“I am not.” She leans closer to me conspiratorially.
“Last week he rejected an entire manuscript because he thought you wouldn't like the book."
“That’s not what happened.”
“It is exactly what happened.”
I look between them. Then at Aditya.
“So you’re rejecting people based on my likings now?”
He sighs. “I’m surrounded by bullies.”
Rhea pats his shoulder. “You deserve it.”
I can’t help smiling. The tension I felt earlier dissolves quietly somewhere along the way.
Aditya gestures toward the lunch bag. “What did you bring?”
I hand it to him.
“Paneer chilli.”
His eyes widen slightly. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“You made this?”
I look away, “I know how to cook, Aditya.” I whisper, "Besides, I wanted to try...for you."
“Thank you,” he whisper as he steps closer and using his thumb he moves my face so that I meet his eyes, "you don't have to do this, I like cooking for you."
"Oh, this is very temporary, Mr. Gupta, I do not enjoy cooking anyways." He chuckles and guides us inside his office. As soon as we are seated on the bean bags placed in the corner of his office he opens the container.
Aditya takes a bite. Then another. He looks up at me. “This is really good.”
Relief floods through me so quickly I almost laugh. “Better than seven?”
“It's always much better.”
I look at him as he eats peacefully, offering bites to me in between which I deny because I don't seem to have my appetite. “You seem to like her.” I whisper.
Aditya frowns, "who?" He says mid-bite.
"Rhea," I mention.
“She’s a good editor.” He takes another bite. “Also very annoying.”
I lean at the wall behind us, "You laughed a lot.”
He pauses. Then looks up at me slowly. “Were you jealous?”
The question catches me off guard. “Of course not.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire. He raises an eyebrow. “You look like you are two seconds away from challenging her to a dual."
“That is not true.”
