That night Aakrati finally fell asleep after a long day. Her phone rested beside her on the bed, the screen dark and silent.
The next morning sunlight slowly slipped through the curtains, filling the room with a warm glow.
Her phone buzzed softly.
Still half asleep, she reached for it without opening her eyes. She unlocked the screen lazily and looked at the notification.
It was an email.
She almost ignored it.
But something about the subject line made her pause.
Her eyes slowly focused on the words.
"Offer Letter – Appointment as Project Manager."
Aakrati blinked.
Then she sat up straight.
"Wait… what?"
Her heart started beating faster as she opened the email completely.
She read every line carefully.
Then read it again.
And again.
Her mouth slowly opened in disbelief.
"They… selected me?"
The company where she had applied earlier had officially sent her an offer letter. They had chosen her based on her portfolio work, and she had been offered the position of Project Manager.
For a few seconds she just stared at the phone like her brain needed time to process the information.
Then suddenly—
She jumped off the bed.
"Oh my God!"
Without wasting another second she ran straight toward Shrisha's room.
"SHRISHA!"
Shrisha was still sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the storm about to enter her room.
Aakrati rushed inside and shook her shoulder.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Shrisha groaned and buried her face deeper into the pillow.
"What happened…?"
"Look!"
Aakrati shoved the phone right in front of her face.
Shrisha squinted sleepily at the screen.
Then her eyes widened instantly.
"YOU GOT THE JOB?!"
"Yes!" Aakrati screamed.
Shrisha jumped out of bed.
"Oh my God!"
The two girls hugged each other dramatically, laughing and shouting like excited children.
"I told you!" Shrisha said proudly. "Your portfolio was amazing!"
Aakrati couldn't stop smiling.
"I still can't believe it!"
Shrisha grabbed her shoulders and looked at her proudly.
"Madam Project Manager!"
Aakrati laughed again.
For a moment everything felt perfect.
Then suddenly she remembered something.
"I need to tell Arsh."
She quickly grabbed her phone and dialed his number.
The phone rang for a moment before a robotic voice responded.
"The number you are trying to reach is currently unreachable."
Aakrati frowned slightly.
"Unreachable?"
She tried again.
Same response.
Her excitement dimmed just a little.
"Maybe he's busy," she said quietly.
Instead, she quickly typed a message.
"Arsh! I got the job! They selected me as Project Manager!"
She sent it and stared at the screen for a few seconds.
No reply.
Not even seen.
She sighed softly but forced a smile.
"It's okay," she told herself.
Then she scrolled through her contacts and called Krish.
He answered almost immediately.
"Hello?"
"Krish!" she said excitedly.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I got the job!"
There was a small pause.
Then he almost shouted,
"That's amazing!"
She laughed.
"I know!"
"Congratulations, Miss Project Manager."
"Thank you."
"You deserve it," he said warmly.
After talking for a few minutes, she hung up and went to get ready.
Her joining date was next week, and her internship at the same office was ending this week.
For once everything felt like it was falling perfectly into place.
Later that morning she went to the office as usual.
But this time she walked in with a brighter smile.
Her colleagues noticed it immediately.
"What happened?" one of them asked.
"I got the offer letter," she said proudly.
"For the Project Manager position."
Everyone around her immediately started congratulating her.
"Wow! That's great!"
"Congratulations!"
"You deserve it!"
Someone even joked,
"Party when?"
Aakrati laughed.
"Soon."
A little later her boss called her into his cabin.
She knocked and stepped inside.
"Sir?"
"I heard you got the offer letter," he said calmly.
"Yes."
He nodded.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you, sir."
He looked at her for a moment before speaking again.
"You are childish."
Aakrati blinked.
"And sometimes clumsy," he added bluntly.
She didn't say anything.
"Your behavior does not always suit a workplace."
She nodded quietly.
"But," he continued, "your work is good."
A small smile appeared on her face again.
"Thank you, sir."
She left the cabin and returned to her desk, feeling proud despite his blunt words.
When she came back home in the evening and opened the door—
She froze.
Krish and Shrisha were standing in the living room.
Holding a cake.
"Surprise!" they shouted.
Aakrati blinked in disbelief.
"Are you guys seriously so free that you planned all this?"
Krish placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"For you?"
"We are always free."
Shrisha nodded proudly.
"Always."
Aakrati rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling.
"You two are unbelievable."
They lit the candles and placed the cake in front of her.
"Make a wish!" Shrisha said.
Aakrati closed her eyes for a moment.
For a brief second she wished Arsh was there too.
Then she blew out the candles.
Everyone clapped.
Krish cheered loudly.
"Speech!"
"No speech," Aakrati laughed.
Shrisha fed her a piece of cake.
"Madam Project Manager!"
They laughed and celebrated together.
But at one point during the celebration, Aakrati quietly glanced at her phone.
Still no message from Arsh.
She placed the phone back on the table.
Trying not to think too much about it.
Later she called her family and shared the news.
They were incredibly happy and proud of her.
By the time the day ended, Aakrati was exhausted but satisfied.
It had been a beautiful day.
A day full of happiness.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world—
Arsh was drowning in work.
The project he had taken on had required him to travel abroad.
Meetings.
Business deals.
Flights.
Deadlines.
Everything was happening at once.
He barely had time to sleep.
Days were passing quickly in a blur of responsibilities.
And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos—
He still hadn't been able to contact Aakrati.