Junoon E tishnagi

Chapter 8: *A Glimpse of Softness*

The afternoon sun filtered through the large glass windows of *Singhania Industries*, casting long shadows over the pristine office floor. Aarohi sat at her desk, her mind still racing after the tense encounter with Ansh earlier in the day. She tried her best to focus on her designs, but the memory of his harsh words and the way he had humiliated her lingered.

**Aarohi (thinking to herself):**
"Kya problem hai iss Ansh Rai Singhania ka? Itni akad... itni batameezi. Kisne diya isse yeh attitude?"

She looked up from her work and sighed. Through the narrow slit of the window to Ansh's cabin, she could see him talking to someone. At first, she didn't care much—she wanted nothing more than to avoid him for the rest of the day—but something about his expression caught her attention.

Ansh was smiling.

It wasn't the cold, arrogant smirk he usually wore when he was trying to assert his dominance. No, this smile was different—soft, genuine, almost sweet.

**Aarohi (surprised, muttering to herself):**
"Khadus kahin ka... but... he doesn't look that bad when he smiles like that."

She craned her neck, trying to see who he was talking to. Curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned forward slightly, squinting through the glass.

To her surprise, she recognized the person standing across from him. It was *Pranali Rai Singhania*—Ansh's mother and the woman Aarohi had idolized for years. Aarohi's eyes widened, excitement bubbling up inside her. This was the woman who had built the entire fashion empire from the ground up. The woman who inspired young designers like Aarohi to chase their dreams.

**Aarohi (to herself, smiling):**
"Pranali ma'am... finally."

Aarohi had been hoping for days to meet her, to finally express how much she admired her. But Pranali had been incredibly busy, and Aarohi had never gotten the chance. Now, seeing her so close, Aarohi felt a surge of excitement.

She watched as Pranali gently placed a hand on Ansh's face, her eyes filled with love and affection. Ansh, in return, touched his mother's hand, a soft smile playing on his lips.

---

### Inside Ansh's Cabin

**Pranali (gently, her voice filled with concern):**
"Kitne din se avoid kar rahe ho, beta. Tumse baat karne ka mauka hi nahi mila. Tum theek ho na?"

Ansh sighed, his tough exterior melting away in front of his mother. He stepped forward and hugged her tightly, something he rarely did with anyone else.

**Ansh (smiling sweetly):**
"I'm sorry, Mom. Main bas... uss din bahut gussa aa gaya tha. I didn't mean to stay away for so long."

Pranali smiled and hugged him back, her heart relieved to have her son close again.

**Pranali (softly):**
"Beta, I missed you. Please, aise mat jaaya karo. Tumhe dekhkar hi dil ko sukoon milta hai."

Ansh pulled back slightly and looked into her eyes, his smile warm and apologetic.

**Ansh (smiling):**
"I'm here now, Mom. I won't go anywhere."

Pranali's eyes softened as she placed a hand on his cheek.

**Pranali:**
"Good. Don't forget that. Abhi meri ek meeting hai in 10 minutes, lekin uske baad saath mein ghar chalenge, okay?"

Ansh's smile deepened, his love for his mother showing through the cracks of his otherwise tough demeanor.

**Ansh (touching her face affectionately):**
"Of course, Mumma. I'll wait for you."

As Pranali turned to leave, Ansh caught a glimpse of something—or rather, *someone*—from the corner of his eye. Through the window, he saw Aarohi sitting at her desk, leaning forward slightly, trying to sneak a peek inside. His lips curled into a small, wicked smile.