Bridging Hearts

7. Why her ?

Him

The aroma of spices and the sizzle of fresh ingredients filled the air as Arjun and I sat down at his favorite restaurant. It was a quaint place, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with rustic decor and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Arjun had told me countless stories about this place, where he used to come frequently when he lived in India.

As we settled in, the waiter brought us menus, and Arjun immediately ordered a spread of dishes he claimed were the best. I trusted his judgment; after all, he had never steered me wrong when it came to food.

"Feels good to be back here," Arjun said, looking around with a nostalgic smile. "This place holds a lot of memories."

"Does it?" I asked, intrigued. "Like what?"

He laughed softly. "Oh, just family dinners, celebrations, and even some quiet moments. My dad used to bring us here a lot."

I noticed a wistful look in his eyes as he mentioned his dad. Arjun rarely talked about his father. It piqued my curiosity, but I wasn't sure how to approach the topic.

"You must have had some great times here," I said, hoping to keep the conversation light.

Arjun nodded. "Yeah, it's a shame he can't see how well we're doing now. He'd be proud."

I sensed an opportunity to learn more about Arjun's dad. "What was he like?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Arjun's expression shifted slightly, becoming more guarded. "He was a good man. Taught me a lot about life."

"And?" I prompted gently.

Arjun shrugged, his eyes avoiding mine. "It's nothing. Just... memories."

I decided not to pry further, respecting his boundaries. The waiter arrived with our food, and the conversation shifted naturally to lighter topics. We reminisced about our journey, from our humble beginnings to the successful deal we had just closed.

"Here's to new beginnings," I said, raising my glass of water.

Arjun clinked his glass against mine. "And to continuing success."

As we dug into the delicious food, Arjun's mood lightened considerably. We talked about the highlights of the meeting and how we managed to impress the clients. It felt good to unwind after the intense preparation and negotiation.

"You know," Arjun said, leaning back in his chair, "we've come a long way since our early days. Remember our first office? That cramped little space with the flickering lights?"

I chuckled. "How could I forget? It's a miracle we got anything done there."

"We've got a lot more resources now," he mused. "And with this new deal, we'll have a significant profit coming in. Have you thought about what we should do with it?"

"Invest in more projects? Expand our team?" I suggested.

"Definitely," Arjun agreed. "But I've been thinking... our employees have worked really hard. They deserve a bonus."

I nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. "That's a great idea. It would boost morale and show our appreciation."

"And," Arjun continued, "we could reinvest in our company building. A modern, redesigned office could really reflect who we are as a company."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of surprise and intrigue. "A new office, huh? That's a big project."

Arjun leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Think about it, Dante. A space that embodies our vision, our values. A place where creativity and productivity can thrive."