Chapter 3: The Office Vacation and a New Style
The company vacation began two weeks later at a resort outside the city. The programme included team-building games, a cultural evening, a group dinner, and the fashion presentation. Arjun packed his usual clothes along with the pastel-pink outfit he had chosen with Rhea.
On the first day, he wore a simple blue kurta with white trousers for the informal activities. Dev spotted him near the reception and raised his eyebrows theatrically. “Arjun Varma, I see you've arrived with a new wardrobe.”
“It's one outfit, Dev,” Arjun replied. “Don't make it sound like I've opened a fashion empire.”
Dev laughed, then added sincerely, “It suits you. And don't worry—I'll make sure people remember the event is about style, not teasing.”
During the afternoon activities, Arjun noticed that his initial nervousness eased whenever he focused on the task at hand. Some colleagues were surprised by his choice, while others simply complimented the colours. Ishita reminded everyone that participants were there to experiment, not to judge one another.
That evening, Rhea arrived to help the fashion participants prepare. She suggested that Arjun try a second look for the final presentation: a lavender salwar suit with a matching dupatta. It was more traditional than his first outfit, but still simple and comfortable.
“Would you like to try it?” she asked.
Arjun considered the suggestion. He remembered how anxious he had been at the salon, then how much he had learned. “Yes. Let's try it—but I'd like to see the full look before I decide.”
Rhea helped him change, arranged the dupatta, and styled his hair in a soft, tidy shape. She chose understated makeup that complemented the lavender fabric rather than overwhelming it. The transformation took patience, and Arjun learned to stand still while the final details were adjusted.
When he stepped out, Ishita smiled. “That colour works beautifully, and the whole look is very balanced.” Dev gave an exaggerated bow. “Ladies and gentlemen, the most unexpected fashion star at Silverline!”
Arjun laughed along with the others. The moment mattered because he was laughing freely rather than bracing himself for ridicule. He had learned that the outfit did not need to be a test of his worth; it was simply a style he had agreed to explore.
At the presentation, he walked across the stage under the lights. The lavender fabric moved gently as he crossed the platform, and the audience applauded. Meera watched from the front row, pleased to see that the event had stayed respectful and that Arjun had approached it with care.
Afterward, Meera spoke with him. “You handled the presentation well. What did you learn from the experience?”
Arjun thought before answering. “I learned that I had made a lot of assumptions about clothes without ever understanding them. I also learned that people deserve respect whether their style is familiar to us or not.”
“That's a useful lesson,” Meera said. “Just remember that your participation was your choice, and the original conduct matter still has to be handled on its own.”
The next morning, Arjun walked through the resort garden in his usual casual clothes. He felt more relaxed than he had at the start of the trip. He was still the same person, but he had discovered that trying something unfamiliar did not automatically erase his identity. It simply gave him another experience to understand.
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