ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

31. ASHAMED

ISHAAN'S POV

When the regular office hours start at 9, I've been here since 7, pushing myself to work even when my brain feels like it's shutting down. With only a few days left until the magazine's release, I can't afford to let anything distract me from the task at hand. If this venture fails, many people will lose their jobs, and I'll have to return to the USA and resume my life as usual, but the guilt of leaving them jobless will haunt me. My initial plan was to oversee the Indian branch personally until the release, then appoint a CEO here and head back to the USA.

However, I now find myself wavering from my original plan. The carefully constructed fortress of my strategy is slowly crumbling, something that's never happened before. I've always been a man who meticulously plans before taking any action and follows through no matter the obstacles. I consider every possible scenario, but falling in love with my secretary during this visit to India was something I never anticipated. And that unexpected turn has not just shaken my fortress—it has begun to tear it apart.

I've hated myself in certain situations before, but never as much as I did after yelling at her. My mind was preoccupied with Niraj and his unexpected call. He wouldn't have contacted me without a reason, and the uncertainty of it was gnawing at me. But even now, he hasn't made a move—perhaps his call was just meant to get under my skin.

After reading the PDF she sent, I opened my email late at night, and when I saw her message, my heart dropped to my stomach. An unfamiliar feeling churned inside me, and my chest felt hollow. With each passing minute, that emptiness grew, threatening to consume me entirely. In desperation, I called her. I don't know what changed her mind, but I'm grateful she chose to stay.

My gaze involuntarily shifted to the screen on the wall in front of me. The display showed various departments and the people working, captured through CCTV cameras. There were only a few people at this early hour, just 9 a.m. I was about to refocus on my work when something caught my eye. I looked more intently at the screen, and it didn't take long to recognize her—Inaaya. She came.

Despite her assurance that she wouldn't resign, the uncertainty had lingered in my mind. But seeing her now, walking towards the elevator on the screen, my heartbeat quickened. What's wrong with me? Do I need to see a cardiologist? The thought struck me as I watched her step into the elevator. She must be coming this way.

Without thinking, I stood up from my chair, urgency propelling me toward the cabin door. The need to see her in person was overwhelming, and looking through the window wouldn't suffice.

I stood by the closed door, listening intently for the ding of the elevator. Shivyansh and Raaj must not catch wind of this, or they'll talk about it for days. A few more seconds passed, each one dragging longer than the last, until finally, I heard the elevator ding. She's here.

I counted silently in my mind—1, 2, 3, 4—before opening the door. I pretended not to notice her, as if I hadn't just come out here solely to catch a glimpse of her. As I closed the door behind me, I saw her approaching her cabin, which was directly opposite mine. The moment my eyes landed on her, everything else faded into the background, blurring away. The only thing I could do was focus on her.

She's wearing a black kurti paired with matching black pants, and her dupatta is also black with a delicate golden border. A silver watch adorns her right wrist. Her hair is down today, which is a rare sight—I've only seen it loose like this two or three times in the past six months. The ends of her hair are slightly wavier than usual; she probably curled them. My gaze shifted to her face—her glasses, her lips, a plum red shade glistening. The overwhelming urge to capture those lips with mine, to bite them until they're flushed a deeper red, nearly propelled me toward her... nearly.

I've always prided myself on being a man of control—over my thoughts, my actions, every aspect of my life. I believed that I was, and perhaps still am, in control until the universe decided to challenge me by placing an exception in my path: my secretary. Every time I see her, intrusive thoughts almost overpower my mind, threatening to shatter the control I've carefully maintained for years. It's strange because I'm not complaining about it. I used to feel guilty about these thoughts, ashamed even. But I've come to realize that guilt won't change what I feel for her. It's something I can't run away from, no matter how much I might want to.

I haven't acted on my feelings, not even subtly hinted at them. It's not that I don't want to—I do—but there's an uncertainty that holds me back. Am I ready to reveal what I feel? I'm not sure. The timing feels wrong, with everything up in the air. Sooner or later, I'll have to leave and settle back in the USA, and I can't afford to risk everything by acting on these emotions. It would complicate things, perhaps irreparably. So, I've convinced myself that maybe it's better to simply admire her from afar, to appreciate her presence without crossing any boundaries. For now, that seems like the safest path, even if it feels incomplete.

As she drew closer, the small mole on her cheek became more visible, a tiny detail that always caught my attention. My eyes followed her as she rummaged through her bag, seemingly searching for something, completely unaware of my presence. For a moment, it felt like I was invisible, just observing her from a distance.

But then, just as she was about to enter her office, her eyes lifted and found mine. I expected—hoped, even—to see some flicker of recognition, some hint of emotion in her gaze. But her expression remained neutral, unchanging. I searched her eyes for any sign, any indication of what she might be feeling, but there was nothing. Her eyes were devoid of any emotion, a blank canvas that offered me no clues.

I found myself in an awkward silence, unsure of what to say. The shame of having yelled at her still lingered, making it hard for me to meet her gaze. I averted my eyes, feeling the weight of her stare on me.

Damn it. Where's the Ishaan who used to handle situations like they were nothing? The one who could navigate any conversation with ease? That version of me seemed to have vanished, leaving me fumbling for words in front of her.

"Good morning, sir," she said.

I cleared my throat.

"Good morning, Miss Inaaya."

Without looking back, she entered her cabin and closed the door.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Here is the 31st chapter. I hope you guys liked it.

How's the story going to proceed if Ishaan doesn't ??

Also, this chapter and the last few chapters are probably short. I apologise. I am trying my best to update every two days, however, college work is taking a toll on me.

Show some love by voting and commenting. It motivates me a lot.

Chapter 32 will come out soon <3

Also follow my Instagram for spoilers. ID is : bulletproofarmy43_