CHAPTER -1 Shweta

"Wake up Shweta! Or you will get late!" I can hear Pooja screaming and I'm not at all in the mood to wake up but she said something about being late. Pooja is my room mate, who is always out with her boyfriend and I don't know why she's at home today.

I couldn't get up early since I was up until late on the previous night. I hope I'm not late on the first day of internship! I check my phone and found 3 missed calls from Vivaan. I call him back and say in a groggy voice "Yes Vivaan, I’ll come, give me some time"

"Shall I come to pick you up?" He asks

"That's not necessary. And you'll have to come to the other side of the city just to pick me up. Don't worry. I'll be there!" I say & hang up the call. I jump out of bed as I have to get ready as quickly as possible.

Vivaan has been my best friend since college. He has always been there for me, no matter what the situation is.

I get ready quickly and call a cab. "Wow! I'm really doing this!" I think.

I'm wearing blue jeans and a simple black top. Once I get in the cab, I take out my cellphone and call Vivaan.

"Hey Vivaan, I have left for the place but I'm damn scared man!" I close my eyes and the past flashes back in my mind and I feel lost. "Are you sure you will be able to do this?" Vivaan asks. His voice brought me back in the present and I feel scared as hell. Yet taking on the mask of the strong girl I say "Yes, I'm sure I'll be able to do it. See ya there!"

It'll be a half-hour ride to the office so I lean back in my seat and start thinking about the past where all I wanted was to become a great designer, just like Aditya. I'm trying to remember my college days. It feels like just yesterday when we were sitting in the college canteen and discussing about our favorite designer. I was quiet throughout the discussion since everyone knew my love for Aditya and they had already reached their limits after hearing countless stories of Aditya from me. Yes, I love Aditya very much. Even my decision to become designer was influenced by one of his interviews. My friends warned me about the sufferings of one-sided love and advised me to move on. I didn't give high regard to their opinions, but that might be because I was afraid to face the reality, the truth that he was never in my destiny. But they all were right. What If I never met Aditya in my life and even if we met, will he be able to reciprocate my love for him? What if he already has someone he loves deeply? No wonder there will be a flock of girls dying for his attention, he looks so smart and he is indeed so famous. Although I fell in love with him because of the light I see in his eyes, his eyes that seem to be hurt and longing for me. But then, this was only my imagination and no one, not even Vivaan would agree to it.

Whenever I was deeply hurt by this reality, Vivaan was always able to divert my mind by talking about random things since he knew about the intensity of my love for Aditya. He is one of the most precious persons in my life and I can trust him with anything.

But now I'm going to meet Aditya and at least my dream of meeting him will be fulfilled. Oh but I hope I don't end up miserably fighting the fate, because I know deep down, I still love him very much.

Yes I love Aditya but never knew when this love grew to such an extent that I was unable to see the truth. In the beginning, I liked him only as my role model, but gradually, as I saw more of those beautiful, sad yet attractive eyes, I was obsessed with him and thought about him all day and night. I read about him, stalked his photos and my love grew to an extent that I did not mind whether he loved me back or not.

I felt jealous even if someone took his name. I felt possessive for him. I was so carried away with my obsession that I started fantasizing about him and me being together in a different world.

I never knew this obsession would make me blind and I won't be able to see the truth. The truth, that has shattered me to pieces.

But the scary part ia is that reality has taken its own turn and what I thought will never happen is now going to happen. Oh God! I can not take a chance of losing control now. I hope I'm able to forget my love for him and move on. I know this is impossible since I've tried so hard to remove him from my head but all in vain. Maybe when I see how he really behaves and lives which wouldn't match with my fantasy for him, maybe then I'll be able to get over him. But no matter what happens, I have to keep up the mask of the strong girl, I think, trying to convince myself.

"Madam we've reached" the cab drives says. And my heart has starts beating faster.

"Yes bhaiya" I say. While paying the taxi fare, the only thing on my mind was whether the decision to join here is correct or not.

When H.R. executives from the A.M fashion company had come to our college at the time of placement sessions, I was very clear that I shouldn't take this job because of my fear of facing the reality that Aditya can never be mine. I didn't want to suffer for my entire life just because my imagination did not match the reality. I had fear about what I would do if I saw him!

But being a topper at the designing institute made my rejection too difficult to implement. My professors made it clear that I deserved this job more than anyone in the class. They also reminded me of the money my father had invested in my studies. And now when I had an opportunity to do internship in the best company, I shouldn't refuse due to my personal reason.

"Hey Shweta, finally you came here! I have been waiting for you" Vivaan's voice startled me and I came to my senses. "Ohh Yaa Vivaan, I'm sorry! There was heavy traffic!" I respond to Vivaan, trembling and scared. He looks in to my eyes and asks, "Are you alright?" I can see his face lined up with tension. "Oh yeah absolutely Vivaan!, I am fine , just don’t you worry!" I tell him with a smile.

"But will you be able to be normal in front of him?" his question reminds me of my weakness, it makes me weak in the knees, I feel that I might not be able to face Aditya. I don't have the answer to this question. But I manage to put up my mask and with a smile on my face, I tell Vivaan "Yes you don't you worry at all! I will face everything."

"I hope you'll do what you are saying Shweta, because that fear is clearly visible on your face. Have courage Shweta, I am with you!" Vivaan says holding my hand. "Ofcourse Vivaan! I know you're with me! That's why I was able to come here. Now lets go inside." I tell him with a smile.

As we go in, my fear is increasing and my mind is struggling to remain in present.

When we get in the lift, Vivaan presses the 7th floor button and passes a convincing smile.

We enter the office that has an elegant signboard reading "A .M Fashion company" on the top of the entrance gate.

There's a lot of space inside with a counter on the right side , a large cabin in the front right and there are sofas and chairs on the right side between the counter and the cabin and some of my friends are sitting on those chairs. The second cabin is on the front left. "Hey, where were you both? We've been waiting for you so long!" my friend Riya calls out and comes to hug me. I embrace her warmly and reply "Oh I'm sorry dear, I got up late in the morning and there was heavy traffic on the way!"

She asks me if I am alright because she also knows about my love for Aditya.

"Yes I'm fine Riya! Don’t worry." I answer with a smile.

The entire office is very beautiful and symbolizes elegance and great taste. On the wall, there are dozens of certificates and photographs of prizes and awards received. Yes, Aditya is also there in these pictures and he looks perfect as always.

But we're informed that Aditya is not here in person today and that's quite a relief for me, atleast for now.

later on, all the new interns are gathered in a conference hall and Vishal and Sumit sir start the session by explaining about the company's history, success, standing, their expectaions from us, rules & regulations etc.