Beyond the Stars, Between Us.

"All I Want" – Kodaline
"All I want is nothing more,
To hear you knocking at my door..."

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Author's POV

The tension in the boardroom was palpable. Umang forced herself to maintain a professional demeanor, but inside, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Her nails pressed faint crescents into her palm beneath the table, the only sign of the chaos inside.

 Rakshit's presence was unexpected—almost surreal. She vividly remembered that he had once chosen to pursue the NEET examination, yet now his qualifications stated that he had cleared IIT. Confusion clouded her thoughts. She had spent so long trying to move past him, and now fate had cruelly placed him before her once again. Why the hell did he have to apply for this position—her PA—someone who would remain by her side throughout office hours?

Rakshit, too, was struggling to compose himself. He had imagined meeting Umang a thousand times in his mind, but never like this. Never in a setting where they had to pretend to be strangers, where personal emotions had to be buried beneath professional formalities. Only the slight tightening of his jaw and the restless tapping of his thumb against the folder betrayed the storm beneath.

Taking a deep breath, Umang pushed aside the storm raging within her and focused on the task at hand.

"Mr. Sangtani," one of the senior interviewers began, flipping through his resume. "You have an impressive background. Let's start by discussing your previous experience."

Rakshit cleared his throat, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I have worked at NRSC for over five years, specializing in strategic growth regarding remote sensing and satellite data acquisition."

Umang, however, wasn't interested in standard responses. She leaned forward, her gaze sharp. "You previously worked at NRSC, a branch of ISRO. That's quite a leap to applying as the PA to the Director of ISAC. Why the change?"

Rakshit met her gaze head-on. "I believe growth isn't limited to one role. My experience at NRSC has equipped me with strategic and organizational skills that would be valuable in this position."

She nodded curtly and flipped through the papers. "If that's the case, tell me—how do you handle high-pressure situations? Suppose an urgent matter arises, and I'm unavailable. How would you proceed?"

Rakshit didn't flinch. "I would assess the situation based on priority and past precedents. If necessary, I would consult the advisory team before making a decision. However, I understand the gravity of this role and would ensure the Director remains informed."

Umang tapped her pen against the table. "And confidentiality? This branch of ISRO handles classified data. What ensures your discretion?"

His expression remained unreadable. "I understand the weight of classified information. At NRSC, I handled satellite data security and operations. I've signed multiple NDAs, and I take them seriously."

She couldn't help but be impressed. He was answering every tough question with ease. The interview continued, with Umang throwing every challenge at him, yet Rakshit navigated through them effortlessly.

Finally, it was time to conclude. One of the panelists turned to Umang. "Ms. Pahuja, do you have any more questions?"

A silence stretched between them. Umang swallowed, gathering her resolve.

"No," she said firmly. "I believe we have everything we need."

Rakshit's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes held something deep—something unresolved.