Shadows Of Us

Arjun sat in his dimly lit office, the remnants of the night's whiskey still sitting on his desk. The city lights outside flickered like ghosts, mocking his solitude. His hand tightened around the edge of his chair as he replayed the events from earlier in the evening.

Meera's voice rang in his head.

"You've shown me who you really are."

"I quit."

He slammed his fist on the desk, sending a stack of papers tumbling to the floor. His chest heaved with frustration and something far worse -- regret.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

He had told himself this would work. That proposing a physical relationship would sever the emotional ties he was desperately trying to avoid. Instead, he had destroyed the one connection that made him feel… alive. That entire night he spent repeating on his actions.

Next day morning there was a knock at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. Raj, his trusted assistant, peeked inside.

"Sir, is everything alright?" Raj asked cautiously, noticing the mess.

"Leave me alone," Arjun snapped, his voice cold.

Raj hesitated. "It's just… Meera left her resignation letter at the front desk."

Arjun stiffened. He had expected this, yet hearing it aloud felt like a punch to the gut. "And?"

Raj placed the letter on the desk carefully. "I thought you might want to -- "

"I said leave," Arjun interrupted, his tone like ice.

Raj nodded quickly and left, shutting the door behind him.

Arjun stared at the envelope, his name scrawled neatly on the front in Meera's handwriting. He reached for it but stopped midway, his hand trembling.

"Apologize?" he scoffed bitterly. "What good would that do?"

But deep down, he knew it wasn't just his ego holding him back -- it was fear. Fear that she wouldn't forgive him. Fear that she was already gone.

Across the city, Meera stood in her tiny kitchen, staring blankly at the cup of tea in her hands. The apartment felt quieter than usual, and the weight of what had happened earlier pressed heavily on her chest.

Her best friend, Riya, sat on the couch, watching her with concern. "Meera, you've been staring at that tea for ten minutes. It's getting cold."

Meera blinked and set the cup down. "Sorry. I'm just… processing."

Riya folded her arms. "Processing? Girl, you walked out of one of the biggest companies in the city, and your boss -- a billionaire -- had the audacity to make a move like that. You're allowed to be mad."

Meera sat down beside her, pulling a blanket over her legs. "I'm not just mad, Riya. I'm… disappointed. I thought he was different. I thought he respected me."

Riya rolled her eyes. "Men like him don't respect anyone, Meera. They think their money gives them the right to treat people however they want."

"But it wasn't always like this," Meera murmured, her voice barely audible. "There were moments… moments when he seemed genuine. Kind, even. I don't understand how it turned into… that."

Riya softened, placing a hand on Meera's shoulder. "Sometimes, people show us their true colors when we least expect it. You dodged a bullet, Meera. And now you have the chance to move on."

Meera nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. "I just wish it didn't hurt so much."

Riya gave her a small smile. "It's going to hurt for a while. But you're stronger than this. You'll rebuild, one step at a time."

The next morning, Meera walked into a cozy neighborhood café, her resume tucked under her arm. She had spent the night updating it, determined to start fresh. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, offering a small sense of comfort. She drank a cup of coffee and also her sorrows with it.

"Excuse me," she said to the front desk executive of the office where she has applied earlier and was called for interview. "Hello, I'm here for the interview"

The barista smiled warmly. "Sure thing. One moment."

As Meera waited, she reminded herself that this was a new beginning. She didn't need a high-profile job. She just needed peace.

Meanwhile, back in his office, Arjun was anything but peaceful. He stood at the window, watching the city bustle below. His phone buzzed on the desk -- a call from one of his business partners.

He ignored it. He had been ignoring everything since Meera left.

Raj entered hesitantly. "Sir, the board meeting is starting in five minutes."

"Cancel it," Arjun said flatly.

Raj blinked. "Cancel a board meeting?"

"You heard me," Arjun growled, his temper flaring.

Raj swallowed hard and nodded, leaving without another word.

As the door closed, Arjun exhaled heavily, gripping the edge of the desk. He had everything he could ever want -- wealth, power, influence. But none of it mattered anymore.

Because the one person who made him feel human was gone.

That night, as Meera tucked herself into bed, she whispered to herself, "It's over."

And yet, somewhere deep inside, she knew forgetting him wouldn't be easy.

In his penthouse, Arjun sat alone, staring at the empty glass in his hand. He told himself he had done the right thing by staying silent. But as the silence grew louder, he realized the truth.

He had never felt more alone.

.

To be continue...