Neha's POV:

As the alarm rang, I got up from the bed and glanced at myself to see that I slept in my work clothes itself.

When I picked up the phone to turn off the alarm, I noticed a message notification, and it was from Adil.

Adil:

'Sorry, I tried but I am still stuck in the previous case itself and court has given next hearing on Monday demanding my presence here this weekend'

'All the best for the Inaugural; I know you will nail it.......... '

'Once again, sorry for not being there with you on your big day'

Me:

'It's ok, I can understand and  Thanks for wishes.'

Replying Adil I put my phone on charge because I can not risk running out of battery today, and grabbing fresh pair of clothes I went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

As the hot water from the shower cascaded over my shoulders and poured all over my body, all the memories of my past thoughts and emotions replayed in my mind.

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Mumbai

Flashback Starts - five years back

It was the next day after the surprise dinner 

'Bye Neha and take care. I will be coming late from the shoot so do not wait for me'— I noticed a sticky note on the refrigerator when I went to the kitchen, so I took it out and set it aside. Taking milk out of the refrigerator, I prepared coffee because Radha was not yet here.

The surprise that Sana and Sameer gave me yesterday was so sweet that it truly made me feel better. I am thankful that I have friends who are like family in Mumbai. They are indeed my treasured gift in my life.

As I drank my coffee and got ready for the day, Radha showed up and began preparing breakfast.

When I stepped outside, dressed in a black tunic kurti, matching trousers, a teal hijab and jhutti, I saw that Radha had prepared breakfast—her signature dish, poha—and set it on the table. I ate my breakfast and left for office after saying goodbye to her.

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At Evening

I finally got home after a very busy day of work. I just needed a cup of coffee to unwind. I opened the main door and slouched on the couch, setting the laptop bag on the table across from me.

I was relaxing on the couch when there was a faint knock on the main door. I hurried to get up and head for the door, peeking in just enough to see who it was. I quickly redid my hijab and opened the door.

"Assalamualaikum", he wished me and slided inside, replying to Sameer's salaam I closed the door and went to the kitchen to make coffee for both of us.

"Where is Sana?" He followed me into the kitchen.

"She has a shoot today," I replied, focusing on brewing coffee. Since I have realised I am attracted to him, it has been hard to act normal around him, especially with the butterflies in my stomach.

"All right, I suppose we are having dinner together. Shall we order or go outside?" He turned the dining table chair towards the kitchen and sat on it.

"Let me see if Radha had prepared anything," I said, pouring the coffee on the cups. I then gave him the cup and began to examine the dishes.

As guessed, Radha prepared the food, "There are chapatis in casserole and brinjal curry." After checking it, I gave him the same response.

"Who eats brinjal", Sameer cringed, making me laugh towards him

"Hey, do not laugh on me; not everyone likes brinjal, and I am ordering chicken tikka for myself. You enjoy your brinjal curry." He then took the phone and began to order the curry, which made me laugh even harder.

Sometimes these three are so childish that I feel like a mother in front of them. 

Following dinner, we went to get ice cream because Sameer was craving something sweet, which made me want some too. We ended up getting my favourite roasted almond and he got chocolate ice cream.

We were enjoying our ice creams in the park near our apartment, under the cool starry sky, feeling ecstatic about the situation.

"May I ask you a question if you do not mind?" When he asked, I raised my head and gestured for him to go on, all the while savouring the ice cream.

"Why do you continue to work for a company that does not recognise you? Even though it is the biggest fashion house in the world, putting in endless effort and not getting noticed is worthless. You should consider doing something else instead, or you will lose motivation and interest in your passion." I could not help but notice the concern in his voice as he spoke, which not only flickered me but also brought up memories of my current struggles and career.

"To be honest, I too want to leave the company, but I am still a fresher, and this is one of the biggest fashion houses, so leaving would not only limit my training abilities but also prevent me from receiving the same level of exposure as this company. In addition, I still do not know how to move forward on my path, and I am not even sure if I will succeed." I expressed my inner turmoil and anxiety.

"I understand that you are still figuring things out, but keep in mind that self-respect is all that exists, Neha. You should leave the place where you aren't being respected."

"But, Sameer, if I go now, I wonder if I ever can achieve my dream." At this point, I completely turned away from him while we were seated face-to-face.

"But, Neha, if you are feeling disheartened and demotivated, how can you achieve your dream? There is always a solution; you just need to figure it out."

As he attempted to explain, it caused me to reconsider the other options. He was correct; in the midst of all these obstacles and never-ending work, I truly forgot about exploring my dreams and paths and was mindlessly following the narrated one.

When I got back to my flat, I started researching other possibilities and looking for new paths, which eventually led me to think of starting my own fashion house.

Flashback Ends

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These three members—Sana, Sameer, and Adil—were there when I first started my career. They have witnessed my journey, and as my dream fashion house opens today, I am missing them as friends and supporters.

It is very unfortunate for me that today marks the opening of my boutique and the beginning of my own journey, but I am not with the people who helped me start my own fashion house, and Adil's absence has only made me feel even worse.

After taking a shower, I dressed in a floral shirt and white straight-leg trousers, packed my bag with the morning event dress, grabbed the neutral beige hijab, shrugging off the emotions and resolving to concentrate on the day, and headed downstairs.

When I entered the living room, Ayesha was already there with a carry bag and wearing a white hijab and a soft beige jumpsuit with a camel tone. "Come, let us go to the studio first, and then the boutique," she began outlining the schedule.

In contrast to her typicallycheerful demeanour, she was focused and attentive today, illustrating the gravity of the situation. I nodded my head, wore transparent heels, and said goodbye to everyone as we made our way to our destination.

(Neha's outfit)

(Ayesha's outfit)

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After gathering the essentials from the studio and having a quick breakfast, we arrived at the boutique, where the view before me astounded me.

The boutique was reflecting the perfect blend of traditional and contemporary designs. The first thing that draws our attention as we walk inside is the ARAYNA logo, which is covered in a rich, symmetrical floral motif in a harmonious colour scheme of beige, pink, yellow, and olive green.

As we proceed, we come to a waiting area on the left side with colourful wall frames that showcase a variety of Indian arts, from Rajasthan's intricately carved Jhoraka framework to Bihar's Madhubani. Not to mention the lively and vibrant sitting area that highlighted the fusion of modern and traditional elements. 

On the right side, there is a setup of a showroom with clothing racks and mannequins and the garments and ensembles arranged, adding to it the Warangal dhurries (carpets of Warangal (place in Telangana state, India)) on the floor, which enhanced the look of the whole boutique. There is a small trial room and fitting room in the middle with a wall-mounted mirror  complemented with a warm tone interior.

The entire pathway was decorated with visually striking walls painted with traditional symmetrical motifs and arches as I made my way to the first floor, which is essentially meant to be the office room. The workspace was decorated with polished concrete flooring and wooden panels, offering a glimpse of the collaborative environment. There is also a cosy seating area for occasional get-togethers, which created a warm and inviting space with earthy tones of cushions and hanging lanterns.

As we continue on, we come to a large studio hall with large work tables and open shelves beneath the tables, and there is a couch at the corner for rest. The layout of this studio is neatly organised in a functional way, and I noticed that it gets a lot more natural light than other areas, which is obviously important for productivity of the work.

"MashaAllah, the setup and boutique are really cool, perfectly describing your taste and theme," exclaimed Ayesha, echoing my exact sentiments.

"Yeah, it has an eclectic mix of professional, artistic, and vibrant." I am unable to digest the fact that this creative and lively space is mine.

(ARAYNA's logo)

(Ground floor)

(First floor)

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Author's POV:

Following a thorough inspection of the boutique, they began talking about what needed to be done next. As the other members showed up, they all began getting ready for the event that would take place that morning.

As the clock clicked 10, everyone started to panic and increased their speed as the event was going to start at 11:00 am. "Let us get ready for the event and get dressed up," Ayesha said, and following the order everyone got scattered to get ready.

Being accustomed to this short-notice situation, Ayesha quickly got ready by donning a white striped embroidered pantsuit, a soft pink hijab, and a few jewels. She then began organising everything that needed to be done.

"Paparazzis arrived," the team member responsible for monitoring the media announced.

"Let the drill begin," Instructing everyone on the walkie-talkie,  Ayesha made her way to the meeting room where the virtual exhibition would start.

(Ayesha's outfit)

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How are the aesthetics of the boutique?

What do you think about the upcoming events - Will there be full of drama or it will go one ease?

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