“Thik hai. Koi baat nhi. I thought you will not be biased and will prioritize hardworking people over their status. I'll see something else for her.”

“Mumma yaar!”

“Kya Adi? Agar wo bachi sach mai kuch seekhna chahti hai toh bhi tu consider nhi kr skta na! Koi baat nhi beta. You keep stuck in one place. Zindagi aise nhi chalti. You have to realise that not everyone's the same and move on. Lekin agar tu wahi stuck rehna chahta hai then be there beta. Mai kuch nhi kr skti.”

She said defeated and Aditya felt bad immediately. She was his only family. The betrayal his ex had given him hurt even more because just a few months earlier, they had found out that his father had been cheating on her mother for a long time.

Before the revelation, Aditya considered their marriage the most happy and perfect marriage. His parents were perfect together. Until they were not. There were fights and arguments more often than peaceful nights. 

His mother had crumbled because of the heartbreak and betrayal but stood back stronger than before. She decided to live her life. Not get stuck at one place.

It's time he does the same.

“Achha sorry na maa. Bhejo mujhe CV. Mai dekhta hu.”

His mother gave him a bored look but then smiled.

He kissed her head and hugged her. 

“Aap naaraz mat hua kro. Achha nhi lagta mujhe.”

He said like a kid and she chuckled, caressing his face.

“Achhi bachi hai. You'll like her!”

Aditya gave his mother a look.

“Arre as an intern yaar! Don't take it wrong.”

She teased and he shook his head.

Aditya had seen her CV that night and he was impressed. She had a lot of achievements to her name. But he wasn't sure whether it was her own or because of her father.

Seems like he'd know only after giving her a chance. The next morning, he'd told his mother that he could have her as an intern in the office.

“I'll let her know. Tera number forward kr dungi. She'll coordinate straight with you.”

He nodded and started picking up his bag to leave for office when her mother called his name.

“Adi! Dhyan rakhna uska. She's a good girl. Don't be too harsh on her because of something her father does

Aditya nodded and left after giving her that promise. And he will keep that promise. But that didn't mean he'd not work her hard. He was going to test her in his own way. 

If she really was hardworking and dedicated, she'd sail through. 

Kanika called Anshika to share Aditya's number with her and inform her about the internship.

“Thank you so much mam. I'm grateful to you.”

“Its ok bache. But bhut bolkr lagwayi hai. So do me proud.”

“Yes mam.”

Anshika messaged Aditya the same evening. Confirming about her internship to which he replied asking her to send a mail to their official mail id alongwith her CV.

She complied and received a confirmation mail within an hour.

Aditya looked at her profile picture on WhatsApp. She was beautiful but alas, a richie rich and his intern now.

It was her first day of internship and Anshika was very excited. She reached the building where she was supposed to intern and went to the reception.

“How may I help you mam?”

The receptionist asked in a polite, humble tone. Anshika smiled and forwarded her confirmation letter.

“I'm starting my internship here today.”

The receptionist looked at the letter and nodded.

“Ms Anshika Arora, right?”

“Yes.”

“The finance department is on the 5th floor. Elevators are to your right. Have a great day!”

“Thank you so much.”

Anshika took her confirmation letter, now stamped and was allowed entry through the security gates.

She reached the finance department but stopped. She didn't know who Aditya was or how he looked. The man didn't have a dp. Or maybe he still hasn't saved her number so she couldn't see how he looked.

Anshika saw a woman go inside the offices and stopped her.

“Excuse me mam!”

The woman turned and looked at Anshika.

“Mam, do you work here?”

“Yes. How may I help?”

“Mam, can you please call Aditya sir for me?”

“Aditya Mittal?”

She nodded and the woman went inside after saying sure.

“Aditya! There's someone waiting for you outside.”

Aditya got up and went towards the area his colleagues pointed at. He saw Anshika standing there. 

“Hello! I'm Aditya.”

He introduced himself and Anshika looked up. Oh boy! When Kanika mam said that the person was her son, she hadn't expected him to be this hot.

“Hello sir. Anshika Arora.”

“I know. Come on in.”

She followed him and he took her to the very back of the office and opened a door to what looked like a conference room but had another few desks inside.

“This is the interns room. Abhi baaki interns aaye nhi hai so you can take whatever desk you like.”

Anshika nodded and waited for him to continue.

“Set up your desk if you like. When you're done, bahar aa jaana, I'll introduce you to everyone.”

“Yes sir. Just 5 minutes.”

“It's ok. Take your time.”

With that Aditya left her in privacy to set up her place. His colleague from earlier, Tanishka, wiggled her eyebrows at her.

“What?”

“She's cute!”

“She's an intern!”

He exasperated and she shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.

“Stop those crazy ideas going on on your mind. She's an intern and younger than me.”

“How much younger?”

“She's in her final year.”

“That's hardly 3 years. Normal age gap.”

Aditya gritted his teeth and glared at her making her laugh.

“If you're not interested, toh Kanav se baat kru. He's always interested.”

She teased and Aditya glared at her harder.

“She's not just an intern here but my maa’s student at college. I'm responsible for whatever happens to her here. So don't even think about it.”

She chuckled and nodded. They heard Anshika's voice behind them and both of them turned towards her.