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Chapter Four.
As she left his office, the weight of the news sank in.
Siddhartha Madhav? A vague sense of relief mingled with lingering unease. She barely had a moment to process when Jiya appeared by her side.
"What did he say?" Jiya asked eagerly, her face a mixture of concern and hope.
Meera sighed, glancing down at the paper. "There's good news and bad news. The bad news is... the assignment is final. There's no way to switch. The good news is that... I won't be meeting with Arjun Madhav. I'm meeting his brother instead."
"His brother?" Jiya's eyes widened. "That's... actually good! Siddhartha Madhav is known to be the more approachable one. According to my research, he's the CEO at A.M Empire but doesn't seem to have any... mafia connections."
Meera gave her a skeptical look. "And how do we know that for sure?"
Jiya shrugged. "Well, everything I found online says he's friendly and professional. It's the family name that carries a reputation, not him. I think you'll do fine."
"Jiya, I don't know if I can trust everything I read on the internet." Meera replied, a hint of doubt clouding her face.
"So, should we also doubt the fact that Arjun Madhav is the mafia king?" Jiya teased, crossing her arms with a raised brow.
"That's... not the point." Meera sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Jiya nudged her playfully, her smile warm and reassuring.
"Look, you might be nervous, and that's fine. But take this as a chance to learn. Just keep your distance from anything that feels off, and focus on your project. You're going to be fine, Meera."
Taking a deep breath, Meera nodded. "You're right. I'll just do my best and pray things go smoothly."
"Good." Jiya grinned, pulling Meera into a quick hug before linking her arm through Meera's and leading her toward the exit.
As they walked out of the building together, Jiya laughed softly. "And if things get too intense, just remember... you have a friend who's also a leader, and I've got your back."
Meera chuckled, finally feeling a sense of calm settle over her. "Let's hope I won't need rescuing."
Jiya raised her free hand as if to bless her friend. "So help you, God."
"Amen to that." Meera laughed, feeling the first true flicker of optimism about the project as they stepped into the bustling campus grounds together.
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Meera lay on her bed, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she turned to gaze at her younger sister, Veda, who was lying beside her, an arm tucked under her head as she looked back with a calm expression.
The room was dim, the only light spilling in from the open window, casting silver moonlight across the bed.
"Siddhartha is actually a cool person." Veda said with a casual shrug, sensing her sister's anxiety.
Meera let out a small huff of frustration, her eyes narrowing.
"Why is everyone saying that?" she questioned, her tone edged with irritation.
"Does it not bother anyone that the Madhav family... the whole family... is steeped in the world of the mafia? How is he any different from the rest of them?"
Veda sighed softly, rolling onto her side to face Meera fully.
"Because it's a bloodline thing, di. Siddhartha isn't the head of the family, and he doesn't seem involved in... well, whatever it is the rest of them do. He's just the CEO of the company; he's not Arjun." she explained gently, trying to ease Meera's worries.
"You need to get some rest. You're going to A.M Empire tomorrow, remember? You're going to need all the energy you can get."
Meera turned her gaze to the ceiling, her thoughts churning. "I know... I know." she murmured. "I just don't understand how I got placed in that company."
"Look, di, you're one of the smartest people I know. You're strong, intelligent, and brave." Veda replied, moving closer to give her a comforting hug. "You'll do just fine, I believe that."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Meera's lips as she wrapped an arm around her little sister, holding her close. Her other hand reached up to gently pat Veda's head.
Veda's confidence in her was heartwarming, and her steady reassurance helped ease some of the tension that had been building up in Meera's chest all evening.
She looked up toward the open window, where the cool night air drifted in, bringing with it the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft, silver glow of the moon hanging high in the night sky. Her eyes lingered on that glow, feeling both comforted and apprehensive.
"Lord, be with me." she whispered in her thoughts, her heart echoing a silent prayer. "Only You know what tomorrow holds."
Staring at the moon, she allowed herself a moment of calm, letting its quiet presence wash over her.
After a few minutes, her eyelids grew heavy, her mind drifting toward sleep as the weight of her worries faded away, if only for the night.
As she lay there, sleep slowly overtaking her, she found herself wondering what tomorrow would bring. The promise and uncertainty of A.M Empire loomed large in her mind, and yet, with Veda's reassurance fresh in her memory, she couldn't help but feel a small spark of courage.