"Withdraw her resignation. She won't oppose it. As for her father - I'll handle him. All I need from you is stop the termination." Swapnil stated firmly before walking away.
----
Meanwhile, Meera and Ajay were seated in their restaurant when Swapnil's calls started coming in - one after another. Reluctantly, and only after Ajay insisted, Meera finally picked up.
"Look, I'm not in a position to talk - "
"Just shut up and listen," Swapnil interrupted, his tone sharp but not hostile. "I haven't called to argue."
Meera blinked in surprise. "But you - "
"Just answer my questions. I told you - I'm not calling to fight. Where are you right now?"
"You don't need to - "
"Just get to the office. Now." His tone left no room for further discussion.
Before Meera could say anything more, the call disconnected.
"I guess we're going to the office." Meera muttered, grabbing her purse and signaling Ajay to follow.
---
As Swapnil stepped out of Mr. Singh's cabin, Samir was already waiting for him. He had overheard Swapnil's one-sided phone call to Meera and didn't look impressed.
"You could've at least told her the whole story." Samir remarked.
"What's the point of explaining it over the phone?" Swapnil replied with a shake of his head. "I can't even talk to her properly in person. What difference would it make over a call?"
"You could've at least tried..." Samir pressed.
"I am trying." Swapnil said calmly. "Now we'll see how much she's willing to stand by me."
"So… you talked to Mr. Singh?" Samir asked, hopeful.
"Not just talked------I took the decision..." Swapnil replied.
Samir's smile faded a little. "Please tell me you didn't do something reckless."
"Not yet." Swapnil said with a faint smirk. "But I will if I have to. Now it's up to Meera - whether she wants to undo what her father did… or leave things just as twisted."
With that, he walked into his cabin.
---
As soon as Meera arrived at the office, she headed straight for Swapnil's cabin, Ajay right behind her. Seeing Samir already there didn't surprise Ajay.
"I really don't have the patience for this, Sir. I'm already under enough pressure." Meera said, glaring at Swapnil.
He threw a glance at Ajay. "I didn't call you here for small talk. Sit down - " He looked at Ajay. "Both of you." He turns to Meera, " Let your friend join you too." It was clear Swapnil had no intention of keeping Ajay in the dark.
As they sat down, Meera demanded, "Well? What's this about?"
"Why did you resign?" Swapnil asked directly. Samir watched her closely, his expression unreadable.
Meera exchanged a nervous look with Ajay. Neither of them knew how to explain that Meera hadn't resigned - she had been dismissed on someone's orders.
The silence grew thick. Finally, Swapnil snapped, irritated, "I don't have all day to wait on your words, Meera. Just answer."
"If you weren't going to listen, then why call me here?" she shot back, defensive.
"That was a quick response." Swapnil muttered.
Before their heated exchange could escalate further, Samir raised his hand. "Enough, both of you. This is serious. Meera - tell us the truth. Did you resign or were you made to?"
Meera looked at Ajay again. He gave a subtle nod. She took a deep breath. "I didn't resign. I wasn't even asked to. I was removed - on someone's orders."
Swapnil narrowed his eyes. "Do you have any idea who might have done that?"
Ajay had been watching the two men closely. He wasn't naïve - if Samir and Swapnil were sitting together, it meant they already knew the whole truth. Then why this drama of questioning Meera?
He gave Swapnil a sharp look. "If you already know everything, what's the point of putting Meera through this interrogation?"
Meera turned to him, confused. "What do you mean - they already know?"
"They investigated everything before calling you in...." Ajay replied without breaking eye contact with Swapnil.
Swapnil didn't flinch. "He's right. We did our research. And now, I want to hear the entire story from you, Meera. Are you still going to hide your father's wrongdoing? Or was this just a steppingstone - a way to pass time before moving to a better company?"
"You can't speak about her like that..." Ajay cut in sharply. "She did her work with honesty."
"She took a position someone truly deserving could have had. Now that post will remain vacant for a year. If she's so honest, she should explain everything." Swapnil replied, his eyes locked on Meera.
Ajay's voice rose. "You're trying to turn her against her father!"
"I'm not turning anyone against anyone..." Swapnil retorted. "All I want to know is - does she want to work here or not?"
He turned to Meera. Her face was unreadable, still lost in the fog of confusion.
Ajay crossed his arms. "Whatever her father did, he did it for her good."
He didn't really care whether Mr. Patel's actions were right or wrong. His focus was on proving Swapnil wrong. He had noticed how close Meera was growing to him - how she had begun listening to everything he said. That had never happened before. Ajay decided it was time to intervene, to pull her away.
"And who are you to decide what's good for her?" Swapnil snapped. "She's old enough to make her own decisions."
"I'm not deciding anything," Ajay countered, "but neither are you. The choice is hers. And as far as I know Mr. Patel, he would never hurt Meera. That's why she's never defied him before. Isn't that right, Meera?"
He turned to her, and Meera sat still, thinking, torn.
Samir's eyes darted between the three of them, sensing the tension.
Both men were now staring at Meera - waiting. It felt like a competition, an unspoken battle for her trust.
But whose voice she would follow… that only time would tell.