[Priya's POV {Presentation Day - Evening Time}]
By the time I reach my room, my legs feel like they've turned to stone.
The second the door shuts behind me, I toss my bag onto the chair and sink onto the bed. The room is quiet that feels too loud after a long day. I just sit there for a moment, back against the wall, eyes closed, letting the silence wrap around me like a blanket.
Eventually, I force myself up. There's too much to do. I can't just sit and think not right now.
I gather the clothes I wore yesterday and toss them into a bucket. I wash each piece slowly, my fingers sore, wrists aching from the friction. The water splashes against the tile, and for a while, I let that simple rhythm fill my head.
After I'm done, I take a long shower. The water feels lukewarm against my skin, but it calms me. Like it's washing away the noise and the tension from earlier.
When I step out, I tie my hair in a loose bun and head to the tiny kitchen corner. I chop a few vegetables, boil some rice, and make a quick curry. The smell of mustard seeds and garlic fills the room.
Dinner is quiet. Just me, sitting cross-legged on the floor with my plate balanced on a steel tray. I eat slowly, watching the fan spin above me.
Afterward, I wash the dishes, one by one. The water is cold now. It stings a little, but I welcome it. Finally, I crawl back onto my bed, switching off the main light and keeping just the dim yellow bulb on. My phone is silent. No messages, no calls. Nothing to distract me now.
And so, of course, my thoughts go straight to him.
Aarav sir.
Why did he ask me that? "Do you recognize me?"
I press my lips together, staring at the ceiling. He looked so calm when he asked. And then he smirked like he already knew the answer.
Why would he do that?
But now, the way he kept looking at me during the presentation like he was watching something unfold, it's eating me up inside.
What if he tells someone?
What if he says I bumped into him on purpose? What if he jokes about it to someone in the team? What if they think I did it for attention? God.
I pull the blanket tighter around me, even though the night is warm.
Why is he in the same company? I shut my eyes.
Maybe in some days, he'll forget none of this will matter.But deep down, I know that's a lie. Because if it were nothing... I wouldn't still feel his eyes on me, when I walked out of that room.
[Aarav's POV] –[ 9:00 PM, leaving office]
By the time I step out of the building, the glass doors behind me reflect nothing but tiredness. The night air feels cooler than I expected maybe because I barely noticed the evening pass. We've been in and out of meetings all day, getting everything aligned for Singapore. Decks, Review calls, One-on-ones. Endless suggestions that lead to more changes and more slides.
I loosen the first two buttons of my shirt as I walk to my car. The parking lot is mostly empty now, just a few scattered vehicles under the orange floodlights. My footsteps echo louder than usual.
Once I'm inside the car, I start the engine, letting the AC hum while I adjust the rearview mirror.
As I pull onto the main road, my phone buzzes — Maa.
I put her on speaker. "Hey, Maa."
"Are you still in the office?" she asks, and her voice instantly makes the edge in my day soften. "Just got out," I say, keeping one hand on the wheel. "Leaving now."
"You said you'd be home by 8."
"I know, but the Singapore prep is crazy. We've barely scratched the surface. I'll be home in forty, maybe fifty minutes."
There's a pause.
"I'm waiting come quickly"
I smile a little. "Don't wait. You know I'll eat late anyway."
She says something soft under her breath a half-scolding, half-prayer then hangs up after reminding me to drive slowly near the Sarjapur junction.
As I turn into a quieter road, the traffic easing for a moment, my mind wanders to Priya.
She remember me, I'm sure of it. That little stutter that flicker in her eyes. But why pretend?
And then there's the way she avoided looking at me during the presentation, like she thought I was someone dangerous.
God. Is that what she thinks? Does she really believe I'd use that street collision against her? I don't know why it stings.
Maybe because... that moment stayed with me. Even before I realized who she was, she caught my attention.
Now that I know, now that I've seen the same girl from that street in a conference room filled with professionals it's hard to not... notice.
And harder to ignore the fact that she's clearly trying to forget me.
(Around 10:20 PM)
The moment I turn into the private lane, the noise of the city dies behind me. The gate swings open slowly by guards, and the sight of home greets me like a sigh after a long breath held in.
As I park, I spot the yellow glow from the open curtains in the sitting lounge. Maa's still up. Obviously.
I grab my laptop bag, lock the car, and slowly make my way through the garden path. The scent of jasmine lingers in the air. Peaceful. But my mind? Still spinning.
I step into the main hall.
"Aarav?" Maa calls out from the side sitting area.
I walk in and find her sitting on the plush red couch, barefoot, a shawl around her shoulders, sipping what's probably her third cup of chai. She looks relieved. Tired, but relieved.
"Are you crazy? You took so long?" she scolds gently, rising.
"Meetings, Maa," I say, placing my bag down. "And traffic."
She raises an eyebrow.
I can't help but chuckle.
I walk straight to her and pull her into a hug. She lets out a small surprised breath, but wraps her arms around me like always, rubbing my back slowly.
"I told you not to wait for me," I murmured into her shoulder. She breaks the hug, still holding my arms, and smiles up at me with that unimpressed-mother expression.
"If you say so, will I accept it?"
I chuckle. Of course not.
She turns slightly and calls out, "Sushma, bring water for Aarav!"
We both walk over to the couch and sit. I stretch my legs out for a second, leaning back into the cushions. She immediately switches into her quiet interrogation mode.
"Why didn't you come home for lunch?"
I pause. My mind stumbles through what to say. A second passes then another.
Sushma, our maid, arrives with a glass of water. I take it with a nod.
I drink it slowly, buying time. Once done, I hand it back to her and she walks off quietly.
Maa doesn't drop it. "What happened? I asked you something." I glance sideways at her and clear my throat.
"Work. We're finalizing some proposals for the Singapore client. It got packed today. I ate at the cafeteria."
She squints at me. "You? In the cafeteria?"
A pause.
"No matter how busy you are, you always come home for lunch."
She's right I always do. I look away for a second, tapping my finger on my thigh.
["Then what do I say, Maa? That I was in the cafeteria just to steal glances at a beautiful girl I bumped into 10 days ago? And I spent hours wondering why she refused to recognize me?"]
Before I can think more, Maa's voice cuts in again. "What are you thinking so much?"
I blink and shake my head quickly. "Nothing. I'm just hungry, Maa. Let's talk after dinner, okay?"
She sighs but nods, getting up to walk toward the kitchen. "Okay, I am leaving you today but this shouldn't happen again."
I smile. I might be able to dodge questions for now but not for long.
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To be continued........
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