“Good to know.”
“Alright, I’ll take my leave now. I just wanted to stop by and greet you.” I wave at him, turning to step out of his cubicle.
“Amyra… one minute.” My feet halt mid-step. I turn around and nod, signalling him to continue.
“If you don’t mind, can we meet outside the workplace for a coffee?” He sounds nervous, and unease creeps in as I try to read his intention.
“Aren’t we already having tons of coffee in the canteen almost every day?” I force a light chuckle, but he doesn’t seem amused.
“I meant… meeting outdoors. If not coffee, then maybe dinner?” The air feels stuck in my throat, and a series of nervous coughs escapes me.
“Please, have some water.” He quickly hands me a bottle, and I gulp down half of it in one go.
“So… is it okay if we meet for dinner?” The determination on his face sends an uncomfortable chill through me, confirming the fear I didn’t want to acknowledge.
“I’m sorry, Karan. I barely have time after work, so I won’t be able to,” I say carefully.
Disappointment flashes across his face before a brief, sincere smile replaces it.
“What about Sunday?”
Oh, shit. How did I forget about Sunday?
“I—I’m not sure. It’s the only day I spend more time with my family,” I stutter, instantly regretting how obvious my disinterest sounds. But isn’t it the right thing to do, being honest?
“Don’t you like spending time with me?” he asks softly, his tone weighed down with dejection. My throat tightens.
“No. It’s not like that. You’re a good friend to me.”
“Then why?”
“Okay, I’ll let you know when I’m available and ready. See you!”
I take a deep breath and walk away before he can respond, unwilling to hear what comes next.
God… does he still love me?I’ve always made sure to treat him as just a friend. So why would he still hold on to feelings for me?
Wait, what if he only meant a casual meeting? Just a friendly hangout?
Yes. That’s possible. Maybe I’m overthinking and assuming too much. I’ll talk to him later. Not now.
To calm my restless mind, I wander around the premises. The craving for coffee resurfaces, so I take the elevator to the lobby. As I’m about to pass the reception, a conversation between two female employees makes me stop in my tracks.
“Did you see the woman who was asking about Reyansh sir’s whereabouts a while ago?”
“Yes, I passed by then.”
“Looks like she’s Reyansh sir’s girlfriend. One of the staff saw them strolling on the seventh floor, hand in hand.”
“What? Is that really true?”
“Yes. They were laughing together, holding hands.”
“Wow. Reyansh sir’s choice is top class, I see.” So, Aditi is here, probably to surprise Reyansh!
The women keep giggling, gossiping about Reyansh and Aditi, while a sharp ache flares in my chest. I step back, slip into the elevator, and hastily press the seventh-floor button. My breathing turns heavy, uneven. The moment the doors slide open, I take long strides to my cubicle and slump into the chair, finally letting myself break down.
Yes, I accepted their relationship. I chose reality over hope. But the ache hasn’t healed, and controlling my emotions feels impossible whenever they surge like this.
