That afternoon, Arin sat at his desk, deep in thought. If he wanted things to change for Astha, he couldn’t make it obvious. She would never accept anything just for herself. But if it was something that involved everyone…
An idea formed.
Calling a meeting with the entire staff, Arin stood before them and smiled. “Though Christmas is months away, I’ve decided to start a new tradition—Secret Santa. Starting this week, everyone will pick a name from the basket and become that person’s Secret Santa.”
There were murmurs of excitement in the room.
“The rule is simple—don’t reveal yourself, but make your person’s time in the office a little brighter. You can do it with small notes, gifts, or anything that brings a smile to their face. After a month, we’ll all reveal our Secret Santas.”
Laughter and chatter filled the air as people eagerly picked names. Arin quietly looked at Astha. She was smiling, but in that resigned way—shaking her head as if indulging in something she found ridiculous yet endearing.
When the basket arrived at his desk, Arin reached inside and pulled out a folded chit. He opened it, and his gaze lingered on the name written there: Astha Mehra.
He stared at it for a moment, something stirring in his chest. Out of all the people in this office, I got her name? What were the odds? What was at play here? Destiny?
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