Colors - Paradox ✔️

19

"Go! It's still one minute left."

Shivam looked up, furrowed a little and without saying a word, he rushed out of the store room.

"Where the hell were you? Come here and start the presentation", the boss raised a hand towards him.

Shivam walked towards the dias very slowly. He tried to calm his mind down.

His brain was not working properly. Though he wanted to do his best to concentrate on the project, he couldn't.

Just then, the door of the meeting room opened again.
"May I come in Sir?", Shreya asked in a low voice.

The boss looked at her and raised an eye brow at her, posing a question.

"Sorry sir, I had to go to the washroom." It took her some seconds more to find her chair.

Shivam started his presentation.

But an uneasiness could be seen in his face and body language. He fumbled a bit at the starting but gradually he became smooth at explaining his ideas and plans about the project.

However, he couldn't manage to answer all the queries raised by the others. It was evident, that Shreya was able to leave a severe effect on his mind.

It was Shreya's turn.

She got up and went to the dias. Everything was supposed to go well.
But she felt the beating of her heart faster than usual.

She didn't know why, her energy didn't meet its usual range. She wasn't claustrophobic but this closed room was giving her a slight headache.

She knew she would have to leave this room and go outside soon.
So she tried to finish the presentation quickly.

During her presentation, Shivam didn't raise any objection.

No questions. No doubts.

Shreya took a glance at Shivam. He was not even looking at the presentation. His gaze was kept down at the table. 

At the end of everyone's presentation, it was time to take the decision to whom this project was going.

It became quite prominent, that the project and promotion both were going to Anuradha, one of the employees in that department. Although her project was not far better than the others, but her confidence and explanation was at its best.

By measuring the stiffness and lack of sincerity in Shreya and Shivam's presentations, the boss was not happy.  Though he wasn't that much bothered about Shreya that much, but he was very disappointed with Shivam.

"I expected a better approach Shivam", he told him at the end.
"I really thought that you deserve this promotion the best".

Shreya scoffed a little.

He surely doesn't know anything about the meaning of the word 'deserving'.

However, Shreya was happy that he didn't get the project. She thought it was enough for what he had tried to do with her project.

But she wondered why Shivam didn't confess. After being so obvious, he didn't actually get it straight that he had taken the pendrive.

Why is he so stubborn?

Everything is over. He can tell me now.

                           _________

Sangeeta put her phone inside her handbag after receiving an unnecessary call from customer service and exited the office building. She had got rid of her work a little earlier.

She had to go to the convenience store for buying some food items.

She entered the nearest convenience store and quickly collected everything she was looking for. She headed towards the cash counter to pay.

All of a sudden, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Mitali? ", Sangeeta was surprised to see her in Pune.

"Hey, how are you? ", And she gave Sangeeta a light hug.

"I'm fine. When did you come to Pune? " Sangeeta asked just out of curiosity.

"The day before yesterday. I had a personal issue so I had to come. ", Mitali said.

Sangeeta liked her smile. It was genuine. She had never hurt Sangeeta in any way and Sangeeta had no complaints about her. She is a gentle and responsible girl, who loved to take care of everyone around her.

"Let's grab a coffee then! There's a coffee shop here next to this store", Mitali suggested.

"Um. Okay, sure! ", Sangeeta nodded and after their payment was done, they headed out for the coffee shop.

______________

Shreya's P O V:

Everyone was wrapping up their things as the working hours were over.
I looked around for Sonam to say goodbye but she was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe she had left already.

I was going to turn on my heel when suddenly, I felt someone's presence behind me.

She turned to see who it was.

Very good. It was Payel.

Well, she is not the person I want to face right now.

"Umm, Shreya.. ", the words came out of her mouth very slowly.

Something was missing in her voice.
Oh yes.
Rudeness.

"Yep. What's it?", I asked back.

"Actually... ", She paused and continued, "I waned to say sorry".

I choked on my breath.

Did she say sorry just now?

"Why? Oh.. about those..."

She cut me midway.
"Yeah, I misbehaved a lot with you. And.. "

"Why all of a sudden.. ah it's okay.. ", I tried to make it sound as much polite as possible.

" Yes, I'm sorry about everything I  said to you about you and Shivam. And.. " she fumbled.

"And.. ??" I waited for her to continue.

"And.. about your p-pendrive too.. "