Chapter 17
Viya
It had been a month. A whole, agonizing month since Armaan left for Japan.
Thirty days. Seven hundred and twenty hours. Forty three thousand two hundred minutes.
Not that I was counting.
He had not called me. Not once. Not even a single text message. No "I arrived safely." No "How are you." No "I miss you."
Nothing.
The only way I knew he was alive and well was through Dadi. She received regular calls from him, and she would tell me little snippets of information. He was working hard. The negotiations were going well. He was eating properly.
But he never asked about me. Never requested to speak to me. Never sent any message through Dadi.
It was as though I did not exist.
At work, we received business updates about the Japanese client. The contract was progressing smoothly. Mr. Khanna was handling everything personally. The deal was worth millions and would open up new markets for the company.
But there was never anything personal. Never anything for me.
I had picked up my phone countless times over the past month. My finger hovering over his name in my contacts. The cursor blinking in an empty text message box.
But what would I say? "I am sorry for making you jealous?" "Puneet means nothing to me?" "Please come home?"
Every time, I put the phone down without sending anything.
If he wanted to talk to me, he knew where to find me.
Then, three days ago, everything changed.
Vikrant called an emergency team meeting. When we all gathered in the conference room, he announced that the contract with the Japanese client had been finalized. We would be traveling to Japan next week for a two week intensive training on their systems and requirements.
The entire development team would be going. Including me.
Akshita had practically screamed with excitement.
"Oh my god, Viya! We are going to Japan! Can you believe it? I have always wanted to visit Tokyo!"
I had smiled and nodded, but inside, my heart was pounding.
Japan. I was going to Japan.
Where Armaan was.
When I came home that evening, I found Dadi in the living room, enjoying her evening tea. I sat down beside her and told her about the trip.
Her face had lit up immediately.
"That is wonderful, beta! You must go. This is an excellent opportunity for your career."
"But what about you, Dadi? I will be gone for two weeks. I do not want to leave you alone."
She had patted my hand with a warm smile.
"I have Rekha and the other nurses. And Mamta is here. I will be perfectly fine. You should go and do your work. And maybe..." She paused, her eyes twinkling with something that looked like hope. "Maybe you will see Armaan there."
The thought had already been consuming me. Would I see him? Would he want to see me? Or would he avoid me like he had been avoiding my calls?
◆◆◆
One week later, I found myself on a plane to Tokyo with Akshita bouncing excitedly in the seat beside me.
"I cannot believe this is happening! Two weeks in Tokyo! We are going to have so much fun. We can visit temples, try authentic ramen, go shopping in Harajuku—"
I let her chatter wash over me, nodding and smiling at appropriate intervals. But my mind was elsewhere.
Would he be there when we landed? Would he be at the hotel? Would he come to the training sessions?
Would he even acknowledge me?
The flight felt endless. Thirteen hours of turbulence and cramped seats and recycled air. By the time we finally landed at Narita Airport, my entire body ached.
We collected our luggage and found the hotel shuttle bus waiting for us.
The drive into the city was fascinating.
Tokyo sprawled in every direction, a dazzling mix of ultra modern skyscrapers and traditional architecture.
Neon signs blazed in Japanese characters I could not read. People rushed along crowded sidewalks.
It was beautiful and overwhelming all at once.
But I could not enjoy it. My heart was too busy hammering against my ribs.
When we arrived at the hotel, a sleek, modern building in the business district, the staff was incredibly efficient. They had all our room keys ready, handing them out systematically to each team member.
Everyone received their keys. Vikrant. Archana. Akshita. The other developers.
Everyone except me.
"Viya, you can just share my room until they sort it out," Akshita offered, her key already in hand. "I am sure it is just a mix up."
"No, it is fine. You go rest. You look exhausted. I will wait and get my key sorted out."
She hesitated, clearly torn between her desire to collapse into bed and her loyalty as a friend.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Go. I will be fine."
She gave me a quick hug and headed to the elevators with the rest of the team.
I stood alone in the lobby, my suitcase beside me, watching everyone else disappear.
Fifteen minutes later, the receptionist finally approached me with an apologetic smile.
"Miss Mehra, I am so sorry for the delay. There was a small issue with the room assignment, but we have resolved it. As compensation for your inconvenience, we have upgraded you to a suite on the executive floor."
"Oh, that is really not necessary—"
"We insist. Please, it is the least we can do." She handed me a keycard with another apologetic bow.
I thanked her and made my way to the elevator, too tired to argue.
The suite was on the twenty third floor. When I opened the door, I was stunned by how luxurious it was. A spacious living area with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. A separate bedroom with a massive bed. A bathroom with a soaking tub. Everything elegant and modern.
But I barely noticed any of it. I dropped my suitcase, kicked off my shoes, and fell face first onto the bed.
I was asleep within minutes.
◆◆◆
The sound of my phone ringing jerked me awake. I fumbled for it on the nightstand, my eyes barely open.
Vikrant.
I answered groggily.
"Hello?"
"Viya, did I wake you? I am sorry, but we have an important meeting. The Japanese client wants to do a welcome presentation for the team. Everyone is gathering in the banquet hall at seven thirty. Can you make it?"
I glanced at the clock. It was already seven.
"Yes, of course. I will be there."
I hung up and forced myself out of bed, my body protesting every movement. A quick shower helped wake me up. I dug through my suitcase for something appropriate to wear.
I settled on a yellow knee length dress. Simple and professional. I did my makeup quickly, just enough to look presentable, and headed downstairs.
The banquet hall was already filling up when I arrived. Round tables with white tablecloths. A stage at the front with a projector screen. My team members were scattered throughout the room, chatting in small groups.
I spotted Akshita and made my way over to her.
"You made it! How is the suite? Is it amazing?"
"It is very nice. More than I need, honestly."
She grinned.
"Well, at least something good came out of the delay."
We found seats together near the middle of the room. I was hyperaware of every person who entered through the doors. My eyes kept darting to the entrance, searching.
Then I saw him.
Armaan walked in with a group of Japanese businessmen in expensive suits. They were deep in conversation, gesturing and nodding. Armaan looked every inch the powerful CEO. His suit was impeccably tailored. His expression was focused and professional.
My heart stopped.
He was here. He was real. He was right there after a month of silence.
His eyes swept the room as he entered, and for just a second, they landed on me.
Our gazes locked.
I stopped breathing.
Then he looked away. Just like that. As though I was nobody. As though the past month of silence had not been killing me slowly from the inside.
He walked to the front of the room with the Japanese executives and took a seat at one of the VIP tables.
I sat frozen in my chair, my chest tight with hurt and confusion.
Akshita noticed my expression.
"Are you okay? You look pale."
"I am fine. Just tired from the flight."
The Japanese client began their presentation. They talked about their company, their vision, their expectations for this collaboration. The slides were professional and well designed.
But I did not absorb a single word.
All I could see was Armaan sitting at the front of the room. The back of his head. The set of his shoulders. The way he nodded occasionally at something the presenter said.
He was so close. Just meters away.
But he felt unreachable.
When the presentation finally ended, servers brought out dinner. Elaborate Japanese cuisine arranged artfully on plates. Sushi, tempura, miso soup, various delicacies I could not name.
Akshita and I ate together, though I had no appetite. I pushed food around my plate while she chatted enthusiastically about the presentation and the upcoming training schedule.
Halfway through the meal, Akshita started giggling.
"What?" I asked, grateful for the distraction from my thoughts.
"Do not look now, but there is a guy sitting at the table behind you, and he has been staring at you for the past ten minutes."
My stomach twisted uncomfortably.
"Akshita, stop."
"I am serious! He is actually quite handsome. Japanese, maybe mid thirties. Designer suit. Very put together."
"I am not interested."
"How can you not be interested? You have not even looked at him!"
"Because I do not care."
She laughed and nudged my shoulder.
"Come on, Viya. When was the last time you went on a date? You work too hard. You need to have some fun."
I forced myself to smile and laugh along with her teasing, but inside I was screaming.
I did not want some random man staring at me. I did not want to go on dates or have fun with strangers.
I wanted my husband. I wanted Armaan to look at me the way he used to. I wanted him to stop pretending I did not exist.
Eventually, dinner ended. People began filtering out of the banquet hall, heading back to their rooms or to the hotel bar.
Akshita and I walked to the elevators together. She was still teasing me about the man who had supposedly been staring.
"I am telling you, you should give him a chance. What is the worst that could happen?"
"Akshita, please drop it."
We reached my floor first. I said goodnight and headed down the hallway to my suite.
But Akshita followed me, still talking.
"I am just saying, you never know. Maybe he is nice. Maybe he could be—"
I reached my door and turned to face her.
"Akshita, I appreciate your concern, but I am really tired. I just want to sleep."
"Okay, okay. But think about it at least!"
She finally turned and walked back toward the elevators. I let myself into my suite and closed the door with a relieved sigh.
Finally. Peace and quiet.
The doorbell rang.
I groaned and opened the door.
Akshita was standing there again, her face lit up with mischief.
"I am sure that guy likes you! Should I go find him out?"
"No, Akshita. Goodnight."
I closed the door firmly.
The doorbell rang again immediately.
I yanked the door open, exasperation overriding my exhaustion.
"Akshita, I swear, I do not want—"
"Do you want me to get his number for you? I can go talk to him right now. I think he is still in the lobby—"
"No! I do not want his number. I do not want anything. Please just go to your room!"
I physically turned her around and gave her a gentle push toward the elevators.
"Goodnight!"
I shut the door and locked it, leaning against it with my eyes closed.
The doorbell rang a third time.
"Akshita!" I shouted through the door. "I am not opening this again! Go to bed!"
But the doorbell rang again. Persistent. Demanding.
Fine. If she wanted to keep playing this game, I would make myself very clear.
I unlocked the door and yanked it open, not even looking at who was there.
"I do not want him, Akshita! I do not care if he is handsome or rich or whatever. I am not interested. So please stop—"
My voice died in my throat.
Because it was not Akshita standing in my doorway.
It was Armaan.
My husband was standing right there, his dark eyes locked on mine, his jaw set in that familiar stubborn expression.
And from the look on his face, he had heard every word I just said.