Poonam had been sitting on the couch, she sent some important emails to the clients. There was a knock on her door. "Get in" she called

The manager entered inside "Mam kal meeting nahi ho paayi Shruti mam thik hai ab?" he asked

"haan she is fine now.. tum meri meeting aaj shyam 4 baje ki rakhwado" She informed him. 

Sharma called the office and enquired if they could meet today. "aaj manager toh hai nahi factory mein aap kal aayie" the admin replied

"dekhiye hamari mam zyada intezar nahi karti hai aaj meeting nahi hui toh ye deal shayad yaha se aage nahi badhegi" Sharma said

"thik hai aap mujhe do minute dijiye main Manager ko phone karke puchta hun" he replied and ends the call. 

The staff comes with lunch and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. She thanked him and signaled to Sharma. He took out some tips from his pocket and gave it to him. 

"thank you, mam.." he thanked her and left from there.  Poonam lifted up the cover and a smile appears on her face seeing the Kadai Paneer along with Tandoor Roti. 

"nahi yummy.. ye khayenge aaj hum hai na bhabhi maa?" the voice echoed in her ear. She wondered if he remembers her after getting fine. She took a deep breath and ate her meal. 

Sharma said "mam 4 baje meeting fix ho gayi hai" 

"Good.. hum 3.30 niklenge yahan ke traffic ka bharosa nahi hai" she told

Sharma smiled "ji mam main aapko neeche milta hun" he said and walked out of the room. 

Poonam ate her lunch and got ready to leave for the meeting. Exactly, 3.20 she stepped down to the lobby. She went out of the hotel, and Sharma opened the door for her of the car. She sits inside and closes the door. The car moves towards the premises. 

She steps inside and again she felt the known presence around her. She could feel her heartbeat accelerating suddenly, it had never happened to her in the past two years. She had a feeling someone closer to her is around her. 

Sharma comes behind her and said "mam chale cabin mein" 

She nodded and walked to the cabin. She gets inside and sits on the chair, the supervisor greeted her "welcome mam" 

She stared at him "Are you the manager?" she asked

"nahi mam Sir bas aate hi honge" he said

She glared at him "Tumhare Sir ko pata nahi hai I don't like to waste my time? mujhe aur bhi kaam hai agar deal nahi karni hai toh main kahi aur jaa sakti hun.. kami nahi hai yahan acquistions ki" she said angrily

"Sorry mam lekin sir ko maine kaha tha wo bas aate hi honge bas udhar kuch problem tha sir wahi hai.." he tried to explain. 

"aate hi honge kya maltab hai?" she asked, she got up and walked out of the cabin. 

 Sharma comes running behind her "mam rukiye.. manager aa gaya hai" 

"lekin mujhe ab nahi milna hai usse" she denied

"mam please yeh prime location hai best hai hamre liye" he insists. 

"Fine.. "She agreed and walked back. Her steps got slower when she saw the face figure of the person. The supervisor had been speaking to him. 

"Sir mam aa gayi" he said eyeing at her. 

The manager turned and smiled at her for a second but it soon faded when he carefully glanced at her face. Poonam was shocked to see Vikram standing in front of her. She glances at him from head to toe and it was unexpected for her to find him here. She looked at his attire, it was a simple pants and shirt. 

She remembered meeting him the first time when he was a CEO, handsomely dressed up in a three-piece suit with branded shoes. Today is just a manager in the factory who hardly earns some profits.

Everything around them stopped for a moment, they were just staring at each other without blink of an eye. 

"Mam ke liye chai mangwao" he said to the supervisor. That reference brought her out of the gaze. 

Poonam noticed the calmness in his voice which he didn't have earlier. He opened the door of the cabin for her, she gets inside looking at him but he was looking downwards trying not to meet her gaze.

He entered after her, the supervisor came with the tea and placed it on the table. 

"tum yeh.." he paused when she interrupted him. 

"excuse me?"

He closed his eyes for a moment and then handed her the file "Aap ye file dekh lijiye sab details hai isme.. Kal sir aayenge toh baaki baat aap unse kar lena" he said

"file dekhni hoti toh main ise apne hotel mein bhi mangwa sakti thi.. you are going to give me a presentation" she spoke

"main?" he asked in disbelief

Poonam crossed her legs across "Come on.. give me a good reason why should I deal with you?" she asked

Vikram never had such a formal relationship with her in the past. She stared at him and raised her eyebrow. He was silent, she gets up and looked at the supervisor "keh dena apne boss se tumhare manager ki badtameezi ki wajah se maine deal cancel kar di" she said

She got up but Vikram stops her "Wait.. nahi baithiye aap" 

She sits back and he started the presentation. He didn't look at her even for a second, it seems like he was trying to avoid eye contact with her. He ended the presentation and she stared at him. 

"hmm.. I will think about it" she said and got up from the chair. She walked out of the cabin and headed towards the car. She sits inside and closes her eyes, a tear escaped down her eyes as her past was in front of her. The man who had loved her immensely but also gave the biggest pain of her life. He hurt her, placed allegations, and then threw her out of the house. 

"chalo hotel," she said to the driver and he drove off. 

Orbit Hotel

She reached the hotel and Shruti had been waiting for her. She was disturbed after meeting with Vikram. Shruti asked "meeting achi nahi thi teri?" 

"I meet him" she told her

Shruti's eyes became wide "what?? Vikram? wo waha kya kar raha tha?" she asked

"manager hai" she replied

Shruti smiled "oh.. maalik se seedha.. " she laughed a bit

Poonam glared at her "stop laughing"

"toh aur kya karun? he got what he deserved! yeh uske karmo ka hi fhal hai.. tune use kitna pyaar kiya use bhai ko bhi apni jaan se zyada laad kiya tune aur badle mein kya diya usne tujhe? beizatti takleef aur tujhse maa banne tak ka haq cheen liya tha usne" she said angrily

"bas.. mujhe nahi sunna hai janti hun usne kya kiya mere saath aur mujhe sirf apna kaam karna hai yahan phir hum wapas mumbai laut jayenge" Poonam replied

Shruti smiled hearing her as she didn't want that man to again hurt her. Poonam moved to the bathroom and freshened up. She had a few questions in her mind but couldn't get answers to them. She didn't expect to see him in this state. She stepped out after a while and downstairs with Shruti to the restaurant for dinner. 

She settled down and ordered the food. She rolled her eyes to the side and found Vikram sitting on the corner table. He had been looking at her, the moment she looked at him he turned away. 

The hotel manager meet him and said "Vikram.. tumhe baat karni thi" 

"haa.. I need your help" He said

He told him something, Poonam couldn't hear him but the manager got angry. He shouted "maine kaha tha na tumne main tumhari koi madad nahi kar sakta hun isme.. dubara mere hotel mein mat aana warna dhakke maarke nikalwa dunga.. dost ho ye nahi ki kuch bhi mangoge toh main de dunga" it was really insulting and almost everyone heard that. 

Poonam silently watched that, Vikram had never let anyone insult him like this but he had been silently listening. He walked out of the restaurant without replying. 

"dubara yeh yahan nahi aana chahiye.. warna tumhe naukri se nikal dunga" the manager informed the junior staff. 

"sorry sir" he apologized. 

Poonam ate the food and walked to her room. She sat down on the bed and thought about everything she saw today. The guilt in his eyes, the pain and that lost charm on his face left her baffled. 

The auto stopped in front of the society, and he took out the money from his shirt pocket and paid the auto driver. 

He walked in, a smile appeared on his face as he meet her today. He wanted to speak to her, hug her, confront her but didn't have the courage. She is a successful businesswoman today, he was kind of proud of her achievement. 

He entered inside and went straight to his room. He opened the drawer and took out the photo frame. It was their wedding picture, he caressed it and a tear escaped down his eyes remembering the day when he lost his temper, threw her out of his life, and spoke harsh words that must have broken her from within. 

Maria entered inside and placed the food plate on the bed "aapka khana sahab.." 

"aaj Poonam mili Maria.." he told her

"bhabhi? aapne unse baat ki? unhe ghar laute ke liye kaha aapne sir?" she asked with curiosity

"kis haq se kehta? tumhe lagta hai mera itna sab karne ke baad wo mere saath aati?" he inhales deeply. 

"par Sir.." she paused when he looked at her "mujhe mere haal mein chod do.. ye khana le jao mujhe nahi khana hai" 

Maria picked up the plate and left the room helplessly.