"Where's your hostel?" I asked, revving the engine of my car. She didn't respond, as if she hadn't heard me.

I opened the maps app on my phone and handed it to Anika. She glanced up at me, her eyes flickering over my face before returning to the screen. After a moment, she took the phone and typed in the address.

As the car hummed along the street, the atmosphere inside grew suffocatingly dense. Is it even possible for someone to act like a total stranger after knowing someone for years? Or is it just me? Does my presence really make her that uncomfortable?

Because watching her retreat into silence, avoiding my gaze, hurts more than I expected.

I drove the car in silence. She didn't say anything, just kept glancing down at her phone. Sometimes her fingers danced on the keypad, then she'd turn the phone off, only to turn it on again when a notification dinged.

I clear my throat, hoping to catch her attention. But Nothing. It's like I'm invisible.

is it possible for someone to completely ignore another person's existence for their boyfriend? I'm not asking for her full attention, but I mean, I'm here too? You don't have to act like a total stranger?

I turned on the music to ease the awkwardness. The song "Apna Bana Le" started playing, and I was about to change it, but Anika's attention was caught by the tune, so I let it play.

Anika put her phone back in her purse and focused on the music, softly bobbing her head to the rhythm.

Why did I feel like I had achieved something big when she liked the music I played? shouldn't I be sad because I lost an important deal just an hour ago?

"Can I turn down the window?" she whispered, so softly that I wouldn't have heard it if the volume was just a bit higher.

I glanced at her briefly. "Of course. Why'd you ask permission for something like that?" I tried to sound casual, even though I hated the rain and was sensitive to the cold.

Anything to make her feel comfortable with my company.

With a gentle nod, she pressed the button, and the sharp chill wind hit me immediately.

Resting her arm on the edge of the window, she leaned against it. The wind brushed through her wet hair as she closed her eyes, her body relaxing. The car filled with the soft sounds of rain and music.

Teri disha mein kyu chalne se mere,
Pairon ko pankh lage.
Raha na mere kaam ka jag sara,
Haan bas tere naam se hi guzara.
Ulajh ke, yun na sulajh na saku. . .

"Anika,"

She looked at me with a slight hum,

"You'll catch a cold," I told her, sensing the chill wind brushing her wet curls. Her pink satin shirt was damp, and I knew there was a chance she'd get sick soon.

She doesn't speak for a moment, as if words are sitting on the base of her throat but she can't let them out.

"I won't," was her answer after two minutes.

"And why so?"

"Because I love the rain." Her voice was calm, so different from the person I knew five years ago.

And it bothered me for some reason. Whenever I saw her at the office, she always had a big smile, chatting cheerfully with everyone.

Everyone except me.

I suppose I lost that right a long time ago.

"Just because you love something doesn't mean it has no side effects," I said, nodding, eyes still on the road.

"Why are you so concerned about me catching a cold?"

"Well. . ." I hesitated, searching for something reasonable. "Might lose an employee in my company?" I don't know what kind of lame excuse was that. It sounded lame even to my own ears.

To my surprise, she laughed at my reply. Well, not quite laughed, but chuckled. I stole a glance at her and saw her looking out the window, shaking her head.

"You don't have to be all quiet, you know?"

"What do you want me to talk about?" there. She replied promptly as if she had been waiting for me to ask.

"Umm. . . anything?" I don't know why, but something was freaking me out inside.

"That's not how a supervisor talks, Mr. Malhotra. Unfortunately, you are my boss now, and I'm not seventeen anymore. There's nothing to talk about that isn't related to work." Her tone was soft, the politest she'd ever spoken, yet her words were fierce.

"Unfortunately?" So, does that mean she wouldn't have applied if she knew I was there?

"I didn't know you were Abhishek sir's son,"

So, she wouldn't have. I get it, but why I'm feeling so impacted by it?

[ Abhishek Malhotra is Advik's father if your goldfish memory doesn't remember it. ]

"I see," it's not that big a deal, Advik. Stop overreacting. You lost an important contract today, concentrate on that.

"Are you enjoying working at M & Co.?" It is a professional, job-related question, right?

"Surprisingly, I do. Apart from that the fact some of your staff are quite retarded, unprofessional and make my life an open-eye nightmare, I'm managing okay."

"Vikram?" I smiled at her words.

She nodded, confirming what I had guessed. They bicker like five-year-olds.

"I'll talk to him about it. He won't disturb you—"

"No!" She exclaimed, and I raised an eyebrow. No?

"I mean, he'd start pinning me if you complain. He is annoying, I agree, but it's okay. I can deal with him. He is rude too sometimes. No! every time! but. . ." she hesitated. I could feel her eyes on me. "Oh god- oh, I'm sorry, I almost forgot he is. . ."

"My brother," I finished her sentence, smiling inwardly.

That's my Anika. The chatterbox I know. Somehow, it relieves me that she's getting comfortable now. Otherwise, she wouldn't have spoken this much in ten seconds.

I didn't even realize it, but the rain had stopped a while ago. Time kept passing, and that same song just kept playing over and over again.

Zubaaniya teri jhoothi bhi sachi lage
Tu mera koi na hoke kuch laage,

Why isn't this song ending?

Oh. It's in repeat mode.

I couldn't help but wonder if the song was mocking my own endless spiral of thoughts.

"Can you please stop there?" Anika said, pointing at the sidewalk of a public park.

"This is your dorm?" I put the brakes on the car and looked at her in confusion after seeing the map because the address she had typed for her dorm was clearly not where we were.

"Nope, it's two blocks away, I can manage." She grabs her purse and I purse my lips, getting out too.

"Are you sure? It's not far, I can drive you," I offered, trying to understand why she was eager to leave.

Is she embarrassed to be seen with me? But her behaviour doesn't say that though.

Anika shook her head, "It's fine, really. Thanks for the ride."

She seems genuine, not embarrassed. I saw her getting onto the sidewalk, and unconsciously my legs dragged me to walk beside her. The surroundings are quiet, which is unusual at this time of night.

Usually, this road is full of cars and people. So It's on me to ensure she reaches her place safely because I was the one who insisted on dropping her off in the first place

"I can manage from here," Anika glanced at me briefly, then kept walking.

"I insist," I told her, sliding my hands in my pockets, trying to think of some more words to continue the conversation.

It felt like we knew each other but were pretending to be strangers with shared memories.

That was so irrational of me to push her away like that instead of talking calmly. There was simply no way I could get away with denying what I had done.

Still, it's worth a try.

"By the way, Why did you change hostels, though?" A question that a supervisor wouldn't ask her subordinate, unprofessional, indeed.

But she can't deny the fact that we know each other in a way that crosses the professional line she was talking about before.

"So no one has to worry about me being out till late and give me lectures on responsibility and growing up,"

Oh.

"May I know who that 'no one' is?" I asked, though I already suspect the answer.

"someone I used to know," Anika admitted without sparing me a glance.

I'm still alive, ma'am?

"You could tell me directly, you know?" I stated.

"Thought you were wise enough to take hints and drive out conclusions on your own." It was the same look on her face as it was before when she asked me why I was so concerned about her catching a cold.

"If you're saying this because of whatever I had said that day," I inhale deeply, not sure whether to bring up that topic again or not.

"It's because sometimes I can't help but care too much. When I see something wrong with the people close to me, I feel this urge to fix it, even if it's not really my place." And I know I can't reverse whatever I had done but the least I could do was try.

She glanced at me briefly, a mix of surprise and something softer in her eyes, "You think that's what it was?"

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders now that I'd said it. "I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I am. Let's not bring that up. I'm sorry if I made things tough for you. I was a little immature and cringe," She glanced at me briefly, our eyes locking for a moment before she looked away again and continued,

"I was, um, you know, being silly and stubborn. I didn't realise that you don't owe it to anyone to feel the same way just because they like you. I don't hold anything against you. It just gets a bit awkward sometimes."

A strange, painful string pulled at me, tying an anxious knot in my abdomen as her words echoed in my mind. They made me feel both sad and relieved, all at once. The past was done, unchangeable. Words had their weight, heavier than actions sometimes.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled quietly to her, knowing deep down it might not make a difference. But she didn't react, brushing off my apology with silence. It was fine, I supposed.

"Why don't you use your patakha anymore?" she questioned out of the blue.

I feel a gentle tug on my chest. At least I'm not really forgotten after all,

"I just did. . . ever since I started working in the company." And because I got that sophisticated, disciplined, rich and twenty-two other titles to maintain in the market — being Malhotra's son came with expectations.

"I understand," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. We walked together in silence, strangely comforting this time, not awkward at all.

I sensed her pause for a moment, her gaze drifting to the end of the park. I followed her eyes to the ice cream vendor.

A small, nostalgic smile tugged at my face before I turned to her and asked, "Wanna grab some ice cream?"

Soon enough we were in front of the seller, buying ice cream.

"Chocolate?" I told the middle-aged man,

"Strawberry."

huh?

I raised an eyebrow, a puzzled expression crossed my face as I glanced at her.

"Strawberry for me," she clarified again, looking at the ice cream seller. I couldn't help but hesitantly nod, scooting her a glimpse, "Uh. . . Chocolate for me."

After arguing for five minutes to let me pay for our ice cream — which she refused — I ended up paying anyway.

"Why strawberry?" I looked at her, didn't she like chocolate ice cream?

"Don't show up after years and expect everything to be the same, sir. Time changes and so do people and their preferences."

So far, I've been avoiding looking at her, but I can feel her gaze on me, making it hard not to just pull her into a hug and keep apologising until she truly forgives me.

"Anika?" A sudden sound jolted us to look in the opposite direction of the road.

There was a guy in a grey hoodie and black jeans, standing across from us. His face was mostly hidden under the hoodie's cap.

I blinked in confusion, before returning my gaze to Anika who was staring at that guy with. . . a smile?

"Wait for me, Raghav!" she told him excitedly as she raised a hand in greeting before she looked at me.

"I'll leave, thank you," And before I could respond, she walked away. In a blink of an eye, she crossed the road and gave me a brief glance before mumbling a 'bye' and walking away with him.

A frown creased my face as I watched her offer him the ice cream. Seriously? I got that for you, not him!

From where I stood, her dorm was evident. Anika disappeared inside after waving bye to that guy and I sighed audibly.

Turning back to my car, I felt a pang of frustration as I bit the insides of my cheek.

Even though Anika had left, her sweet rosy-musk perfume still hung in the air inside the car. My phone suddenly buzzed loudly, breaking the eerie silence that had settled around me.

I glanced at the screen and sighed. It was my pesky brother calling again. Nonetheless, I picked up the call.

"What now?" I said, half expecting trouble.

"My dear brother it's late and I'm already outside your apartment. Can you at least tell me the password so I can sleep?" his muffled voice came through the speaker.

"What are you doing outside my apartment? Go home."

"Whyyy?? Please naaaa. I need to sleep peacefully without any taunts." I could already sense him whining and jumping outside the door.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes," I told him.

"Where are you anyway?" He asked further making me glance at the melted icecream in my hand.

"umm. . . perhaps on an ice cream date?"

he scoffed, "Aren't you sensitive to cold? Stop kidding me. You don't like ice cream at all."

"Now please be fast or I'll sleep with the guard," he grumbled before ending the call.

I threw the ice cream in the dustbin can before, grabbing a handful of tissues from the compartment, I wiped my hands and glanced in the rearview mirror,

Was he the boyfriend she was talking about? But his name seems familiar.

| A couple of days later |

A sudden creak of the door pulled my gaze from the paperwork spread out before me. I looked up to find Vikram standing there, his face twisted in a grimace.

"What?" he asked as I gestured for him to sit across from me. He dropped heavily into the chair, with an unreadable expression.

"About your new PA," I told him passing the file, "You will be receiving her from the airport."

He raised an eyebrow, his tone sceptical. "Wait, isn't she supposed to be my PA? Why on earth do I have to fetch her?"

"Why? Hurts your little ego?" I glared at him. "Your current position doesn't give you the right to look down on anyone, and you need to learn it."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't respond immediately. He was used to being the top dog, barking orders from his corner office. However, today I was reminding him that leadership wasn't just about privilege; it was about humility and respect.

"But-"

"Are you up for it or not?" If he declined, he wouldn't be seeing the keys to his beloved BMW for at least another week.

I could do worse.

Like, I could become like my father, for example?

But I didn't.

My father ruled with an iron fist and a disdainful glare that crushed spirits as effectively as it built this empire. But I chose a different path. I believed in respect earned through actions, not titles.

And right now, he needed to understand that power isn't interchangeable with superiority. And he'd keep bumping into these lessons if he wouldn't let go of his brat behaviour, provoking him closer to the leader he could be— if he chose to listen.

"Fine!" He grumbled, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. As he flipped the pages of the file aggressively, his eyes darting and soaking the information.

"Ishaanvi Saxena?"

I nodded.

"And this time I'll explain nothing to Dad if she resigns." I let him know.

His expression dropped for a moment but soon he got up and walked out, nodding his head and mumbling something under his breath.

"At least gimme the keys? how am I supposed to pick her up?" he peeked from the door after two minutes.

"Use public transport."

Half an hour dragged by as I struggled to keep my eyes open, fighting a throbbing headache that refused to let me focus on my work. The fever I had caught a few days ago was definitely not helping.

I fished out my phone, hoping to distract myself with emails. A few notifications blinked at me from various social media apps. Just as I moved to dismiss them all, my clumsy fingers tapped an Instagram notification.

I groaned in frustration, about to exit the application, when Vikram's latest post caught my eye. It was him and. . . Anika? What?

I blinked, squinting at the photo. It was definitely Vikram, and there was Anika, her face half-hidden behind a mask, but those hazel eyes were unmistakable.

They looked cosy, sharing what seemed like ice cream. But wait, don't they hate each other? And hadn't I specifically asked that rascal to pick up Ishaanvi? This guy!

I sighed in frustration, feeling a mix of irritation and curiosity. This wasn't adding up. So, I dialled Vikram's number, getting out of the office and walking towards my car.

"Where are you?" I asked him as soon as the call was picked up.

Vikram : "Woah- Calm down. I didn't forget. I'm at the airport!"

Me : "You are?"

Vikram: "You don't believe me? wait!"

I furrowed my brows until I heard him and Anika arguing again making me face-palm.

Vikram: "Idhar aao Anarkali!! Bhaiya ko batao mai kaha huuu!"
(Come here, Anarkali!! Tell my brother where I am!)

Vikram: "Tum mujhe Anarkali bulana band karo!! Anika naam hai meraa!!"
(stop calling me Anarkali!! My name is Anika!)

Vikram: "Ek hi baat hai! Pehle mera kaam karo tum!"
(It's the same thing! First, do my work)

Vikram: "Hello bhai! bhai! Pucho Anika see. . ."
(Ask Anika. . .)

Vikram: "Mai kya batau tumhare bhai ko? ki tum club jaa the thy!?"
(What should I tell your brother? That you were going to the club!?)

"Vikram!" I grumbled in irritation.

Vikram: "Besharam aurat! Jhuthi! Upar wale see daro thoda!"
(Shameless woman! Lier! Have some fear of God!)

Me : "I will be at the airport in 15 minutes and if I don't find you there!"

Vikram: "arey iski kya zaroorat—"
(there is no need—)

I cut the call.

I walked into the airport, my eyes darting around the waiting area. People mingled in the bustling environment, and then I caught the familiar figure of my brother in the midst of the crowd.

There he was, standing in the corner with a sling bag dangling on his shoulders, that looked like it belonged to Anika.

I frowned. making my way to him. As soon as he saw me, his face changed, like he was nervous about something.

"Oh. . . bhai, good morning!" He greeted me with a shaky smile.

"Good afternoon," I replied, staring at him blankly. My eyes shifted to the suitcase in his hands, wondering what he was up to.

"Oye, kuch churaya to nhi. . ." Anika walked beside Vikram, busy wiping her hands with a tissue.
(you didn't steal anything, did you?)

"Tu kya prime minister hai jo mai tumhare bag me daka dalunga," Vikram retorted back.
(Do you think you're the prime minister that I'd rob your bag?)

Not again.

"Ek hafta hua nhi company join kiye hue or abhi see chhuttiyan le rhi hai" Vikram added, throwing a glare her way.
(It hasn't been even a week since she joined the company and she's already taking leave)

Apparently, Anika had taken a couple of days' leave to go back to Mumbai. Aditya did tell me about his potential arranged marriage, but I didn't know it would happen so soon.

I cleared my throat to draw her attention. She turned to look at me, her body stiffening, eyes blinking rapidly in surprise before looking down at her belongings.

"Chimpanzee!" Anika exclaimed, rolling her eyes dramatically at Vikram before snatching her suitcase from him.

"Anikaaa!"

Anika's head snapped up at the sound of her name, and her face lit up with a radiant smile.

"VEERRRR!" she squealed, her excitement bubbling over as she jumped, practically like a bunny. She sprinted toward the guy whose name, I assumed, was Veer.

Veer laughed heartily, wrapping Anika in a tight bear hug that lifted her off her feet. He mumbled something into her hair that I couldn't quite catch, but it made her giggle like a schoolgirl.

I frowned at the sight. You two aren't in high school anymore. Stop crushing her bones.

"Ittu si thi jab chhod kar gya tha, dekh ketni badi ho gyi hai!" Veer stated dramatically, wiping away imaginary tears. Anika responded with a playful punch to his abdomen, making him double over in exaggerated pain.
(She was just a tiny thing when I left, and look at her now, all grown up!)

I felt an uneasy weight settle in my chest, so I decided to give them some space and respect their privacy. I scanned the lobby, trying to spot Vikram who had vanished to who-knows-where.

"Can you shut up!" Echoed Ishaanvi's voice from behind me. I couldn't help but chuckle as I finally spotted Vikram appearing alongside her. He didn't seem to like his new PA at all.

"Ye kaha fasa diya aapne?" Vikram whispered to me, his eyes wide with exasperation.
(Where did you trap me?)

Ishaanvi greeted me with a tight smile, and I gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "I'll start from tomorrow, thank you, Mr. Malhotra," she said,

"And you!" Ishaanvi turned her gaze to Vikram. "Drop me off to the cab."

Vikram shot me an apologetic look before trailing behind her. Moments later, he came back and threw Anika's purse at me, huffing in frustration. He then walked away, lugging Ishaanvi's suitcase with a resigned expression.

Well, now he knows what it's like to be bossed around.

I glanced down at my hands, clutching Anika's purse, debating my mind whether to interrupt her conversation with her best friend or not. They were still wrapped up in their own world, laughing and catching up.

With a nonchalant shrug, I stepped over to where they were, catching sight of her laughing and chatting with Veer, her hand linked with his as they walked. Can they stop?

"Shut up. I'll tell you a lot of things when I come back, okay?" Anika said to Veer, her gaze briefly meeting mine, causing her to pause.

"Ani, wait, I need to make a call home, okay?" Veer excused himself, disappearing into the crowd.

"Your purse," I said, holding out her belongings to her.

"Thanks," she said with a smile.

Wait.

She smiled at me.

I absentmindedly scratched the back of my neck, unsure of how to break the awkward silence that hung between us. It was the first time we had seen each other since I dropped her off at her dorm. Not because she was avoiding me, but because I had to take leave since I caught a fever later that night.

"Family gathering?" I asked her. Anika furrowed her eyebrows at first, but then her expression softened as she seemed to realise I was referring to Aditya.

"Yeah," she nodded slowly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes now. "How do you know?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Best friend things," I replied with a half-smile, trying to keep it light despite the weight of what I knew.

I had been the first to hear about Aditya's potential arranged marriage, so it's obvious.

"So umm, I should leave?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper as the airport announcement echoed around us.

"Take care," I managed to say, watching her figure disappear into the bustling crowd.

A faint smile crept onto my face despite the melancholy tugging at my heart. Shaking my absentmindedly I walked back towards the parking lot, sliding in my car.

Soon enough, Vikram slumped into the passenger seat, almost throwing his body like a sick patient collapsing into a hospital bed.

"Kaha fasa diya mujhe," he huffed, his voice a mix of annoyance and exhaustion. "Mai boss hu ya wo? Nakchadi chudail!"

(Where have you trapped me?) (Am I the boss or is she? It hasn't been even a week since she joined the company and she's already taking fastidious witch!)

His complaints continued in a low murmur as I focused on the road ahead, leaving him grumbling like a child again.

"Usse Acchi to meri Anarkali thi! Ek ice-cream me mere saath airport aane ke liye taiyaar ho gyi!" he added, earning a sceptical glance from me.

(My Anarkali was better than her! Just with an ice cream, she was ready to come to the airport with me!)

"Anika, it is," I corrected him. "Didn't you two hate each other?"

"Yes! She helped to book a cab so I gave her ice cream," he explained matter-of-factly, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

"Ye kiski hai?" He held up a bright red hair tie from the dashboard, his expression a mix of curiosity and accusation.
(Whose is this?)

Anika's.

She must've left it here when I dropped her off at her dorm.

"Keep that back in its place," I told him firmly.

"Meri peeth peeche gullu gullu kar rahe ho?"
(You're seeing someone behind my back?)

I bit my lips, choosing not to reply to him as I felt my jaw tightening and heat creeping up to my neck. I focused on the road as Vikram's grumbling faded into the background, the city lights blazing by like distant stars in the evening sky.