caught his ear. Two men were discussing the project, their voices laced with concern.

"Winning this project won't be a cakewalk," one remarked. "Singhania Industries is also in the running."

"Indeed," the other replied. "I heard Arnav Singhania's wife submitted their report this morning. Apparently, she's quite a beauty."

"Beauty and brains, it seems," the first man chuckled. "I saw her earlier, she's here tonight."

The conversation took a turn Shivay wasn't prepared for.

"Interesting rumor I heard," the second man confided, lowering his voice. "She's an orphan."

"An orphan?" the first man scoffed. "Never would have guessed such a high-profile businessman would marry one."

Shivay's heart lurched. The word "orphan" echoed in his mind, stirring a memory he desperately tried to suppress. Unease settled over him, and he decided to leave the bar, seeking fresh air.

The garden beckoned, offering a respite from the stifling atmosphere. As he stepped outside, a familiar feeling washed over him – Annika's presence. Brushing it aside, he focused on socializing with other businessmen.

Meanwhile, Annika, with her natural charm and expertise, was captivating everyone she met. Two topics dominated the evening's discussions: the stunning beauty and competence of Miss Singhania, and the burning question of who would emerge victorious in the project race.

As the night wore on, guests began to take their leave, each harboring a secret hope of receiving an invitation to present their final report. The party concluded, leaving behind the lingering anticipation of the final showdown.

As Shivay crossed the hotel lobby, his gaze snagged on a bulletin board. Listed among the events held recently was one organized by none other than RIA Events. A jolt of understanding shot through him. Annika's presence, the lingering feeling of her around - it all made sense. Her company must have been handling another event at the same hotel.

Unaware that Kavya was now CEO, Shivay's self-imposed isolation from anything Annika-related for the past five years had left him completely in the dark.

He stepped out of the hotel to find a downpour in full swing. Shivay took refuge under a nearby shop's awning, waiting for his car.

Meanwhile, just across the street, another figure huddled under a shop's awning. It was Annika, waiting for her cab. A large store sign obscured them from each other's view.

Ruhi's call interrupted Annika's thoughts. The rain's downpour muffled the conversation from Shivay's ears, yet a strange intuition tugged at him, an inexplicable feeling that Annika was close.