A smile formed on her face when she saw his mother come out of the kitchen with a bowl of sugary curd.

She fed her the delicacy while chanting God’s name and blessing Anokhi.

“Thank you aunty!”

“All the best bache! Achhe se krna sab. Koi pareshaani lage toh Shourya ko bata dena.”

(Do everything well. Tell Shourya if there is some trouble.)

Anokhi nodded and the two started driving towards their office. Anokhi was nervous again. Her leg was bouncing and felt a little dizzy. 

“Hey! Relax! Everything’s going to be fine.”

He said, keeping his hand over hers for a brief second. But that brief touch was enough to ignite a fire in her body. She liked the way his hand felt on hers. A little too much.

Much to Anokhi’s surprise, things went pretty smooth the first day. She had fully expected a fuck up of some sort but nothing happened. Everyone welcomed her and the other new recruits warmly.

Anokhi got to know that the lunch area was common for both the offices. Hers and Shourya’s. He was with his fellow colleagues but he gave her a nod of acknowledgment when she grinned at him.

Things were going really well. Anokhi did face a few issues here and there but nothing very major. 

Her mood today, however, was upset. During lunch time, she had as usual, waved and grinned at Shourya. But this time, instead of acknowledging her, he ignored her.

Shourya was driving them back home but he could notice that something was wrong. She was too quiet. 

“Kuch hua hai kya?”

(Did something happen?)

He asked. She simply shook her head, answering in negative.

“Itni chup chup kyu ho aaj? Kisi ne kuch kaha?”

(Why are you so quiet? Did someone say something?)

“Nhi. Koi mujhe kyu kuch kahega?”

(No. Why would anyone say anything to me?

Shourya frowned at her clipped tone.

“Anokhi? Kya hua hai? You’re different today. Subha tak toh sab thik tha.”

(What happened?...Everything was fine this morning.)

Anokhi crossed her arms in front of her chest and huffed. Shourya looked at her, then back at the road, looked at her once more and focused back on the road.

“Mujhse naaraz ho?”

(You’re upset with me?)

He asked in confusion. Anokhi rolled her eyes and twisted her lips in annoyance.

“Mai hu hi kaun aapse naraaz hone wali?”

(Who am I to get upset with you?)

She said sarcastically and he understood that she was upset with him. But why?”

“Arre par maine kia kya?”

(But what did I do?)

“Aapko nhi pata aapne kya kia?”

(You do not know what you did?)

She asked, narrowing her eyes on him. He shook his head, genuinely confused.

“Mujhe ignore kia aapne. Lunch time pr. Aise saamne se mujhe wave krta hua dekh kr bhi aapne muh mod lia.”

(You ignored me. At lunch. You looked away even after seeing me wave at you.)

She said and Shourya looked confused. He hadn’t even spotted her today.

“Maine dekha nhi tha tumhe. Aaj bheed jyada thi. I thought tum office mai hi ho. I’m sorry maine jaan kr nhi kia.”

(I didn’t see you. There was too much crowd today. I thought you were in office. I’m sorry I didn’t do it intentionally.)

She heard the genuinity in his words and bit her lip. 

“Umm…it’s ok. Maine bhi jyada overreact kr dia. Aur kya farak padta hai agar aapne dekh kr bhi ignore kia ho toh. Kaam krne aate hai. Mujhe entertain krne thodi.”

(I overreacted. And how does it matter even if you did ignore me. You come here to work. Not to entertain me.)

She mumbled, making him frown again. He kept his palm over hers in a comforting manner and asked.

“Sab thik hai na? Aise kyu bol rhi ho?”

(Is everything ok? Why are you saying all this?)

Anokhi looked at their connected hands. Her heartbeat went wild and she quickly nodded.

“I’m fine. I think I’m PMSing.”

She mumbled again and Shourya smiled. A few minutes later, he stopped the car and rushed out, making Anokhi frown. She noticed a supermarket and looked ahead.

Shourya came back 10 minutes later with a bag in his hands. He passed it to her. Anokhi peaked in and saw a lot of chocolates of different brands and flavours.

“Koi ghar aa raha hai kya?”

(Is someone coming home?)

“No. These are for you.”

She looked at him shocked for a full minute, until he chuckled.

“What?”

“You…you got them for me?”

He nodded as if it wasn’t a big deal. Anokhi blushed and hugged the bag to her chest, while grinning up at him. He caught her expressions from the corner of his eye and chuckled.

Shourya heard the opening of a packet and he smiled. She was such a baby sometimes. And that surprisingly, made him protective of her. 

Shourya felt a chocolate being pushed in front of his face. He smiled and shook his head.

“Tum khaao. I don’t like chocolates.”

(You eat.)

Anokhi shrugged as if saying that it was his loss and munched on the delicacy. 

Anokhi was 3 months into probation and today was her company’s 25th anniversary. The company wasn’t holding a grand event but had invited all its employees and the employees of their neighbouring company which also happened to be its oldest partners.

So, both her and Shourya were going to the venue. Anokhi was wearing a saree for the first time.

Shourya felt his eyes travel to her every two minutes. Until today, he had considered her a child because of how she behaved. But today…she looked like a woman. 

The saree, wrapped elegantly around her body, the bangles that made sound every time she moved her hands, the earrings that kissed her cheeks with each slight movement and the little black bindi that enhanced her elegance 10 times, everything made her look so mature and beautiful.

Shourya focused back on the road and reprimanded himself mentally. What was he thinking? She was his bhabhi’s little sister. 

As they reached the venue, the two went separate ways. To their fellow colleagues. Everyone praised Anokhi and Shourya still felt his eyes move towards her every few minutes.

“Kaha lost hai aaj tu? You’ve been zoning out a lot today. Sab thik?”

(Where are you lost today?....All good?)

One of his colleagues asked and he nodded with a smile.

“Just tired. I think I need something to drink. Excuse me.”

He excused himself and moved towards the drinks counter. He ordered himself a non-alcoholic drink, wanting to stay sober because he had to drive.

He was waiting for his drink when he saw a man pour something into one of the drinks. Shourya shook his head. He knew drugs and everything was common in corporate culture.

But his eyes widened when he saw the man give the drugged drink to a waiter and give him some money. Shourya left his drink and followed the waiter.