Clashing Worlds

...📖 Chapter 4– Clashing Worlds...

Scene 1: Naina’s World (Family Pressure)

Naina sat cross-legged on her bed, editing her latest vlog. The title read: “Morning Routine for Maximum Glow ✨☕💄.”

She was halfway through cutting out a clip where she accidentally sneezed mid-eyeliner when her phone buzzed. WhatsApp. From Mom.

Beta, check this boy’s profile. MBA. Good family. Good income. Very fair.

Three heart emojis. Two folded-hands emojis. And for reasons unknown, a random banana sticker.

“Not again,” Naina muttered. She opened the attachment—a heavily filtered photo of a guy in a suit, smiling like he’d just swallowed chalk.

Within seconds, a video call popped up.

“Ma,” Naina groaned, answering. “It’s 11 PM.”

Her mother’s face filled the screen, glowing with determination. “So what? Good men don’t wait for morning! Did you see him? Very nice boy. He even likes pineapple on pizza. Just like you.”

Naina buried her face in her pillow. “That’s not a personality trait.”

“You’re twenty-two,” her mom scolded. “Do you want to waste your youth and reach thirty single?”

“Maybe I do!” Naina shot back, exasperated. “Maybe I’ll marry my ring light.”

Her mom gasped like she’d confessed to a crime. “Naina Kapoor, stop joking. Lights don’t give you grandchildren.”

Before Naina could argue, the call ended with another rishta forwarded.

She collapsed back, groaning. Being single was hard enough. Being single in an Indian household? A full-time job.

........

Scene 2: Aarav’s World (Career Pressure)

Across the city, Aarav was in a glass-walled office that looked far fancier than it felt. His co-founder, Raj, clicked through a PowerPoint for their investors. Aarav’s mind drifted until one sentence snapped him back:

“We need an influencer campaign.”

Aarav sat up straighter. “Absolutely not.”

Raj gave him a pointed look. “Absolutely yes. Aarav, our app is good, but nobody cares unless someone sells it with a smile and hashtags.”

“Influencers are fake,” Aarav argued. “They sell teeth-whitening powder and pretend it’s life-changing. I want real.”

One of the investors coughed. “Real doesn’t trend. Viral does.”

Raj leaned forward. “I already shortlisted a few names. Young, urban, lifestyle creators. We just need one face to push downloads.”

Aarav groaned, running a hand through his hair. The last thing he wanted was to babysit some self-obsessed Instagrammer. He wanted algorithms, not aesthetics. Data, not duck-faces.

Still, Raj’s look made it clear: the decision wasn’t optional.

.........

Closing Beat (Parallel)

Naina stared at her mom’s latest “perfect groom” photo. Aarav glared at the “perfect influencer” shortlist.

Both sighed in unison, whispering the same word to themselves:

“Hopeless.”

Little did they know, fate was already queuing up the punchline.

... The Twist of Fate...

Scene 1: Naina’s Big Break

Naina strutted into the glossy office building, heart racing. This wasn’t just another skincare brand collab. This was a real campaign — an actual tech company with money to pay in something other than free samples.

She smoothed her blazer, rehearsing her pitch in her head.

Confident. Polished. Professional. They’ll love you. Maybe even enough to forget your mom keeps tagging you in rishta photos.

At the reception desk, she checked in, flashing her best influencer smile.

“Naina Kapoor. Here for the brand meeting.”

The receptionist gestured toward a conference room. “Right through there. They’re expecting you.”

She exhaled and pushed the door open.

And froze.

Because sitting at the head of the table, laptop open, expression unreadable, was Aarav Mehta.

---

Scene 2: Aarav’s Nightmare

Aarav had walked into the office that morning prepared for pain. He knew Raj had scheduled their first influencer meeting. He knew he’d hate it.

What he hadn’t known was that she would walk in.

“Oh, hell no,” Naina blurted before she could stop herself.

The junior marketing guy dropped his pen. Raj looked between them, confused. “You two know each other?”

“Yes,” they both said. Then, at the same time:

“No.”

Aarav pinched the bridge of his nose. “Raj. Please tell me this is a prank.”

Naina crossed her arms. “Trust me, I wouldn’t waste a prank on you.”

Raj looked delighted, not horrified. “This is great! You already have chemistry.”

“Chemistry?” Aarav muttered. “More like a nuclear accident.”

But Raj plowed on. “Perfect! That’s exactly what audiences love — tension, banter, real personality. This campaign is going to kill.”

---

Scene 3: The Meeting (Disaster)

The next thirty minutes were torture disguised as “brainstorming.”

Naina suggested fun reels with trending audio. Aarav muttered about “selling souls to TikTok.”

Aarav explained the app’s algorithm. Naina doodled flowers on her notepad.

Raj clapped his hands every five minutes like an overexcited kindergarten teacher.

Finally, Raj announced, “It’s settled. Naina will be our brand face for the next three months. You two will be working very closely together.”

Naina almost choked. “Three months?”

Aarav dropped his pen. “This is a violation of human rights.”

Raj ignored them, already emailing the contract.

---

Scene 4: The Exit

As the meeting ended, Naina shoved her things into her bag, muttering, “This is karma. I must’ve run over a puppy in a past life.”

“Relax,” Aarav said, falling into step beside her. “It’s three months. I’ll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine.”

She gave him a sweet, fake smile. “Oh, don’t worry. I plan to.”

But as they stepped into the elevator, their reflections stared back at them in the mirrored walls — two people who’d sworn “never again,” now trapped in the same project.

The universe was laughing. Loudly.

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