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Tag: fantasy romance

  • THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM- Chapter Seventeen- Settling Into Chaos

    THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM- Chapter Seventeen- Settling Into Chaos

    Dinner was surprisingly successful—meaning nothing was burnt beyond recognition, and the fire alarm remained mercifully silent. Arin had barely finished his plate when Shanaya leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

    “Okay, so now that you’ve survived my cooking, you’re officially family,” she declared.

    Astha snorted. “That’s a very low bar.”

    “You say that like I haven’t raised that bar significantly,” Shanaya shot back. “Besides, Arin passed the real test—he ate everything without hesitation. That makes him either incredibly brave or slightly unhinged.”

    Arin smiled, placing his fork down. “Or maybe I just enjoyed the meal.”

    Astha raised an eyebrow. “See, that’s how you know he’s being polite. We don’t do polite here, Arin. We believe in brutal honesty.”

    “Oh? And what would brutal honesty sound like in this case?” he asked, leaning back, genuinely entertained.

    Astha took a sip of her tea and deadpanned, “That was an edible tragedy.”

    Shanaya gasped dramatically. “How dare you insult my masterpiece?”

    “Sweetheart, it tasted like you had a very close call with disaster, and somehow, miraculously, disaster backed off at the last minute,” Astha said, her face perfectly straight.

    Arin chuckled, shaking his head. He had never met anyone quite like her. Astha had this rare ability to make her words cut and amuse at the same time, her humor sharp but never unkind. It fascinated him.

    “So, what’s next on this family bonding night?” he asked, looking between the two.

    Shanaya grinned. “Movie roast night! We pick a terrible movie and mercilessly tear it apart. Mom is undefeated.”

    “She’s undefeated in a lot of things, it seems,” Arin mused.

    Astha shrugged. “What can I say? Excellence is a burden.”

    “Oh, please,” Shanaya rolled her eyes, pulling up a list of absurdly bad movies. “Alright, what’s your tolerance level for second-hand embarrassment? Because I have a selection that will make you question human intelligence.”

    Arin considered this for a moment. “I suppose I’m about to find out.”

    And just like that, Arin found himself seated on the couch, sandwiched between two women who had perfected the art of sarcastic commentary. The movie began, some over-the-top melodramatic dialogue filling the room, and before he knew it, Astha had fired off her first critique.

    “If stupidity were an Olympic sport, this character would take home gold.”

    Shanaya pointed at the screen. “And look! The hero has a tragic backstory that makes absolutely no sense. He fell down the stairs as a child, and now he’s a brooding billionaire.”

    Arin smiled, shaking his head. “That’s a very specific cause-and-effect.”

    “It’s all about trauma,” Astha said sagely. “Apparently, if you suffer even minor inconvenience in these movies, you either become a playboy CEO or a vengeful assassin. There is no in-between.”

    A particularly dramatic scene played out, with the heroine running in slow motion through the rain. Shanaya clutched her chest. “Oh no, she’s crying! And in movie logic, that means she’s suddenly in love.”

    Astha shook her head. “This woman just met him three days ago. I’ve had deeper emotional connections with my coffee.”

    Arin chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m impressed. You two could be professional critics.”

    “We have a dream,” Shanaya said dramatically. “To save humanity from terrible cinema.”

    Astha sighed wistfully. “But humanity keeps failing us.”

    As the movie rolled on, he wasn’t thinking about the past or the future.

    He was simply there.

    With them.

    And for the first time in his existence, he wasn’t just observing life.

    He was living it.

  • THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Sixteen: A Different Kind of Battle

    THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Sixteen: A Different Kind of Battle

    The drive back was quieter than usual, not awkward, but contemplative. Arin kept glancing at Astha from the corner of his eye, still processing everything he had seen earlier. Her warmth, the way people gravitated toward her, the way she disarmed them with humor and made them feel valued—it was something entirely different from the guarded, reserved woman she seemed to be at work.

    Astha, oblivious to his observations, was busy scrolling through her phone, checking a message from Shanaya.

    “She’s reminding me to bring ice cream,” she muttered. “Like I’d dare go home without it. The wrath of a teenager is not something I’m prepared to deal with.”

    Arin smiled. “Wise decision.”

    As they pulled into the parking lot, Astha unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thanks for the lift, but I’m warning you—this doesn’t mean you get permanent errand duty.”

    Arin leaned back against his seat, a slow smile forming. “I’ll take my chances.”

    She rolled her eyes, stepping out of the car. Arin followed, carrying a few bags despite her protests. As they made their way upstairs, the moment they stepped into the hallway, the door to Astha’s apartment flew open.

    “Ice cream?” Shanaya asked immediately, eyes darting to the bags.

    Astha sighed dramatically, handing over a small tub. “Your lifeline, madam.”

    Shanaya grinned. “You live to fight another day. Oh, hey, Arin! Did Mom make you carry everything? She’s a master at delegation.”

    “I’m starting to see that,” Arin replied dryly.

    Astha gave him a pointed look. “I don’t hear any complaints.”

    Shanaya laughed. “You poor, poor man. Welcome to the club.”

    Astha shook her head, then turned to Arin. “Since you’re already here, might as well stay for dinner. Shanaya’s cooking.”

    Arin raised an eyebrow at Shanaya, who nodded. “Oh yeah, I’m a culinary genius. As long as you like burnt toast, slightly overcooked pasta, and the occasional fire hazard.”

    Astha patted her daughter’s head. “We set low expectations, so when the food turns out edible, it feels like a win.”

    Arin chuckled, feeling something warm settle in his chest. This—this effortless banter, this sense of belonging—it was something he had never truly experienced before. And he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to step away from it.

    Astha led them inside, tossing her bag onto the couch. “Alright, let’s see if we make it through this meal without the smoke alarm going off.”

    Arin glanced around the cozy apartment, the scent of home-cooked food already filling the air. For someone who had spent his life surrounded by sterility and precision, this chaos, this warmth, was something entirely foreign.

    And yet, he found himself wanting more of it.

  • THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Fourteen: Scrabble and Sarcasm

    THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Fourteen: Scrabble and Sarcasm

    That evening, Arin knocked on Astha’s door at precisely the time Shanaya had instructed. When the door swung open, Astha raised an eyebrow at him, her expression unreadable. “So, the great editor has been roped into Scrabble warfare. Hope you know what you’ve signed up for.”

    Arin smiled. “I’m a quick learner.”

    “Good,” Astha said, stepping aside to let him in. “Because Shanaya plays dirty.”

    Shanaya, already setting up the board, grinned. “Excuse me? I play strategically. There’s a difference.”

    Arin took a seat beside her while Astha settled opposite them, her expression composed, almost indifferent. As the game began, Arin quickly realized that Astha’s style was precise, methodical—she played not just to win, but to obliterate her opponent’s confidence entirely.

    Shanaya groaned as her mother placed quixotic on a triple-word score. “Come on, Mom. Who even uses that word?”

    Astha took a sip of her tea. “People with a vocabulary.”

    Arin nearly choked on his water, caught off guard by the deadpan delivery. He had expected Astha to be reserved, maybe even aloof—but he hadn’t expected this dry, merciless humor.

    “Alright, alright,” Shanaya muttered, placing her next word. “We’ve got this, Arin. We just need strategy.”

    Arin carefully selected his tiles and placed eloquent on a double-letter score. “There. That should level the playing field.”

    Astha peered at the board, unimpressed. “Cute. But not good enough.”

    A few turns later, she casually placed zephyr on a triple-word score, earning an impressive number of points. She looked up at Arin, her expression entirely neutral. “Would you like me to recommend a dictionary?”

    Shanaya groaned and dropped her head onto the table. “Mom, do you have to crush our souls along with the game?”

    “It builds character,” Astha said, straight-faced.

    Arin shook his head, both amused and intrigued. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”

    Astha leaned back in her chair, sipping her tea. “Where’s the fun in that?”

    The game stretched on, each round more intense than the last. When Arin placed modest on the board, Astha raised an eyebrow. “Ah, I see you’re spelling out your personality now. Next round, try delusional. It would be more accurate.”

    Shanaya laughed loudly. “Mom, that was brutal.”

    “I’m just helping him expand his vocabulary,” Astha said with a straight face.

    Arin smiled, playing along. “Noted. And here I thought I was the editor.”

    By the time the final tiles were placed, Astha had won—unsurprisingly. She leaned forward, her tone completely serious. “Good effort. If it helps, you didn’t lose by too embarrassing a margin.”

    Shanaya sighed dramatically. “I need a new teammate. This one didn’t save me.”

    Arin chuckled. “I’ll be better prepared next time.”

    Astha smiled slightly. “I’d like to see you try.”

    As Arin left that evening, he found himself replaying the night in his mind. He had come expecting a simple game of Scrabble.

    Instead, he had discovered another piece of Astha Mehra that he hadn’t known existed.

    And he wanted to see more.

  • THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Eleven: The First Ride

    THE TIME KEEPER’S POEM: Chapter Eleven: The First Ride

    The next morning, Astha walked out of her apartment, adjusting the strap of her bag as she made her way to the parking lot. She wasn’t particularly excited about the carpool arrangement, but she had agreed to it without much thought. These initiatives never lasted anyway.

    As she neared the car, she found Arin already waiting, leaning against the driver’s side with his usual composed expression. He gave her a polite nod before opening the door. “Morning. Ready to go?”

    She slid into the passenger seat, buckling up as she adjusted her glasses. “Sure. Let’s get this over with.”

    Arin started the car, the engine humming softly as they pulled out of the parking lot. The silence between them was not awkward, but rather filled with an unspoken understanding—neither was particularly interested in forced small talk.

    Astha glanced out of the window, watching the city wake up. “So, what’s the plan? You drive this week, I drive next?”

    Arin nodded. “That’s what we agreed upon. Unless you’d prefer a different arrangement.”

    “No, this works,” she said with a shrug. “Just don’t expect me to be chatty in the mornings.”

    Arin’s lips twitched in what might have been amusement. “Noted.”

    They continued the drive in comfortable silence, the only sound coming from the faint hum of the radio. Astha appreciated that Arin didn’t feel the need to fill the space with unnecessary conversation. He drove smoothly, his focus unwavering, as if even this simple task was part of a greater purpose.

    Astha found herself sneaking a glance at him. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, unshaken, yet strangely observant. It was as if he was always paying attention, always trying to piece together the world around him.

    As they approached the office, Arin finally spoke. “Would you like me to pick you up in the evening as well, or would you prefer to manage your way back separately?”

    Astha considered for a moment before responding. “Might as well keep it simple. Pick me up when you leave.”

    Arin nodded, as if he had expected her response. “Alright.”

    The moment the car came to a stop in the office parking lot, Astha was already unbuckling her seatbelt. “Thanks for the ride. See you later.”

    Before he could respond, she was out the door, making her way inside without a second glance.

    Arin watched her go, a faint trace of curiosity flickering in his expression. She was different from anyone he had met before—unmoved by his presence, indifferent to the little changes he was introducing into her life.

    And that only made him want to understand her more.

  • The Time Keeper’s Poem: Chapter Ten: A New Pairing

    The Time Keeper’s Poem: Chapter Ten: A New Pairing

    The next office meeting was held in the main conference room, the usual murmur of casual conversations filling the space as employees settled into their seats. Arin stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding yet calm.

    “Good morning, everyone,” he began, scanning the room. “As you all know, efficiency is key in everything we do—not just in our work, but in the way we live. With that in mind, I’ve introduced a new initiative. From now on, we will be organizing carpooling among employees who live in the same locality. This will help us reduce our carbon footprint, save fuel, and hopefully, make commutes more pleasant.”

    There were mixed reactions—some nods of approval, some hushed whispers of uncertainty. Astha barely looked up from her notepad, uninterested in yet another office initiative that likely wouldn’t last beyond a few weeks.

    “The carpooling teams have already been arranged based on addresses,” Arin continued, glancing down at his notes. “You will find your assigned partners listed in the group emails sent to you shortly. Please coordinate with your respective colleagues to arrange your commute.”

    As the meeting concluded and people began filing out, a coworker approached Astha with an amused smile.

    “Guess what, Astha? You’ve been paired with the boss himself. Arin Verma is your carpool partner.”

    Astha stopped mid-step. “What?” She turned to face the woman, frowning. “You’re joking.”

    “Not at all. You live in the same building, so it makes sense. You should discuss the details with him.”

    Astha exhaled sharply. Of all the people in the office, why did it have to be him?

    She wasn’t particularly bothered, though. She had seen plenty of these office initiatives fade into oblivion within weeks. This one would likely be no different.

    Later that day, she finally found Arin in the hallway near the break room. “So, I hear we’re carpooling,” she said, her tone neutral.

    Arin turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Yes. I’ll be getting my car this week, so I’ll drive us for the first few days. Next week, it’ll be your turn.”

    Astha shrugged. “Alright. Just let me know what time.”

    Arin studied her for a moment, expecting resistance or at least some level of discomfort. But she was indifferent, as if it made no difference to her at all.

    And that, somehow, made him more curious.