The evening air was crisp as Astha drove through the dimly lit streets, her fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel. Arin sat beside her, his gaze drifting toward the city skyline, illuminated against the darkening sky.
A comfortable silence stretched between them until Astha finally sighed. “Don’t you think this Secret Santa game is becoming a little too personal?” she asked, keeping her eyes on the road. “We come to the office to work, not to play these games.”
Arin turned to her, his expression unreadable. “And yet, aren’t the best workplaces the ones where people feel seen? Where they feel like more than just their deadlines?”
Astha let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “That sounds like something you’d say in an office speech. But reality is different. Work is work.”
“Is that really what you believe?” Arin asked, his voice quieter now. “Because from what I’ve observed, you care deeply about the people around you. You make sure your team is comfortable, you check in on Priya when she’s stressed, and you make sure Vinod doesn’t skip lunch when he’s drowning in numbers.”
Astha frowned. “That’s different. That’s… just basic human decency.”
Arin tilted his head slightly. “Exactly. Maybe this game isn’t about playing. Maybe it’s about reminding people that kindness doesn’t have to come with a reason.”
She exhaled, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Maybe. But there’s a line, Arin. There’s a difference between professional courtesy and—whatever this is.”
He studied her for a moment, then asked, “And what do you think this is?”
She glanced at him briefly before turning back to the road. “I don’t know yet.”
Arin smiled, but he didn’t push further. “Then maybe that’s the real problem, isn’t it?”
Astha opened her mouth to respond, then thought better of it. Instead, she sighed again, rolling her shoulders as if trying to shake off the conversation. “Fine. But if my Secret Santa leaves anything more personal than a coffee mug, I’m out.”
Arin chuckled. “Duly noted.”
As they pulled into the parking lot of their apartment complex, Astha parked and shut off the engine. “See you tomorrow, Verma.”
He smiled. “Looking forward to it, Mehra.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t hide her smile as she stepped out of the car and headed inside.
Arin remained in his seat for a moment, watching her go. “Yes,” he thought. “This game was getting very, very interesting.”
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