The day had been a whirlwind of emotions for many people, as Yash's disappearance and rumors of him going mute swept across the media.
But
Amidst the media frenzy, an important Zoom call was about to take place. Seraphina sat at her desk, her home studio softly lit in the background. She stared at the screen, waiting for the familiar faces of Mr. K.D. Pathak and Inder Mohan Jaiswal to appear.
When they both joined the call, there was a warmth in the air despite the cool professionalism that usually accompanied their meetings. Mr. Pathak's face appeared first, his calm, reassuring smile filling the screen. Inder joined shortly after, greeting everyone with his characteristic low, but engaging tone. There was a subtle energy between them all, a sense of anticipation that had grown stronger ever since they'd all agreed to collaborate on Seraphina's podcast.
"Good evening," Inder's deep voice broke the silence, his eyes briefly meeting Seraphina's. There was a flicker of something there, something new that neither of them was ready to acknowledge yet.
Seraphina smiled back, her posture relaxed but professional. "Good evening. I think we're all set. Shall we dive into the final details?"
They began to discuss the logistics for the upcoming podcast. Mr. Pathak, ever the pragmatic lawyer, was quick to lay out the practicalities, asking questions about the shoot's location, travel arrangements, and potential expenses. Seraphina explained that much of the production costs would be covered by the show's sponsors, leaving only minor details to be handled by the three of them personally.
As they went over the schedule, the topic of where to shoot the podcast came up. Seraphina had originally planned to shoot in her Mumbai studio, but both Inder and Mr. Pathak suggested a different idea: Manali. The suggestion hung in the air for a moment, catching Seraphina slightly off-guard.
"Manali?" Seraphina asked, raising an eyebrow. She leaned forward, intrigued by the idea. "Why Manali?"
Mr. Pathak smiled and nodded. "Manali would be a perfect retreat. A chance to escape from the madness of the city, from work. It's serene, peaceful... and it will give us some breathing space." He paused. "Also, besides that, we can also shoot the podcast there, maybe even film some vlogs."
Inder chimed in. "Exactly." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Plus, Manali... well, maybe Yash is there."
There was a beat of silence. The third, unspoken reason hung heavy in the air. They all knew it, but none of them dared to give it too much weight. Yash had vanished mysteriously.. And, the rumor of him ( of Yash ) going mute ? Well, it only added to the cloud of uncertainty surrounding him ( of Yash ). Inder knew it was a long shot, but Manali held significance in Yash's life, and it was as good a place as any to search for answers.
Seraphina looked away for a moment, considering the proposal. Manali was indeed an ideal location. It would not only be a great place to shoot the podcast but also provide a chance to perhaps find Yash. She wasn't ready to admit it, but a part of her wanted to believe that he might be there, waiting to be found.
She nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Manali sounds perfect. We'll do it. Let's shoot the podcast there."
As the conversation continued, the atmosphere shifted slightly. The business-like tone of the meeting softened, and a more personal undercurrent began to flow. Inder found himself stealing glances at Seraphina, noticing things about her that he hadn't before. He ( Inder ) had known her for a while now, but their interactions had mostly been professional, built on their mutual respect for each other's work.
Today, however, something was different.
Inder noticed the way she occasionally bit her lip in thought, and also the way her eyes sparkled with an intensity that went beyond her professional façade. There was a quiet grace about her that he hadn't fully appreciated until now. She was focused, intelligent, and yet there was a softness to her, a warmth that he found himself drawn to.
Seraphina, for her part, began to notice Inder's lingering gaze. At first, she dismissed it as him being engaged in the conversation... But, as the meeting went on, she couldn't help but sense that his attention was directed more toward her than toward the topic at hand. She tried to ignore it, but there was a part of her that felt flattered. There was something about Inder that she couldn't quite place. He was charming, confident, but there was also a depth to him that intrigued her.
Seraphina found herself glancing back at him more often than usual, their eyes meeting in brief, charged moments. Each time their gazes locked, there was a silent exchange between them - something unspoken, something that neither of them was ready to confront yet.
But they both noticed. And they both stayed silent.
The conversation continued, but beneath the surface, there was an unspoken tension between them. Seraphina felt her heart race a little faster whenever Inder looked at her, and she couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same. She wasn't sure where these feelings had come from, or if they even made sense, but there was no denying that something had shifted between them.
Inder, too, felt the subtle pull between them. He was careful not to let it show, but every time Seraphina smiled or laughed at something Mr. Pathak said, he found himself smiling too, drawn into her presence in a way he hadn't expected. He hadn't come into this meeting with any intention of getting closer to her, but now, as the minutes ticked by, he realized that he wanted to know her beyond the podcast, beyond their professional lives. He wanted to know the woman behind the success.
Mr. Pathak, ever the observant one, noticed the quiet exchanges between them. He saw the way Inder's eyes lingered on Seraphina a little longer than necessary and the way Seraphina seemed to light up whenever Inder spoke. But he said nothing. He wasn't one to interfere in personal matters, especially not between two people he respected deeply. Still, there was a part of him that found the budding connection between them amusing, if not slightly endearing.
As the meeting came to a close, they finalized their plans for the trip to Manali. They agreed to shoot the podcast over the course of two weeks, giving themselves enough time to not only work but also relax and enjoy the scenery. It would be a chance for them to reconnect with nature, to take a break from the pressures of their daily lives. And perhaps, if they were lucky, they might even find some answers about Yash along the way.
After discussing the logistics, the three of them decided to announce their plans on social media. They agreed to post a collaborative update on Instagram, sharing the news with their followers. Seraphina drafted the post, her fingers moving quickly across the keyboard as she typed out the announcement.
"We're heading to Manali for two weeks!" the post read. "We're excited to take a break from the city and shoot our upcoming podcast episode in the mountains. Stay tuned for some amazing content, including behind-the-scenes vlogs and more!"
They intentionally left out the third reason for their trip - the hope that Yash might be found there. It was too personal, too uncertain to share with their audience. For now, they would focus on the podcast and the break from their hectic lives.
Within seconds of the post going live, their followers flooded the comments section with excitement. Questions poured in from all directions, ranging from inquiries about the podcast to suggestions for things to do in Manali. The engagement was overwhelming, and Inder couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer volume of messages they received.
"Looks like we've got our hands full," he said, his voice tinged with amusement.
Seraphina laughed softly, scrolling through the comments with a smile. "I think we underestimated how excited people would be for this."
Mr. Pathak nodded in agreement, though his mind was already wandering to the journey ahead. He knew this trip to Manali would be more than just a podcast shoot. There were deeper matters waiting for all of them in those mountains - matters of family, friendship, and perhaps even love.
As they wrapped up the meeting, Seraphina closed her laptop and sat back in her chair, her thoughts swirling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She wasn't sure what the future held for her, for Inder, or for Mr. Pathak, but she knew one thing for certain: this trip to Manali would change everything.
And as she glanced out the window, the distant mountains calling to her, she couldn't help but wonder what surprises awaited them all.
---
