Destiny or Coincidence?

"How much experience you have Ms Patel?" asked Mr Shukla looking directly at me that my heart started beating a mile per second due to tension. 

"I… I joined recently about three months back sir" I said stammering a little at first.

"Hmmm…. But still you think that this idea of yours is good. Right?" He asked again looking at me with the same serious expression on his face by rubbing his jaw with his right hand. I gulped looking at him but still nodded my head in confidence and looked at Abhi to see if he is with me or not. And am glad to see the same encouraging smile on his face. 

"Impressive" he said after a moment of silence that at first I thought I have listened it all wrong. 

"Sorry?" I asked to confirm again whether I have listened to it correctly or not. 

"It's impressive Ms Patel. No one was able to get this idea until now, including me." He said with a small smile on his face that I wanted to squeal loudly and dance there itself with happiness but controlled myself and just gave a smile in return. 

"I never thought about it in this way. Whatever the designs I saw until now were perfect but they still didn't reach my heart." He said with a distant look and sad smile on his face that it made me feel sad. 

"Always I used to think that something was missing in all this but now I realised what it is." He continued getting up from his chair and started walking in my direction. 

"It is importance, time, care and love for this designs that was missing all this time." He said smiling at me after standing in front of me that I too smiled back at him genuinely. 

"We all thought about this project from brain while we just needed to think from our heart. You made me realise what I was missing in this one. It was care and time for them which needs to be done in this project. And I really thank you for helping me clear my mind and making me realise this beta" he said smiling kindly at me by placing a hand over my head that happy tears were formed at the corner of my eyes. 

I just nodded my head in approval because no word was coming from my mouth. I thought that it might be a good idea but I never thought that I would get this type of response from him.

He got back to his place and sat like before but the only difference this time is that he is wearing the same smile on his face while looking at me and everyone this time. 

"You know why this project is important to me?" He asked looking at us and continued when everyone shook their heads in denial. "This project was my wife's dream but she died four years back unfortunately." He said with a heavy heart and we all can see the sorrow in his eyes. 

"It's her last wish to make it happen. So now I made it my main goal to complete it" he said after a moment of gathering himself. 

I can clearly see the love in his eyes for his wife and the reason behind his stubbornness. No wonder that he is rejecting many projects.

"But thank you Ms Patel. You gave me hope that it can happen. Otherwise, I used to think that I might not be able to complete her last wish before I die." He said with a sad smile on his face that it hurt my heart too. 

"Mr Ponnam, you have a very good employee with you. Never miss her I say." He said with a proud smile on his face that I coughed out loud due to surprise. I immediately apologized and drank water without glancing at Abhi because I surely know his expression. 

"Don't worry Mr Shukla, I plan to keep her for as long as possible" Abhi said making me look at him with wide eyes and that idiot just winked at me in response. 

"That's good. And I am ready to sign this deal with hope of getting the designs as per Ms Patel suggestion" he said smiling at both of us that we both nodded our heads in acceptance. 

"Sure Mr Shukla. Will do that. Thank you so much for trusting us. It means a lot." Abhi said with happiness in his voice that my heart melted looking at his face. 

It's a pleasure" hesaid signing the documents while everyone started congratulating me and Abhi with happy faces. 

I was so happy looking at Abhi that at last we have got this project for which he struggled day and night giving all his best designs. May be those designs were not approved but still we can always make new ones since we got the project now. I am really so happy for him. 

After some more discussions and all, most of them left the conference hall when all of our friends shouted in happiness by making me laugh at them. 

All are happy to get the project that they wanted to celebrate it once we reach Bangalore. 

"Ok guys, thank you for your support. Today we wouldn't have achieved this important project without your help." Abhi said looking at us with proud expression that we all nodded our heads in approval. 

"Though I know that the designs we made got rejected, the happy news is that we still got the project and we can start the new designs accordingly" he continued saying and encouraging all of us. 

"And most importantly, I would like to thank Athira for making this impossible to happen with her idea at the right time." He said with a thankful smile and proud expression on his face that I felt myself blush with all the attention. 

"It's not a big deal Abhilash. I did it for all of us and moreover it is my job to do" I said with a smile on my face by looking at his face. 

"So on this success, I would like to throw a party next weekend and you all are invited. Details will be sent to you all by my secretary." He completed it with a nod and dispersed everyone from the conference hall. 

I just sat there looking at my handsome man and his eyes which always mesmerise me without fail. When everyone left he glanced at me with an amusing look and nodded his head by asking me what happened. 

I just shook my head saying nothing but still was looking at him intently with a smile on my face by placing my left hand under my chin with the support of the table. 

He came towards me with a curious look still lingering on his face and took a seat beside me but still I was just watching his chocolate brown eyes which became my favourite thing from the moment I met him. 

I don't know how can one person's eyes can be this beautiful and attractive. It's a sin to be like that. I slowly lifted my right hand and placed it under his eyes by feeling his skin under my touch. 

"Cutie pie, you love my eyes right?" He asked lowly with a knowing smile that I nodded my head in agreement. 

"Yes, they are beautiful" I said unconsciously still feeling his skin that I didn't observe his teasing tone behind it. But then I realised suddenly what I said and blushed averting gaze from him. 

He slowly kept his finger under my chin and turned my face towards him with a happy look that I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. 

"You don't need to get shy around me baby." He said kissing my forehead that I closed my eyes reliving in the moment. 

"Of course I don't mind your shy face because you look cute when you blush" he said teasing me again by winking at me that I glared at him in return and slapped his chest.

"But darling, thank you so much for the idea. It means a lot and you have given me the best thing you know" he said becoming serious again but still there is a pride on his face. 

"I know that and I am glad that we got the deal" I said with happiness in return. 

"God, I am really lucky to have you as my girl you know" he said hugging me tightly that I laughed wholeheartedly and hugged him back. 

This feeling cannot be expressed in words dammit. It just needs to be felt by one to know how content and safe we feel with the right one holding us in their arms. I don't wish for anything else but to be in his arms forever and I am really grateful to God that he sent me Abhi in my life. 

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Most of our colleagues returned back to Bangalore after the meeting except for our friends with whom we planned our outing. After having a late lunch at 4.00 PM we all rested for at least two hours because of the stress we had gone through the meeting. It took our everything that we got tired without doing anything. 

After waking up in the evening, all the boys went to buy some things for executing the plan tomorrow leaving all the girls in the hotel to enjoy for ourselves where we all gathered in our room except for Omisha who was talking to their family in a video call. 

We were teasing Char about Dev continuously and was trying to get to know if she too loves him back or not. 

Call me crazy but I want to know her feelings too. Because I don't want my best friend to get hurt again so I am making myself clear first and if she doesn't have any feelings for him then I can stop him from going through all that plan and get hurt. 

I may look selfish but I want to protect his feelings from getting hurt again. I think any friend would do that who is in my place. 

"Hey girl, congratulations" said Omisha after getting inside and taking a seat on the bed beside Char. 

"Thank you Omisha" I said grateful and continued "but seriously though. I didn't do anything great that all of you need to congratulate me" I said waving my hand in dismissal as if it wasn't that important. 

"Girl, you may think that you haven't done anything but ask the same question to Abhi and see if he agrees with you" she said with a confident look that I just stated silent because I know she is correct. 

"You and me both know how important this project is for him. So don't make it seem as if it wasn't nothing. It was everything and you made it possible with that brain of yours. So you deserve this congratulations dear" she explained as if she is explaining it to a small kid and side hugged me. 

"Ok. Sure. Thank you then. But really, it looks awkward you know…. Being the centre of attraction is not my thing" I said giving her an awkward smile in return. 

"I know I know. Make a habit now. You are Abhi's girlfriend and you are going to face many of them in the future. And this was just a glimpse of all that's going to happen in the future." She said winking at me that I blushed in return making all of my friends to laugh at my reaction. 

"God, you guys never leave a chance of making me feel embarrassed" I said groaning and covering my face with both of my hands. 

"What are friends for?" Said Sahana making me look at her with a glare but it gone in the wind I think because everyone laughed at my face again that I threw pillows on them. 

"Idiots" I said muttering and folded my arms by huffing.

"Ok ok. Enough about Athi. This day is for Char and to make her confess her feelings which we lost track just now" said Sahana by diverting the topic from me to Charitha that she groaned very loudly in return. But anyone can see the small blush on her face which she unsuccessfully trying to hide it from us. 

So we all again started to tease her and make her say the words which I was dying to hear from her. 

"God…. Yes I love him ok. Happy" Shouted Charitha getting up on the bed and keeping hands on her side by looking at us with a glare. 

We all glanced at each other and squealed happily by dragging her down and hugging her tightly with all our might that she started laughing and scolding us in return. 

We all teased her for some more time and then to see the reaction of Omisha about brother, i asked her casually about brother. She said that she knew about his feelings for her and that she needs some time to move on from Abhi. But she also revealed that she used to have a crush on brother which made us all happy because maybe in the future there is a chance for them. I will be eagerly waiting for that day to come so that I can see my brother happy. After that we chatted about other things. It was one good day to spend time with my girl friends and doing nothing but gossiping about everything and nothing. 

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Hello everyone,

Here is your awaiting chapter. I really hope that you like it. It's a back to back update after a long time.

Do let me know your thoughts and opinions on this chapter. will be waiting for your responses.

Don't forget to vote comment and share it if you like. Will try to update the next chapter within couple of days.

Advance Happy New York everyone.

Till then... See you....

Love....

Sprinkle....