Devika tried to sit properly after finishing half porridge. Her head spining, her vision getting blurred.
Devika pressed her face into her palm."it feels like someone is drilling into my skull, ahh."
Arshi rubbed devika back slowly." I told you, your fever was 104 last night. Your body is angry at you."
Devika breathing through her nose,"we shouldn't be here."
"You are insane," Arshi muttered." The boys are handling everything. Vikram sir is in the meeting anyway, so if something goes wrong, its his headache not ours."
Devika looked at Arshi instantly." He is in the meeting?."
Arshi noded."he went with boys and rishi."
She lay back down, trying to relax.
The medicine made her eyes sleepy, and her bodyache less. Then she sleep.
Inside conference hall.
Applause.
The singapur team leaned back, impressed.
"They are good." One of the senior partners murmured."better than we expected."
Vikram stayed still.
He didn't smile.
He didn't nod.
He didn't even give praise.
But privately?
He felt something sharp and proud twist in his stomach.
Those two boys stood tall.
They defended their numbers like warriors. They protected their project like the way Devika always did. Head on, no recklessness, no excuses.
When everything wrapped up, the executives came to greet vikram.
"Mr. Oberoi." One said," your marketing lead has strong instincts. You trained them well."
His lips almost twitched.
"I didn't train them," vikram said," she did."
No one asked him.
Who "she is."
Inside Devika's room.
Ishaan and karan returned.
As soon as they entered, devika lifted her head from the pillow."how did it go?." She asked.
Ishaan, said calmly," we killed it."
Karan leaned against door, exhausted."they want another session in the afternoon. Maybe expansion."
Devika eyes widen," expansion? Really?"
Arshi clapped like she was celebrating her own victory."yes because your idiots are mini version of yoy."
Devika said in low voice," i should have been there."
Arshi held her shoulders,"stop. Just be happy."
Devika looked up at ishaan and karan.
They both nodded softly
"You did enough", ishaan said." This was our turn."
Something inside her chest cracked. Not like weakness, but like recognition.
Her team.
Her people.
Her work.
Even without her voice breaking the room, they defended everything she built.
Later, inside Devika room.
Vikram went inside Devika room.
He saw karan's nervous, Ishaan's respect, Arshi's proud.
Vikram saw devika sleeping
Then he ask arshi." How is she?."
Arshi said, " fever is bit down."
Vikram noded.
Then he went near her and sit beside her bed.
he stare at her,
Why she is affecting me?
Arshi and karan was shocked to see Vikram like this mean, how he is caring about her. Since day one, vikram was cold towards everyone. But now, he is showing his care towards devika. he is trying to protect her or destroy her.
Ishaan, stared at vikram
Why the hell, he is staring at her like this. I need to protect her from him.
Meanwhile, vikram was lost in her thoughts.