The Red String

Chapter 2

Divya

"Good morning everyone, how is everyone doing?" Benson asked, a cheerful grin on his face. Everyone answered in unison incoherence, each having their own answer. I stayed silent, though, and so did Arjun. We both glanced everywhere in the room but at each other, but my peripheral vision didn't leave him and his didn't leave me.

Benson went on to introduce Arjun, talking about him and his accomplishments but I wasn't paying much attention. All I could think about was how the story I thought was over never was. Honestly, I wouldn't complain if he was positioned with Brenda. She can have at him all she wants. It's not like she's going to evoke much emotion, anyway. Doesn't seem like I was able to in all these years. Then again, I hadn't even talked to him in 15 years, so it doesn't even matter. A decade and a half later and he just managed to get more handsome. I should've done my hair better, even my make up. I should've worn a better outfit. I noticed Sarah glancing at him with a flirtatious yet friendly smile, and he offered her a tight lipped one as if he wanted to get out of the room just as much as I did.

"Alright, that's enough from me, I'll be handing off the stage to Arjun. Tell us a bit about yourself, other than what I already said." Benson sat back down in his seat and it was Arjun's turn to stand in front of the table.

"Hi everyone, my name is Arjun. Benson already said a lot about me, so there isn't really much for me to say after this," he chuckled and the room offered the same before he continued, "but I am extremely excited to be joining the team and hope to have a smooth transition." He looked at me when he said the last part and then sat back down.

"Well, cool. Alright, Divya, do you mind taking the stage with your presentation?" Benson asked.

Fuck. I forgot. I nodded and stood up, connecting my laptop to the projector via Bluetooth and in a matter of seconds, my screen was on the presentation board. The five minute of my presentation seemed to go on for a century. It wasn't much, it was just what the front end team has worked on so far. It's still a new project so there hasn't been much progress yet. I was thanked for my presentation and Josh took my place up front. He did a better job at presenting than I did. Of course, I would've had the same confidence if it wasn't Arjun Vikas I was presenting to anyway.

Josh's presentation went by like a breeze regardless of it being 15 minutes long. Arjun grilled him with questions tag he answered effortlessly. They got along well already. A few moments after Josh was back in his seat, Benson announced Arjun's cubicle.

A22. The one next to Josh. The one in front of me. The one diagonal to Sarah. Not by Brenda. But in front of me.

Once Benson dismissed the meeting, I walked out of the room so fast, I didn't even give Sarah and Josh enough time to collect their things and walk with me. I heard fast paced footsteps following me, though, and a familiar voice calling out for me to wait. I stopped in my tracks and turned around to see Arjun trying to catch up to me.

"Hey," he spoke, "how've you been?"

"I've been okay, how about you?" The conversation started as if we were strangers meeting for the first time. Although it's been 15 years, it barely feels like it's been 15 minutes since I saw him for the last time at graduation and he got on his flight back to Bangalore that night. The last day I ever saw him until today.

"I've been okay too. I know you may not have the most pristine opinion of me, but please, can we start over?" His request felt impossible, but it was the best option.

I nodded, letting out a breath. Before I could say anything further, Sarah and Josh caught up to us.

"Hey, why'd you leave us in there?" Sarah questioned, feigning offense.

"Come on, man, walk with us. You sit next to me," Josh grinned.

"Awesome." Arjun walked ahead with Josh, both of them talking as if they've known each other for eternities.

I trailed behind with Sarah, listening to her gush on about how cute he is. It would be less painful if I didn't think the same. If I hadn't thought the same since college even began. But no, I did. And as much as they say time heals, it certainly didn't heal me.

Starting over is going to be a blast.