𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-23

The company's logo overhead glowed like a rainbow against the porch's yellow light, while the occasional honk from the traffic screamed the restless rhythm of the city.

Rudraksh stood at the exit – eyes squinting, jaw clenched – as the cold night air bit into his skin like sharp needles. He exhaled, his breath misting into tiny puffs of smoke. His grip tightened around the bag's strap as he strode toward the parking lot, yanking the keys out of his pocket—when his gaze fell upon him.

Karan was leaning against his grey car, one foot propped against the door and the other planted firmly on the ground, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. His face was pinched – eyebrows furrowed, lips pressed together as if holding back words. The cold air had reddened his nose and cheeks, giving him a faintly comical look.

Rudraksh looked away, his eyes fixing on his bike parked beside Karan's car, as he moved with a fluid motion.

"Rudraksh!" Karan called out sharply, his footsteps pounding against the pavement.

Rudraksh swung his leg over his bike, kicked the engine to life, and drove away, leaving Karan standing alone in the cold.

Karan's face crumpled as he watched his friend disappear into the shallow night, swallowed by the sea of steel, flesh, and nature. One hand hung limply by his side while the other scrubbed over his forehead, fingers digging into his scalp.

"Damn it! Why are you so stubborn, Rudraksh?!" he burst out, kicking hard at the air.

"What happened?"

Dhriti stood before him, tilting her head.

Karan's expression smoothed; he slid his hands into his pockets, composing himself. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked in a neutral tone, "You're still here, Ms. Vashishth?"

Dhriti's face broke into a bright, enigmatic smile. "Yeah! The new CEO asked me to brief the feedback we received after our latest launch to Rudraksh." Her gaze dropped, cheeks flushing a delicate pink as she fidgeted with the corner of her shirt. "He said I'll be sharing every detail with Rudraksh to turn that failure into a success. And that Rudraksh will handle everything. The new CEO is just a replacement until Rudraksh reclaims his position."

Karan's eyebrows shot up as he watched a storm of expressions sweep across her face in just a few seconds. "You know, we're taught pronouns in school for a reason."

Dhriti's nose wrinkled as she looked up at him. "Huh?"

"Never mind," Karan muttered with a shrug. "I didn't see your scooter, so I thought you'd left."

Dhriti nodded slowly, her mouth slightly open. "Ahh… Vaishnavi took it. She said something urgent came up." A shy smile spread across her lips, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I thought Rudraksh would drop me, like that day."

Karan's lips pressed into a thin line as he stretched his neck slightly, chin tilting as he took in the fading light. Exhaling, he looked back at her, his tone even. "Do you need a lift? It's getting dark."

Dhriti clasped her hands around her stomach, her eyes searching Karan's face. "You wouldn't mind?"

Karan shrugged. "Why would I? Get in, I'll drop you."

The car door swung open, revealing the soft glow of the interior lights. Dhriti slid into the passenger seat, the leather creaking softly beneath her. Karan settled into the driver's seat, the door thudding shut behind him. The gentle hum of the engine filled the silence, along with the steady whoosh of the tires against the road.

Dhriti's eyes roamed over the car's interior, lingering on the sleek dashboard and smooth leather seats. She shifted slightly, resting her elbow on the window's rim as she turned to face Karan.