9:00 AM in the morning
The traffic buzz was yet to start near Cyber tower, Ishani was in her car, when a text arrived from Ananya.
"Will be late. Going to Cousin's"
Ishani replied with an 'Ok' when she thought about her family too. Its been long since she visited them.
The traffic signal turned green as Ishani stepped onto the gas.
In a beautiful Turquiose kurti she entered the room and settled in her cubicle.
"How will I breathe? You took it all away", Saikiran texted her
A sly smile spread on her face. She replied back,
"Try breathing through your ego. That's still oversized."
A second later, her screen lit up again.
"You wound me, woman. But at least I'll die with your image in this kurti burned into my memory."
Ishani chuckled, shaking her head. "Such a drama queen."
"Only for you."
She couldn't help it—her laughter escaped before she could muffle it. A few heads turned in curiosity, but she waved them off with a subtle gesture.
Just then, the office door swung open. Ananya stepped in, slightly breathless, with her usual oversized tote slung over one shoulder and an unmistakable excitement in her eyes.
"Ishani!" she chirped, walking over quickly. "Sorry I'm late. My cousin dropped me off!"
Before Ishani could respond, a second pair of footsteps echoed behind Ananya.
And there he was.
Dhiraj.
Tall, easy-going posture, still wearing that perpetual half-smile that could mean anything or nothing. He was dressed in a black casual shirt, sleeves rolled up, faded jeans—like he'd walked out of a Lifestyle ad and into their weekday reality.
Ishani blinked, momentarily thrown.
Her eyes immediately sought Saikiran.
His expression had hardened.
Dhiraj didn't seem any more prepared. His surprise was evident—he clearly hadn't expected his cousin to be part of this team.
"Hey, how are you?" he asked, casual but clipped.
"I'm good. You?" Ishani returned, voice formal, eyes flicking between the two men.
"You two know each other?" Ananya asked, her earlier cheer dimming with confusion.
"Yeah," Dhiraj said with a slight nod, "our company signed a deal with this team. Met her during that."
He turned to Ananya. "I'll be outside in the cafeteria. Come when you're done."
He looked at Saikiran, with a stern face.
And turned towards Ishani, with a polite smile, he removed himself from the situation—graceful, but there was tension in his retreat.
Saikiran hadn't moved. His stance was still, coffee untouched in his hand. Not a trace of his usual teasing warmth. His jaw was locked tight.
"My cousin… he actually cleared an interview here," Ananya said softly to Ishani, leaning in. "He's serving his notice period now. He'll be joining the System team."
Ishani stilled.
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed.
Koyel: Code blue coming soon.
Ishani's fingers tightened around her phone. Her gaze drifted toward the cafeteria window where Dhiraj now stood, talking to someone over a call.
She took a slow breath.
People changed jobs all the time. It wasn't a big deal.
So why did it feel like the tectonic plates beneath her life had just shifted?
Saikiran got up from his seat after seeing Ishani's pale face.
He texted her:
"Meet me in the staircase."
A minute passed. Then two.
Ishani finally stood, quietly making her way through the corridor. Her heart thudded, echoing louder than her heels against the sterile floor. When she reached the emergency staircase, Saikiran was already there—leaning against the railing, arms folded, but his posture was anything but calm.
As soon as the heavy metal door swung shut behind her, he moved.
In two steps, he was in front of her. He didn't speak—he just pulled her close and kissed her.
Firm. Needy. Like a dam had broken.
She gasped softly against his mouth, momentarily stunned.
"We're at work," she whispered, gently placing a hand on his chest, trying to steady them both.
He stepped back at once, guilty. "Sorry. I couldn't resist."
His eyes were glassy, dangerously close to breaking, but he blinked it away. Always so restrained.
"You look tense, Sai," Ishani said softly, brushing her thumb over the corner of his mouth. "What's wrong?"
"The way he challenges, every single time. It enrages me from within.", Saikiran confessed.
"Ignoring him would be best in my opinion. By the way, Ananya told me that he is being hired by the System team next month onwards", Ishani said.
"Huh! Seriously?", Saikiran laughed on his fate.
"Sai....", she looked at him intently
"you trust me, right? Then why worry? Let him be", Ishani insisted.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked down—at their hands, still touching. At her thumb, lingering on the edge of his jaw. Like he wanted to memorize this.
"I trust you," he said finally, voice barely above a whisper. "It's myself I don't trust when he's around."
Ishani's breath caught.
There it was. The raw nerve he rarely exposed.
She squeezed his hand. "Then trust this moment. We're in it together."
Just then, the door creaked open behind them.
"Oi lovebirds," came Koyel's voice, unmistakably smug. "This is a fire exit, not a honeymoon suite."
Ishani jumped slightly, pulling her hand back. Saikiran turned, clearing his throat as he stepped aside.
Koyel leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, eyes glinting with delight. "I didn't mean to interrupt your little post-trauma make-out session, but HR might be less understanding."
Ishani rolled her eyes. "Koyel—"
"I'm just saying," she teased, backing away, "next time pick a blind spot with better acoustics."
And with that, she slipped away, leaving the door swinging in her wake.
Saikiran let out a soft groan, running a hand through his hair. "She's never going to let this go."
"Nope," Ishani said, smiling despite herself. "But that's Koyel."
They stood there for a second longer—quiet, flushed, breathing just a little easier.
Then Ishani said, "Come on. Let's go before she sends a meme to the team chat."
Saikiran nodded, but before they stepped out, he gently caught her wrist.
"One last thing."
She turned.
"I meant what I said. I'm trying."
Her expression softened. "So am I."
And then they stepped back into the chaos of the day—together, still steady, even as the world around them threatened to spin.