Tangled Reckonings

Coffee Break

Ishan, engrossed in his thoughts, found himself lost in the moment of the past. The events of yesterday, the protective shield Shubman had become, and the surprising kiss—all these moments played like a movie in his mind.

Mayank, with a mission to shake Ishan from his contemplative stupor, decided to add a playful twist to the usual startle tactic. Sneaking into Ishan's office, Mayank couldn't resist the temptation to bring a little excitement to his friend's day.

Just as Ishan was immersed in thoughts about the unexpected kiss, Mayank executed his plan. With a theatrical "BOO," he burst into the room, making sure to add a playful flourish to the scare.

Ishan, caught off guard, practically jumped out of his chair, a mix of surprise and mild annoyance on his face. Mayank, however, found this reaction immensely amusing, breaking into laughter at Ishan's expense.

"Mayank! Seriously? What's with the sudden scare tactics?" Ishan exclaimed, trying to recover from the unexpected startle.

Mayank, still chuckling, replied, "Well, you seemed so lost in your thoughts that I thought a little excitement might bring you back to reality."

Ishan, though slightly annoyed, couldn't help but chuckle along. "You have a peculiar way of bringing people back to reality, my friend."

With the mischievous interlude complete, Mayank shifted gears. "Coffee break, my friend? You seem like you could use a break from all these deep thoughts. A cup of coffee might be just the thing to snap you out of it."

Ishan, grateful for the diversion, smiled and agreed. "Coffee sounds like a good plan. Lead the way, Mayank."

As they strolled towards the office cafeteria, Ishan tried to shake off the remnants of the scare, his thoughts now shifting to more immediate concerns. Little did he know that this coffee break would pave the way for a conversation that had been looming on the horizon.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped Ishan and Mayank as they settled into a cozy corner of the office cafe. Mayank, his eyes glinting with curiosity, couldn't resist delving into the morning's mysterious events.

Leaning in, Mayank asked in a hushed tone, "Alright, spill the beans, Ishan. What's with Shubman's sudden change in demeanor? He smiled at you this morning, and there's talk about him being... jealous?"

Ishan, genuinely baffled by Mayank's revelations, furrowed his brow. "Smiling? Jealous? Mayank, have you been reading too many office romances? Shubman being jealous is like saying the sun rises in the west."

Mayank, relishing the chance to play the role of the mischievous instigator, grinned and persisted, "Oh, my dear Ishan, I saw it with my own eyes. Shubman had this subtle smile when he looked at you. And during the meeting, he wasn't too pleased with a certain client showing interest in you."

Ishan's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he stammered, "What? No way! You're imagining things. Shubman doesn't do smiles, and jealousy is not in his vocabulary."

Mayank, enjoying Ishan's visible discomfort, continued his playful banter. "Well, my friend, reality seems to be rewriting itself. There's something different about Shubman, and it involves you. Spill the beans, Ishan. What's going on between you two?"

Ishan, desperately trying to shift the spotlight away from the newfound office drama, blurted out, "Mayank, come on! Enough with the conspiracy theories. Let's talk about something else. Riya, maybe? How's that banter going?"

Mayank, not one to easily relent, chuckled and conceded, "Fine, we'll save the Shubman saga for another day. But you're not escaping the questions forever, Ishan."

Ishan, still attempting to redirect the conversation away from the enigma that was Shubman, decided to playfully steer it towards Mayank's own realm of romantic entanglements.

"Well, speaking of romantic escapades, how's the ongoing banter with Riya? Any progress on the love front?" Ishan quizzed, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Mayank, ever the storyteller, leaned back with a grin. "Ah, Riya! The perpetual source of amusement in my life. We're in a constant state of friendly banter. Keeps the office vibe alive, you know?"

Ishan chuckled, "Friendly banter, huh? Mayank, you should write a book on decoding workplace dynamics. I'm sure it would be a bestseller."

Mayank pretended to ponder the idea. "Not a bad idea, Ishan. 'Office Chronicles: Decoding Smiles and Jealousy'—what do you think?"

Ishan laughed, "Sounds like a thrilling read. You'll need to include a special chapter on deciphering the mystery of Shubman's newfound emotions."

Mayank grinned, "Ah, the elusive Shubman. The plot thickens. Maybe I'll make it a trilogy. 'Shubman's Smile,' 'Jealousy Unleashed,' and the grand finale, 'Thawing of the Icicle CEO.'"

Ishan couldn't help but join in the playful banter. "You've got the titles down. Now, all you need is the inside scoop."

Mayank pointed a finger at Ishan, "And that's where you come in, my friend. Spill the tea, and we'll make this trilogy a reality."

Ishan shook his head, "No tea to spill, Mayank. Just regular office shenanigans."

Their banter continued, providing a welcome respite from the complexities of the morning. Little did Ishan know that the mysteries surrounding Shubman were destined to unravel, and the pages of their shared story were turning to reveal new and unexpected chapters.