CHAPTER 3

Author’s POV

When Ishita reached home, her mother noticed her immediately.

“You’re back. Go freshen up and then come for dinner,” she said from the kitchen.

“Okay,” Ishita replied softly, walking toward her room.

After changing, she came downstairs and sat on the sofa beside her father, scrolling through something on her phone. Her father glanced at her over his glasses.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Good, Dad,” Ishita answered shortly, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Just then, her mother called them for dinner. The family ate together in a calm, familiar silence. After finishing, they all went to their respective rooms.

But sleep didn’t come to Ishita immediately.

She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to the NGO… to Aarav.

His small hands holding her, his teary eyes when she left.

A sudden thought crossed her mind—

What if I adopt Aarav?

Her heart skipped at the idea. It felt sudden… big… almost impossible.

But also right.

A soft smile appeared on her lips as she hugged her pillow.

Maybe…

And with that thought lingering in her mind, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Ishita followed her usual routine. She got ready quickly and headed downstairs, moving straight toward the exit.

This time, no one stopped her for breakfast.

It had become a habit now—her skipping meals in a rush.

As she reached the office parking area, she froze for a second.

Him.

The same man from the lift yesterday.

The one who had looked at her like he knew exactly what she had said.

Her heartbeat quickened.

What if he actually heard me?

Without wasting a second, she sped up her pace and walked quickly toward the office entrance.

“God… please save me,” she whispered under her breath. “What if he knows the boss?”

As if fate was playing a cruel joke, the man entered the lift right behind her.

Ishita avoided eye contact, staring straight ahead, silently praying for the lift to move faster.

The tension felt suffocating.

Finally, the doors opened.

She stepped out quickly and walked toward her floor, letting out a small breath of relief.

“Thank God…” she whispered.

But her relief lasted only a second.

The same man stepped out of the lift… on the same floor.

Before Ishita could process anything, something even more shocking happened.

One by one, the employees around her straightened up.

“Good morning, boss,” they greeted in unison.

Everything froze.

Ishita’s mind went blank.

Her eyes widened slightly as realization hit her like a storm.

Boss…?

Her gaze slowly shifted toward him.

The same man.

The same sharp eyes.

The same unreadable expression.

He was none other than her boss.

That’s why he had looked familiar.

That’s why his presence felt… intimidating.

And that’s why her heart was now racing uncontrollably.

Everyone had greeted him—

Except her.

He noticed.

Of course, he did.

His gaze shifted toward Ishita, cold and piercing. The entire office seemed to fall into silence.

Then, in a calm but icy voice, he spoke—

“I think some employees don’t know how to respect their boss…” he paused slightly, his eyes still fixed on her, “…or they only know how to curse someone behind their back.”

A chill ran down Ishita’s spine.

She knew.

This was about her.

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