REDAMANCY - Love's Timeless Path

3rd Note

— CW // Mature content, fingering, implicit oral sex

*****

"Pra? Pradipta? Haira's assistant?" Jagad looked at me with a look full of confusion.

"Yeah, you're Haira's friend, longer than me; has Pra really been working with her family for a long time?"

Jagad rubbed his chin; his other hand was busy stirring the drink in the plastic cup he had been holding. "It seems like Dipta has been with the Haira family since he was in college."

I savored the strong tastes dancing in my mouth as I took a sip of my espresso. The gentle hum of conversations and the subtle melodies created a cocoon of tranquility, but my thoughts were far from serene after hearing Jagad's answer just now.

"From what I recall, Oom Danu trained Dipta to study business in the company after the Darmana family funded his education. You are aware that Haira has a big responsibility to her family; that's why Dipta is helping Haira understand more about the business."

The bright and warm ambiance contrasts sharply with the swirl of emotions within me. The clinking of coffee cups and the comforting murmur of patrons formed a symphony of daily life, but my attention was drawn to the intriguing puzzle named Pradipta. To be honest, I found it annoying that people I didn't know well were attracting my interest.

"What's wrong, Jen?" Jagad asked while raising his eyebrows, sensing the difference in my expression after hearing his explanation.

I just shook my head. Not ready to share my thoughts that had been bothering me all this time. The air was rich with the intoxicating scent of freshly brewed coffee, and the warm glow of pendant lights created an inviting ambiance. I looked at my coffee, which still gave off a distinctive aroma that lingered in my sense of smell.

"It's okay, Gad, I'm just curious about that guy." I found myself tracing the rim of the coffee cup, lost in thought. The steam rose, creating ethereal patterns in the air. As I took a sip of my coffee, I gazed out of the window, watching the world pass by in a blur of motion. With each sip, the bitterness of the coffee mirrors the complexities of my thoughts.

Ten years. A decade.

And those ten years felt like nothing when my mind was filled with that tall man who amused me.

I took a deep breath while crossing my legs.

"Pradipta, huh?"

*****

"So, how did meeting with Papa go today?"

The faint smell of Haira's favorite scented candles wafted through the air as I held her close. We unfolded the evening with the ease of familiar routines — the comfort of home amplified by the presence of the one who made it truly special.

"Oh, Papa merely told me what I needed to start studying and monitoring, and I also started sharing almost 60:40 of my work with Agni. Agni wants to continue her study, so I think we need to recruit someone to help at the foundation." Haira answered me while planting a short kiss on my cheek.

Every word we said served as a link connecting our experiences as we conversed about the everyday things that we encountered. I listened as Haira animatedly recounted the intrigues of her day, her passion for her work evident in every word. Her laugh was like music to my soul; it warmed the room we were in even though it wasn't physically there.

"I'm glad you're starting to get enthusiastic about continuing your family business."

She hurriedly turned around and faced me. "Thanks to you, everything feels easier."