8:45 AM.
Aratrika stood in the middle of the sidewalk, gasping for air as she held her broken heel in one hand. Beads of sweat were already lining her forehead. Today was supposed to be the most important day of her life—the interview at 'AS Design Studio.' But from the moment she woke up, the universe seemed to have other plans. First, her alarm didn't go off, then she couldn't find a single empty rickshaw, and now—this shoe disaster.
"Just fifteen minutes! Please, God, just get me through this one hour," she whispered to herself.
Desperate for a brain-boost, she grabbed a large cup of black coffee from a roadside cafe. She knew her mind wouldn't function without a hit of caffeine. Clutching her files, the steaming coffee, and her broken shoe, she made a mad dash for the office building.
Just as she rounded the sharp corner of the street—
THUD!
Aratrika slammed into something—or rather, someone—solid. For a split second, the world stood still. But the hot coffee in her hand didn't. It flew out in a perfect brown arc, splashing right onto a stranger's crisp, expensive white shirt.
"What the...!" a deep, cold voice growled.
Aratrika looked up. Standing before her was a man nearly six feet tall. He looked every bit the elite professional, dressed in a designer suit and dark sunglasses. But his polished look was now ruined by a jagged, brown coffee stain spreading across his chest.
"Are you blind?" the man hissed, his voice trembling with icy rage.
Normally, Aratrika was a polite person. But the morning's chaos and the loss of her favorite shoe had pushed her to the edge. She snapped back, "I can see just fine! But maybe if you weren't staring at your phone while walking, this wouldn't have happened. Do you think you own this sidewalk?"
The man, stunned by her audacity, pulled down his sunglasses. The sharp, piercing intensity in his eyes made Aratrika's heart skip a beat, but she refused to back down. She dug into her bag, pulled out a crumpled tissue, and thrust it toward him.
"Here, wipe it off. And next time, watch where you're going. I have an interview to catch!"
Before he could utter another word, Aratrika turned and limped away through the crowd. The man stared at the crumpled tissue in disbelief. "Unbelievable," he muttered. "She ruins my morning and has the nerve to lecture me?"
Twenty minutes later.
Aratrika sat outside the interview room, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had somehow managed to glue her heel back on, but her nerves were shot. Finally, the assistant called out, "Ms. Aratrika, please step in."
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The cool blast of the AC hit her face. Three people were seated across the table, but the large center chair was still empty.
"Please take a seat," one of the interviewers said.
Just as she sat down, the door swung open. A man walked in, wearing a black blazer now, but the faint brown stain on the shirt underneath was unmistakably there.
Aratrika's heart stopped. It was him—the 'arrogant stranger' from the street.
The board members stood up instantly. "Good morning, Mr. Aryan!"
Aryan sat in his chair and slowly flipped open a file. Then, with agonizing slowness, he looked up and locked eyes with Aratrika. A mocking, dangerous smirk played on his lips.
"So... Ms. Aratrika," Aryan said in a voice as smooth as silk. "Tell me... was the sidewalk really yours?"
Aratrika realized right then—she hadn't even started her career, and she had already drowned it in a cup of coffee.