7 PM…
There was a knock on the cabin door.
Aditya was so lost in his laptop that he didn’t even hear it.
The knock came again — softer this time.
Aditya looked up slightly, stood up, and said, “Anamika?! Come in!”
The door opened, and Anamika walked in, hesitating a little.
As soon as she entered, she asked, “How did you… how did you know it was me knocking?”
Aditya sat back in his chair and replied, “You still knock the same way on my cabin door… the second knock always softer, with hesitation. How could I not know?”
“Oh… is that so?” Anamika lowered her gaze shyly.
“You’re really bad, you know that!”
Hearing this sudden statement, Anamika looked at Aditya — who was staring back at her with a puppy face.
“What… what did you just say?” she asked.
Aditya stood up, slipped his hands into his pockets, and walked toward her.
“You’re really bad!”
“Why?! What did I do wrong?!” she asked innocently.
Aditya smiled.
“You hold yourself back too much… always putting yourself down! That’s why you’re bad. And for your information — I absolutely hate it when someone looks down on my mangaka! So from now on… if you do that again, things will get really bad!”
“Really, sir? And… how bad is bad supposed to be?”
A teasing voice came from the door — Ruhi!
Aditya froze, while Anamika quickly turned her gaze toward the door.
“You should’ve knocked, Ruhi!” Aditya squinted at her.
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“Well, I should have, but the door was already open… so I thought I didn’t need to… sir,” Ruhi said with a mischievous smile.
She walked in, placed a file on the table, and said, “Sir, please check this file. Our R&D department suggested a few new things.”
Aditya nodded. Ruhi turned to leave, but at the door she stopped, looked back, and added with a smirk, “By the way, sir… you should print out a pamphlet of every ‘crime’ and its punishment and distribute it around the office. After all, if Lady Boss makes a mistake and gets punished… others should at least know the punishment beforehand, right?”
Anamika blinked innocently and turned to Aditya.
“So… were you serious about the punishment? Did I really make a mistake?”
She looked like a lost little rabbit. Aditya stepped closer, smiled, and said, “No, no! I was just kidding. Seriously!”
But Anamika’s eyes still questioned him silently.
Aditya sighed deeply, gently patted her head, and said, “How can you be fooled so easily? Look over there—” (pointing to Ruhi) “—she’s enjoying the show!”
Ruhi, who was secretly enjoying it, panicked.
“Wha—no! I wasn’t! I’m going back to work now!” She ran out quickly.
Anamika tilted her head slightly, murmuring, “But then… how do you know when someone’s joking or telling the truth? To me… whatever you all say feels true…”
She looked thoughtful — and incredibly cute.
Aditya blushed a little, leaned closer, and whispered, “If you try to understand me a little more… you’ll know when I’m serious and when I’m just joking.”
Anamika gave a small nod.
Turning his face away, Aditya asked, “Anyway… why did you come here? Did you need something?”
Anamika fell quiet, not knowing how to ask what she really wanted…
Meanwhile
And inside the elevator, Rudra was laughing his heart out.
In one hand, he held a paper bag; in the other, a scary mask he had just worn a few moments ago.
As the elevator doors opened, Ruhi saw him, got startled, and screamed — making Rudra laugh even harder.
Ruhi’s fists clenched, ready to smash his face at any second.
She stepped forward — but the elevator doors shut.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, when the doors opened again.
This time Rudra wore a cute mask and said, “So, sweetheart… not coming in?”
Ruhi stormed inside, yanked the mask off his face, and shouted, “You idiot… pervert… moron! How many times have I told you — stop calling me sweetheart!”
Rudra, instead of being hurt, looked like he was enjoying it.
Her tiny fists hit him again and again, but he didn’t even flinch.
He caught both her hands, pinned them against the elevator wall, and said, “Okay, okay! I’m sorry! I was just teasing you. You get annoyed so easily… and I love that. By the way… eat properly, or maybe take some training from Saaniya… because your punches have no power at all! If Saaniya had punched me like this, I’d already be lying in a hospital bed!”
That made Ruhi furious — she stomped hard on his foot with her heel.
The pain made Rudra let go instantly, crouching down and clutching his foot.
With puppy-like eyes, he groaned, “So that’s why girls wear heels… huh? Oh, my poor foot… it hurts so bad!”
“Then learn some manners!” Ruhi snapped, turning her face away.
“And why are you here anyway?!”
Rudra stood up and handed her the paper bag.
“What’s this?” Ruhi asked.
“The kids from the hospital made it… for you. It took them two whole days. They were asking when you’ll come again to tell them stories.” Rudra smiled.
Ruhi softened.
“Next weekend… I’ll definitely come.”
“Thank you!” Rudra said warmly.
But Ruhi quickly replied, “For what?! I told them stories only because I promised you… in return for your help. This was just me repaying that favor. I don’t expect anyone to thank me for it!”
Silence fell between them.
Rudra wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
Ruhi wanted to ask something, but she didn’t.
The elevator doors opened, and a few employees stepped inside.
Their eyes met again. The elevator was crowded, yet there was a strange silence — and an odd warmth — between the two of them.
Rudra smiled as he stepped out on the ground floor.
But the moment he did, Ruhi hurriedly followed him out.
Rudra looked at her, a bit surprised.
Ruhi hesitated, then said, “I was… going for coffee. Would you… like to join me?”
Rudra grinned.
“Let’s go to a café then! We can grab some snacks too.”
“Fine… let’s go!” Ruhi walked ahead, while Rudra followed behind with a smile.
