The sound of horns was unbearable.
Sharp. Loud. Endless.
Rithania tightened her grip on the handle of her scooter, her eyes flicking anxiously toward the time.
9:05 AM.
"Not today… please not today…" she whispered under her breath.
Her heart was racing.
Today wasn't just another day.
It was her first major assignment.
An interview.
And not just with anyone—
A difficult client. Known for being rude, impatient, impossible to please.
And she had to be there by 9:30 sharp.
She twisted the accelerator again.
Nothing.
The scooter jerked once… and died.
Her breath caught.
"No… no, no, no…"
She tried again.
Nothing.
The traffic around her moved on, uncaring.
People passed.
Time didn't stop.
Her eyes began to blur.
"I can't mess this up… I can't…"
This opportunity meant everything.
Her first step.
Her proof.
Her beginning.
"Problem?"
The voice came from behind.
Calm. Familiar.
She turned.
And there he was.
Karthik.
Standing beside his bike, helmet in one hand, a faint smile on his lips.
For a second…
The chaos around her faded.
"It's not starting," she said quickly, frustration slipping into her voice.
"I'm already late. I have an interview. I don't even know what to do—"
"Hey," he interrupted gently.
"Relax."
That one word.
It always did something to her.
He bent slightly, checking the scooter with ease, as if nothing in the world was urgent.
Unlike her.
"You trust me?" he asked suddenly, glancing up at her.
She blinked.
"What?"
He straightened, stepping aside.
"Leave it. We'll fix it later. Get on."
"What?"
"I'll drop you."
She hesitated.
The time.
The situation.
Him.
"I don't want you to miss this," he added, his tone softer now.
Something in his voice…
It wasn't just help.
It was certainty.
Without thinking further—
She nodded.
Moments later, she was seated behind him.
The city blurred past them.
Fast.
Alive.
Unpredictable.
"Where?" he asked over the wind.
She told him.
He didn't reply.
Just increased the speed.
Her fingers hesitated for a second… before lightly holding onto his shoulder.
And somehow…
The panic inside her began to settle.
"You'll do well," he said suddenly.
She frowned slightly.
"You don't even know how I work."
"I know enough."
"Like what?"
"That you don't give up easily."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"And that you care," he added.
"People like that don't fail. Not really."
She didn't respond.
But his words stayed.
They reached the building at 9:25 AM.
She quickly got down, adjusting her bag.
Her heart was still racing.
But now…
It wasn't fear.
"Thank you," she said, looking at him.
He smiled.
"Go prove them wrong."
She stared at him for a second longer than necessary.
Then turned.
And ran inside.
That day…
She didn't just attend an interview.
She found something else too.
Someone who believed in her…
Before she believed in herself.
A loud honk shattered the memory.
Rithania blinked.
The present rushed back in.
The road.
The traffic.
The noise.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
That warmth…
That certainty…
That person—
Was no longer there.
She exhaled slowly.
Then stepped forward.
Because life didn't wait for memories.
The building stood tall in front of her.
Familiar.
Unchanged.
This was where everything had begun.
Her career.
Her love.
Her life.
And today—
She was walking back into it.
Alone.
The glass doors slid open.
Cool air brushed against her face.
Inside, things looked the same.
Desks.
People.
Movement.
But also different.
New faces.
New voices.
New energy.
She walked forward quietly.
Steady.
Composed.
"Watch it," a sharp voice snapped as someone brushed past her.
Rithania paused.
Here comes the Managing Editor, John.
Be careful Rithanya. Trying to hold her but she stepped back into a safer distance, maintaining her cold smile.
Turned slightly.
There the woman who dashed into her earlier, barely glanced at her, already walking away.
A year ago…
That would have shaken her.
Made her doubt.
Made her shrink.
But today?
She simply looked ahead again.
And walked on.
Because she had bigger battles now.
At the end of the day…
It wasn't about them.
It was about the little boy waiting for her.
Trusting her.
Depending on her.
And that…
Was enough.