The morning sun streamed through the thin curtains of Abhir's small apartment as he stood in front of the mirror, fixing his shirt for the tenth time. Today wasn't just another day—it was the day.
That day he would step into Aarti Limited, the number one company in the country.
The same company where Rahul worked.
The same company whose mysterious, powerful, and incredibly handsome boss… was named Zain.
Just the thought of it gave Abhir goosebumps. Yesterday, he had only heard Zain's name for the first time. Today, he was going to walk into his office.
Rahul arrived to pick him up, and they both headed to the office. The sleek glass building of Aarti Limited rose high into the clouds, intimidating and dazzling at once.
The Interview
Abhir sat in the waiting area, his heart racing. One by one, candidates were called in.
Then finally…
"Mr. Abhir, please proceed to Cabin No. 1."
He stood up, hands slightly trembling. He knocked on the door, and a deep voice replied,
"Come in."
As he entered, he saw a large chair facing the other side. The person sitting in it had their back to him. Then, slowly, the chair rotated.
And Abhir froze.
His breath caught in his chest.
There, sitting before him in a sharp black suit, was Zain—tall, confident, dangerously handsome, with eyes that held power and mystery.
The same name he'd heard his friends praise.
Zain, calm and cold, gestured to the chair. "Sit."
Abhir quietly handed him his documents. The interview began.
For fifteen long minutes, Zain asked questions—technical ones, logical ones, even difficult ones. Abhir answered all of them sincerely. He didn't know it, but Zain was testing more than just knowledge—he was testing control, patience, spirit.
Finally, Zain looked at his papers and said with no expression, "You may go."
Abhir stepped out, unsure of what had just happened.
Then a few minutes later, Zain's personal secretary entered the waiting hall and announced the selected candidate.
"Mr. Abhir."
He blinked, shocked. Me? I got selected?
The secretary smiled and handed him the offer letter. "Report tomorrow at 8 AM sharp."
Abhir's heart swelled with happiness. Finally… finally, my life is turning around.
Back home, Abhir sat on his sofa with the offer letter in hand, a small smile dancing on his lips. He had waited so long for this moment. He had fought alone, fallen, cried—and now, he was here.
But something strange kept tugging at his mind.
Why does Zain look familiar? Where have I seen those eyes before?
He kept thinking… until sleep pulled him into its arms.
Abhir woke up excited, dressed neatly, and double-checked the time. He couldn't afford to be late.
He went down the road and found an auto almost immediately. Relief washed over him. "M.K. Road near Aarti Limited" he said.
But halfway there, the auto driver took a longer route. "Shortcut, sir," he explained. But it wasn't. It led to a massive traffic jam.
"Five minutes, and it will move," the driver said.
Ten minutes passed. Nothing.
Panic rose in Abhir's chest. No. Not today.
He jumped out of the auto and started running. He ran through honking cars, past confused pedestrians, and across busy crossings.
Sweating and breathless, he finally reached Aarti Limited.
His watch said: 8:15 AM.
Fifteen minutes late.
He stepped in, trying to stay invisible, but the moment he entered, a cold voice echoed across the lobby.
"What is the office timing, Mr. Abhir?"
Everyone turned. It was Zain. Standing tall, expression unreadable.
"This is not your home that you walk in whenever you want."
Abhir opened his mouth. "Sir, I—there was traffic. I got an auto but—"
Zain cut him off. "Don't give me excuses like a child. If you're late, accept it. Don't embarrass yourself."
The office was silent. All eyes were on them.
Zain's voice was sharp. "Next time, don't repeat this mistake. Now go."
Abhir's face burned with shame. He held his tears, nodded quickly, and rushed toward the washroom.
Once inside, he locked himself in a stall and cried silently.
"Why? Why would he insult me like that on my first day? I was only fifteen minutes late. He could've just explained it calmly…"
Zain stood outside the washroom for a moment, then slowly knocked on the stall.
The crying stopped. A few seconds later, Abhir opened the door.
He was shocked to see Zain standing there.
Zain looked at his red eyes and pale face—and felt something strange.
His heart... ached.
But his mind was satisfied.
Because now it was time for the truth:
Flashback – That Night
Zain was the one sitting in that luxury car when a drunk Abhir lashed out, called his family names, and insulted him without knowing anything about him.
His ego had been hurt deeply that night. He hadn't reacted—but he had watched. And when he saw Abhir walk away with Rahul, one of his own employees, he acted.
Zain hired a private investigator.
The report came back: Abhir. Orphan. No job. No support. Just dreams.
Zain made a plan. He called Rahul, offered him money, and said,
"Bring him to the interview. Don't tell him anything."
He paid off an auto driver too.
The traffic jam? Planned.
The fifteen-minute delay? Planned.
The public humiliation? Planned.
Zain had wanted to punish him. To satisfy his ego.
But now, watching Abhir cry…
His heart wasn't celebrating.
It was hurting.
Zain turned and walked away.
Abhir gave his all on the first day—handling tasks, taking notes, staying silent. He didn't want to make any more mistakes.
When the day ended, he didn't even eat dinner. He came home, changed into pajamas, and collapsed on his bed.
Tears rolled down again.
Not because of the work.
Not because of Zain's shout.
But because he didn't understand why it hurt so much coming from him.
Meanwhile, in his lavish penthouse apartment, Zain stared at the ceiling in silence.
He had done everything to punish Abhir.
Then why… did it feel like he was the one losing something?