When Disaster Meets Perfection

Ch-13. Fashion, Fury and Frustration

Backstage Room

As Arijit Singh's soulful voice filled the hall, Annika and her team sprang into action in the back room. The air was electric with excitement and anticipation.

Siddharth and Sneha rushed towards the ramp area with a group of models lined up in a queue. They carefully arranged the models according to the predetermined list, ensuring that each model was in the correct position.

Meanwhile, Virat, who was in charge of the background display, was busy coordinating with the duo to ensure a seamless execution of the show.

As the music faded, Virat played a soft melody, signaling Siddharth and Sneha to get ready to send the first model down the ramp. A few seconds later, he gave them a thumbs-up, indicating that it was time.

With a deep breath, the model stepped onto the runway, and the team held their collective breath, anxiously awaiting the audience's reaction. The moment the model appeared on stage, the crowd erupted into applause, cheering and whistling in awe of the breathtaking design.

As the bidding began, the team's excitement grew. The bids started pouring in, and the numbers quickly escalated into lakhs, exceeding everyone's expectations. The team's faces lit up with joy, and they exchanged triumphant glances, basking in the glory of their hard work.

"Wow, this is amazing!" Sneha whispered, her eyes shining with excitement.

Siddharth grinned, giving her a thumbs-up. "Told you, our designs would rock the show!"

Annika, who was watching from the sidelines, beamed with pride, her heart swelling with gratitude for her team's tireless efforts. "You guys are incredible! Keep going, we're just getting started!"

As the show continued, the team's confidence grew, and their coordination became even more precise. The models glided down the runway, each one showcasing a unique ensemble that highlighted the designer's creativity and commitment to sustainability. The audience's enthusiasm only grew, and the bidding continued to soar, making it a truly unforgettable night for Annika and her team.

As the final model dresses up and made her way to the other models, Annika and Ruhi joined Siddharth and Sneha, all of them beaming with joy and relief after a successful show. Ruhi couldn't contain her excitement, exclaiming, "Wow, main believe nahi kar pa rahi ki hamaare dresses ki bidding lakhs mein ho rahi hai! (I can't believe our dresses are being bid on in lakhs!) This is surreal!"

Siddharth chuckled, equally amazed. "I know, right? I still think I'm dreaming. The lowest bid is 20 lakhs! Yeh to ghazab hai!"

Sneha playfully pinched Siddharth's arm, making him yelp in surprise. "Ouch! Why did you do that?" he asked, massaging his hand irritably.

Sneha grinned mischievously. "Taaki tumhe pata chal sake ki yeh ek sapna nahi hai! (So you know it's not a dream, silly!)"

Annika, observing the banter between her team members, intervened with a gentle smile. "Guys, thoda chill karo. Last model stage par hai, aur uske baad hum sabko bhi stage par jaana hai speech dene. Thoda focus karo. (Guys, stop it. The last model is on stage, and after that, we all need to get ready to take the stage for our speech. Let's focus.")

The team quickly composed themselves, their faces still aglow with happiness. They took a collective deep breath, savoring the moment and preparing for the final act of the evening – their acceptance speech. Little did they know, however, that the evening still had a few surprises in store for them.

Just as Mr. Malhotra began his speech, the team's attention was diverted to the stage when they heard him call out, "Now, I'd like to request Mr. Vishal Bajaj, the CEO of our esteemed fashion design company, to join me on stage and share a few words about the incredible work presented tonight."

Annika's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly rationalized, " Mujhe lagta hai vo usko pehle isliye bula rahe hai kyunki vo CEO hai aur uske baad vo hume stage pe bulayenge. (I think they're calling him first because he's the CEO, and then they'll invite us to take the stage.)"

Sneha nodded in agreement, her voice laced with hope. "Let's hope you're right, Annika."

However, as Vishal began to speak, the team's anticipation quickly turned to shock and outrage. Vishal's words dripped with condescension as he lavished praise on Tanya, claiming she was the mastermind behind the collection.

The team's faces fell, their eyes scanning each other in disbelief. Annika's jaw dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. " Yeh keh kya raha hai?  Tanya ne to is project mai bilkul bhi contribution nhi dia hai! (What is he saying? Tanya didn't even contribute to this project!")

Sneha's eyes blazed with anger. "This is ridiculous! He's taking credit away from us and giving it to someone who didn't even lift a finger!"

Ruhi's face turned beet red with indignation. " Yeh bahut galat hai! (This is so unfair!) We worked tirelessly past few days, and now he's erasing our efforts?"

Siddharth's fists clenched, his voice low and menacing. " I can't believe this. He's stealing our thunder and giving it to someone who doesn't deserve it."

As Vishal continued to speak, the team's anger simmered just below the surface, their faces a picture of restrained fury. They couldn't believe the audacity of Vishal, taking credit for their hard work and passing it off as Tanya's genius. The injustice of it all was almost too much to bear.

Annika's voice trembled with anger as she said, "Guys, let's wrap things up here quickly, and then we'll go talk to Vishal about what he's done."

The team nodded in unison, their faces still etched with shock and indignation. They took a collective deep breath, trying to compose themselves, and goes towards the backstage room. Here they began the process of undressing the models and carefully packing the outfits.

With precision and speed, they started working together, ensuring each garment was properly stored and labeled, ready to be handed over to the highest bidder. The room was filled with the sound of rustling fabrics, zippers, and murmured conversations as the team worked in silence, their minds still reeling from Vishal's shocking speech.

On the other side

As Ishana, Shivay, Om, and Rudra made their way towards the backstage, they were halted by a flurry of businessmen, talking about business. The group exchanged pleasantries, but Ishana's mind was preoccupied with finding Annika and her team.

After a 20-minute delay, they finally managed to extricate themselves from the crowd and made their way to the backstage area. Ishana pushed open the door, and her eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of Siddharth, Sneha, Ruhi, and Virat, all of whom looked utterly defeated.

Siddharth's face lit up slightly as he spotted Ishana, but his expression quickly fell again. "Ishana, it's you... I thought it was Annika," he said, his voice laced with disappointment.

Ishana's eyes widened as she took in the chaotic scene before her. Clothes were scattered everywhere, and the team looked like they had just been through a war. "Guys, what's going on? Why do you all look so pale? And what's the mess here? Where's Annika?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Sneha let out a deep sigh, her eyes welling up with tears. "Ishana, it's a long story, but we need to find Annika. She's... she's drunk and angry."

Ishana's eyes went wide with shock. "Oh my god, how could you all let Annika drink. You all know what happens when she is drunk?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm.

Om, Shivay, and Rudra exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what was unfolding before them. They had no idea what had transpired backstage, but it was clear that something had gone terribly wrong.

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