When Disaster Meets Perfection

Ch-5 A Chance Encounter or Fate?

Shivay office

Shivay's entrance into his office was a storm in itself. His anger, a tempest brewing within him, was evident to all. The mysterious woman who had dared to defy him had left an indelible mark on his mood, poisoning the entire day. His employees, sensing the tension in the air, worked with a newfound diligence, each hoping to avoid becoming the target of his wrath. As the clock ticked towards the end of the day, a collective sigh of relief escaped the office, and everyone hastily gathered their belongings, eager to escape the oppressive atmosphere.

Shivay's behavior had been uncharacteristically erratic throughout the day. He had reprimanded employees for the most trivial of offenses, from their casual conversations to their posture. Mishra, who had never witnessed his boss in such a state, was perplexed. The source of Shivay's anger remained a mystery, and Mishra was too afraid to inquire.

Later, at home, Shivay's time with his cousins provided a much-needed distraction from the morning's events. Their laughter and camaraderie helped to ease the tension within him. However, as he lay in bed that night, the memory of the mysterious woman resurfaced. A flicker of determination ignited within him. He vowed to give her a hard time if their paths crossed again.

The thought of the woman filled him with a sense of annoyance. She had dared to challenge his authority, to question his decisions. It was a transgression he would not tolerate. He would show her who was in charge, who held the power. The image of her standing up to him, her defiance etched on her face, fueled his resolve

Shivay knew that he was being petty, that his anger was unjustified. But he couldn't help himself. The woman had touched a nerve, a raw nerve that had been dormant for years. He was determined to prove to himself, and to her, that he was the dominant force in their world.

As he drifted off to sleep, Shivay imagined their next encounter. He would be calm, collected, and in complete control. He would humiliate her, make her regret ever crossing paths with him. And then, when she was finally broken, he would let her go. He would show her mercy, but only after he had made her pay for her insolence.

With this thought, Shivay finally found peace. He had a plan, a way to settle the score. And as he drifted into slumber, he smiled. The mysterious woman had given him a purpose, a reason to wake up in the morning. And he would not disappoint her.

Two days had passed since Shivay and Annika's first encounter. Annika was now punctual for work, and Shivay had no meetings scheduled in the area, preventing any accidental meetings.

Paradise Cafe

Annika was currently engaged in a meeting with Mrs. Kapoor at a cafe to discuss her designs. Before finalizing the designs, Annika wanted to incorporate Mrs. Kapoor's feedback to ensure her satisfaction, unlike the incident two days ago.

Unbeknownst to Annika, Shivay was also conducting a meeting with his client at the same cafe. However, they were seated in opposite directions, preventing them from seeing each other.

As Annika and Mrs. Kapoor continued their discussion, Mrs. Kapoor seemed increasingly impressed with the designs. They explored potential modifications together, and eventually, Mrs. Kapoor took her leave.

Annika decided to savor a moment of peace in the cafe before returning to her office. While sipping her coffee and sketching a new design, she was startled by a loud voice. Turning her head, she saw the arrogant stranger she had collided with two days ago yelling at the waiter.

Annika couldn't help but think, " Arre, kitna arrogant aadmi hai ye! Humesha apne aass pass bina dekhe chalte rehta hai aur dusro ko blame karta hai ki vo bina dekhe chalte hai. (What an arrogant man! He always walks without paying attention to his surroundings and then blames others for doing so.)"

She decided to avoid any interaction with him and quickly gathered her belongings to pay the bill and leave.

As she approached the counter, Annika strategically positioned her bag on the left side of her face, hoping to remain unnoticed by the stranger. She paid the bill and swiftly exited the cafe, eager to put the unpleasant encounter behind her.

Few minutes back

Shivay was engaged in a meeting with a particularly demanding and impatient client at a local cafe. The client seemed incapable of expressing their needs without resorting to unreasonable demands, leaving Shivay feeling increasingly frustrated.

As the meeting progressed, tensions were already running high when an unexpected incident occurred. A waiter, carrying a glass of water to another table, was startled by a sudden movement from a nearby patron. The patron had stood up abruptly, causing the waiter to stumble and spill the water onto Shivay.

Shivay, who had been doing his best to maintain his cool, was understandably irritated by the mishap. However, instead of lashing out at the waiter, he simply raised his voice, admonishing the waiter to be more careful. His words were loud enough to be heard by Annika, who was seated nearby and had witnessed only the shouted incident.

Shivay took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. He then turned to his client, his voice firm but controlled. "Let's cancel this meeting," he said. "You're unable to articulate your demands clearly. If you want to do business with us, you need to be better prepared. Don't waste my time. Next time, meet with my employees instead."

As Shivay spoke, Annika approached the counter to pay her bill and leave the cafe. She was relieved to be escaping the tense situation. Shivay, meanwhile, stood up from his chair and headed towards the restroom to clean up the spilled water.

Outside the cafe

Annika, relieved to have avoided a potentially awkward encounter with Shivay, was shocked to discover she had forgotten the important file containing her discussion points with Mrs. Kapoor.
She thought " Phail gaya raita, ab mujhe phirse cafe valis jaana hoga. (Oh no, this is a disaster. Now I have to return to the cafe to retrieve the file.)" With no other option, she headed back.

Before entering, she cautiously peered inside to see if Shivay was still there. Thankfully, he was nowhere to be seen. She quickly entered and went to her table to retrieve the file.

As she was leaving, she glanced around to see if Shivay was still present.

Meanwhile, Shivay emerged from the restroom and began walking towards the exit. He noticed a girl walking backwards towards the door, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. He shook his head at her unusual behavior, thinking to himself, "What a strange girl."

Unconscious of her surroundings, Annika continued walking backward, hoping to avoid Shivay. Suddenly, she felt a tug on her arm and found herself face-to-face with Shivay, the very person she had been trying to avoid, in a dramatic, almost cinematic pose.

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