My Last Love

Part One

"Come in." Shehnaaz said curtly, straightening up in her chair. Siddharth peeked inside, apprehensive.

"I needed to--"

Shehnaaz tapped on the table causing the papers to rattle softly. Siddharth walked in.

"I.."

Shehnaaz pulled a blue file out of a small stack of files kept in a corner on her table and forwarded it to him. Siddharth took the file and skimmed through its contents.

"You have already signed them." Siddharth said quietly. "I thought--"

Shehnaaz sighed, standing up from her seat and walked up to a bookshelf. Siddharth bit his tongue.

"I also need--"

Shehnaaz walked back with a leather binder. "It has everything, color coded and customized for the better understanding of your interns."

Siddharth nodded. "Thank you."

Shehnaaz walked back to her desk and opened her laptop. Siddharth followed her.

"Will you never talk to me?" He asked softly.

"I do talk to you." She responded, not looking away from her computer screen.

"Like I am a stranger."

Shehnaaz shrugged. "It happens, Siddharth. People grow apart."

Siddharth pursed his lips. "At what cost?"

Shehnaaz didn't respond.

"You're behaving like this is my fault." Siddharth said firmly. "Like you had nothing to do with it."

"I never said that."

Siddharth rolled his eyes. "The whole office thinks you've gone crazy. You're like a fire breathing dragon, a badly made coffee is setting you off."

Shehnaaz smiled. "I like my coffee made perfectly."

"That's not the point, Shehnaaz." Siddharth snapped.

"What is? What is the point then, Siddharth?" Shehnaaz asked curiously. "Am I behaving like a baby? Do I disappoint you Siddharth?"

Siddharth looked at her dejected. "Naaz."

"Don't. You. Dare."

"Shehnaaz you're--"

"Not dealing with this the right way?" Shehnaaz asked, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow.

Siddharth sighed. "No. Not really."

Shehnaaz chuckled sarcastically. "Fortunately, I don't need your approval to live."

"Do you need something else Siddharth?" She asked. Siddharth shook his head.

"Then, please leave." Shehnaaz said firmly. "I'm a little occupied right now."

"Sheh--"

"Leave!" Shehnaaz said sternly.

Siddharth nodded. "It's not easy for me either, you know. We had been together for over a year and I.. loved you every second of every day."

Shehnaaz looked back at him and smiled sadly. "You're the one who left, Siddharth."

Siddharth walked back to her. "We weren't happy, Shehnaaz. You were never completely there."

Shehnaaz pressed her lips together, "Who the hell do you think you are, to decide that?" She asked. "Did I ever say that?"

"I saw it happen. Every single day. You never-- never made efforts for us." Siddharth said quietly.