The Gmail tab blinked - 6 Unread.
One spam from a sketchy crypto thing, one mass invite to a webinar titled 'Unlocking Passive Income in Your Twenties' (instant delete), and... a new one.
Subject: Consultation Inquiry: Managerial Services Opportunity - BrightHalo PR
Srushti blinked.
"Eh," she mumbled.
Ishani, now sprawled on the floor doing what looked like influencer-level stretching, glanced up. "Kya hua?" (What happened?)
"There's this... email. From a PR firm. Like, actual PR. BrightHalo."
"Wait, BrightHalo BrightHalo?" Shifa sat up, attention snapping into place. "They're legit. Like celebrity-level legit."
Srushti opened the mail and skimmed it. Then slowed down. Then reread the entire thing from the beginning.
We came across your LinkedIn via your coordination work on the UrbanBlend influencer brunch campaign, and were impressed by your proactive execution and professional communication style. We're reaching out regarding a confidential opportunity to consult on personal brand management for one of our key clients. We're specifically looking for someone discreet, agile, and emotionally intelligent. If this is something you'd be open to discussing, please let us know your availability for a preliminary call this week.
- BrightHalo Talent Division
She stared at it.
Shifa leaned in, reading over her shoulder. "Wait, they reached out to you?"
"Dude. This is spam, right?" Srushti said, eyes still locked on the screen. "This sounds fake."
Ishani crawled over like a gossip-hungry lizard. "Nahi yaar, check the domain." (Nah bro)
Srushti hovered her cursor over the sender. No Gmail. It was an actual company domain. BrightHalo.co.in
"Okay, what if someone is catfishing me into an unpaid internship?"
"Then they researched the UrbanBlend campaign from last semester, which, honestly, even we forgot about," Shifa pointed out. "That's effort."
Srushti just sat there, blinking at the screen, fingers frozen over the keys.
"You gonna reply?" Ishani asked, nudging her with one foot.
"I- I don't know," she muttered. "Like... I've dreamed of something like this. But I didn't think it'd happen now. This year. Like this."
Shifa took a sip of tea, completely unfazed. "Well, babe. Congrats. You've officially left the side hustle chat."
............................................................
Srushti scrolled down the email again, as if new words might appear and tell her what to do.
And then she saw it.
A tiny line at the bottom of the email signature:
Client: A.S.
Her stomach flipped.
"Guys..."
Both Ishani and Shifa turned at once, sensing the shift in her voice.
"There's a client initial," she said, swallowing.
Shifa leaned closer. "Kya likha hai?" (What's written?)
Srushti pointed. "Just two letters. A. S."
YOU ARE READING
Two Different Worlds
RomanceShe wanted a career. She got a crush she couldn't afford. Srushti Rao is a final-year BTech student in Mumbai with a head full of spreadsheets, side hustles, and soft dreams of building her own PR empire. Smart, organized, and emotionally allergic t...
Part 1: Inbox (Un)Expected
Start from the beginning
