Chapter 23: CHAPTER 21

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Iss baar target pura nhi hua to I won't give any update I swear!!!

This is the last tym I'm updating before completion of target!!!

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The room was dimly lit, with soft golden light streaming in through the large glass windows overlooking the city skyline.

Noor leaned against the balcony railing of her apartment in London, gazing at the endless stretch of lights twinkling below.

She had completed her graduation with top honors, earning a degree in business management. But none of her achievements filled the void in her heart.

Her mind wandered back to him.

Reyansh.

His name still brought a painful ache to her chest. Three years had passed since their breakup, and yet, not a single day had gone by without her thinking about him.

Not only three years but it's been three years 5 months 17 days and 4 hours.

She hadn't tried to reach out to him. She couldn't. She felt she had no right.

After their last meeting, after the anger and heartbreak, she believed he must hate her more than anything.

And yet, she still loved him, as much as she had that rainy night in the park.

>

On the other side of the world, in Mumbai, Reyansh's world was vastly different but equally heavy.

The sleek and luxurious office of Reyansh Malhotra radiated power and authority.

The black leather chair he sat on matched the stark minimalism of the room-polished surfaces, clean lines, and an air of perfection.

A stack of documents lay on his desk, but his focus was razor-sharp as he went through them with precision.

There was no trace of the boyish charm he once carried.

His face had hardened, his jawline more defined, his demeanor cold and unyielding.

At 30, Reyansh was the CEO of his own company, Malhotra Enterprises, one of the fastest-growing firms in the country.

His rise was meteoric, fueled by his own efforts. After his breakup, Reyansh had thrown himself into work, using the pain as motivation.

He built his empire brick by brick, ignoring the doubters and those who thought he couldn't do it.

A knock on the door broke his concentration. Without looking up, he said, "Come in."

Vikram, his best friend and closest confidant, strode into the room.

He wore his usual cheerful expression, a sharp contrast to Reyansh's perpetually serious demeanor.

"What are you doing?" Vikram asked, plopping into the chair across from Reyansh's desk.

"Working," Reyansh replied curtly, not looking up.

"Of course you are," Vikram said with a roll of his eyes. "You've become a machine, Reyansh. Do you even do anything else? When was the last time you took a break? Or smiled?"

Reyansh set down the file he was reading and finally looked up at his friend.

His eyes were cold but carried a depth of pain Vikram had grown used to. "What do you want, Vikram?"

"I want you to stop pretending you're a robot and talk to me like a human being," Vikram said, leaning forward.

"It's been three years, Rey. Three years since... everything. What have you been doing in all this time? Other than working and firing half your employees every day?"

Reyansh leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, there was silence, and then he answered, his voice calm but heavy.

"Intzaar."

(Wait)

Vikram frowned, confused. "What?"

"Waiting," Reyansh said, his voice almost a whisper, though it carried the weight of his emotions.

"Waiting for what?" Vikram pressed, though he had an idea.

Reyansh didn't answer. He simply looked out the window, his face unreadable, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

>

Later that night, Noor sat by her desk, staring at her laptop screen. She had received an offer from a prestigious firm in India, and though the position was perfect for her, the thought of returning to her homeland made her heart race.

It wasn't the idea of India itself-it was the memories it held. The streets, the places, the people... him.

She closed her laptop with a sigh and buried her face in her hands. She couldn't run forever.

Sooner or later, she'd have to face her fears-and her past.

"I'll think about it," she whispered to herself. But deep down, she knew her decision was already made.

For both Noor and Reyansh, the three years had been a time of transformation, pain, and longing.

But as their worlds unknowingly inched closer again, the question remained: were they ready to face each other once more?

>

The warm breeze carried the familiar scent of blooming marigolds as Noor stepped out of the airport.

The sights and sounds of Mumbai overwhelmed her senses after years away-honking cars, chatter in Hindi, and the faint echo of street vendors calling out their wares.

She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be home.

Her parents, waiting by the exit, broke into wide smiles as soon as they saw her.

Her mother, draped in a simple yet elegant sari, waved enthusiastically, while her father stood a few steps behind, his stoic expression melting into pride and affection.

"Noor!" her mother exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. "Finally, you're back. I can't believe it's been so long."

"I missed you, Mumma," Noor whispered, her voice breaking slightly as she clung to her mother's warmth.

Her father gently patted her shoulder. "We're proud of you, beta. Welcome home."

Noor smiled at him, blinking away tears. Despite everything, this place-her family-was her anchor.

The house was exactly as she remembered it. The living room walls were still painted the same shade of cream, decorated with family photos.

Noor's bedroom, however, had undergone a subtle transformation. Her mother had redecorated it with pastel tones and new furniture, but small touches of her childhood remained-

the stack of books on the shelf, her old guitar leaning against the corner, and the framed photo of her family on the bedside table.

"You've done a lot to the room, Mumma," Noor said, running her hand over the soft pink bedsheet.

"Well, it was time for a change," her mother replied, handing her a glass of water.

"But I didn't want to throw out your things. I thought you'd want to keep them."

Noor nodded. "Thank you. It feels... nice to be back."

Her father entered the room just then, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

"You're not planning to sit around all day now that you're back, are you?"

Noor looked at him, surprised. "Papa, I just got here!"

"I know, I know," he said, waving her protest aside.

"But you're 23 now. You've studied hard, made a name for yourself abroad. It's time to start thinking about your future here. You should apply somewhere-get some experience as an intern."

"Intern?" Noor raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Yes," her father insisted.

"You may have a degree, but practical experience matters. And you're not above starting small."

Her mother chimed in, her tone gentle but encouraging.

"He's right, Noor. You've always been ambitious. You should think about it."

Noor took a deep breath, her eyes darting to the window.

She knew her father meant well, but the thought of stepping into the professional world back in India filled her with hesitation. What if she ran into someone from her past?

"I'll think about it," she said finally, hoping to buy herself some time.

Her father nodded, satisfied. "Good. Let me know if you need help finding a place to apply."

As night fell, Noor sat on the balcony, staring at the stars.

The city lights twinkled below her, but her mind was far away.

Returning to India had felt inevitable, yet now that she was here, the weight of the past loomed large.

She thought about her father's words. Maybe joining as an intern somewhere would help her regain her footing, distract her from the ghosts of her memories.

But no matter how much she tried to push the thoughts aside, Reyansh's face appeared in her mind.

His cold eyes, his anger, his voice. She wondered where he was, what he was doing, and if he had moved on.

Did he still think about her?

Or was she just a distant memory?

Noor sighed and leaned back, the cool night breeze brushing against her face.

For now, she decided, she would take things one step at a time.

>

Noor clutched her file tightly as she stepped out of the elevator on the top floor of the towering corporate building.

She had been nervous about this interview ever since her father had insisted that this company was the "perfect place" for her to begin her professional journey in India.

Her nerves weren't just about the job. A strange sense of unease had settled over her, like the universe was conspiring to pull her back into a place she didn't want to revisit.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her kurti, wiped her clammy hands on her bag, and stepped into the sleek glass-walled cabin labeled:

Reyansh Malhotra, CEO.

At first, she froze.

Reyansh was seated behind a massive oak desk, his presence commanding as ever.

His perfectly tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his sharp jawline seemed even more defined than she remembered.

His dark eyes, once filled with love, were now guarded, almost unreadable.

Noor's breath caught in her throat as their gazes met. Time seemed to stop.

"Reyansh..." she whispered, barely audible.

He stood up slowly, his imposing figure towering over her.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. The cold indifference there made her chest ache.

"Well, well," Reyansh drawled, his voice smooth but edged with sarcasm.

"Look who decided to walk into my company."

Noor's knees felt weak. She hadn't prepared for this. She hadn't known this was his company.

"I... I didn't know," she stammered, her voice trembling.

He raised an eyebrow. "Does it matter?"

Before she could answer, he pressed a button on his desk phone. "Call my assistant," he ordered sharply.

Moments later, a young man in a crisp uniform entered.

"Take Miss Noor Sharma to her desk," Reyansh instructed without looking at her.

"Wait," Noor blurted, her voice shaking. "What about the interview?"

Reyansh leaned back against his desk, his smirk widening. "Interview? I don't think it's necessary."

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Why... why would you hire me without-"

"It's my company," he interrupted, his tone sharp. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Noor's lips parted as if to protest, but the coldness in his voice stopped her.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she bit her lip and forced herself to stay composed.

"Follow me, ma'am," the assistant said gently, sensing the tension in the room.

As she turned to leave, her phone pinged. She quickly checked it and saw a text from her father:

"I'm proud of you, beta. This is the safest, best place for you to work. Don't let this opportunity go."

Her heart sank.

How could she tell her father the truth?

That this was the last place she wanted to be?

That the man who owned this company was the very reason her heart was still in pieces?

She clenched her jaw, suppressing the urge to cry. For her father's sake, she couldn't walk away-not yet.

The moment Noor walked into his cabin, Reyansh felt the air leave his lungs.

He hadn't seen her in three years, and yet the sight of her brought everything rushing back-the love, the betrayal, the heartbreak.

But he didn't let it show.

He watched her carefully, noting the way her eyes widened in shock and her lips quivered as she said his name.

She still had that same vulnerability, the same innocence that once made him fall for her. But he wasn't the same man anymore.

As she left the room with his assistant, he leaned back in his chair, his smirk fading. His jaw clenched as a wave of anger surged through him.

Why had she come back?

Why now?

He pulled out his phone and opened her file, which he had personally reviewed before approving her appointment.

She had all the qualifications, and her father had reached out to recommend her.

But he hadn't hired her for her skills. He had hired her for revenge.

Reyansh's fingers curled into fists. He remembered the sleepless nights, the rage that consumed him every time he thought of her and Aryan together.

She had moved on so easily while he had been left to pick up the shattered pieces of his heart.

Now, she was back. And he wasn't going to let her forget what she had done.

>

Noor sat at her desk, her mind racing. The sleek, modern office space felt suffocating, the weight of Reyansh's presence pressing down on her even though he wasn't nearby.

Her phone buzzed again, and she hesitated before looking at it, half expecting another text from her father.

Instead, it was an email from the department, officially welcoming her to the company and listing her duties.

She sighed and set the phone down, trying to focus on the tasks ahead.

But her thoughts kept drifting back to Reyansh-the way he had looked at her, the coldness in his voice, the smirk on his face.

Why had he hired her without an interview?

What was he planning?

A part of her wanted to run, to leave this job and never look back. But her father's words echoed in her mind.

He had always wanted the best for her, and she couldn't disappoint him now.

For now, she would stay.

But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning. Reyansh wasn't the same man she had fallen in love with.

And whatever he had planned, she would have to face it head-on.

Unbeknownst to her, Reyansh was determined to make her feel the same pain he had endured.

And he wasn't going to stop until she did.

>

Noor sat at her desk, staring at the screen in front of her, but her mind was elsewhere.

It had been hours since she had stepped into Reyansh's office and realized that he owned the company where she now worked.

The memory of his smirk, the coldness in his eyes, and the sarcastic tone in his voice haunted her.

She knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Reyansh was too calculated, too deliberate.

He had hired her for a reason, and she had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t a good one.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her from her thoughts.

She checked it, half expecting a message from her father. Instead, it was an email from Reyansh’s personal assistant.

Subject: Meeting Reminder

Message: Mr. Malhotra would like to see you in his office at 2 PM.

Her heart sank.

>

Noor stepped into his office, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her notepad.

Reyansh was sitting behind his desk, reviewing some documents.

He didn’t look up immediately, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably.

Finally, he glanced up, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. “Close the door.”

She obeyed, her fingers fumbling with the handle.

When she turned back around, she noticed the way his eyes studied her, as if he were searching for something.

“Sit,” he ordered.

She sat down, her back straight and her hands folded in her lap. “You wanted to see me, Sir?”

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “How are you finding the work so far?”

“It’s only my first day,” she replied softly. “I haven’t had much to do yet.”

He nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ll have plenty to do soon. I expect nothing but excellence from my employees.”

His tone was formal, but there was an undercurrent of something else—something more personal.

“I understand,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reyansh leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming back to India, Ms. Sharma.”

Her breath hitched. She hadn’t expected him to bring up their past so soon.

“It wasn’t planned,” she said cautiously. “I wanted to be closer to my family.”

“Family,” he repeated, his tone mocking. “And yet you didn’t think to warn me? I suppose it was more convenient to let fate do the work.”

She bit her lip, unsure how to respond.

He stood abruptly, walking around the desk until he was standing in front of her.

She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her heart pounding.

“You’ve changed,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Three years ago, you wouldn’t have been able to lie to me so easily.”

Her eyes widened. “I’m not lying—”

He cut her off with a bitter laugh. “Don’t. I know you, Noor. I know exactly why you’re here. You can pretend all you want, but you’re still the same.”

Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away. “You don’t know anything about me anymore.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he was going to say something cruel.

But instead, he stepped back and returned to his chair.

“This conversation is over,” he said coldly. “You can leave.”

Noor hesitated, wanting to say something—to defend herself, to explain—but the hard look in his eyes stopped her.

She stood and left the office, her chest tight with unshed tears.

>

Noor sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her first day at Reyansh’s company had been nothing short of a nightmare.

She had hoped that time would heal the wounds between them, but it was clear that Reyansh was still angry—angrier than she had imagined.

She opened her phone and scrolled through her messages. Her father had sent her another text:

“I hope your first day went well. Let me know if you need anything, beta.”

She replied quickly, not wanting him to worry:

“It was fine, Papa. Thank you for everything.”

But the truth was far from fine. Reyansh’s words replayed in her mind over and over again.

“You’re still the same.”

Was she?

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away.

She couldn’t let him get to her. She had to focus on her job, her future.

But deep down, she knew that as long as Reyansh was in her life, moving on would be impossible.

>

Reyansh poured himself a glass of whiskey and stared out of the large window in his penthouse.

The city lights sparkled below, but his mind was consumed with memories of Noor.

Seeing her again after all these years had stirred up emotions he thought he had buried—pain, anger, and something he refused to name.

He took a sip of his drink, his jaw clenched. She looked the same, yet different.

More composed, more mature. But her eyes—they still held that same softness that had once made him weak.

He hated it.

He hated that she still had this hold over him. That her presence alone could stir up all the feelings he had spent years trying to suppress.

But this time, things would be different. He wasn’t the lovesick boy he had been three years ago. He was Reyansh Malhotra now—powerful, successful, and ruthless.

And he was going to make sure Noor regretted ever walking back into his life.

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The thing happened between them in last chapter is somehow related to an incident of my life. I wanted to pen down this coz sometimes we're not in control.

Kehte hai na hormones ka imbalance!!

Ek baar kahi se jyada attention mil jati hai to vha jane ka mann karta h...and this exact thing happened to me last year🤡

So sometimes khud pe control bhi bhot jaruri hai!!!!

Kabhi kabhi Mann karta hai khudpe book likh du🙂

But nahh!!! Harr dusre chapter ka title "AND I WAS DEPRESSED" nhi rakhna chahti🤡

Btw please share your views!!!!!