AUTHOR's POV

"Rimi... I'm not coming," Amulya whispered through the phone, trying to keep his voice as quiet as possible.

He was sitting in his conference room, dim lights flickering as the projector worked in front of him. All the officials and new clients were engaged in an important meeting for the next project. His best friend and business partner, Vikaal Dixit, sat beside him. Since school, they had been inseparable.

But right now, he had only one wish—to throw his best friend out of the window because Amulya was whispering on his phone instead of paying attention.

"So, ladies and gentlemen, let's pay attention to the statistics first." They all looked down at their files.

"MR. AMULYA!" Vikaal's voice made him jump.

"Yes... yes..." He looked around, startled. "Sorry, where were we?" he asked, looking at everyone.

They all looked confused at Amulya.

"I'm sorry. I think we should take a break before we proceed with the...?"

"STATISTICS," Vikaal finished the sentence.

"Yeah... statistics." They all nodded and took a break for an hour, also because it was almost lunchtime.

"What the hell were you doing?" Vikaal asked, crossing his arms.

"Yaar... it's Rimjhim..." Amulya rubbed his face in frustration and leaned back.

When Vikaal heard Rimjhim's name, something in him shifted, like a butterfly fluttering, but he kept his face straight.

"What about her?" Vikaal asked, his curiosity intact.

"She wants me to pick up her friend from the airport. She's coming from Delhi," Amulya said, pulling himself up from the chair.

"What friend?" Vikaal asked, walking behind Amulya as he exited the conference room.

"Some childhood friend she found online a few months ago," Amulya replied casually, walking past his staff members and nodding at each greeting he and Vikaal received, ignoring the ogling eyes of the girls drooling over them.

"You mean from when you guys were living in Delhi?" Vikaal asked as they both entered the pantry to make some coffee.

"Yes," Amulya answered in a clipped tone. He didn't give much attention to it, but every time someone mentioned his childhood in Delhi, it reminded him of the one person he yearned to have in his life.

His hand automatically moved to his chest, feeling the pendant he wore beneath his white shirt.

The pendant had been his only solace in the chaos of his heart. The one thing that reminded him of her every day and kept the hope alive. The pendant that held the marigold flower she had given him 22 years ago.



Vikaal noticed the change in Amulya's expression and dropped the topic then and there.

One thing Amulya and Vikaal always ensured in their office was to keep the environment as welcoming as possible.

The pantry was simple yet warm and inviting for the staff. A chalkboard had been placed specifically to release personal frustrations—especially for the women, mostly when they were on their periods.

They could come here and write whatever irritated them during the day, and no one needed to reveal who wrote it.

Today, the board read:

"Le that one GIRL IN OFFICE
I wish to throw all my male colleagues out of this building.
'NO VAGINA, NO OPINION'
I fucking bleed every month and still get tips from them on how to
STAY CALM."

Amulya choked on his coffee when he saw the chalkboard to his right.

"Yeh ladkiyan hain ya gundon ki leaders?" he asked no one in particular.

Vikaal chuckled at his comment, but before he could say anything, Amulya's phone rang again.

Letting out a long sigh, Amulya picked up the call.

"BHAI... Please, please, please..." Rimjhim bombarded him with her pleading.

"Rimi, listen—"

"Bhai, I know I call you a monster sometimes, but that doesn't mean you have to behave like one every time."

Amulya wanted to reply, but he knew there was no point in arguing.

Because:
No. 1: Rimjhim was on her period.
No. 2: She was a horrible driver.
No. 3: He couldn't let her go with the driver because she would eventually convince him to let her drive.

"FINE... but this is the last time. Text me the time of her arrival," he replied and cut the call.

After that, they went back to their meeting, and the day passed in a blink.

It was almost 7 when Amulya sat at his desk, completely engrossed in his work on his laptop.

"Bhai, chal... it's almost time," Vikaal peeped through the door, looking down at his watch.

Amulya glanced at the time on his own watch and quickly shut his laptop, apologizing to Vikaal.

"Let's go, we're already late," Amulya said, hurriedly picking up his coat.

Just as he passed Vikaal, his friend stopped him. "But how will you recognize her?" he asked, raising a brow.

"I asked Rimi for her picture, but she said she's got a surprise prepared for her. So, we need to go and collect that—and also the board with her name written on it," Amulya replied, adjusting his hair while looking at the glass on an employee's desk.

Vikaal suddenly seemed very eager to go and pick up the surprise from Amulya's home.

"Let's go!" He grabbed Amulya's arm and pulled him away before he could finish fixing his messy hair.

"Arey... what's gotten into you?"

"Let's go, or we'll be late," Vikaal said, not slowing down until they reached the parking lot.

They both got into Amulya's car, leaving Vikaal's parked there.

It took them almost an hour to navigate Mumbai's traffic, even though the house was 30 minutes away.

And they had to be quick because her flight was landing at 8:45.

When they finally reached the house—which was no less than a bungalow, making it clear they were filthy rich—Amulya barely opened his mouth when—

"Ri—"

"Rimi!" Vikaal's voice echoed through the living room even before Amulya could finish, making him eye his friend in confusion.

Rimjhim was in her room, admiring her surprise when she heard their voices and ran downstairs with it.

She was wearing a yellow puff-sleeve dress with a bow in her hair, looking extremely adorable. Though she was 24, she looked much younger than her age.

Rimjhim's chirpy voice and loving personality made Vikaal smile like a fool, though he tried hard to control it.

"Hi, bhai. Now, without wasting time, take this and go to the airport," she said, handing over the surprise.

She wasn't very comfortable around Vikaal—most likely felt shy—but she never knew why. So, the best she could do was avoid eye contact.

Amulya took the package and observed the surprise.

It was a beautiful bouquet of flowers—but not just any flowers.

They were marigolds, bright and beautiful.

Amulya's mind instantly drifted to his childhood memories.

His heart started beating rapidly, his thoughts spiraling into the past.

He was so lost in them that Rimjhim had to snap her fingers in front of his face to bring him back.



"Bhai? GO!", she showed him way out to door.

He looked at other things as well, it was a basket full of chocolates, especially kinder joy and some Pinteresty hair claw clips .



"Listen, I'm not going to take all these. I'll look like a lovesick boyfriend going on a date," Amulya tried to retort, but Rimjhim wasn't having it.

"Chal bhai, itne pyaar se bol rahi hai..." (C'mon bro, she's asking so sweetly), Vikaal chimed in, his eyes on Rimjhim, smiling with adoration.

Amulya rolled his eyes but eventually gave in.

"Fine, let's go. But you still haven't told me her name."

Rimjhim passed a smug smile and wiggled her brows.

Amulya eyed her suspiciously.

She held up a board with her friend's name written on it.

Amulya just couldn't believe what he was reading.

And i will tell you the name tomorrow.

Booiiiiiiii🥰

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