Wednesday. 4:29pm.
The cabin door opened.
Without a knock.
Without permission.
Without hesitation.
Anika stepped in.
The sound wasn't loud.
But it was enough.
Vihaan's pen paused mid-signature.
Just for a fraction.
Then continued.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't noticed.
Like this-
Was normal.
It wasn't.
"Sir."
Her voice.
Even. Controlled.
Too controlled.
He finished signing.
Closed the file.
Set the pen down with deliberate precision.
Only then-
Did he look up.
Straight at her.
"Ms. Sharma," he said, tone neutral, "knock karna bhool gayi aap?"
A pause.
Measured.
Then-
"Aaj zarurat nahi lagi," she replied.
No apology.
No hesitation.
Just-
A statement.
Silence stretched.
Thin.
Sharp.
"Something urgent?" he asked.
Already distancing.
Already placing the line back where it belonged.
She took a step forward.
Not enough to invade.
But closer than required.
"Lagta nahi," she said calmly.
A beat.
"Kyuki aaj kal bula nahi rahe aap."
There it was.
Not a question.
Not a complaint.
An observation.
Placed like it didn't matter.
It did.
His expression didn't change.
Didn't harden.
Didn't soften.
But something in his gaze-
Adjusted.
Slightly.
"Kaam ho raha hai," he said simply.
"Good," she nodded.
Then-
"Toh unnecessary interruptions band ho gaye?"
Sharp.
Clean.
Deliberate.
That landed.
He leaned back slightly.
Not retreating.
Not defensive.
Just-
Settling into it.
"Kal tak aapko interruptions se problem thi," he said quietly.
"Aaj maine band kar diye."
A pause.
"Phir concern kya hai, Ms. Sharma?"
There.
He placed it back.
Right where she couldn't ignore it.
Silence.
Not empty.
Waiting.
For a second-
Just a second-
Her composure slipped.
Not visibly.
Not fully.
But enough.
"Concern?" she repeated softly.
Like she was considering the word.
Weighing it.
Then-
Her gaze lifted back to his.
Steady.
Unwavering.
"Concern yeh hai," she said slowly,
"ki aapka behaviour consistent nahi hai."
Professional words.
Personal weight.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Gone before it could be named.
"Interesting," he murmured.
That word again.
Lower this time.
Closer.
Because now-
This wasn't entirely professional anymore.
"And tumhe consistency kab se matter karne lagi?" he asked.
That wasn't about work.
Her gaze didn't waver.
This time-deliberately.
"Jab se change noticeable ho gaya," she said.
Clean.
Controlled.
But not unaffected.
Silence settled again.
Heavier this time.
Leaning.
Vihaan stood.
Slow.
Measured.
Unhurried.
The distance between them shifted.
Not gone.
But no longer safe.
"Kaunsa change?" he asked.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
And this-
This was the moment.
Where she could step back.
Where she should step back.
Where this could still stay-
Professional.
She didn't.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side.
Then relaxed.
"Aapka," she said.
Just that.
And suddenly-
there was nothing left in the room that felt like work.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Vihaan's gaze dropped.
Just for a second.
Not away.
But-
Closer.
Then back to her eyes.
Holding.
"Tumhe farq pad raha hai?" he asked.
There it was.
Direct.
Uncovered.
No distance left to hide behind.
Silence.
Heavy.
Alive.
Anika didn't answer.
Not immediately.
Because for the first time-
There wasn't a clean answer ready.
Her breath slowed.
Then steadied.
But she didn't look away.
And somehow-
That was answer enough.
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TO BE CONTINUE..
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Hey, My Cute Little Munchkins ❤️
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