Astha arrived in the office. She had barely settled at her desk when a coffee cup was placed beside her. She looked up to see Arin leaning casually against her desk, smirking.
“Your favorite,” he said, tapping the cup lightly.
Astha narrowed her eyes. “Thank you. Now go away.”
Arin placed a hand dramatically over his heart. “Ouch. Is this how you treat your devoted husband?”
“Arin.” She gave him a pointed look. “We talked about this.”
He sighed, but the amusement in his eyes didn’t fade. “Fine, fine. I’m just here as your very professional editor-in-chief.”
She scoffed. “Good. Then act like it.”
He leaned in slightly. “But you do love it when I bring you coffee, don’t you?”
Astha rolled her eyes. “Yes. And I also love silence.”
He chuckled but finally relented, heading to his own office.
The Office Dynamic
To everyone else, Arin and Astha seemed to maintain their usual dynamic—professional, competitive, with just the right amount of sharp banter. But beneath the surface, something had shifted.
When he reviewed her articles, she could feel the warmth in his gaze, the way he lingered slightly when handing her notes. When they crossed paths in the hallway, there was a fleeting brush of fingers, so quick that no one else would notice. And then there were the stolen glances—silent conversations held across the newsroom, a language only they understood.
Shanaya, of course, was the first to pick up on it.
One evening, as Astha was typing on her laptop at home, Shanaya plopped down beside her with a knowing smirk.
“So, you and the boss man seem to be getting along really well these days.”
Astha didn’t even look up. “We’ve always gotten along.”
Shanaya snorted. “Oh please. Last month, you wanted to push him off a cliff.”
Astha smiled. “That feeling still hasn’t gone away.”
“But now, you’d probably jump after him.”
Astha shot her a look, but Shanaya just grinned. “Mom, you look happy. Like… actually happy. It’s weird.”
Astha sighed, closing her laptop. “Is it that obvious?”
Shanaya nodded. “To me? Yes. To others? Maybe not yet. But it’s only a matter of time.”
Astha exhaled. “I just… don’t want people gossiping. And I don’t want things to change.”
Shanaya softened. “Mom, things have already changed. Maybe it’s time to just… go with it?”
Astha stared at her daughter for a moment, then pulled her into a side hug. “When did you get so wise?”
Shanaya grinned. “I’ve always been wise. You just never noticed.”
A Private Moment
That night, Astha stepped onto her balcony for some fresh air, only to find Arin standing on his own, waiting.
He looked up when he saw her, his expression softening. “Couldn’t sleep?”
She shrugged. “Just needed air.”
He leaned against the railing. “So… how did I do today? Professional enough?”
She smiled. “Surprisingly, yes. Though the coffee stunt was unnecessary.”
“Not a stunt,” he corrected. “Just love.”
Astha’s heart skipped a beat. She exhaled slowly. “Arin…”
He studied her for a moment. “You’re overthinking again.”
She sighed. “I just… I don’t know how to do this. I’ve been alone for so long, managing everything by myself. And now you’re here, slipping into every part of my life like you belong.”
His voice was gentle. “Maybe because I do.”
She looked away. “I just don’t want to mess this up.”
He stepped closer, tilting her chin up so she met his eyes. “You won’t.”
She swallowed. “You’re awfully confident about that.”
He smiled. “Because I know us. I know you. And I’m not going anywhere.”
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Then, finally, she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close.
For the first time, Astha let herself believe him.
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