2| New CEO

Started writing on 25th April 2020.

Completed on 27th April 2020.

Word count : 2315 words

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When Divya and Ayaan are 26, (present day)

- D I V Y A -

This is the life I wanted— no hassles, no family business. Live by yourself. And now, I'm not Divya, I'm CA Divya. I'm feeling as if I'm on top of the world.

No, I'm not high.

And, the place where I work is a conglomerate. The feeling of working here couldn't be expressed. Only 1 out of every 5 lakh candidates is selected to work here. Due to my good rank and fabulous articleship results, it was pretty easy for me to join here without any problems.

And these are the people I know here:

Maya, my best friend in office who loves to offer advices and is the supervisor.

Karan, a designer who never leaves a chance of flirting.

Diya, an accountant under me who always tries to be as far from people as she can. Can also be called an introvert.

Srishti, a girl who never leaves the chance of showing off. Pretty good at being self-centred and jealous at heart. But an excellent designer. And,

Aman, a curly man. Sorry, his hair is. He's a noble man and the current manager of our department, designing department.

Everyone of them have their own trait. But one thing common in them is their devotion towards their work.

"Divya!" Called a girly voice. It belonged to..... Maya.

"Good morning. What happened? So nervous?" I asked.

"What to say? All these people are just a headache. I hate all these seniors." Maya's voice was a little sad then earlier.

What would have happened to make her face frowned? Has something happened?

"What have these seniors done? Any new gossip?" I was really curious to know what would have happened. Maya, a mother of a five year old had a bubbly personality, which made us friends.

I remember my first day here at work. She was the first person whom I saw having a non-serious personality, who reached me and started the conversation. She's the person whom I meet whenever I have any problem, seeking for a friendly advice.

"CEO!" She mumbled touching the coffee mug with her lips.

"What happened to CEO? Is he ill? Is he no more? How did he die?" My mouth muttered in a jiffy.

"Nothing. He's alive. He's retiring. So now we'll have a new one. The board will decide the next CEO. Life was so good till now. Our CEO is really a good human being. But now we don't even know who'll rule us."

"Rule. Aren't all these CEO's same. Why would someone rule us?" I asked. What did she say? CEO Rule their employees. But ours is too good.

"You really don't know anything about this world. Till now we had a friendly senior. But now it'll be a different scenario. You know our board members. How strict they are! I just wish that we don't have a moody CEO." She said sadly.

Really? CEO is resigning? But why? And who'll be the next CEO? Huh..... My phone rang, more of vibrate, and I picked it up. "Hello!" After listening to the talks I just said, "Okay."

"Who's there?" asked Maya as if she's my husband and I'm betraying her.

"My schoolmate. She was inviting me for the class reunion. And I'm going." Really a get-together after so many years. I just wanted to see how they all are living and what they're doing at this point of life.

"Of course miss lonely, you should go. Atleast you would get to enjoy some of your time. But what about me. I have a husband and a child. Work in office and then at home, take care of both of them. It's really tiring! I suggest you to be single. We all women want to marry a prince charming. But that's just in fairy tales. So enjoy your bachelor life."

"Hmm..." I replied. I had no words to say. I knew what she was saying was right, but a small part of me always wants to believe that prince's are present in real life. Well, who knows.

I really do my work well. Really well and the fastest. In a smart way. But now what will happen, everything will change. Our company will have a new head.

Leave it!

Tomorrow I have to go to reunion.

Just think about it!

××

Alarm clock rang and woke me up. What's the time?! I wish I'm not late.

8:30!

And it takes twenty minutes to drive there. Oh shit! Now I have only half an hour left!

How will I do everything in such a short time?

Just get ready.

Usually I take around ten minutes for only bathing. But I didn't have much time now. What to wear? Just wear anything. I saw a blue dress and made a mind to wear that. Just alright! Taking a banana and a bun in my hand, I wore a pair of heels in a hurry.

Just do everything fast!

And here I was, driving and eating at the same time, the thing that I usually do. This is me, perfect from outside and unorganised from inside. After a ride of twenty one minutes it seemed as if I reached the place.

Looking into the car mirror I checked myself. What about my lipstick? Is it fine? And my hairs. Ahh! I hate this thing everytime. My lipstick is always smudged while eating. Hate this so called lipstick. Who made this thing? I just want to kill that person. But it's not the time for this.

Yeah, this is the address Aaradhya sent me.

Entering the building which was a hotel, I asked for the meet-up hall. I reached there and my whole yesterday was after my eyes. My friends, those jealous make-up boxes, and the class idiots who enjoyed every moment in their school life.

"Hello everyone!!" I entered with a big smile on my face and saw everyone's jaw dropped. Why are they all shocked to see me? Am I looking wierd? Or am I a one night sensational artist? No.. "What happened?" I asked. Why are they all looking at me like this?

"We thought you won't come. Such a busy you." Said Zoe.

"Why? Am I a nerd?" I said taking my seat, "Everything has changed in these years, people too. So why can't a little part of me change." I always like to win in every situation. Every means every.

"Okay! Okay! Don't start a fight girls." Exclaimed Anil.

"Is everyone here?" I asked. I mean it's not that I miss someone but it's good to have some knowledge.

"No. Two people are not here. Aryan and Darshan. Sorry, Ayaan too. He's also not here." She said counting on her fingers, as in the past.

"Ohh!" That was all I could exclaim. Huh! I was not thinking about him but it's just that I knew him so there was a curiosity about what he is doing right now. If he's still the same egg who can't do anything. I wonder how is he living?

"Well friends. Here. Listen everyone. She is not a human." She said, pointing towards me.

What? What is she saying? Is she insane?

"I mean she's not a normal person. From her childhood, from the time we know her, she always excelled in everything. She's not a normal CA. She's the fastest CA as per now. Hats off to you." And the whole crowd, no, my classmates started praising me.

It was a really good day chatting with my old colleagues. Truly a golden moment which we always leave thinking as a trash. How our life changes as we grow. When we're small, in our teenage life we want to grow faster. And when we grow up, we miss our old days and want to go back to the time when we were young.

××

It was Monday. Today too, it's the same hectic routine. Get up, dress up in a hurry and leave for office. I'm a heavy sleeper who never leaves a chance of slumber. That's why I always try to complete my work faster than usual, which makes me the fastest CA.

I live alone in a different house than my parents as I agree in being self-dependent. I don't want to be dependent on my parents.

So then I reached the A&C, the name of the company where I work. Till now no one knows the meaning of A and C in A&C. Only the founder of the company, who's CEO's father knows it's meaning. And he's no more.

"Divya! Wait!" I heard Maya calling me when I was on the way to lift. When I turned, I saw Maya running towards me.

"What happened? Stop. Take a deep breathe." After my call Maya stopped and took a deep breath.

"You know what, today the board, major shareholders are having a meeting for the selection of CEO."

"Today!" I asked in exclamation.

Spending a couple of hours being busy in completing my work, I got up to use the restroom. While walking I saw many of the staffs and said hi to them. Walking forward, I saw many of the major shareholders coming out of the meeting room. Being their junior, I greeted them.

Walking a little forward I saw a man, actually there were many but he was looking a little different than the ones I've seen in the company. He was looking familiar. When I went a little near I was shocked.

He was Ayaan! The same egg. Looking more handsome than earlier. Does he work here?

"Ayaan!! How are you here? In this company? Do you work here?" I asked him.

"Hmm." He nodded in positive. He didn't say anything. "Are you the same Ayaan who failed in every subject? Do you work here as a junior? You're the same Egg!" I just pulled his nose like I always did to make him realise that he failed. "If you were here, then why didn't you come to the reunion?" Well it was me, the real me who never wanted to be suppressed by someone else.

"Ah, actually..." He was trying to say something but was stopped by a voice, "Ayaan!" He turned back. It was Mr Chauhan. The CEO. No.... the former CEO.

"Good morning CEO." I greeted him.

"I'm not the CEO any more. So don't greet me by that title. The new CEO is my son. Well, you can call me the chairman as I've left the position of CEO, but I'm still the chairman." He said with a big smile, a laugh!

What? Is this a hand me down company? Son is becoming the heir to the company. No! He must have studied a lot to head this big company. But, who is he?

"I think you know my son that you're talking to him."

"What?" What? How could I now his son. And when did I talk to him?

"Yes. He's my son. Ayaan. The next CEO of the A&C." He answered in a smile.

What? The new head is Ayaan. How can he? Has he even studied? And what did I say to him now? Was that a little too much. No, it was a truly bad.

I shouldn't have said that to the CEO. I even called him egg. Now my life will be a hell. "Ohh!" was the only thing I could say before excusing myself to the restroom.

Sitting in the restroom I was just cursing myself. What have I done? How can I call the CEO as egg?? I'm gone!

But what if he's still the lighthearted Ayaan? Then nothing will happen. Thank God. I think it's the same. He's still the same who never takes things to his heart.

I'm relieved.

×× ××

– A Y A A N –

All these years I studied in States. I always remember the time when I was 17. Everything was fine. I always lived happily.

Divya was the girl whom I irritated the most. I wanted to continue everything. I wanted to listen to her taunts and laugh. She was the only one who was never mesmerized by me. She's different from every girl whom I've met till now. She's the only one who could make me smile.

But dad wanted me to become a big businessman, just like him and I wanted to live the life that I was used to. I wanted to go to the same college with her. But my father's wish got me to stay away.

I had a bet with Divya about passing my entrance exam. I passed it. I was so happy to win the bet. But then I had to go somewhere else! Leaving everything, my friends, enemies and my memories here.

I came back yesterday, when I had the news of the reunion. I wanted to go there to see everyone but this time too, it were the company matters that held me. I was not someone who regrets anything but now I regret the time which I lost being away. Well, now that I'm here, everything will be alright.

When I stepped into the company many of the things changed. After a long meeting about me being selected as CEO, I could see a big smile on dad's face. Infact, he sent me abroad for this moment. It was good, but it was my first time being a CEO. I worked as an intern, and many more work for gaining experience.

When I went outside the meeting room, a girl came beside me. It was Divya!

The girl who was irritated by me!

From her face it was clear that she wasn't shocked to see me. And, she assumed me to be a junior in this company. Well, she was right in her own way.

She even pulled my nose like she always did. It was good till dad came. He told her that I'm his son, and the new CEO of the company. And her face, it was all blank!

She was shocked to death. Maybe because she didn't expect me to be the next inheritor.

And I'm very happy that I'm going to work here. With Divya!!

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Precap : Wedding?

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