Chapter 40: Parting Paths and Promises
Kaeya phone buzzed, snapping her back to reality. It was an email from the company, and her heart skipped a beat as she tapped it open.
“Hmm,” Kaeya murmured, eyes scanning the contents.
Haari, who had been quietly watching her, noticed her expression shift from curiosity to seriousness. “Hm, is something wrong, Kaeya?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Kaeya took a deep breath before replying, “No, the results came out.”
Oki, who had just joined them, raised an eyebrow. “You mean the meeting results?”
Kaeya nodded, her expression now grave. “Yeah.”
“So, what did it say?” Oki pressed, his curiosity evident.
Kaeya took a moment, her eyes reflecting the weight of the news. “Looks like you…”
Everyone’s hearts pounded with anticipation. Kaeya’s face was a mask of uncertainty as she finally said, “Looks like you all made it. The company’s proposal was accepted with full ratings.”
A collective sigh of relief and disbelief filled the space. Ashi’s eyes widened in surprise, while Oki and Rafta exchanged stunned glances.
Rafta broke the silence with an incredulous laugh. “Are you serious? We actually did it?”
Oki, still in shock, muttered, “I can’t believe it. This is incredible!”
Ashi clapped Oki on the back, her grin widening. “See? I told you it was going to be worth it.”
Kaeya smiled faintly. “You all deserve it. Your hard work paid off.”
At the airport, as the time for goodbyes approached, Ashi turned to Kaeya with a bittersweet smile. “Looks like it’s time to say goodbye, Yami-san.”
Kaeya’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Sadly, it looks like it. Spending time with all of you has been so memorable. Please, visit Goa again.”
Oki, always the optimist, chimed in, “Sure, we’ll do that. Next time, it’ll be a trip not for work, and we’ll get to spend more time together.”
Kaeya smiled faintly, her heart aching. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to that day.”
As Rafta, Oki, and Ashi moved toward their departure gate, Kaeya and Haari remained behind, the final moments stretching painfully.
“I think it’s time for me to go, Kaeya,” Haari said, his voice gentle but firm.
Kaeya, unable to meet his gaze, stared at the ground. “Kaeya, hey, is that how you’re going to say goodbye to me? Hey, Kaeya,” Haari urged, trying to catch her eye.
Finally, Kaeya lifted her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “Hey, are you crying?” Haari asked, his voice filled with concern.
“No, I’m not,” Kaeya said, quickly wiping her tears away.
“You are,” Haari insisted.
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Kaeya tried to maintain her composure. “No, I’m not. It’s just that I don’t know why these tears are coming out. I’m telling you the truth, I’m not crying.”
Haari gently placed a hand on her head, a comforting gesture. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll come back again. And now that I have your contact info, we can stay in touch. So, stop crying, will you?”
Kaeya looked up, her voice trembling slightly. “You promise you’ll come back?”
“I promise,” Haari said sincerely.
Kaeya nodded, trying to smile through her tears. “Okay. I’ll hold you to that.”
As Haari and his friends boarded their flight, Kaeya watched them go, her emotions a whirlwind. She whispered to herself, “Safe travels, everyone. Until we meet again.”
The soft hum of the airport’s background noise seemed distant as Kaeya’s mind replayed the past few hours. Her laughter with Haari, the shared moments, the warmth of his presence—it all seemed to be fading away as the plane that carried him took off into the sky. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she hastily wiped it away, chastising herself for her uncharacteristic display of vulnerability.
“Seriously, what’s wrong with me today?” Kaeya wondered aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart felt heavy, as if a part of her had departed with Haari.
Back in Chandigarh:
The atmosphere in Bose’s office was tense as the team gathered to discuss the results. Bose, known for his no-nonsense demeanor, was already brimming with impatience.
“So, how did it go? What’s the atmosphere?” Bose demanded, his eyes darting between his employees.
Oki took a deep breath before speaking. “Bose, the thing is…”
Haari cut in, his voice heavy with self-reproach. “It’s all my fault, Bose. They did great. I’m the one…”
Ashi interrupted, her tone supportive. “No, we’re all in this together. It’s not fair for you to take all the blame.”
“But I—” Haari started.
Rafta, unable to contain his frustration, shouted, “She’s right! It’s not fair. The only person responsible for this is Oki! She’s the one who…”
Before Rafta could finish, Oki cut him off with a sharp look. “Sorry, Bose, our company couldn’t make it…”
Bose’s face flushed red with anger. “Didn’t I tell you not to come to my office if—”
But Oki interrupted with a triumphant grin. “Make it to the last, we made it to the top.”
Bose’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”
Oki handed over the document, and Bose’s hands trembled as he read the results. “We… we really made it to the top? I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true.”
As Bose sank into a chair, overwhelmed by the revelation, the room erupted in laughter and cheers. The tension melted away, replaced by a collective sense of achievement.
Bose, still in disbelief, looked around at his employees. “Wait, why is everyone here?”
Haari smiled, “They’re here to congratulate you, Bose.”
An employee chimed in from the crowd, “Thank you, Bose, for thinking of us. You’re the best boss ever.”
Bose looked confused. “Think of you? What are you talking about?”
Haari pointed to the mic, which had been inadvertently left on during their conversation. “They heard our conversation.”
Bose’s face turned from shock to embarrassment as he realized the mic had been recording. “A mic? Who placed this mic here?”
One of the employees, trying to stifle a laugh, said, “It was probably one of the tech guys. They must have forgotten to turn it off.”
Bose’s shock turned to sheepishness as he said, “I see. Well, I suppose it worked out in the end.”
The employees laughed and congratulated Bose, their voices a joyful chorus.
Rafta, still excited, said, “Wow, this is enormous. I can’t believe we pulled it off!”
Oki punched Rafta lightly on the arm. “Now isn’t the time to focus on that. We need to celebrate!”
Ashi handed Bose a glass of water. “Here, drink some water. You look like you need it.”
After taking a few sips, Bose looked around at his team. “Are you all feeling alright? Should we call an ambulance?”
Rafta shook his head. “No, Bose. You’re fine. Just a bit overwhelmed, that’s all.”
Bose, regaining his composure, laughed. “No, I’m alright. Tell me this isn’t some kind of prank, right?”
Oki handed him the official document. “Look for yourself.”
Bose scanned the document once more. “We really made it to the top. I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true.”
The room erupted in cheers again. “Congratulations, Bose!” Haari said, grinning.
Oki added, “Yeah, congratulations. You’ve earned it.”
Bose, now fully beaming with pride, addressed his employees. “This isn’t only my success; it’s our success. We’ve made it this far because of all your hard work and support. My dream—no, our dream—has finally come true!”
The employees cheered loudly, their voices echoing through the office. “Yeeaaaahh!”
Bose looked around, seeing the genuine pride and happiness on his employees’ faces. “Wait, why is everyone here?”
Haari, chuckling, said, “They’re here to celebrate with you, Bose.”
An employee added, “Thank you, Bose, for thinking of us. You’re the best boss ever.”
Bose, finally understanding, smiled. “Thank you, everyone. I’m so grateful to have such an amazing team.”
To be continue...............