𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙛 (𝙂𝙭𝙂)

16. Elevator

GANGA'S POV

Wow, what a great day!

I walked out of the car, grabbing my handbag as I crossed the door. I danced my way to the building.

If it's not obvious, I am very happy we won. More than anything, I am glad she is back in the kitchen. I swear I would have left this place if she were not working.

What? Don't blame me. Having a hot crush is quite motivational.

I opened the door and was greeted by the receptionist.

"Hiiii," I called her excitedly as she came towards me running.

"I heard you guys won?" She said this as I nodded proudly.

"Yup, I told you, our head chef is a beast."

"That she is, but you also worked hard; I am glad things worked out," she said, looking at me with a gentle smile.

"Aww, thank you; if that's the case, then I need to appreciate you; getting greeted by a gorgeous angle definitely sets up a good impression," I teased, nudging her arm as she smiled shyly.

"Do you think there will be a raise in your pay?" she asked as my eyes almost came out.

"You think so?"

"I hope so; I mean, there might be," she mumbled, looking away as I gasped.

"If that's the case, then I will buy you a cake to celebrate."

"WHAT, WHY?" She yelled, looking surprised as my eyebrows crashed.

"Why not?"

"I mean, why buy me a cake?"

"I can't buy you a cake." I asked, confused, as she looked at me in disbelief.

"I...uh...I mean sure," she said as I smiled.

"What, Flavor?" I asked, smug.

"Strawberry?"

"Strawberry...huh??" I teased, wiggling my eyebrows as her face got a shade of red, looking around as she tried not to laugh.

"I was talking about cake," she said, looking at me as I scoffed.

"I was talking about cake too; what did you think?" I asked, narrowing my eyebrows as she tried to walk away.

"Ouuu, you naughty naughty," I teased as she giggled.

"Don't you have to work? Now gooo," she instructed as I nodded.

"Okay, I am going," I responded, hoping my way towards the elevator.

There seemed to be a rush. A couple of employees stood around, the door opened, and everyone immediately barged in.

I almost broke my ankle as I got in. The door was about to close when I heard a sound.

I looked up, and it turned out there were too many passengers.

The employees looked at each other for a minute, and I decided to leave the spot.

I walked out, and a lady mouthed a short "thank you" as I smiled.

The elevator moved up; I pressed the button, waiting for the next one to come; I tapped my feet, humming a random song; and finally, the doors opened.

Upon walking in, I pressed the button. I watched the door close, but suddenly, a hand came in, making it open right back up.

"Oh, good morning, chef!" I beamed as she looked at me, surprised. Behind her was Lucas, who smiled.

"No good morning for me?" He asked as I giggled.

"Good morning to you too," I wished as he nodded.

Chef was standing still, not moving in, which made Lucas nudge her. She turned around, glaring at him as she said,

"Didn't you say that you wanted to take the stairs?"

Lucas frowned. I looked at him, suppressing a snicker as he looked flabbergasted.

"Excuse me!"

"You're excused. Take the stairs," she said, getting in as she turned towards him, her back facing me as she waved at him.

The door closed as she moved back, standing right beside me as I bit my lower lip.

How should I start the conversation?

There was an awkward silence. At least it felt awkward to me. I glanced at the chef from the corner of my eyes.

She wore a black button-up shirt, tucked in in the front, her hair tied into a small ponytail while the majority of her fell in front of her eyes, framing her face so effortlessly.

"It's a good day, isn't it, chef?" I asked, looking up as she looked at me, nodding.

"Quite sunny; I like it!" I gleamed, looking at her.

"It's too hot," she complained, making me frown.

"Noo, yesterday it rained again; I don't understand why it rains so much," I ranted as she turned to me, raising an eyebrow that made my stomach churn.

"I like the rain. It feels peaceful," she mumbled as my eyes widened.

"I...ah..mean like I love the rain too; it's one of my favorite things; it's just yesterday, especially there was rain, and uh," I stopped, hearing a chuckle as I looked at her, who was already side-eyeing me.

"You literally just complained about the rain," she reminded me as I gulped. Her lips had a small smile, and those partially dead eyes occasionally showed emotions.

"I did not mean it like that!" I explained as she looked away, smiling.

"At least bless my day with that smile," I mumbled, making her snap her head at me.

"What?" I asked.

"How do you talk with no filter?" She asked, leaning against the wall of the elevator.

"Hehe, I just say whatever comes to mind," I stated, making her shake her head.

God, I wish the time would just stop.

It feels good to talk to her alone. It's been almost three months and a half since I had this crush on her.

Yet, I didn't really get much chance of talking to her; I wanted to, but she always disappeared once her shift was over.

I wish the elevator would crash and I would get trapped.

Aye, don't say that!

But then again, it would be kind of romantic.

I pressed my lips into a firm line, looking at the floor as I daydreamed about the scenario.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the light flicker. We both looked up, wondering what the hell was going on.

In a blink, we felt the floor violently shake, the light completely turning off as the elevator came to a halt.

And kids, this is why we don't wish for things without thinking.

"AAAAAAAH, I'M GONNA DIE!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, hugging my knees as I tried to cover my ears.

"IM GONNA DIE, I'M GONNA DIE, IM GONNA DIE-"

"SHUT UP!"

I stopped, hearing her shout as I tried to look around; the elevator was pitch black. I held my hand out, trying to see where she was.

"Where are you? Did you fall off?" I yelled as I heard a groan.

I moved my hands around, trying to find her. Finally, I grabbed her legs, pulling, and she yelled.

"Leave my legs!" she scolded.

"But I'm scared!"

"Toh?"

"So?"

"Toh aapka Sar!"

"So, your head!"

She moved around, and suddenly the light came back. As I looked up, I realized I was pulling her pants.

"What are you trying to do?" She asked as I laughed awkwardly.

The position was kind of awkward since I was down, but also just below her pelvis, holding her calf.

"Izzat loot ne ka plan hain?"

"Are you planning to harass me?" she asked as I gasped, crawling back but then losing my balance and finally falling on my ass.

"Noooo, I am not that kind of person!" I yelled, worried she would get the wrong idea.

She sighed as she kneeled down, setting beside me. We were in the two corners.

"Will we get out?" I asked, feeling tensed as she looked straight into my eyes with a dead pan stair.

"No,"

"WHAT? PRESS THE EMERGENCY BUTTON!" I yelled, getting up as she chuckled.

"What did I just do?" She asked as I frowned.

"Turn the lights on."

"They turn on when you press the emergency," she remarked as I made an "o" face. I sat back down, hugging my knees as I looked around.

7 minutes later.

"I am bored," I mumbled, looking at her, who had her eyes closed.

"Go dance," she said as I rolled my eyes.

"There is no music," I complained.

"So sad,"

"Chef, how are you so clam?" I asked, genuinely curious as I eyed her. She was sitting on the floor, relaxing as if she were sleeping.

"Simple, this is not my first time," she said, making her eyes bulge out.

"WHAT?"

"Don't yell; I am right beside you," she said as I pouted, slightly annoyed, but it's okay, because since it's her.

"To be precise, this is my 12th time getting stuck in the elevator," she said as I gasped, covering my mouth.

"So what do you learn from this?" She asked, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"That you are not lucky?"

"Nope, the company has a shitty elevator," she stated as I nodded.

The elevator fell silent for a minute. I tapped my finger restlessly, making random tunes as I tried to pass the time.

10 minutes later

I yawned, feeling sleepy, as I rested my head against the wall.

"Sleepy?"

"Very much," I mumbled as she nodded. I eyed her, specifically a very comfy shoulder that she could lend me.

"You should have slept earlier," she said, making me scoff. She looked at me with half-closed eyes.

"Huh?" She asked as I shook my head.

So un-romantic.

She sighed, running her hand through her hair as she scooted near me.

I looked at her as I noticed her shoulder was the perfect length, just high enough for me to rest me head. I fluttered my eyes, hoping to seduce her as her eyes narrowed. She looked away as I sighed.

"Lean in," she mumbled.

I couldn't help but let a smile break in. I happily rested my head on her shoulder as she faced the other side.

Wah, what a time to be alive!

I wonder how many people get to experience resting their head on their crush's shoulder.

I closed my eyes, soaking up the moment as I enjoyed the atmosphere. I peeked my eye open. She rested her hand on one of her knees, and as she tapped her finger around, I noticed her tattoos.

"What do they mean?" I asked, slightly looking up.

"Which one?"

"The bunny," I said. She had a small bunny standing up as he looked at the two birds on the inner forearm.

"The rabbit is my first pet; so is the bird," she explained as I nodded.

She pulled her sleeves up a bit, exposing more of that beautiful artwork.

"What are the most meaningful ones?" I asked as she showed me the numbers 24 and 25. They were just below her wrist.

"My mom and dad's birthday," she said as I looked at it with heart eyes.

"Awww, that is so cute."

"I also have a doughnut since it's my favourite," she said, showing me a tiny doughnut that was in her upper forearm.

"What's that knife?" I asked, a tiny knife catching my eyes. It was directly pointing at her pinky.

"That's my first knife. It's actually for a children's cooking set," she said with a tiny smile.

"They look so hot, but the reasoning is cute," I mumbled as she chuckled.

"The majority of them are just to cover up burn scars; I had a lot of them," she said as I nodded.

"Do you have more, or are they just in your arm?" I questioned her as she smirked.

"I do have some other tats that are not on my arm," she said as I looked up, curiously feeling my brain up.

"Really, can you show me?" I asked, trying to convince her.

"Really, you wanna see?" She asked, her husky voice almost making my guts twist as she looked at me, smirking.

I don't know why, but the question made me flustered. Her eyes were scanning my face, moving for my eyes as I felt them go lower.

"I mean, if you are comfortable..." I stuttered, watching her tilt her face as her lips held a playful smirk.

I looked away, the proximity suddenly making me feel butterflies as I realize how close she was, and me sitting on the corner did no help.

"I am..... are you?" She asked, making me gulp. I won't lie, I forgot what I even just said. All I could focus on was the fact that she was so close to me.

"Ah, that..." My eyes unknowingly fell onto her lips. I looked back at her, my heart pounding against my chest as I felt her eye on me. She scanned me as I looked down, feeling shy, but then I felt her fingers on my chin.

Her index finger came into contact with my chin as she made me look at her.

"Do you want to see stars?" She whispered as I felt my heart stop.

"Stars?" I mumbled as she nodded.

"Stars," she repeated.

I looked at her, unsure if I was taking her words the wrong way or if she actually meant what she said.

I was about to ask something, but then the light went off. The elevator shook violently as I jumped towards her, wrapping my hands around her shoulder.

"Ganga," she called as I held her tighter. I felt her tap my back. I pulled away and saw her face in front of me.

Her lips held a smug smile as her eyes moved towards the door.

"Ma'am, you can come out." I heard a sound as I unwrapped my hands, pulling away as I saw the door open.

I peeked in her direction, her lips turning into a smug smile as she got up.

The door finally opened, and she walked out as she turned, giving me her hand as I held it.

"Is everything alright?" one of the guys asked, and I looked at her.

"Perfect," she said, before walking towards the kitchen.

What just happened?

TO BE CONTINUED
_______________________________________

A/N

Well, well, well, don't ask to get stuck in an elevator.

I won't lie, the inspo for the chapter was the movie Pokkiri, one of my og fav films.