CEO of My Heart

|Chapter 05|

Tara Agarwal, the formidable CEO of Agarwal Industries, began her day as meticulously as ever. Her mornings were a ritual of precision and control. She slipped into her tailored navy blue suit, each seam and button reflecting her authority. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her piercing eyes scanned the mirror, assessing every detail. She exuded power, but beneath that cold exterior lay a heart that beat with unspoken yearnings.

She walked into the living room where her brother, Yuvaan, was lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone. "Yuvaan Bhai," she called, her voice steady and firm.

He looked up, slightly startled. "Haan Tara, kya hua?"

"The color theme for the wedding. Have you decided?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Yuvaan grinned sheepishly. "Woh... I need to discuss it with Sara first. You know how she is about these things."

Tara’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Fine. But don't take too long. We need to finalize everything."

As she left the house and slid into her car, her thoughts drifted back to the new employee, Agastya. He was different, she admitted to herself. Bubbly and playful, a stark contrast to her own rigid demeanor. "Well, he doesn't seem so bad. Maybe we can get along," she thought, a rare moment of softness flickering in her mind as she drifted into the leather seat.

At the office, Agastya’s cheerful greeting broke the usual monotony. "Good morning, Tara ma'am!" he said, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Tara, accustomed to more reserved interactions, replied, "Good morning, Agastya," in her usual cold tone but with a slight warmth that even surprised her.

Agastya’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Wow, ma'am. Aapke reply mein toh sach mein thoda warmth tha," he muttered to himself, unable to suppress his delight.

Tara’s PA, Priya, noticed the exchange and raised an eyebrow. "Did you just... smile?"

Tara shot her a look. "No, I didn't."

An hour later, the meeting room was abuzz with activity. Tara took her place at the head of the table, her presence commanding the room. Beside her sat Priya, with Yuvaan and Sara across, and Raj and Agastya at the end.

Tara began outlining the wedding plans with precision. "The theme for the wedding will be classic elegance. White lilies, gold accents, and a string quartet for the ceremony. The bride and groom alone will wear bright red colour while the rest will wear beige or white.Is that clear?"

As she spoke, Agastya was busy nibbling on his nails, his attention seemingly elsewhere. Tara's eyes narrowed. "Ok! I guess everything is clear to everybody?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Agastya’s hand shot up. "Ma'am ek question?"

Tara's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Yes?" she replied, trying to keep her composure.

"Mere sapno ki rani, kab ayegi tu?" Agastya sang, complete with dramatic hand gestures, as if he were auditioning for Indian Idol.

The room fell silent. Tara's temper flared. "GET OUT OF MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW!!!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room.

Agastya, unfazed, grinned. "Arey ma'am chill. I was asking if this song is good for Sangeet?"

A stunned silence followed, then a few muffled laughs. Even Priya, who rarely broke her professional facade, had to stifle a chuckle.

Tara’s eyes bore into Agastya. "Meeting is over. If you have any doubts, you can mail them to me," she said icily, dismissing everyone.

As the group dispersed, Raj patted Agastya on the back. "Yaar, tu bhi na! Kya sochke bola?"

Agastya shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Socha thoda maza aaye. Seriously though, she needs to lighten up."

Priya, overhearing, shook her head with a smile. "You have guts, Agastya. I'll give you that."

Tara, back in her office, couldn’t shake off the incident. Agastya’s audacity was both infuriating and strangely refreshing. She was used to people cowering around her, but he... he was different. "Maybe we can get along," she thought again, though this time with a hint of amusement she would never admit to.

Back at his desk, Agastya couldn’t help but chuckle. "Yaar, maine kya kar diya?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Raj leaned over, grinning. "Tu usse maar khayega ek din."

"Arey nahi yaar. Dekhna, ek din woh bhi hansenge," Agastya said confidently. "Life is too short to be so serious."

He glanced over at Tara’s office. Behind that cold exterior, he sensed there was more to her. And he, Agastya, was determined to uncover it. "Game on, Tara ma'am," he thought, a playful glint in his eyes.

As the day wore on, Agastya’s playful spirit was infectious, and even the stern walls of Agarwal Industries seemed a bit lighter. And Tara, in the solitude of her office, found herself stifling a smile every time she recalled Agastya’s impromptu serenade.

🎬 Evening

That evening, as Tara unwound at home, she couldn't help but reflect on the day’s events. Agastya’s boldness was unlike anything she had encountered. It was infuriating, but it also made her feel... alive. "Maybe," she mused, "just maybe, there's room for a little laughter in my life."

Meanwhile, Agastya, recounting the day's events to his sister Sara, laughed. "Aur pata hai, maine kya kiya aaj?"

Sara, engaged to Tara's brother, listened eagerly. "Kya bhaiya?"

Agastya recounted the meeting, and Sara burst out laughing. "Tara di aur tum... kya combination hai!"

He grinned. "Bas dekhte jao, Sara. Life is about to get interesting."

And so, in the bustling world of Agarwal Industries, two contrasting souls began a dance of wit, will, and maybe, just maybe, something more.

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{Word count 943}

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