Chapter 21: The First Business Call

After breakfast, everyone slowly dispersed.

Veeresh picked up his laptop bag and car keys.

He looked toward Poornima.

Veeresh: "I'm leaving for the office."

Poornima nodded.

Poornima: "Drive safely."

Veeresh: "You too... don't overwork yourself."

She smiled faintly.

Poornima: "I won't."

Veeresh left for VDS Industries.

VDS Industries

The moment Veeresh entered the headquarters, employees gathered near the reception.

Employees: "Congratulations, sir!"

Employee 1: "Congratulations on your marriage, sir."

Employee 2: "Wishing you a happy married life."

Veeresh smiled politely.

Veeresh: "Thank you, everyone."

He walked into his cabin.

His assistant, Ritika, entered carrying the day's schedule.

Ritika: "Good morning, sir."

Veeresh: "Good morning."

She smiled.

Ritika: "Congratulations, sir."

Veeresh: "Thank you."

She opened her notebook.

Ritika: "Sir, the employees have requested a small celebration this evening."

Veeresh nodded.

Veeresh: "That's fine."

He thought for a moment.

Veeresh: "Order cupcakes and brownies..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

Then smiled.

Veeresh: "No."

Ritika looked confused.

Ritika: "Sir?"

Veeresh: "I'll call myself."

He picked up his phone.

Ritika quietly stood there.

The call connected within seconds.

Poornima's Dessert Shop

Poornima was checking fresh batches of sponge cakes when her phone rang.

She looked at the caller ID.

A smile appeared on her face.

She answered.

Poornima: "Yes, Rakshas?"

Back in his office, Veeresh smiled despite himself.

Veeresh: "Busy, Chudail?"

Poornima: "Always."

"What do you want?"

Veeresh: "I need an order."

Poornima immediately became professional.

Poornima: "Tell me."

Veeresh: "One thousand vanilla cupcakes."

"One thousand chocolate cupcakes."

"And brownies."

"Everything should be eggless."

Poornima picked up her notebook.

Poornima: "Okay."

"Anything else?"

Veeresh: "Yes."

"I want everything individually packed in boxes."

She continued writing.

Poornima: "Done."

"What's the occasion?"

Veeresh smiled.

Veeresh: "The employees wanted a marriage celebration."

"So..."

"I told them my wife's dessert shop would handle it."

There was a brief silence.

Then Poornima smiled warmly.

Poornima: "I'll personally supervise the order."

"It'll reach VDS Industries on time."

Veeresh: "Perfect."

Poornima: "Anything else, Rakshas?"

Veeresh: "No."

"Thank you, Poons."

Poornima: "You're welcome."

"I'll send everything before the party starts."

Veeresh: "Alright."

They ended the call.

Ritika had heard only Veeresh's side of the conversation.

She couldn't hide her curiosity.

For years, everyone in Jaipur had known that Veeresh Singh and Poornima Rathore were fierce rivals.

Now...

He had called her directly instead of asking his assistant to place the order.

And he had spoken to her with an ease that surprised Ritika.

"How could these two ever end up together?" she wondered.

Veeresh noticed her expression.

Veeresh: "Ritika?"

She immediately straightened.

Ritika: "Yes, sir?"

Veeresh: "Please coordinate with the security team for the delivery when it arrives."

Ritika: "Certainly, sir."

As she left the cabin, she smiled to herself.

Perhaps...

The stories about rivalry were true.

But from the way they had spoken on the phone...

It seemed their rivalry had already begun changing into something else.