Qainaat

15

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Dhara took a step forward, standing next to Anirudh, and spoke in a polite and inquisitive tone, 'Hello... and umm, sorry, I just can't recall, do I know you. Have we met before ?'

As she spoke, her rose-scented perfume filled the air around her, creating a subtle but pleasant ambiance. Anirudh couldn't help but be affected by the scent again, and a fleeting feeling of something unspoken, much like the one he had experienced in the car, crossed his mind.

'Hmm aap kahan yaad rakhengi hum jaiso ko? Dhara ji.' Harsh responded with a charming and slightly self-deprecating smile. Anirudh, standing next to her, couldn't help but be slightly irked by the formality of the address.

She cast a glance at Anirudh smiling awkwardly. Her doe-like eyes had a way of tugging at his heartstrings, creating a warmth in his chest that he couldn't quite explain.However, in an instant, she redirected her attention to the man in front of her, and all the warmth that had filled the air just moments ago suddenly dissipated.

'Ohk let me give you a hint........ahh Edinburgh university... Architecture and design faculty annual ball..?'

seeing her perplexed expression, he couldn't help but chuckle as he added, 'We happened to be seated at the same table.'

Harsh's mention of Edinburgh University seemed to spark a memory for Dhara. She furrowed her brow for a moment, thinking back, and then her face lit up with recognition. 'Oh, ......omg you are that Harsh, I am really sorry it's been so long, I just couldn't recognize you.' she responded with a mixture of surprise and realisation.

'Koi baat nahi........par aap yahan kaise? aap toh Dehradun rehti thi na?' His eyebrows furrowed.

'I just came here to spend my Diwali holidays with my family. Avinash uncle happens to be Papa's friend. And he insisted him, so I took the job.' She raised her shoulders in a nonchalant gesture and offered a slight, friendly smile.

'Oh cool, I thought you moved here.' Harsh said.

'No no.... I came to Lucknow just to celebrate Diwali and I'll be working on this project as long as I'm here, and then maybe I'll send my team here for work.' She shakes her head a little. Anirudh couldn't help but notice her, thanks to the faint sound of her jhumkas catching his attention.Some strands of hair were still entangled in it, and he felt a strong urge to free them. His hand instinctively started to rise towards her, but he quickly realised and used the gesture to adjust his hair instead.

'Ahh alright that's amazing. Vaise-'

While Harsh and Dhara were engrossed in their conversation, Anirudh found himself on the sidelines and cleared his throat to get their attention. 'Excuse me,' he interjected, 'we have a meeting to do.' His words came out with a hint of coldness that was unintentional.

'Aree haan meeting ko toh main bhool hi gaya tha.......hahahaha.Chalein Dhara ji?' He extended his hand, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Dhara, with a hint of amusement, replied 'Yeah sure par aap mujhe ye dhara ji kehna band karein pehle......'

Harsh hesitated for a moment before saying,'Umm-'

Dhara insisted, 'Sirf Dhara......'

'Ok Dhara.....'Harsh agreed with a smile.

With that, The trio delved into their respective roles, discussing the intricate details of the project. They worked collaboratively, ironing out challenges, and fine-tuning strategies. With a sense of accomplishment, they concluded the meeting, ready to embark on their project with confidence.