One week later,

Aashi walked towards her cabin when John greeted her just outside her cabin.

'Good morning, Maam.'

'Morning.' Aashi replied and entered her cabin with John following her. She had noticed him holding a file and her heart began racing with anticipation to know if Rishabh was selected.

'Maam, we have selected three Candidates, you can interview them.' He said placing the file on the table. Aashi nodded calmly. Though she was calm from outside, a storm brewed inside her. Five minutes after John had left, she leaned forward and picked up the file. Her heart thumped in her chest. She flipped pages and after two candidates, there he was Rishabh. Aashi felt relieved.

'Okay, Mr. Kalish you may leave. If you are selected my team will get in touch with you.' Aashi said formally. Kalish nodded confidently

'Sure, Maam.' He said standing up. Aashi closed his file as he walked out.

'Maam, next one is the best.' John whispered to Aashi.

I know, Aashi thought with a smile looking at Rishabh's file.

John asked his assistant Kalpana to go get Rishabh, she nodded and left. Aashi felt her heart beat increase again.

Soon, the door opened and Rishabh entered. As his gaze met Aashi's she felt mixed emotions, her heart dropped also it skipped a beat. She clenched the armrest tightly as he walked in, a forced smile on his lips.

'Good afternoon.' Rishabh greeted them.

'Good Afternoon.' John greeted him extending his hand. Rishabh shook hands with him. Aashi quickly wiped her palm on her black pencil skirt as he looked at her.

'Good afternoon, Maam.'

Maam, Aashi didn't like him being so formal with her.

'Good afternoon.' Aashi tried to sound stern, she extended her hand. Though it wasn't visible her hand shook. She felt nervous.

Rishabh extended his hand and their palms touched. Aashi felt shivers as his skin touched hers. After a decade she is touching him, it feels very nice, like summer rains. She smiled little but quickly fixed her expressions.

The interview passed quickly, it was mostly John interviewing him. Most of the time, Aashi avoided looking at him. She couldn't look at him, into his sad haunting eyes. She wished she could get to know his past, the struggles, his heartbreak.

'So, Mr. Khurana, after completing your BBA, you were working as an accountant in a company that wasn't so profitable, why? Why didn't you do your MBA sooner, why the gap?

Aashi asked. John and Rishabh looked at her. She looked back with confidence. She noticed Rishabh posture stiffen.

'It was a personal reason, Maam.' Rishabh said seriously. A tone that clearly said, back off. Aashi nodded, clearly, he isn't comfortable with that part. But then, since when did he and she started to feel uncomfortable sharing their pain.

'Okay, then-' John broke their eye contact with his hoarse voice. The interview continued.

Fifteen minutes later, Aashi closed his file and looked at him, - 'That is it from us, Mr. Khurana my team will get in touch with you if you are selected.' She said forwarding him his file. Rishabh nodded taking his file.

'Thank you.' He said formally. John nodded smiling at him, Rishabh smiled too. He looked at Aashi, who looked back unblinkingly.

'Told you, he is the best.' John said confidently as Rishabh turned walking towards the door. Aashi doesn't respond, she stared at his back watching him go.

********************************

Later that night, Aashi and Suchitra sat with the three files, Aashi had given her all the details of the interview and the two women sat together sorting this out. Just then the doorbell rang.

'I will go get it.' Suchitra said standing up. Aashi nodded not looking up from the files. A few minutes later, she entered the living room saying, - 'Look, who has come to see you.'

Aashi frowned wondering who it could be this late, she looked up and is surprised to see Himanshu. He looked at her awkwardly.

'Sorry, I was passing by so I thought I will drop in if you needed my help or something.' Himanshu said, he kept glancing at Suchitra. She had her lips pressed tightly together and her palm covering her smiling lips.

Aashi smiled tiredly, - 'Sure, Join us but before that please make coffee for us.'

Himanshu smiled, a genuine one and excitedly said, - 'Sure.' He then dashed into the open kitchen.

'Coffee? Seriously?' Suchitra smiled sitting beside Aashi.

'You haven't tasted coffee he makes, its heaven.' Aashi said confidently, -'Haina, Himanshu?' She called turning to look at him.

'Thanks.' Himanshu said looking at her from the open kitchen. They smiled at each other and then Aashi turned back to her work.

Suchitra nudged her arm and Aashi looked at her, - 'That guy has a huge crush on you.' She winked. Aashi rolled her eyes. She remembered of the day, Himanshu had confessed his feelings, she mentally cursed that day and got back to work again.

After Himanshu made delicious coffee, the three sipped their coffees; Suchitra couldn't stop praising the coffee enough, and discussing the CVS. Suchitra nudged Aashi's arm when Himanshu too praised Rishabh. Aashi felt proud.

***********************************

'Bye, Himanshu,' Aashi said as he stepped out of her apartment. He smiled at her. Aashi felt grateful that he thought of her and, so she moved forward and hugged him taking him by surprise, - 'Thank you.' She whispered

'Anytime.' He said wrapping his arm around her. She smiled into his chest.

Later that night, Aashi felt happy as she sent Rishabh's CV as the selected one to John and asked him to inform Rishabh that he will be joining the job soon. Suchitra smiled and hugged Aashi from behind.

'Told you it's destiny.' She said with pride.

'Yeah, whatever.' Aashi smirked closing the flab of her laptop.

'What? You still have doubts?' Suchitra pretended to sound offended. Aashi stood up shaking her head.

'It is getting late, go to sleep.' Aashi said walking towards her bed.

'Good night.' Suchitra smiled

'Good night, and please switch off the lights as you go.' Aashi said and then smiled looking at her.

Suchitra twisted her lips making an angry face, and then smiled, a sweet smile and left the room switching off the lights.

Aashi sighed and looked up, it is a matter of few weeks and Rishabh will be working in the same pharmaceutical company as her. He will be working for her, she will be his boss. Aashi smiled as she recollected a part of their beautiful past.

'Don't study so much, Aashi. Else I will have to work for you.' Rishabh said annoyed.

Both were doing group studies for their upcoming exams. Aashi looked up from her book and smirked, 'Why your ego will get hurt reporting to a female boss.'

'No, not with you.' Rishabh said brightly, he placed his arm around her, - 'You will be a cute boss.' He pinched her nose.

Aashi shoved his hand away, she frowned at him, - 'I hope I become your boss in future and then I will show you how cute boss I can be.' She smirked devilishly.

Rishabh shook his head, - 'Of course not, I will be playing for India, nationally and internationally.' He said staring at the wall front, a dreamy smile on his face. Aashi admired his smile and his dream.

Aashi recollected the formal Rishabh she had met today, he just looked like Rishabh but he wasn't the Rishabh she knew. He wasn't her Rishabh. He spoke everything like a robot, emotionless. Obviously, this is not what he had wanted to do. But then why is he doing all this? Is it because of Laila? Aashi kept thinking of him and all possibilities till sleep engulfed her.

Next day, she got up and eagerly began counting days till Rishabh will join M&D pharmaceuticals. Suchitra isn't surprised seeing her excitement and every time she kept throwing her it-is-destiny look and kept annoying her, but secretly even Aashi began believing that this indeed must be destiny.