Close, Yet So Far

The weekend passed like a fleeting dream, and Monday arrived with a heavy sense of anticipation. While the rest of the city woke up to a normal workday, the atmosphere at YTS Company was electric with nervous energy. Today was the day of the high-stakes presentation at the Malhotra Empire.

Even Anu, who was usually the pillar of composure, felt a knot tightening in her stomach. She knew that even a minor slip-up could cost them the collaboration of a lifetime.

Yashwanth, Vikram, Anu, Chaitra, and Rahul arrived at the massive glass-and-steel headquarters of the Malhotra Empire. As Anu stepped through the rotating doors, a sudden wave of restlessness washed over her—a strange, buzzing vibration in her chest that she couldn't explain. She shook it off, forcing her mind to stay locked on the presentation slides.

The Boardroom

The YTS team was ushered into a grand, intimidating conference room. They took their seats, but Arjun had not arrived yet. As the minutes ticked by, the "uneasy feeling" Anu felt earlier intensified. It wasn't just mental; her stomach began to churn painfully. Her face turned pale, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

Yashwanth noticed her discomfort immediately. Though he desperately needed Anu to lead the presentation, he couldn't ignore her health. "Anu, you look terrible," he whispered. "Go to the rest area. Take a moment to recover. We’ll handle the opening."

Reluctantly, Anu stood up and hurried out. Just moments after the door closed behind her, the heavy double doors at the other end of the room swung open.

Arjun Malhotra walked in, his presence instantly commanding the oxygen in the room. He didn't speak; he simply scanned the room with his piercing gaze. His eyes lingered for a second on the empty chair next to Yashwanth—the seat where Anu had been sitting just moments ago.

"One of our lead editors is feeling unwell and is resting," Yashwanth explained quickly, sensing Arjun’s unspoken question about the empty seat.

Arjun gave a curt nod and sat down. "Begin."

The presentation proceeded smoothly, but the spark Anu usually brought was missing. At the end, Rajat stepped forward. "Thank you. We will review the data and get back to you."

The day ended with a lingering sense of uncertainty.

The Next Day: YTS Office

When Anu walked into the office the next morning, she was greeted by a wall of cheers and confetti. Before she could even set down her bag, Rahul and Arthi tackled her into a massive hug.

"Congratulations, Anu!" they shouted in unison.

Anu blinked, completely bewildered. "Wait... what happened? Why are you guys acting like we won the lottery?"

Arthi was about to burst with the news, but Yashwanth walked out of his office, beaming. "The presentation was a success, Anu! The Malhotra Empire has officially accepted the collaboration. Not only that, but we are co-hosting a grand success party this weekend with them!"

Anu felt a surge of genuine joy. All the hard work, the late nights, the stress—it had all paid off. But before she could celebrate, her phone vibrated violently in her pocket. It was her father, Mr. Srivastava.

"Hello, Dad? Is everything okay?"

"Anu... you need to come home. Now," her father’s voice was strained, thick with a tension she had never heard before. "It’s an emergency. Don't ask questions, just get on the first bus."

The blood drained from Anu’s face. Her father refused to explain the situation over the phone, which only made her heart race faster.

She rushed to Yashwanth’s office, her voice trembling as she explained the situation. "Sir, I have to leave for my hometown immediately. I don't know how many days I'll be gone. I’ll work from home, I’ll stay reachable for the project, but I have to go."

Seeing the sheer panic in her eyes, Yashwanth didn't hesitate. "Go, Anu. Family comes first. We’ll handle things here. Just keep us posted."

Anu didn't even wait to say goodbye to her friends. She grabbed her things and ran, her mind spinning with a thousand terrifying possibilities, leaving behind the celebration and the chance to finally meet the man whose name made her heart skip a beat.

As the bus pulled out of the city, Anu pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window. Her heart was a frantic drum in her chest. Her father hadn't given her a single detail—only that she needed to be home immediately. The blurred trees and passing cars felt like ghosts of the life she was temporarily leaving behind.

The Malhotra Mansion

While Anu was traveling toward an unknown emergency, a different kind of storm was brewing at the Malhotra Mansion.

"No! Meet Mama! Meet Mama!"

Iha’s small voice, usually sweet and melodic, was now raspy from hours of crying. She pushed the silver spoon away, sending the mashed fruit splashing onto the expensive marble floor.

Isha felt like she was at her wit's end. "Iha baby, please. Just one bite? We will meet her soon, I promise. Mama is just... very busy with work."

But Iha was done with excuses. Her tiny heart only knew one thing: she wanted the warmth and the smile of the woman she had claimed as her mother. Her stubbornness was legendary, a direct trait inherited from Arjun, and she refused to budge. By evening, her tantrums turned into a haunting, weak whimper.

When Arjun returned home, he didn't hear the usual pitter-patter of small feet. Instead, he found the entire family gathered in Iha’s room, their faces etched with deep concern.

"Arjun, she has a high fever," Bhuvaneswari said, her voice trembling as she pressed a damp cloth to Iha’s forehead.

The family doctor was summoned immediately. After a tense examination, he turned to Arjun. "It’s a high-grade fever, Mr. Malhotra. It seems to be triggered by emotional distress and exhaustion. Has she been crying a lot?"

Arjun didn't answer. He sat on the edge of the bed, taking Iha’s burning hand in his. As the child drifted into a restless sleep, she began to mumble.

"Mama... Mama..." her voice broke. "Mama... don't love... Iha?"

The words cut through Arjun like a jagged blade. Mama doesn't love Iha? The thought that his daughter felt unloved—even if it was by a stranger—made his blood boil with a mixture of agony and fury. He was the most powerful man in the city, yet he couldn't give his daughter the one thing she was begging for.

He stood up, his face darkening into a mask of cold determination. He walked out of the room and dialed Rajat.

"Bring her," Arjun commanded, his voice a low growl. "That girl from hospital. Bring her to the mansion. Now."

"Sir, I'll get on it immediately," Rajat replied.

A half-hour later, Rajat called back, his voice hesitant. "Sir... I contacted her colleague, Chaitra. It seems the editor, Anupama, is not in the city. There was an emergency at her hometown, and she left this afternoon."

The silence on Arjun’s end was deafening. His grip tightened on the phone until his knuckles turned white. He looked through the glass door at his feverish daughter, who was still whispering for a woman she barely knew.

"I don't care where she is," Arjun said, his eyes glowing with a dangerous, dark intensity. "Gather every piece of information you can. Her address, her family, her history. Find her."

"Understood, sir. I'll track her down."

Arjun stared out at the city lights, his expression predatory. He didn't care about the collaboration anymore. He didn't care about the "games" he thought this girl might be playing. His daughter was hurting, and in Arjun Malhotra's world, that was a crime that required an immediate solution.

Anupama... he thought, the name tasting like a challenge on his tongue. Run all you want. You can't hide from me

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