Chapter 7: chapter 7

Prithvi's eyes kept lingering on Sanyogita, his eyes bulging with shock. For seven years, he was numb through work, gaining success but leaving an empty emptiness inside. A emptiness he couldn't fill, no matter how he tried.Past refused to let go. Past was repeating itself, making him understand that destiny was unavoidable.The silence between them was palpable, a living thing that enveloped the room.Just when the silence seemed to become oppressive, the shrill ring of his mobile phone cut through the air.The ring broke the spell, shattering Prithvi's trance-like state. He blinked, his attention switching back to the present.Sanyogita, too, appeared to awaken, her gaze falling to her hands."Excuse me," Prithvi murmured, he was released and took a raise from his seat as soon as his eyes landed on Sanyogita.He dismissed the call as it was interrupted in the middle of an immediate introductory meeting.Sanyogita's gaze followed him, her expression unreadable.He brushed aside the call as it was cut off in the middle of an impromptu introduction.Sanyogita's eyes trailed behind him, her face inscrutable.Prithvi pushed aside his trance, his face smoothing into a mask of poise. Regardless of the lump forming in his chest, he kept his trademark calm.Finding his authoritative tone again, Prithvi reclined back in his chair, his eyes roaming the room.Sanyogita, too, composed herself, her anger carefully concealed. She sat down beside her new boss, her posture poised."Let's begin," Prithvi announced, his voice commanding attention. "I'd like to introduce our team members. We have Rohan, our marketing specialist; Neha, our gifted graphic designer; and Sanyogita, our newest team member in design.""Now,I have an exciting announcement," Prithvi continued. "Malhotra Company will be collaborating with the renowned fashion designer, House of Rajasthan. This partnership promises significant growth for our company."Prithvi's eyes sparkled with challenges. "I need innovative designs, something that will set us apart. You have 48 hours to showcase your talent. Only one design will be selected for this project."The room fell silent, the weight of the task settling upon the team."Understood?" Prithvi's voice was firm, his gaze sweeping across the room."Alright, Sir," was the chorus, each member in agreement, with the exception of Sanyogita, whose silence was like a question MarkPrithvi's eyes rested on her for a moment before he announced, "The meeting is closed."As the team left, murmurs broke out in the staff room, wondering at the abrupt announcement.Prithvi, meanwhile, went back to his cabin, his mind focused on Sanyogita's files and personal papers.For hours, he studied the papers, his eyes devouring every word. He could not get the déjà vu out of his system."Was it a dream or real life?" he questioned himself, his head spinning.Arjun, Prithvi's aide, rapped at the door, worried on his face. "Sir, You requested those files of high priority, but…Prithvi's focus remained fixed on Sanyogita's documents.Arjun's confusion deepened as he watched his new boss, Prithvi, scrutinize an employee's files for hours. "Is he solving a crime or running a company?" Arjun wondered.Squinting, Arjun leaned in, attempting to glimpse the documents. "Sir, kahu toh magnifying glass doon?" he joked, bewildered.Prithvi's gaze snapped up, his eyebrows arching. "Arjun."Arjun's smile faltered. "Sorry, Sir." He retreated, uncertainty etched on his face. "Should I come later?"Prithvi's response was a silent nod, his eyes conveying dismissal.As Arjun departed, Prithvi's hands clasped his chin, his fingers drumming a staccato beat. A subtle smile played on his lips, but his mind churned with questions."Why this employee? What secrets lay hidden in these files?His eyes wandered back to Sanyogita's papers, the name resonating within his thoughts like a mantra.With the door shut behind Arjun, Prithvi's eyes remained fixed on the empty space, his mind struggling still for lucidity. He leaned back in his chair, hands framing his chin, fingers steepled in reflection.A sly smile crept onto his lips, foreshadowing a blend of interest and curiosity. But beneath the surface, a vortex of questions churned, hoping to find answers that eluded them.Prithvi's gaze wandered to the papers strewn on his desk, Sanyogita's name standing out on the pages. His mind grappled with the mysterious employee, hoping to find linkages, patterns, and hints.The quiet in the cabin multiplied his thoughts, the gentle buzz of the air conditioner and ticking clock providing background for his turmoil within.Prithvi's eyes drifted away from the window toward the city skyline, lights twinkling there fading into an unsharp smear as his concentration moved inward.*************Sanyogita was sitting in the chair in front of her table. After a lot of thinking she had reached a point. She had prepared her mind finally and opened the laptop on the desk and had started typing. At the end of the typing, she took out the print of a letter and folded it within an envelope. She was going to get up from her seat in the middle her mobile was ringing and simultaneously dancing to the effect of vibration atop her study table ringtone. There in the mobile, a picture had appeared via that incoming call which had just come. Sanyogita was staring at her phone for a few moments, then she had received the call “Jii bhabhi boliye” responded by SanyogitaAnother side of the call, a female with a crying voice replied “Sanyo, Doctor ne Kaha hai ki Ariyan kya treatment Abhi nahi kya toh bhot badhi problem ho jaygi. Her voice choked ““Bhavi, Roiye mat, don't worry Main hoon na!, Aap Doctor ko phone dijiye I wanted to talked to him”At the end of consulting with the doctor, Saynogita cut the phone, She took a sigh. She took out the resignation letter from the envelope  and folded it in her hand and threw it in the dustbinThat day early in the evening Sanyogita visited the Hospital. Sanyogita took the stairs of the hospital. On the 3rd floor of the building, there were so many patients lying in the bed, some were talking with their beloved one, somewhere crying. The whole environment was looking very emotional and quiet which was totally different from the outside.Sanyogita stopped in front of bed no.201 where a lady was sitting on a chair. She was caressing the head of his son who was lying in the bed. She was looking very weak, her hair was messy, her eyes were swollen with dark circles under her eyes. She was wearing a simple cotton sari.“Bhabi, called Sanyogita softly keeping her hand on the shoulder of the ladyShe looked up and seeing Sanyogita, some rays of hope came in her face. Snayogita had noticed marks of dried tears on the cheeks of her Sister-in-law whose lips became dried, her eyelashes were still wetted with  tears“Don't worry Bhavi, aab main agayi hoon na sab thik ho jayega, Maine doctor se baat Karli hai, Woh jaldhi treatment shuru karenge” Sanyogita assured  Sanyogita shifted her gaze to see her nephew, Ariyan who had opened his eyes by the conversation between her mother and his aunty. He was looking lean and his hair was thin and he had lost most of his hair due to chemotherapy.Aryan was a 10 years old cute little boy who was suffering from leukaemia for the last 2 years.Sanyogita moved close to him. She kissed his forehead with full affection. She gave him a chocolate “So, Kaise ho my buddy?” asked  Sanyogita “Um, Ariyan at first didn't reply, he had started to make some face, then he speaks very bad,” I don't like those medications all the day and night, I want to go to school Aunty, I want to play with my friends in the ground, I want to jump, I won't laugh all time” complaint  Aryan innocently Sanyogita tried her best to control her tears which were preparing to come out at any time from her eyes. She was thinking in her mind Why is God so cruel to give such a life-threatening disease to Aryan like kids who have not seen the world completely. In this little age, they were just totally unaware of the fact of life and death. Before knowing the world, enjoying the beauty of nature, death had knocked on the door of such innocent life. Why GOD you have been so cruel to themSanyogita was thinking in her mind, she had come out from her anguish by the sudden jerk of Aryan who shocked her hands repeatedly.Sanyogita moved closed to him, brought her lips to his forehead again gave a kissed there and replied: “You want to know all those answers because You are a Superman Ariyan, you have such superpowers so that’s why GOD wanted to keep you isolation if you have come in touched with those people then there may be a possibility you have lost all those magical powers .” Said  Sanyogita sweetly by caressing the hairs of Aryan.The Aryan face was delighted after hearing all those things. His lips spread a beautiful smile “ Aunty are  these all people with whom I have shared this whole large room are they also have supernatural power like me?” asked  Ariyan innocently  Sanyogita sat beside him on the bed and comforted him “yes, sweetheart [gave a peek on his cheek] hmm, these all people along with you have also gifted me with such sorts of supernatural powers.“But Why you, Mamma and Papa don't have these powers?’’“Because we love Ariyan, we request GOD to give these all superpowers to our superhero Ariyan”.Sanyogita hugged Ariyan who was starting to giggle. Shalini, mother of Ariyan, now gets peace of relief to see her son’s smiling face.Sanyogita recalled the conversation of her with the doctor on the phoneDoctor:-Sanyogita, We have tried our best to cure Ariyan disease, with your permission we have started the treatments but now [pause he was hesitating at first]Sanyogita:- but now, what doctor?[asked worriedly]Doctor:- There are so many diseases which cannot be cured by money. We will try our best and there will be zero percent of negligence during the treatment of Ariyan from us. But you should have patience. You have to take care of your sister-in-law not to break down in front of a patient, it will be very difficult for us because it will cause some mental stress in the patient.Sanyogita:-Oaky doctor I will take care of thatDoctor:- hmm, hum chahe junta bhi koshish kare baki sab Uparwale ke haath mein haiSanyogita remained silent. She was thinking in her mind I couldn't be left this job, I have to do this only for the sake of AriyanIn the Malhotra mansionPrithvi was in his room. He is wearing his night suit and a grey colour trouser with a normal casual T-shirt. He was looking into the earring in his hand. He kissed the earring passionately.2 days later, In the Malhotra officePrithvi was highly impressed by everyone’s works but after so much discussion finally, he chose the design to drown Sanyogita .Everyone congratulates Sanyogita except Trisha who was an employee at Malhotra company for the past 5 years. She was feeling jealous because she was the only one in the company whose designs had always impressed everyone's attention. But now it was for the first time Sanyogita who had joined the office was recently chosen over her.