#urban. #novel #viral
Three years. A time span of more than a thousand days. During this long period, the pages of the calendar have changed, and so have the city's skyscrapers. But the ice frozen solid inside Ariyan's chest has not melted. Ariyan is no longer just an entrepreneur; he is now the head of 'A.H. Group of Industries'. He has a massive glass-walled office in the most elite area of Dhaka.
Ariyan no longer wears that dust-laden, ordinary shirt. He is now a corporate tycoon dressed in an expensive Italian suit. Yet, inside his table drawer, that dried garland of Bokul flowers is still kept, which is now on the verge of blending into dust. Ariyan's eyes are much colder than before, as if he is a walking block of ice.
That morning, as soon as he stepped into the office, Ariyan's P.A. informed him tremblingly, "Sir, the new Project Coordinator who was supposed to join has arrived. She is sitting in the waiting room."
Keeping his eyes on the files, Ariyan said in a passionless voice, "Tell her to come in."
When the heavy glass door of the office opened, the sound of a pair of high heels reached Ariyan's ears. Blending with it came a familiar fragrance of Bokul flowers. The pen in Ariyan's hand stopped for a moment. He slowly raised his head.
Standing in front of him was a modern young woman. She was wearing an elegant off-white formal dress and expensive sunglasses, which she just pushed up to her forehead. Her large eyes bore the stamp of intelligence, but that restlessness was no longer there. Taking higher education from abroad, Tuli had transformed into a confident woman today.
Ariyan stared in stark amazement. With a flicker of a mysterious smile, Tuli said, "Good morning, Mr. Ariyan Hossain. Your new Project Coordinator, Tuli Arman, is reporting."
Ariyan stood up from his chair. His jaw tightened. "What are you doing here? Mr. Arman's daughter is supposed to be the director of some big multinational company by now. What business do you have in this ordinary office of mine?"
Tuli placed her joining letter on Ariyan's table. "An ordinary office? The entire country runs on the intellect of this 'ordinary' office, Sir. And I left the palace I received by my father's grace a long time ago. I applied here on my own merit, and your board members selected me."
Ariyan leaned over the table, bringing his face very close to Tuli's. His voice was a whisper, yet terrifying, "What did you think? By taking a job here, you would wipe away everything from the past? Do you not know that I am no longer that Ariyan who would melt upon seeing tears in your eyes?"
Tuli did not move an inch. Looking with a steadfast gaze into Ariyan's eyes, she said, "I haven't come to wipe anything away, Ariyan. I have only come to see how deeply you have buried the human being inside you for the greed of money and power. And do not worry, Sir, I will abide by the office rules. As my boss, your order is the final word."
Ariyan kept looking into Tuli's eyes for a long time. He could realize that this battle would not be as easy as it was three years ago. Tuli was no longer that naive girl from under the Bokul tree; she now stood before him with a personality equal to Ariyan's.
"Very well," Ariyan said in a cold voice. "Your work begins tomorrow. Remember, there is no forgiveness for mistakes in my office, no matter whose daughter you are."
As Tuli was about to leave, she turned around near the door and said, "Ariyan Bhaiya... no sorry, Mr. Ariyan. The Bokul garland kept in your drawer has grown terribly old. You might as well throw it away. Can't everything be started anew?"
Tuli walked out. Ariyan dropped heavily into his chair. It felt to him that the wall he had built around himself for all these years had just developed a massive crack at a single glimpse of Tuli's presence.