Chapter 5: Office Politics and Old Wounds

I followed Rohan to their company. It wasn’t big, only about twenty people.

The office was tucked away above a printing press, the air thick with the scent of ink and paper. The lift creaked as we rode up, and the walls were plastered with motivational quotes, some misspelled but heartfelt.

When Rohan led me in, several colleagues started to tease:

They called out, voices warm and teasing, “Oho, boss, nayi madam aa gayi!” I blushed, hiding behind Rohan, but he just grinned.

"Boss, is this your girlfriend?"

A guy in a checked shirt waggled his eyebrows, nudging his neighbour. The girls giggled, pretending to be scandalized.

Rohan neither admitted nor denied it, just smiled and said, "Treat her as the new colleague."

His tone was firm, brooking no argument. I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the small mercy.

Priya’s face was pale, clapping stiffly a few times.

She stood near the water cooler, lips pressed into a thin line. I caught her gaze, but she looked away, pretending to be engrossed in her phone.

I secretly turned my head, wanting to see if Rohan felt sorry for her, but as soon as I turned, I met Rohan’s eyes.

He caught me staring, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I looked away, cheeks burning.

He was smiling, looking at me intently. I felt a bit embarrassed, coughed, and asked, "What work will I do?"

I cleared my throat, eager to change the subject. The office was buzzing with activity, printers whirring and phones ringing. Someone passed around Parle-G biscuits, whispering, “Boss ki madam hai, ab toh chai bhi extra milegi.”

"Come with me."

He led me to his cabin, holding the door open like a true gentleman. I rolled my eyes, but followed, secretly pleased.

As I left with Rohan, I heard the colleagues gossiping behind me.

Their whispers followed us down the hall—speculation, envy, admiration. I smiled, pretending not to care, but my heart fluttered in my chest.

"Didn’t expect Boss’s girlfriend to be so pretty. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so gentle."

A girl nudged her friend, eyes shining. Another giggled, adding, “Bhai, ab toh promotion pakka hai!”

"Yeah, look how doting he is. Handsome guy and beautiful girl, such a perfect match."

I blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Rohan shot me a sideways glance, lips twitching.

Suddenly, with a thud, something fell to the ground.

The sound startled everyone. Heads turned, eyes searching for the source of the commotion.

Then several voices cried out.

“Oh no, Priya, you even dropped your cup. Was it too hot?”

A chorus of concern rose up, colleagues crowding around Priya as she knelt to pick up the pieces. The cup rolled under the table, splashing chai onto a pile of files. Someone tutted, but no one moved to help. I felt a pang of guilt, but stayed silent.

When the office door closed, I looked back.

Through the glass partition, I saw Priya standing alone, shoulders shaking. The crumpled paper in her hand trembled, her face pale.

Priya was staring at me, crushing the paper in her hand into a ball.

Her eyes met mine, full of hurt and accusation. I looked away, heart heavy.

I found it odd. Rohan didn’t seem to like Priya at all, so why did they end up together?

I pondered the twist of fate, wondering if I was missing something. The answer hovered just out of reach.

Could it really be a case of love growing over time?

Maybe time could heal old wounds, or maybe destiny had other plans for us all.

"From now on, you’ll be my assistant. If you don’t understand something, just ask me."

He handed me a stack of files, his tone gentle but firm. I nodded, determined to prove myself.

Am I getting in the way of their relationship?

The thought nagged at me, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about?"

Rohan’s voice snapped me back to reality. I blinked, startled.

I snapped back to reality to see Rohan standing in front of me, looking at me oddly. "What are you thinking about?"

He raised an eyebrow, waiting for my answer. I smiled sheepishly, shaking my head.

"Don’t you feel that Priya likes you?"

I blurted out the question before I could stop myself. He looked surprised, then shrugged.

"That’s her business. What does it have to do with me?"

He sounded almost offended, as if the idea was absurd. I stared at him, unsure what to say.

Me: "..."

I bit my tongue, unwilling to press the issue further. The tension hung between us, unresolved.

"If you don’t like it, I’ll fire her."

His words were blunt, almost cruel. I shook my head, horrified.

"You really don’t like her at all? She’s pretty and capable."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of regret. He looked away, jaw tight.

Rohan’s face suddenly turned cold. "What, do you really want me to like her?"

His voice was sharp, wounded. I flinched, realizing I’d crossed a line.

"Of course not, I’m just afraid you’ll regret it later. After all, I don’t know anything, just spend your money."

I tried to sound lighthearted, but the words rang hollow. He softened, reaching out to brush a stray hair from my face.

"I like you spending my money. Like you said, I love that everything you wear is bought with my money."

He smiled, eyes twinkling with mischief. My heart fluttered, and I looked away, embarrassed.

Me: "Arrey? You heard what I said to Kabir..."

I gaped, realizing he’d overheard my confession. He blushed, coughing to hide his embarrassment.

Rohan blushed, coughed as if nothing happened, and said, "Come work. I didn’t hire you to slack off."

He turned away, but I caught the smile tugging at his lips. I grinned, rolling up my sleeves, ready to prove myself.