Selfish Desires

chapter 3

Chapter 3
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Kavya couldn't contain her excitement as she sat across from Arjun in his cabin. This was her chance to work closely with her crush and she savored every moment of it. Her heart fluttered with every smile and every playful exchange they shared. It felt like a dream come true to be working alongside him.

On the other hand, Arjun was in a completely different headspace. The wounds from the meeting room confrontation with Kavya still fresh in his mind, he was consumed by a desire for revenge. The embarrassment he felt at being corrected in front of their clients fueled his every action as they worked on the project together.

As they delved deeper into the task at hand, Arjun's attitude grew colder and more distant. He dismissed Kavya's ideas without a second thought and deliberately made mistakes, ignoring her attempts to rectify them. His focus was no longer on working as a team but on settling the score with Kavya.

While Kavya couldn't help but notice the change in Arjun's behavior, she brushed it off initially, thinking he was simply under a lot of stress...

As Kavya and Arjun were working on the project in the office, Arjun suddenly received a Skype call from Kavya's father, Arvind, who was also his boss. Arjun's eyes widened in surprise as he quickly accepted the call, adjusting his posture to appear more professional.

Arvind's face appeared on the screen, his warm smile making Kavya's heart swell with pride. "Hello Arjun, how are things going with the client reports?" Arvind's voice was cheerful and full of enthusiasm.

Arjun cleared his throat and began discussing the progress on the project, detailing the key points and achievements. As he spoke, Arvind's admiration for Kavya became evident as he praised her for her hard work and dedication.

"Kavya has been doing an exceptional job on this project, Arjun. I must say, I am truly impressed with her work ethic and attention to detail. She has definitely inherited the business acumen from me," Arvind beamed with pride, causing Kavya to blush with happiness.

However, the praise heaped on Kavya only served to irritate Arjun. He felt overshadowed and underappreciated in that moment, as his own efforts seemed to pale in comparison to Kavya's achievements. His competitive nature resurfaced, fueling a sense of resentment towards Kavya and her success.

Despite Arjun's internal turmoil, Kavya couldn't help but revel in the joy of making her father proud. She beamed with happiness, grateful for the recognition and approval from the man she admired most.

Little did she know, the seeds of jealousy and resentment had been sown in Arjun's heart, setting the stage for a turbulent turn of events in the days to come.

As the Skype call ended and Arvind praised Kavya as proud father, a wave of irritation washed over Arjun. He excused himself from the cabin and made his way to the veranda, seeking solace in a cigarette.

Flicking the lighter open, he took a long drag and cursed under his breath. "Is she doing this deliberately?" he thought to himself, the smoke swirling around him. "Trying to make herself look good in front of everyone, including  staff making space in the company where she hardly knew about anything."

He knew that Kavya had been stepping up her game lately, becoming more efficient and impressive in her work. But to him, it felt like a calculated move, a way to show him up after the incident in the meeting room.