Let's Fall Together

9. The boss and poprings

The picture inside our head differs greatly from the image of reality.

I realized this when my eyes captured the reality so strikingly different from the one they'd dreamed.
Life away from my family was not worth considering life. It felt empty. Like the heart that beat all my life suddenly forgot how it had done it before. The eyes that were familiar to their presence found everything else a passing blur in their absence.

Breathing seemed exhausting since we didn't share the same air anymore.

Vaidehi aunty was generous, but what I wanted was comfort. I was getting familiar to the life here, but what I'd grown accustomed to in my town, in my home, still lingered around me like a child tailing his mother.

My hand tapped the desk as my train of thoughts proceeded. A hand in my peripheral vision drew close to me and I snapped back into reality. Startled by the sudden interruption, my wary gaze landed on the culprit.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry but you seemed lost. Anything I might help with? " a slow voice spoke. Nirav. He stared at me with soft eyes, his words carefully picked out. I must look miserable. I weaved a hand through my hair to make them seem less dishealved.

"No it's nothing, I just didn't get enough sleep last night " I offered with a smile. A miserable excuse of a smile, but it was more than I could offer.

"What's keeping you up all night? Or is it a Who? " His eyes gleamed with mischief as he stared at me with an amused smile. My own lips curled up in amusement. This man.

" Why, do you wish to be that Who? " I narrowed my eyes at him, a teasing glint in them.

Bold, Rivaah darling. Real bold.

His expression morphed into that of a startled cat before he recovered. The amusement returned his eyes as he spoke. " Well, I'm not entirely against the idea, or was it a proposal? "

"Ofcourse it was. I also brought a ring. See. " I flashed him a wide smile as I picked up the snack from my desk and showed it to him. Poprings were my favorite pass time snacks prior to lunch. they were ring shaped snacks that tasted like heaven as they melted in your mouth as soon as you put them inside.

He grinned back as he too, just like me, grabbed a couple of poprings and wore them on his fingers, showing them to me like a proud child.

"Wait, do I need to get on my knees for this? " He attempted to kneel down before I smacked his arm.
"Get up you fool. You are embarrassing me. " I urged him to get up, laughing again.

"Alright, did you just come here to be a Prince Charming to this damsel in distress, or did you need something? " I asked as soon as both of us sobered up. Nirav and I had gotten quite close in the two weeks we had worked together. He, I had realised soon, was one among a very few people in this office I'd get along with. And we got along more than fine, great even.

"Well, my lady, the reason behind my visit was more than just an excuse to see you, but now that I've seen you, I must admit all reasons fade before this beauty. I'm enamoured by you. " He said, as he bowed in his full form, head low and everything. I chuckled at his childishness. This was fun.

"Beauty is a disguise, kind sir. I hide my wild intentions for you behind it. " I throttled back, a wicked smile replacing my grin. He raised an inquisitive brow before chuckling.

"Alright, you win. The day I win against that sharp toungue of yours, will be the day I hand sweets to every person in this office. Anyways, I really did come to ask you if you had completed the draft I'd sent you three days prior? " He asked.