Anirudh's POV

Starting a new phase in life is always difficult especially when you are the one to decide the new path. When I realised my feelings for Adrita I didn't know what to do. I was confused between taking the risk or keeping it safe and wait for a day when it all happens simultaneously. But then life doesn't wait for anyone and I hate being left behind.

Her radiant smiles compel me to smile back, her sweet gazes leave me captivated, and her little sweet actions make me feel the blessedest.

When did it happen? I have no idea. It just happened. All this time I guess it was building up and I had zero clue.

"Heard you have caught a big fish." A senior asserts, breaking me out from my trance.

I glance around the elevator to see who this old man is talking to, but the only other person in the elevator is a lady who is seemingly quite busy with her phone. I was quite in a good mood as I was ascending toward the design department but, someone had to spoil it.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, don't act all innocent. Do you think we don't know you have managed to capture the owner's daughter? Explains your ease of getting a permanent job."

Hopefully, my clenched jaws and blazing eyes articulate the rage I feel. The senior shrugs at my resentment and goes back to where he crawled up from.

I knew this was going to happen. I expected this. People will always find ways to entertain themselves with things they have nothing to do with. The rumours have been going around for a while but now the judgements were more open and more eye to eye.

"I am sure he is scared for a lifetime." I turn in response to the unfamiliar though gentle voice. The owner of the voice smiles and forwards her hand for a handshake.

"Hi, I am Nyra, a newbie."

I shake hands with her and introduce myself, "Hello, nice to meet you."

"If you don't mind, can you lead me to the cafeteria? Very hungry." She says, laughing and pointing to her stomach.

"Uhh, yeah, it's on the second floor. And we are already in the elevator so I promise it won't be an issue."

This time her smile dims a little, giving me a curt nod, she gets off the elevator. I thought of telling her that it was not the second floor but she was too fast.

Was I rude?

Why is everything or everyone acting so strange today?

Shrugging off the weird feeling I rode the rest of the elevator ride alone.

All the excitement drowns in the drain when I notice Adrita's vacant chair.

"Here to see Adrita?" Pragya, her colleague asks. A lot of my lunches were spent here so it wasn't surprising I remember her name or vice versa.

"Yeah, where is she?"

"A workshop of some sorts."

Ohh.

A disappointed sigh escapes my lips.

"Adrita is such a sweetheart. By the way, I already knew something was up between you. It's cute you know, like in a novella way. The hi-fi princess falls in love with a simple middle-class boy. Do you know people call you Mr Cinderella?"

Was it a compliment or an insult?

I only like one person to refer to me as Mr Cinderella i.e Adrita, nobody else.

Not knowing how to respond to her particular response I politely nodded at her and took her leave.

Middle-class guy...not a guy who merely fell in love.

*****

Few days later

Heck! I miss Adrita.

It has been five days and 11 hours since I saw her and, I can't even blame anyone except myself.

The rumours were getting me. And they were getting worse day by day. Assumptions were thrown around, be it by so-called friends or so-called strangers.

I couldn't stop going to the office so I asked Adrita if it would be okay to not meet each other during office times. And she agreed, no questions asked.

How I wish she hadn't. 

Her workshops, deadlines, sunshine kids.

My meetings, projects, field trips.

We are so busy in our work life that time for each other feels like a luxury.

I miss her terribly. Especially her sunshine-like smile that makes me smile back every damn time.