Manav:You are not there.
Me:You’re hallucinating.
Manav:Am I?
I paused mid-typing, confused but smiling like an idiot.
Me:You need to sleep.
Manav:I need to see you.
Me:We’re meeting on Saturday for Dadi’s birthday.
Manav:I can’t wait that long. Tomorrow?
Me:I have meetings until noon. Is it urgent?
Manav:See you in the evening?
Me:Place?
Manav:Come home.
I stared at the screen before my fingers finally typed back.
Me:Okay. Tomorrow. Evening. Home.
Manav:Don’t eat. I’ll cook dinner.
Me:Alright. I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow. Gotta go.
Manav:Good night, cheeseball.
Me:Good night.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying our conversation in my head. Tomorrow would bring its chaos, and for once, I wasn’t dreading it.
23 ♥?Manav
“Do you have any idea how many coffees you’ve had since morning?” Kartik stormed into my office, his eyes narrowing as he took in the chaos. “Holy hell—You didn’t leave the office last night?”
“Mmhmm,” I murmured, my fingers flying across the keyboard without sparing him a glance.
“Are you out of your mind?” He planted both hands firmly on my desk, leaning forward.
“Don’t you have some actual work to do, Mr. Head of Operations, instead of bothering me?” I shot back, still focused on my screen.
“Thisismy job—telling you when you’re driving everyone, including me, insane.”
“Maybe I should rewrite your job description.” I muttered.
“Manav Oberoi, stop whatever it is you’re doing right now and go home.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why can’t you just live like a normal person for once?” He said firmly, closing my laptop and slumping into the chair across from me. “Manav… go home. Take some rest.”
“I’m fine,” I said, reaching for the coffee cup.
