AV Associates

The day began with the usual hustle and bustle, but there was an undercurrent of tension as Aarav sat in the conference room, surrounded by delegates. He glanced at his watch, the time ticking closer to 10:30 am. The meeting was scheduled to start at 10 am sharp, but Virat was nowhere to be seen. The clients began to murmur, their patience wearing thin. Aarav, sensing their restlessness, decided to begin the conference without further delay.

Just as he was about to address a query from one of the clients, a voice cut through the room. "Where is Mr. Virat Shergill? Without him, we can't sign the deal," one of the delegates demanded, his tone sharp.

As if on cue, the doors to the conference room swung open, and in walked Virat, exuding his usual confidence. "I am here. Aarav ne toh sab benefits of doubts clear kar diye, let's sign it," he announced, flashing a charming smile that instantly diffused the tension in the room."

Aarav shook his head in quiet disappointment but said nothing. The deal was quickly finalized, with both Virat and Aarav signing the necessary documents.

As the delegates filed out of the room, Virat turned to Aarav with a questioning look. "Kuch kahoge nahi?" he asked, his tone casual.

"Jaise tum humhari baat maan loge," Aarav replied dryly, gathering his belongings.

Virat chuckled, unfazed by Aarav's stern demeanor. "Waise, thanks tumne sambhal liya," he said, acknowledging Aarav's efforts.

Aarav sighed, knowing that Virat's carefree attitude would likely never change. "Humhe toh sambhalna hi padega na... Aur tum, kam se kam weekdays pe toh club mat jaaya karo," he advised, his voice tinged with concern.

Virat made a playful face, brushing off the advice. "Aarav, do you know tum ek dum bore insaan ho? Hum karte rehte ho, aisa lagta hai tumhare alwa bhi kisi aur se baat kar raha hun main... Let me fix a date for you," he teased, placing a hand on Aarav's shoulder.

Aarav immediately shrugged off the gesture. "No, thank you... Ye sab tum hi karo, hum jaise hai khush hai," he replied firmly, heading out of the conference room.

Virat followed him, trying to coax him into a different mindset. "Come on yaar... Ek secretary to rakh le... itni khubsurat ladkiyan hai shahar mein," he persisted, his tone light and teasing.

Aarav simply ignored him, making his way to his private office. Virat, undeterred, marched inside after him. Aarav handed him a file, his focus already shifting to the next task. "Ye... Wo manager hai Neha, usko de do, maine padhke sign kar di hai," he instructed, barely looking up.

Virat raised an eyebrow, curious. "Tum khud kyun nahi de dete ho?"

Aarav paused, a memory flashing through his mind Neha had always made him uncomfortable with her flirtatious behavior. Every time she entered his chamber, she would try to catch his attention, which made him uneasy. He had always been reserved, especially around women, and Neha's advances only heightened his discomfort.

Virat snapped his fingers in front of Aarav's face, pulling him out of his thoughts. Aarav met his gaze and, with a slight plea in his voice, said, "Tum de do... Please."

Virat couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's awkwardness. "Ohho... Tumhe 21st century mein kaise paida ho gaye Aarav? Itna door kyun bhaagte ho tum ladkiyon se?" he teased.

Aarav brushed off the jibe. "Tum bekar ke sawal mat karo humse... Ye file usko jaake de do aur thoda kaam bhi kar lo," he replied, sinking into his chair, eager to get back to work.

Virat sighed dramatically, walking away with the file. "Jaane kya hoga mere iss sharmile dost ka..." he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he handed the file to Neha.

Neha, disappointed, sighed. "Sir, Aarav sir mujhe bilkul bhi line nahi dete," she complained, her voice tinged with frustration.

Virat, ever the flirt, grinned. "Main hoon na tumhe line dene ke liye," he said, his tone playful.

As Virat re-entered Aarav's office, Aarav was already deep into explaining the details of the next project. Despite their differences, Virat always respected Aarav's sharp mind and dedication to their business. They had come a long way since starting AV Associates five years ago, now standing proudly among the top 10 industrialists in the country.

Virat, still trying to pull Aarav out of his shell, said, "Aarav, iss weekend tum bhi club chalo mere saath."

Aarav didn't even look up from his work. "I better spend my time playing sports," he replied.

Virat frowned, feeling defeated once again. "Yaar, tum na..."

Before he could finish, Aarav interrupted. "Acha listen... Hamari dost hai Manvi, usko job chahiye aur humne usse kaha hai hamari company join kar le as sales manager."

Virat's eyes widened in surprise. His jaw dropped as he processed Aarav's words. "Tumhari dost hai... Wo bhi ladki?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yeah... so?" Aarav replied, unfazed by Virat's reaction.

Virat burst out laughing loudly, Aarav passed him a look.

Virat burst into laughter, finding the situation too amusing to contain. Aarav shot him a look, but Virat was too caught up in his amusement. "Seriously, Aarav? Matlab hamare office mein itni ladkiyan hai tumne unse seedhe muh baat nahi ki aur tumhari ek dost hai?" Virat asked, still laughing.

Aarav remained silent, returning to his work. There was no point in arguing with Virat; he knew his friend would never understand his reserved nature.

"Tum bas itna batao, hum usko aane ke liye kahe ki nahi?" Aarav asked, wanting to finalize the matter.

Virat, still grinning, shrugged. "Tum har baat mujhse mat pucha karo... Khud bhi kuch kar liya karo. Rakh lo mujhe koi problem nahi hai."

Just then, Virat's phone rang. He answered it with a smile. "Yes... Pakka Ahana, iss weekend full night party," he confirmed, his voice full of excitement.

After a five-minute conversation, he hung up and turned back to Aarav. "Aarav, main aur Ahana farmhouse jaane waale hai party karne... tum bhi chalo," he urged, trying one last time.

"No, thank you..." Aarav declined, his tone final.

Virat sighed, realizing that Aarav was as immovable as ever. Aarav then messaged Manvi, confirming that she could join the office from tomorrow. Manvi responded with a grateful thank you, while Aarav simply nodded to himself, satisfied that he had done the right thing.

Virat watched his friend, a mix of admiration and exasperation in his eyes. Despite their differences, they were a team two contrasting personalities that somehow made AV Associates one of the most successful companies in the country.

The next day, as Manvi arrived at the office of AV Associates, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. It was a new environment for her, and the anticipation of starting fresh weighed heavily on her mind. As she hesitated near the entrance, trying to gather her composure, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Startled, she spun around quickly, only to sigh in relief when she saw Aarav standing behind her, a gentle smile on his face.

"Relax," Aarav said, noticing her tension. "Come with me to my chamber. I'll walk you through your responsibilities."

Manvi nodded and followed him. Inside his chamber, Aarav explained the details of her job, outlining her tasks with his usual precision. Manvi listened attentively, feeling more at ease with each word. Once he was done, she thanked him and turned to leave.

Just as she reached the door, it swung open, and Virat walked in, colliding with her. The sudden impact made her lose her balance, but before she could fall, Virat instinctively grabbed her arm, pulling her back upright. They found themselves locked in a brief, intense gaze, neither of them blinking as they took in each other's presence.

"Maaf kijiyega... humne dekha nahi," Manvi stammered, her voice soft and apologetic.

But Virat seemed momentarily lost, captivated by her. It was only when Aarav cleared his throat, breaking the silence, that Virat snapped out of his trance. He quickly helped Manvi steady herself, and she hurried out of the chamber, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Virat, however, couldn't take his eyes off her as she walked away. He watched her through the glass door, a small smile playing on his lips.

Aarav, noticing this, playfully smacked the back of Virat's head. "Sochna bhi mat... Shareef ladki hai wo," Aarav warned, his tone light but serious.

Virat turned to him with mock indignation. "Toh kya main shareef nahi hun?"

Aarav raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "For your kind information, wo hamari category mein aati hai jise aap kuch zyada pasand nahi karte."

Virat rolled his eyes, but his gaze drifted back towards Manvi as he stood in thought. There was something about her that had instantly drawn him in, a spark of attraction that he couldn't quite shake off.

"Ye teri dost hai wahi? Kya naam tha iska?" Virat asked, still mulling over the encounter.

"Manvi," Aarav replied, watching his friend's reaction closely.

Virat repeated her name under his breath, a soft smile on his face. "Manvi... Sweet name."

Aarav, sensing where this might lead, decided to redirect Virat's attention. "Acha listen, hum Mr. Mehra se milne hotel jaa rahe hai. Tum yahan sambhal lena."

Without waiting for a response, Aarav grabbed his coat and left the chamber. He drove to the hotel where he had a meeting scheduled with Mr. Mehra, a key client. The meeting went smoothly, with Aarav discussing the details of a new consignment. An hour later, as the discussion wrapped up, he made his way towards the lift.

He pressed the button, and as the lift doors opened, he stepped inside. But what he saw next made him freeze inside the lift, a couple was engaged in a passionate kiss. Aarav immediately closed his eyes, embarrassed by the intrusion, and turned away, muttering under his breath, "God..."

In the midst of the awkwardness, the girl's phone slipped from her hand and fell to the floor. Aarav, still averting his eyes, bent down to pick it up and handed it to her. "Aapka... phone," he said, keeping his gaze firmly averted.

But instead of just taking the phone, the girl grabbed his hand, pulling him into her line of sight. Aarav looked at her in shock, his heart racing. The girl, undeterred by his discomfort, moved closer to him. Aarav instinctively stepped back, but the confines of the lift left him with nowhere to go.

She leaned in, her voice a sultry whisper. "God... you are freaking hot..."

Just as Aarav began to panic, the lift doors mercifully opened. He seized the opportunity, yanking his hand free and rushing out of the lift as fast as he could, his pulse pounding in his ears.

Behind him, the guy with the girl called out, "Ahana... Dude, let's go."

But Ahana was distracted, her eyes following Aarav as he hurried away. She leaned against the wall of the lift, her mind reeling. "Haaye... Kitna cute hai ye," she murmured to herself, a dreamy smile spreading across her face.

Meanwhile, Aarav sat inside his car, trying to calm his nerves as he drove away from the hotel. The encounter with Ahana had left him flustered, but he shook his head, dismissing the thought. He had more important things to focus on, like the success of AV Associates and the new challenges ahead.

♥️♥️ Hope you liked the chapter.