Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, the coldness of the room making me feel even more distant from the world around me. My fingers drummed the edges of the comforter as I spoke to Vino, my voice barely a whisper against the weight in my chest. My mind raced, playing over every moment, every glance from earlier.
I let out a heavy sigh, trying to breathe through the rush of thoughts. "I never thought in a million years I'd have to see him again, but it seems luck's just not on my side."
I rolled over on the bed, sinking into the plush pillows, my fingers running through my tangled hair. The weight of everything felt too much to bear right now, and Vino could sense it.
She was quiet for a beat before speaking up, her disbelief mirroring my own. "It's absolutely crazy! Is that the same guy who used to stay quiet in the class? And now he's running 15 companies? Back in college, he didn't give off that vibe at all!"
I turned my head to face her, my gaze still haunted by the memory. "Oh, trust me, I was frozen in shock when I saw him. He's like a completely different person now, with those edgy hairstyles, his face no longer holding any of that old innocence, and... he has a tattoo!" My voice faltered as the image of him resurfaced-the man he'd become, almost unrecognizable from the one I had known.
Vino raised an eyebrow, leaning forward as she processed my words. "A tattoo? What kind of tattoo?"
I shook my head, unable to find the words. "I don't even know. It's like he's turned into someone else entirely. I can barely wrap my head around it."
Vino, always the curious one, sat up abruptly. She snatched my laptop from the nightstand, her fingers flying across the keys with impressive speed. I couldn't help but feel a little intrigued, though I remained wrapped up in my own chaotic thoughts.
"Check this out," Vino said after a moment, pushing the laptop closer to me. I glanced at the screen, still processing her words, but my eyes quickly locked onto the article she had pulled up.
"The company that used to be in 7th place has shot straight to the top under his leadership! His full name's Kathir Rathore, and get this-his dad's Charan Rathore! Looks like it's all in the family."
I blinked, trying to process the information. His father, Charan-the name sounded so familiar now. I remembered the power and confidence that always surrounded him. I could almost see the resemblance between father and son.
"Ah, now it makes sense!" I muttered, finally making the connection. "No wonder he's so devilishly handsome."
Vino scrolled down, her eyes scanning the screen for more details. "There's nothing more here," she said, after a brief pause. "Just him and his dad. It's all a mystery."
I frowned, feeling a sense of frustration bubble up inside me. "How strange! What kind of businessman is he? Doesn't it seem weird that he doesn't share anything on social media?"
I leaned back against the headboard, folding my arms as I tried to process it all. "How does someone like him keep his life so private? I mean, surely there'd be at least one family picture from some event or something."
Vino shrugged, clearly just as perplexed as I was. "Maybe he's just... different. A private person, you know?"
Before I could respond, a soft knock on the door interrupted us. My heart skipped a beat at the unexpected sound.
"Come in!" I called out, hoping it wasn't someone who would disrupt my thoughts further.
The door creaked open slowly, and in walked my brother, looking a little frazzled. His usual carefree demeanor seemed to be replaced with an air of exhaustion.
"Hey, can you do me a favor?" he asked, almost too casually, like he was trying to hide the stress in his voice.
I straightened up on the bed, bracing myself for whatever he needed. "What's up?" I asked, trying to read the look on his face.
"Tomorrow, I need you to send a gift to one of my important clients. I'm still finishing up some things, but I promise I'll wrap it up tomorrow. Can you handle it for me until I get there? You can decide if you want to leave after I arrive. Please, I really need your help. I've been working all night on this project, and there's just a little more to go."
I noticed the tiredness in his eyes, the bags under them that spoke of late nights and too many deadlines. I could tell he was burnt out, but I also knew how much this project meant to him. I didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing.
"Alright, send me the address on WhatsApp. Just don't take too long, or I might struggle with it."
"Thanks so much. You're the best." His smile was sincere, though I could tell he was still running on fumes. He tried to make it look like he was getting emotional, but I rolled my eyes.
"You're welcome," I said with a teasing smirk. "But seriously, stop making that face."
He stuck out his tongue playfully before leaving the room, the door shutting softly behind him.
I turned to Vino, thinking of the task ahead. "Why don't you come with me tomorrow?"
Vino's expression softened with a sigh. "I wish I could, but I can't. My parents' friends have invited me over. I think they're a little smitten with me. They have a son, and I'm supposed to meet him."
I raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Ah, so that's what's going on. Alright, I get it."
We both laughed, the sound of it light in the otherwise quiet room. But even as I smiled, there was a lingering feeling of loneliness. The thought of going alone to deliver the gift felt a little empty, but I knew it was just one of those days. Life went on, and somehow, everything always seemed to work itself out, even when it didn't make sense.