When Disaster Meets Perfection

Ch 27. An Unexpected Meet

Shivay, as was his habit, worked late into the night, the soft glow of the office lights illuminating his focused expression. Having received Mishra's update on new head progress, he gathered his belongings, draping his coat over his arm.

As he stepped out of his office, his gaze wandered across the lobby, his eyes instinctively drawn to the Fashion Department on the opposite side of the floor. The warm glow of lights spilling from the department caught his attention, a surprise given the late hour.

Curiosity piqued, Shivay deviated from his path home, his footsteps echoing through the quiet lobby as he walked toward the Fashion Department. He wondered if the new head had already begun making changes to the office layout, altering the familiar space he had last seen.

As Shivay stepped into the Fashion Department, he was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance to the vision his late sister, Shivani, had once described. The space, once a dormant reminder of unfulfilled dreams, now pulsed with renewed life.

With each step, Shivay's mind echoed with Shivani's enthusiastic words: "Shivay, here's where my team will sit; that corner will be a small kitchen; and over there, a play area for kids. I can barely wait to work here and see my vision take shape. You've already started, but wait for me - I'll show the world I'm more intelligent than my twin Shivay Singh Oberoi!"

Shivay's lips curled into a bittersweet smile, recalling how he had chuckled at her infectious energy. Fate, however, had other plans and that dream never materialized.

For five long years, the space remained dormant, a testament to shattered dreams. Yet, today, it teemed with life, revitalized by someone's presence.

Shivay's gaze wandered, drinking in the transformed landscape. The once-barren walls now wore a fresh coat of paint, and the dusty furniture had given way to sleek, modern designs. The room vibrated with an air of possibility, stirring long-dormant emotions within him.

Shivay's footsteps led him to the main cabin, a space Shivani had once affectionately dubbed her "personal heaven." As he pushed open the door, the familiar creak of the hinges echoed through the room, but he was unprepared for the sudden, startled shriek that followed.

His gaze snapped toward the sound, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw someone teetering on the edge of a chair, her balance precarious. Time seemed to slow as she began to fall, her slender form sinking toward the floor.

Instinct took over, and Shivay sprinted toward her, his long strides devouring the distance. He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her close as she landed softly against his chest. The sudden rush of adrenaline sent his heartbeat racing.

As he held her, Shivay's eyes locked onto the curtain that had fallen over Annika's face, obscuring her features. The fabric, once intended to adorn the window, now veiled her identity, piquing Shivay's curiosity.

For a fleeting moment, they stood there, suspended in time, Shivay's arms enveloping Annika's slender frame. The world around them melted away, leaving only the sound of their synchronized breathing and the gentle rustle of the curtain.

Shivay's thoughts swirled, a mix of concern and surprise, as he wondered who this mysterious woman was and why she has similar taste as his sister.

Disoriented and startled, Annika struggled to regain her composure, her hands instinctively pushing against the curtain to uncover her face.