49.Perspective

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Raina felt something soft around her, she turned and dipped her head in the pillow. After a moment when she felt her sleep thinning , she took a long breath preparing herself to get up from the too good to be soft bed.

A strong masculine scent filled her lungs, her eyes flew open on sensing unfamiliarity around her.

She sat up and looked around like a lost kid. Even if she was looking around, her mind couldn't register  anything due to the sleep reigning over her senses.It took two minutes for her brain to come out from the sleeping zone.

She finally got down from the bed with wobbly steps, her head was feeling a bit heavy.

She huffed seeing the room dimly lit.

"Where am I?", she muttered before stuttering to the first door she saw.

The golden rays of evening sun hit her eyes as soon as she opened the door.

She closed her eyes immediately,  her pupil adjusted to the the light in few seconds and her eyes fluttered open only to see a breathtaking scenery.

It was like an adjoining open terrace, plants pavement were adoring the sides of gallery and a lounger and a bin bag present in one corner.

Raina stepped forward looking at the panoramic view. Strong smell of different flowers were making the air aromatic.

Raina smiled delicately touching the petals with her fingertips.

She moved near to the boundry, Royal garden was looking more beautiful from the top.

But the cool air brought her back to reality, it was not the exit of the room, she paced back to the door and again warmth and dim lights welcomed her.

She hurriedly looked for the any other door and found it soon, she took a breath of relief and walked out of it.

But her steps halted on seeing the familiar seating area, she looked at the sofa with shocked face but when her gaze fell on the towel laying on the sofa carelessly and the events came rushing in her mind.

Him talking to her.

He wiping her hair.

She looked back to the door.

She facepalmed remembering that she slept at that time and thinking that probably he carried her to the bed.

"Oh god!", she screeched all embarrassed.

"Let's get out of here as soon as possible.", she shook her head.

She took a breath when she was out of Lion's territory.

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Raina was arranging all the things required for making the presentation when her mind wandered back to the events of that day.

Her hands stopped doing their work and she sat on the chair.

She bit her lips remembering the moment when his fingers were entangled in her hair.

She hit her head thinking about the probabilities of her ending on his bed.

She looked up and her eyes collided with her reflection , her cheeks were red.

She put her palms on her cheeks, "What the hell I am thinking."

"Raina, you have a work in hand, focus on that. Not on some weird things.", she again stood up continuing her work.

🔅🔅🔅

Raina did her dinner in her room itself, she was preparing the proposal for filing the tender.

Her phone rang , Raina was still focused on her work.

She took the phone and picked it up.

"What's up dude!", Akshit asked from other side.

"Hey, all okay.", Raina said.

"Busy with project?", he asked.

"Hmmmm.", Raina hummed.

But her attention completely goes to him, she didn't tell him yet then, "Hey! How do you know about it?"

Akshit didn't answer her but said, "I have to tell you something."

Raina asked sarcastically,"Akshit! From when you started asking for my permission?"

He replied by a small 'Whatever' and continued, "Yeah, so I was saying that you will be participating in the auction as an employee of Nagar Healthcare Ltd. not from Rajputana Empires."

Raina asked surprised,"Why?"

"Raina, if you will go there from Rajputana then you will come in their eyes quickly so playing on a safe side you will be from my company."

"Okay.", she nodded her head understand his view.

After that silence followed which was very unusual for them.

Raina asked,"What happened Akshit?"

It was like a barrier got broken.

Akshit made a whining sound and started blabbering, "Raina, Dadi is turning very impatient for my marriage. What should I do?"

Raina shrugged smiling, "What's the problem? You are well settled, go for it."

She was in full mood to tease.

"Absolutely no. I want to do many things in my life.", Akshit shouted from other side.

Raina moved the phone little away from her ear because of his high pitched sound.

This time the sentence left her mouth quite seriously, "Don't worry your wife won't stop you."

"Please understand, here I am still working on our healthcare business, and I am trying to take my company towards corporate sector too. And on the top of that I want to develop a music company of my own. I won't be able to share my time and focus now.", he explained his career plan which Raina knew from the beginning.

Again one minute silence prevailed.

She said out of the blue,"Lets do one thing, marry me."

Akshit exclaimed,"What!!!"

But started laughing other minute knowing very well that she was joking. Actually one of Akshit's relatives said same thing years back and they used to make fun of that incident.

"Yeah, you know we will make a great couple.", she said mimicking that relative's voice.

Akshit laughed more, "You mean disastrous couple."

Raina giggled too.

"Ahh...", Raina was startled with few noises behind her.

She turned around in reflex to witness Rana sa and Rani sa standing inside her room.

"I will call you back.", she muttered hurriedly and cut the call.

"Kaka Hukum, kaki hukum. You here?", she smiled and gestured them to take seat.

"Yeah, just came to meet you.", Rana sa said as he sat on the sofa along with his wife.

"Who was on the call?", Vasudha asked.

"Akshit.", Raina smiled seating on the chair.

"You like Akshit?", the question came out of Queen's mouth abruptly without and pre planning.

Uday Singh and Raina looked at her shocked.

She tried to rephrase her statement, "Ahh... I mean that's good. He is a good person and also he takes care of y-"

Raina explained,"Kaki Hukum,I like him but not in that way. I was just teasing him."

"Oh, okay.", Vasudha nodded her head.

Uday Singh shook his head lightly on Rani sa's acts and looked at Raina, "So ready for the new project?"

Raina took pillow and placed on her lap, she said squeezing it between her arms, "I have started making the strategies, Akshit just called me to tell about the company swapping. I am just-"

And their chatting goes on. In this two months Raina never felt any generation gap while talking to them.

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Adhiraj entered the bathroom to freshen up after a long day in office. He discarded his formal cloths and let the lukewarm water of shower flow through his body.

He flexed his hands back feeling a bit relieved.

Adhiraj dressed up in comfortable t-shirt and trouser. He stroked his wet hairs making already messy hair more messy.

Picking up the comb he styled his raven black hair to perfection.

He poured water in the glass and drank it slowly.

His eyes went to the clock, it was evening already. Although he was planning to come back to palace early but work caught him in office.

"She would be back already", he walked to one table and pulled out the drawer revealing the same shopping bag which he placed in it days ago.

He took that and came out of his room, he smiled while walking through the corridors.

Four days went so easily. That day, he came back in his room in night. He was pretty sure that she would have gone from there.

And he was right dimly lit room, a bit messed up bed, damp pillow from her hair's wetness and her scent in her room welcomed him.

He just saw her once in all these days as she was busy with her project, even she didn't came for dinner which they do with family.

Only once she faced him when she came to call him for a meeting and she needed his signature to proceed the things in office. Whole time she was looking down with red cheeks not having guts to meet his gaze.

Adhiraj shook his head, "Why is she hiding from me when she did nothing?"

Even today, it was such a big day for her and he didn't see her even once.

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Raina pushed the door of her room open, she took a ragged breath in. Throwing her bag somewhere she let out a sob.

"I lost it.", she took a step forward and ran a hand in her hairs.

"That bloody murderer won", she went near the bed and grabbed the arranged blanket and threw it away.

She walked to the other side, a chair came in her way. Furiously she kicked it away.

Gradually the feeling of failure suppressed and pain of breaking trust erupted and it hurted more.

She sat on the floor kicking her shoes away, she brought her knees closed to her chest. Placing her head on her knees she let the first and last tear fell, that tear was out of disappointment and frustration.

There were many times when she felt down but this time she didn't pulled that cover of confidence to hide herself.

She let go of her pain when no one was around, she didn't want to show it to anyone.

She sat there and looked ahead, orange hues of evening sun was spreading in the sky and entered her room through balcony.

"How will I show my face to him", she dipped her head down , her eyes getting moist.

She closed her eyes remembering the gaze full of confidence and pride of Adhiraj.

"He was so sure that I will win but I...lost....", her voice cracked.

She blinked back the tears and and take breath to calm herself.

A knock appeared on the door, a maid entered the room but got shocked to see its condition, "Bai sa.... What happened to the room?"

Raina didn't turned back to look nor she answered.

That maid awkwardly did for what she came on the first place, "Bai sa, Rana sa is calling you in the living room and Yuvraj sa is standing outside."

"Tell them that I am sleeping. Go now.", Raina rubbed her face, she was not ready to face them after breaking their trust.

Maid was shocked on seeing her disobeying Royals, "Bai sa..??"

Raina said in a cold tone,"Go."

Maid scurried away closing the door behind her. Raina again leaned back and her back touched the side of bed.

Again the sound of door disturbed her, she closed her eyes in anger.

She turned to scold that maid,"I told you to go then wh-"

But stopped mid way after seeing Adhiraj standing there in all his glory.

"S..Sir!", she stammered a bit and stood up taking the support of bed.

Adhiraj eyebrows shot up seeing the messed up room, he stepped inside.

Raina was looking at him and he was lazily glancing at room.

He put that shopping pack on a table and picked up the blanket laying on the floor , putting it back on the bed.

"So you were sleeping. Is it?", his gaze finally settled on her and she looked away.

He got the hold of same fallen chair which she kicked a while ago, he placed it properly and settled himself on that, "Sit Raina."

He motioned towards the edge of bed which was in front of him. Raina hesitantly sat there looking down.

"Should I expect an explanation?", she looked up listening him.

Raina bit her lips thinking about the ways to say it but ended up stammering an improper sentence,"Sir... Ac..actually in auction...there.."

She shut up, shaking her head on her stupidity.

"I know what happened there Raina. Calm down.", Adhiraj said it calmly but it caught her off guard.

Seeing her big eyes in her , he chuckled, "Don't be surprised. Remember? I am a business man, so I think I should keep reports about the things happening around me."

She nodded her head and prepared herself for some good scoldings but he said, "Raina, I want to listen about it from you. If you did any mistake then be brave enough to say it from your own mouth."

It was feeling worse then any scolding , she ran her hand on her face and looked up at him, "Auction was going as per our plan......"

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"10 crore 40 lakhs.", another man from front row bid loudly.

Front rows were reserved for big industrialists whereas employees who came for their company was seating in the back portion.

Raina raised her eyebrows, this slow game was irritating her.

"12 Crores.", she said loudly. Many person turned to look at her but she took her phone and ducked her head down, pretending to be on the call so that it will look like she was following the orders of her superior.

"14 Crores.", Raina clenched her fists, finally the real opponent came in the war zone.

"Mr. Chauhan's bid is of 14 crores. Can anyone beat this?", the host exclaimed.

"17 Crores.",Raina said.

She was seating there from past two hours, so she decided to take it little fast.

"19 Crores.", came a quick reply from that monster's mouth.

"20 Crores.", Raina said and and crossed her fingers in hope that the devil won't bid forward.

It was clearly mentioned in the papers given by Adhiraj that the maximum value of that hospital building was 20 Crores, not more then that.

And basically it was not her money, it was of Akshit.

"22 Crores", this bid made the chill ran through Raina's body.

Jayant turned back to look at her when she didn't replied instantly like she did.

Their gaze met, Raina's blood boiled on seeing the smirk playing on lips.

With batted breath she announced, "25 Crores."

The smirk that was playing on his lips vanished swiftly and he turned back.

"Sorry monkey. But I couldn't control myself.", she muttered feeling guilty.

"27 Crores.", He again said.

Raina wanted to bang her head somewhere. It was too much, and she couldn't do this to Akshit when he was only helping her. That man was doing so much hardwork that time to expand his business.

"27 crores one, 27 crores two , 27 crores three. Sold. This building belongs to Mr. Chauhan.", the host said and people started clapping.

Raina huffed and collected her things, people started dispersing. She was standing up from her table to go out but a man came saying that someone was calling her.

She frowned but followed him, after a minute she was standing in front of her biggest nightmare, Jayant Chauhan.

"It was close fight Ms...", he smirked and said but his sentence ended on a question, a question to know her name.

"Raina.", Rain replied with her lips pressed in a thin line and her fingers wrapped tightly around her phone.

"From which company?", he tilted his head with his eyes fixed on her.

"Nagar HealthCare Ltd. Sir.", her tone came out professionally strong.

"Ohh, I see. The new fighter in the ring. I must say that your CEO is working very hard but it would have been great if he would have collaborated with me instead of Rathores.", he remembered Akshit from the tabloids.

"Now sir, it's his decision but I am your fan. Your work is very inspiring. Your achievements push me to achieve my goals.", Raina said with a a different twinkle in her eyes, not an happy or innocent twinkle , it was like the twinkle in the eyes of a lioness when she saw her prey.

Chauhan was a bit stunned on receiving that type of compliment,"Ohh. Glad to hear."

Before he could say anything more, a man came telling him to do the legal procedures of building.

Raina turned on her heels excusing herself, and all professionalism and consistency leaving her eyes replacing with pure hatred and disgust.

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"This happened sir. He won and I lost it. Breaking your and everyone's trust, I lost.", Raina sighed defeated.

"Hmmmm. But Raina what I can see that you never lost.", he said.

Raina's face reflected pure confusion.

Adhiraj rubbed the straight lining of the beard on his sharp jaw, "So from past few hours your are feeling miserable because you couldn't get the deal but tell me what would have you felt if the deal you got will bring loss? Bad, right?"

"This was your first time Raina. Don't be that hard on yourself. Enjoy your first win."

"First win?", Raina asked baffled.

"Just because of you, this win cost at least 9 to 10 crores to Chauhan. I am sure that he could get it in 15 or 16 crores but your high bids evoked a thing called ego in him and the result is in front of you.", he said amusingly with a shine in his eyes.

"So Raina 10 crore on your own. Not a small thing. Right?", he smiled.

"It's all about opting right perspective on right time. You won't win the medal in the first match itself, it took a long time and tough practise to do so. Be patient with yourself and the things around you."

He stretched his hand to reach the shopping pack kept on table

"A small gift for you.", he said forwarding the gift towards her

"Sir, you don't need to-",she was shocked to see that.

"Take it and open with a smile not with this dull face." Adhiraj insisted

She got the hold of bag. her hands slipped inside it and she took out a box, she opened the box with curiosity and found an expensive pen. It was a limited edition pen from Montblanc pen with work gold and diamonds especially made.

No doubt it would have cost fortune.

Raina rubbed her thumb on the body of pen and the word slipped from her mouth involuntarily, "Beautiful!!"

He motioned towards the box,"The name written there is a legend itself. Take inspiration from that, this was just a glimpse of what you have to fight in future. Understood?"

She looked on the name engraved on the golden plate fitted on the shiny box, "Yes sir."

He stood up and placed his hand on her cheeks making her eyes collide with his instantly,"Good, and don't be so sad. As I said it's just a beginning. You are doing better then you think you are. I am proud of you,keep going and take care."

He walked to the door.

Raina was in daze not because of his words , but because of his actions. She kept her hands slowly on the same cheek which was touched by him few seconds ago.

"And Raina, come to living room. Baba sa and Maa sa are waiting for you there." he turned to look back at her and she sat straight.

"Jii", she nodded her head.

(A/N: Jii- yes.)

The door closed and Raina laid on the bed with her legs still dangling down.

"And yet again he made it so easy.", Raina smiled looking at the ceiling.

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