The Remaining Page

THE REMAINING PAGE

Disha leaned back in her chair, the glow of her laptop illuminating her frustration. “Riya, I can’t believe we’re actually considering this. How did our publishing house end up in such a dire situation?”

Riya was sitting on a wooden table, looking at some manuscript. “We’re going to have to make a bold move. We’ve tried everything else. If we want to save Sunlit Press, we need a bestselling author. One that’ll put us back on the map.”

"Sure, and what do we have? A meager budget and no time. How are we supposed to convince someone with real talent to work for us?" Disha asked with frustration.

Riya nodded and replied, "I know. I even tried reaching out to our old writers, but everyone is avoiding us after hearing about our situation." She walked closer to Disha and added, "But one guy did contact me via email. He claims to be the author of The Lost and Forgotten and is willing to publish his new book with us."

Disha’s eyes lit up with hope. "Really? Why didn’t you mention this earlier? We could use his story and get it published, right?"

Riya sighed and hesitated before responding, "At first, I thought the same. But..."

"But?" Disha urged her to continue.

Riya frowned. "No one has ever seen or spoken to The Lost and Forgotten author. Why is he suddenly reaching out to us and offering help? It feels... strange."

Disha said, "So what, Riya? I’ve heard whispers about his brilliance. If we can meet him… Maybe if we show him the love we put into our works, he’ll see the potential of our collaboration.”

Encouraged by Disha’s optimism, the sisters decided to take a leap of faith. They replied to his email, suggesting a meeting spot and time, ready to go on this unexpected adventure.

“Hello, ladies! I’m Harsha,” he said, extending his hand, his voice smooth as silk. “And I’m the author of ‘The Lost and Forgotten’.”

Disha’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re Harsha Malhotra? The one who wrote the bestseller?”

Riya’s excitement was palpable. “That book sold millions! You’re a genius! We could really use your expertise.”

Harsha chuckled, a twinkle in his eye. “Ah, but I’m just a humble man with a few unfinished stories in my mind. How about we collaborate? I can provide you with an upcoming novel that will take the world by storm.”

The sisters exchanged glances; the hope in Riya’s eyes sparked enthusiasm in Disha’s heart. “That would be fantastic,” Disha said, her genuine excitement spilling over. “When can we expect the first draft?”

Harsha stroked his chin like a sage contemplating a great prophecy. “How about three months? I promise you won’t regret it.”

The sisters could hardly contain their enthusiasm. With a contract hastily drawn up and signatures duly signed, Harsha left: a beacon of hope in the form of a man. The clock began ticking, and the pressure mounted as Riya and Disha began brainstorming marketing strategies for the book that didn’t yet exist. As the deadline approached, Harsha sent them snippets, each more riveting than the last, accompanied by vague explanations about his writing process.

“Here’s a teaser! You’ll love it!” he wrote, filling their inboxes. They devoured each line, convinced they were on the edge of a breakthrough.

It was during a particularly chaotic meeting that Riya noticed something off about Harsha. “Do you think we should check his credentials?” Riya asked one evening, tossing a crumpled paper into the waste bin, frustrated by another printing mishap.

Disha rolled her eyes. “Riya, we can’t start doubting someone who has achieved so much. He just needs time!”

Every time Harsha visited the publishing house for a meeting, he had a way of charming the sisters with his smooth talk. He could easily steer any conversation away from his novel, and instead, he filled the room with laughter, anecdotes, and witty remarks. His humbleness and humor made him instantly likable, and soon, both Riya and Disha found themselves trusting him completely.

Over time, Riya grew closer to Harsha. His friendly nature and unwavering support during their tough times felt genuine. She started to see him as more than just a potential collaborator; he had become a friend and perhaps even something more.

Disha, however, had always been the cautious one. While she appreciated Harsha’s charm, something about his evasiveness regarding The Lost and Forgotten nagged at her. Determined to ensure the publishing house’s integrity, she decided to dig deeper into Harsha’s past.

She began by trying to verify his claim as the author of The Lost and Forgotten. Every lead she followed about the book's origins seemed to hit a dead end. No interviews, no public appearances, no verifiable proof that Harsha had ever been involved with the book beyond his claim. Frustrated but undeterred, Disha shifted her focus.

She started researching Harsha’s timeline around the book’s release. She poured through records, news articles, and even contacted a few insiders in the publishing world. What she uncovered shocked her—Harsha had no connection to the book at the time of its release. In fact, he was working a completely unrelated job during that period.

The realization hit Disha like a thunderbolt: Harsha wasn’t the author of The Lost and Forgotten. He had posed as the writer, possibly to take advantage of their vulnerable publishing house.

Disha now faced a dilemma. Should she confront Harsha directly and risk upsetting Riya, who had grown fond of him? Or should she gather more evidence to unmask the truth? One thing was certain—she needed to protect their publishing house, even if it meant uncovering secrets that could shatter the fragile trust they had built.

“Riya,” Disha finally confronted her sister one evening, “I think Harsha is lying. He’s not who he says he is.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Riya snapped, momentarily taken aback. “He’s wonderful. He’s helping us!”

“Is he helping us, or is he just using us?” Disha countered, her voice rising. “What if we’re risking everything on a charlatan?”

The tension hung thick as Riya remained firm in her faith in Harsha, while Disha grew more determined to uncover the truth.

One afternoon, she decided to confront him. “Harsha,” she said, crossing her arms, “you need to tell us the truth about ‘The Lost and Forgotten.’ Are you the author or not?”

“Of course I am! What’s this about?” Harsha replied, feigning innocence.

“Stop lying! I know the truth!” Disha shouted, her voice echoing in the small room.

Riya stepped between them. “Can’t we just talk about this calmly?”

“Calmly?” Disha was incredulous. “He’s been lying to you, Riya! Do you want to risk everything we’ve built here for a fantasy?”

“Enough!” Harsha interjected, his expression shifting from playful to serious. “I didn’t want to deceive you. I thought if I could write like the author, you’d give me a chance.”

“So you’re not the author?” Riya asked, disappointment creeping into her voice.

“I’m not. But I can write! Just give me a chance to prove myself!” he pleaded.

Disha, still fuming, raised an eyebrow. “And if you can’t?”

“Then I’ll leave. No harm done,” he shrugged, trying to lighten the mood, but it fell flat.

“Why should we trust you?” Disha pressed.

Riya sighed, looking between them. “Harsha, if you truly believe in your writing, why not try without pretending to be someone else?"

“Then I’ll leave. No harm done,” Harsha said with a shrug, attempting to ease the tension, though his words did little to lighten the mood.

“Why should we trust you?” Disha asked sharply, her eyes narrowing.

Riya sighed, glancing between Harsha and her sister. “Harsha, if you truly believe in your writing, why not approach us as yourself instead of pretending to be someone else?”

Harsha took a deep breath before responding, “You think I lied just for attention? I’ve knocked on countless doors, offering my real work, but nobody gave me a chance. Even you considered me only because of that lie. If I’d been honest from the start, would you have even read my email?”

The sisters exchanged guilty glances, unsure how to respond. Disha finally broke the silence. “Look, it’s not that we don’t believe in new authors, but you know our situation. Our publishing house is hanging by a thread. We can’t afford to take risks right now.”

Harsha looked at them earnestly. “I understand your position, but I’m not asking for blind trust. I promise to submit my manuscript before the deadline, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations or causes any issues, I’ll take full responsibility. Just give me this one chance to prove myself.”

Riya softened, sensing his sincerity, while Disha remained hesitant but thoughtful. The room fell into a tense silence as they contemplated his plea. Finally, Riya spoke, “Alright, Harsha. We’ll give you this chance. Don’t let us down.”

Harsha nodded, determination shining in his eyes. “Thank you. I won’t disappoint you.”

As days passed, Harsha began to write. He poured himself into his new story, revealing his true talent. Riya watched him work, admiration growing for the real man behind the façade, while Disha kept a watchful eye, hoping for the best but bracing for the worst.

When Harsha presented his manuscript, it was clear that his words had a spark, a unique voice that captivated them both. Riya was thrilled, while Disha felt a sense of relief wash over her. With a newfound trust, they launched his book under Harsha’s name, and it became a success, saving Pages of Time in the process.

In the end, Harsha became a beloved part of their publishing house and family. As they celebrated their triumph, Riya found herself laughing at one of Harsha’s witty remarks, while Disha playfully rolled her eyes. As they celebrated, the sisters realized that sometimes the greatest stories come from the messiest situations.

“So, what’s the next book about?” Disha asked.

“Let’s just say, it’s about sisters, secrets, and a whole lot of humor,” he grinned, and the three of them burst into laughter, knowing that the truth had set them all free.

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