Vineet is a well-known businessman in the tech world and owns a company called CodeCraft Solutions. He’s an engineer who wanted to start his own business—and he did exactly that. Now, he has partnered with Ruhana’s company, and they are working on some projects together. He’s glad to have met Ruhana after a long span of twenty years. However, having met her, he feels there is a significant reason behind the change in Ruhana’s personality. She’s no longer the same girl from their childhood. It has been six months since they reconnected, and now he’s determined to find out the reason for the change in her demeanour.

He is stunned by the sudden change in Ruhana. The girl who had been soft-spoken, loving, and caring since their childhood is now loud, outspoken, and frustrated. She’s started keeping secrets from him, and it hurts him the most. Of course, the bond between them remains the same, yet Vineet feels a distance from Ruhana. He just can’t get rid of the feeling of unrest and helplessness. She’s not ready to listen to him. He understands that everyone defines their own work ethics, and Ruhana is just abiding by hers.

Vineet feels helpless as Ruhana leaves the house without telling him the details of the meeting she’s going to. He feels that there’s more to the story than she has told him. Things are complicated, and so is her life. He wants to change her beliefs, and he knows he will need to work hard for it. He will unravel the truth that she is trying to hide, and he’ll help her heal from the past.

Amidst all these thoughts about his childhood friend, he reaches Hotel Hilton, where he meets with a business colleague. He is busy for the next two hours, and when he comes out with his friend, he has a smile on his face. This colleague is Abhay Mehra, who knows him very well. They’ve been working together for the past five years. Understanding that something is bothering Vineet, Abhay invites him for coffee. Vineet is unable to deny his offer, and they head into the Hilton café, where Abhay orders two cappuccinos.

“Vineet, why do you look so tense?” he asks, his tone laced with concern.

“I am just burdened with work. I have to get to the office, and then there’s another meeting in an hour, Abhay,” Vineet tries to convince him.

“Are you sure, Vineet? I know we’re colleagues, but we are friends too. We’ve been working together for so many years, and I know something is bothering you. If you like, you can share it with me,” Abhay insists, confident that Vineet is upset about something other than business.

“Abhay, thank you for your concern, but it’s nothing. I am just worried about things happening around me,” Vineet says with a smile.

“I hope you’re not lying to me, are you?” Abhay peers at him, and Vineet nods reassuringly.

Vineet convinces Abhay that it’s just work stress and that he will be all right. Abhay is convinced, and the two friends chit-chat over coffee before parting ways.

*****

Ruhana is in another meeting with her friend, Barkha. She is presenting her pointers and emphasizing the importance of each point. Barkha wants to stop her from stressing why a deal with their company would be beneficial for the clients. Barkha sighs—she just wants Ruhana to present her proposal and let the clients decide if they’re interested in working with them. But she decides otherwise, remembering their earlier trifle.

They entered the hotel while discussing the points they were going to present. Ruhana emphasized that they must secure the deal by any means necessary. On the other hand, Barkha felt otherwise, believing that if they had worked hard and if the clients liked their points and quotations, the deal would naturally fall into their hands.

“Barkha, we need to define everything and make Mr. Kaushik realize that we are offering them the right thing.” Ruhana argued, her tone firm.

“Ruhana, there is no need to do that. We have worked hard; we have discussed for hours about this and then made the quotation. Let’s just present it and let Mr. Kaushik decide,” Barkha explained.

“I know we have worked hard, but we need to emphasize it. Otherwise, they might find another deal better. We need to get this, Barkha. You know I don’t like to back off or be left behind,” Ruhana said bluntly.

“That would be like coaxing them, Ruhana.”

“Yeah, they can take it however they like, but I want you to know that I need this deal, anyhow.”

Ruhana declared, and Barkha sighed deeply. She knew there was no use in explaining it to her. Ruhana would do things her way. She wouldn’t understand anyway. Explaining or emphasizing could lead them to lose the deal, which the clients might not like.

“Now, don’t lose track of time, Barkha. I know you feel that what I am doing is wrong. But let it be. We cannot let anyone else take over the hard work we have done. I am stubborn, and I want this deal, that’s it! I hope it’s clear to you. I have lost everything, but I can’t let my business, my hard work, suffer,” Ruhana declared her point for the last time as they headed into the conference hall, as directed by the hotel manager.

Barkha comes out of her trance and finds that Ruhana has explained everything, and there’s another person presenting his deal. She notices that Ruhana is smiling for no reason. She leans toward her.

“Ruhana, you finally did what you wanted. But please, let others explain. You know, you cannot get everything every time,” Barkha attempts to convince her friend one more time.

“I know, and I also know how to get everything. Barkha, I cannot wait for the right time to do the right things. I just want to make it right at the moment. And I know Mr. Kaushik won’t reject our deal,” Ruhana smiles.

“Ruhana, what did you do?” Barkha glares at her.

“I did nothing, but I have explained things so well, and the offer is so attractive that Mr. Kaushik won’t be able to refuse us,” Ruhana replies.

Her smile is different than usual, and Barkha knows that she has planned something to secure this deal. Now that it is done, she can’t take back the action. She sighs deeply.

“Ruhana, you’re going the wrong way. I don’t know when you will understand this. These ways will do you no good, Ruu,” Barkha says dejectedly.

Ruhana doesn’t pay heed to her friend. All her concentration is on Mr. Kaushik, and she believes that she will certainly secure the deal.

It’s just a matter of two hours.

*****

Vineet reaches his office and settles into his cabin. He orders the peon to get a strong coffee for him. He is mentally tired. He should be happy right now—he has bagged the deal—but he’s upset because of Ruhana.

They’ve been apart for twenty years, and now, she has completely changed. It’s something that Vineet doesn’t like about her. He doesn’t know what to do or how to make her realise her mistake.

Though he feels that she’s not entirely wrong, her ethics are. He believes that hard work gets you everything you desire; you do not need to snatch it from someone who is deserving. He’s in a trance when the peon knocks on the door, and he allows him in. The peon serves the coffee and leaves.

Vineet stares into nothingness until an idea strikes him. He can track her social media presence. He checks out her Facebook profile and finds a certain account that consistently comments on Ruhana’s posts. He opens the profile—it belongs to a young girl named Aanya Bisht. He thinks for a few seconds and types a message to the girl. Within a few minutes, his phone beeps with a message alert, and the response from the girl leaves him surprised.