Radhika's POV:

I woke up in the middle of the night, my throat dry. Reaching for the water bottle on the side table, I found it empty. Sighing, I got up and walked to the kitchen.

As I passed by the living room, I noticed Samar asleep on the small couch, scratching his arm in his sleep. There were mosquitoes buzzing around him.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind. I remembered a time back in college when he showed me his arm and jaw, dotted with mosquito bites.

He had complained with a pout, "Look, tumhare logo ne kya kiya—machhar gang."

I had laughed and teased him, saying, "You deserve it. Good job, gang!"

The memory brought a smile to my face, mixed with a pang of pity. Samar was still sleeping on that small couch, vulnerable to those annoying little pests. I quietly searched for the All Out machine, plugged it in, and switched it on near him.

With that taken care of, I headed to the kitchen, filled my bottle, and returned to find him sleeping more peacefully now. He looked so innocent in his sleep, free of the burdens of our complicated past.

I silently made my way back to my room, feeling a strange mix of emotions—relief, sadness, and something else I couldn’t quite name. I settled back into bed, closing my eyes, and letting sleep take me once more.

****

I woke up to the smell of tea, and as I opened my eyes, there was Samar, standing beside the bed with a steaming cup in his hand.

He handed it to me with a gentle smile. "Good morning," he said, his voice soft yet cheerful.

Why was he doing this? Did he think doing all this would change my mind? I took the cup and looked at him. "You don’t have to do this, Samar."

He shook his head, still smiling. "I wanted to. Now get ready while I make us breakfast."

I sighed, but nodded, deciding not to argue. I got up, took a quick shower, and dressed for work.

When I came back to the room, Samar was still busy in the kitchen. I stood in front of the full-length mirror, combing my hair, trying to focus on the day ahead.

Just then, I heard the bathroom door open, and before I could turn around, I caught a glimpse of Samar in the mirror.

He had just come out of the washroom with only a towel wrapped around his waist, his body well-defined and toned. the result of countless hours at the gym, no doubt.

My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively put my hands over my eyes. "Samar!" I shouted, my voice a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

"What?" he asked, clearly confused by my reaction. "I’m just getting ready. You’ve seen me like this before, Radhika."

"That was different! I saw photos" I protested, keeping my hands over my eyes. "Just… warn me next time, okay?"

I heard him chuckle softly. "Alright, alright. I’ll get dressed in the bathroom"

I peeked through my fingers just as he turned around and walked back into the bathroom, shaking his head with a smile.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and lowered my hands, my heart still pounding.

What is wrong with me? I thought, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I quickly finished getting ready, trying to ignore the lingering warmth in my cheeks. This was going to be a long day.

When I came to the living room, I saw a lady washing dishes. Samar was busy making breakfast.

She turned to me and smiled, "Bhaiya, is she your sister?"

Samar choked on God knows what, and my eyes widened at her question. "No, Veena didi, she is my friend," Aarav said, still coughing a little.

Veena looked between us with a curious expression.

"Aacha, girlfriend hai, aisa bolo na. Hi, myself Bole toh Veena," she said, turning to me and extending her hand for a handshake.

"Didi! No, she's not my girlfriend... not yet," Samar added the last part quietly, but I heard it. I pretended not to, though, and shook hands with her, introducing myself with a smile.

Veena smiled knowingly but didn’t push the subject further, turning back to her work.

At the breakfast table, I tried to focus on the food in front of me, but my eyes kept drifting back to Samar.

He looked so put together in his formals, his hair neatly styled. Every time he reached for his coffee or took a bite of the sandwich he made, I felt my heart tug painfully.

He suggested we go to the office together since we worked at the same company. Everything felt like it was conspiring against me.

When I wanted him, he left. And now, when I’m trying to move on, he’s here—right in front of my eyes, 24/7.

It’s not fair. The way he smiles, the way he still cares… it’s everything I ever wanted. But now it feels like a cruel joke.

My feelings for him never really faded, even though I’ve tried to bury them. It’s like being caught in a never-ending loop, where I can’t escape him, and I can’t escape my own heart.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, his voice broke through. "Radhika, we should leave now."

I blinked, coming back to reality, and nodded. "Right, let’s go."

We left the flat, and he locked the door behind us. I followed him down the stairs, only to see him walking towards his bike. My heart skipped a beat. Of course, we’d be going by bike.

As he started the engine, I suddenly felt a blush rising to my cheeks. How was I supposed to sit behind him, so close, after everything?

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. I put my hand on his shoulder to balance as I climbed onto the bike.

The warmth of his body under my touch sent a jolt through me, and I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check.

This was going to be harder than I thought.

We reached the office, and I couldn’t shake off the nervousness that had been building up inside me.

As I got off the bike, I asked Samar, “Where’s the HR department? I need to submit my joining documents.”

He pointed me in the right direction. “It’s on the fifth floor. Just take the elevator, and you’ll find it easily. I’ll catch up with you later,” he said with a reassuring smile before heading off.

I watched him walk away, taking a deep breath to steady myself. This was it—my first day at this new job, in a new city, with my past following me around like a shadow. I headed to the fifth floor, my heart pounding a little faster with every step.

The HR department was a flurry of activity when I arrived. I handed over my documents to the HR representative, who smiled warmly and said, “Welcome aboard, Radhika! Let me introduce you to your team.”

I followed her through the maze of cubicles until we reached a large open space where several people were busy working.

The HR rep cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Everyone, this is Radhika. She’s joining us today. Radhika, meet your team.”

As I stepped forward to greet them, my eyes landed on Samar, sitting right there among them.

My heart sank. Not again. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I mentally facepalmed. Of all the teams in this vast company, why did it have to be his?

Still, I forced a smile and greeted everyone. "Hi, I’m Radhika. It’s great to meet you all."

Aarav looked up, meeting my eyes with a small, almost amused smile. "Welcome to the team, Radhika," he said, his tone casual, as if this was just another ordinary day.

"Thank you," I managed to reply, trying to ignore the way my heart was pounding in my chest.

The others introduced themselves warmly, and I tried to focus on them, but all I could think about was how complicated things had just become. Every day, every hour, I’d be here, in the same space as him. This was going to be a real test of my strength.

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