Love Rekindled - AdiYa FF

Chapter 5: Where do we stand?

A couple of weeks had passed, stretching on like a thin wire pulled taut between Aditya and Zoya. In the bustling corridors of Geospace Technologies, they maneuvered around each other with calculated precision, avoiding direct contact whenever possible. Meetings were a careful dance—Zoya would slip into the room just after Aditya had settled in, her eyes fixed on her laptop as if the glowing screen held the answers to the universe. Aditya, on the other hand, would feign deep concentration, tapping away at his notes, though he was acutely aware of her presence.

The conference room buzzed with the low hum of chatter as Aditya's team settled into their seats in the morning hours, eyeing the digital screen displaying the agenda. Aditya leaned against the table, arms crossed, exuding an air of authority. Zoya entered with a sharp stride, her confident presence commanding attention.

"Let's get started," Aditya said, glancing at Zoya. "We're behind schedule on the new app launch, and I need everyone on board for this discussion."

Zoya's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps if you'd taken my suggestions on the user interface seriously last week, we wouldn't be in this position."

Aditya's jaw tightened. "This isn't about personal preferences, Zoya. We need to prioritize functionality over aesthetics."

"Is that your final say?" Zoya shot back, her voice laced with irritation. "Because I've seen our users gravitate towards intuitive designs, which, by the way, I've repeatedly pointed out."

"Intuitive designs won't save us if the backend isn't stable," Aditya retorted, his tone sharp. "We need a solid foundation before we can think about any 'intuitive' features." He drew quotes on air, "With a foundation so weak, things ought to get shaky a lot. Maybe, you might take time to understand that."

Everyone exchanged glances, a silent consensus forming as they sensed the tension simmering beneath the surface like a pot on the verge of boiling over. Yash, sitting nearby, discreetly shifted in his seat, feeling like a confused spectator at a tennis match—only he didn't even know who was serving. Was he the only one left scratching his head about what exactly these two were arguing about, or was everyone else equally bewildered?

Imraan, already looking as if he'd seen a horror movie, blinked rapidly, as if hoping the tension would magically disappear. Meanwhile, Nisha was furiously taking notes, though it seemed more like she was keeping score on who was winning the argument—maybe she'd start a betting pool on the side. And then there was Pooja, wide-eyed and practically vibrating with curiosity, as if her job security hinged on figuring out the secret drama unfolding in front of her.

"Listen, I am just talking about the project and I hope we are not just rehashing our bad equation!" Zoya challenged, her voice rising slightly.

Aditya clenched his fists, the room's air thick with unresolved emotions. "This is professional, Zoya! You need not teach me about that. I am just trying to make things work."

"Right, because that's what it's always been about—making it work," she shot back, sarcasm dripping from her words. "And it's funny hearing you talk about making things work!"

Pooja, sitting next to Yash, leaned closer, whispering, "Do you think they're actually talking about the project?"

"Not a chance," Yash replied, eyes wide as he watched the exchange, "They kind of look like Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut in the opening scene of Tanu Weds Manu Returns."

Zoya took a deep breath, her expression softening for a moment. "I'm just trying to do what's best for the project, Aditya. But if you're not willing to consider all perspectives, we'll never get anywhere."

"Then let's find a way to combine our approaches. We can make things work." Aditya said, his voice lowering, the spark of frustration flickering. "But it starts with mutual respect for each other's expertise."