Love Rekindled - AdiYa FF

Chapter 3: Fire Beneath the Rain

The office was as usual with their own deadlines and work, while Zoya sat at her cubicle, eyes fixed on her screen, though her mind was far from the code she was supposed to work on. Her thoughts were tangled up with Aditya—again. Ever since he joined Geospace, it was like her life had been thrown into chaos. From being a workaholic, she was turning more like an obsessive teenage girl. She wondered if he didn't get any other company to work other than this in the entire Mumbai. How much every time she thought this, she couldn't get an answer for that.

His sharp remarks, the tension between them, and the news that he was going out for dinner with Pooja. Was he serious? Was he doing this just to annoy her, or was he doing this out of his own will?

She fumed inwardly, her fingers tapping against the keyboard in a rhythm that betrayed her irritation. Just then, Pooja approached her cubicle with a bright smile, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Zoya.

"Hey, Zoe!" Pooja chirped munching her chips, leaning against the cubicle wall. "You okay? You've been looking... weirdly zoned out these past few days."

Zoya blinked, snapping out of her daze, and gave Pooja a tight-lipped smile. "Oh, I'm fine. Just... busy." She wondered if Pooja finally got some time off from roaming around Aditya.

Pooja wasn't convinced with Zoya's reply. She tilted her head, smirking. "Busy, huh? You sure it's not something... or should I say, someone else that's keeping you preoccupied?"

Zoya narrowed her eyes, her annoyance bubbling to the surface. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Pooja raised her eyebrows innocently. "Oh, nothing, nothing. It's just that you've been a bit... off. Like, ever since Aditya joined, you seem more... on edge. And not in a productive way."

Zoya felt her cheeks flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "It has nothing to do with him." she snapped, perhaps too quickly. "Why would it? Who is he?"

Pooja chuckled, unbothered by Zoya's sharp tone. "Oh, come on, Zoya. I can see the smoke coming out of your ears every time his name is mentioned. Like right now, for instance. And I too have the same question. Who is he? Why are you so rough and tough with him alone in this office?"

Zoya's hands clenched into fists on her lap. "I'm not—" she started but paused, taking a deep breath. "Forget it. So, dinner with Aditya, huh?"

Pooja's smile widened, as she said, "How sweet! You are thinking about that in spite of your busy schedule?" She added, "Yeah, a romantic candlelight dinner. I even booked a couple's table at the rooftop."

Zoya was appalled hearing it, as she looked up at her, "Candle...light dinner?"

Just then, Imraan came next to Zoya, and booed behind her, "Zoe Zoe!! You got scared, yeah?"

Zoya stared at Imraan, and wanted to just pour the coffee from the mug in his hand, straight on top of his head, for irritating her at the wrong time.

"You will wrap up work by 7, yeah Zoe? We will be leaving straight from office." Imraan said, sipping his coffee, while Zoya looked at him raising her eyebrows, "Where?"

"Arre...welcome dinner! Pooja didn't say you?" Imraan asked, as he looked at Pooja, "Pooja? You didn't tell Zoya?"

"Welcome dinner?" Zoya asked in confusion, as she looked at Pooja, while Pooja's laughter filled the air. "Oh, Zoya, seriously? You thought it's just me and Aditya having dinner together?" She shook her head, amused. "It's a welcome dinner for Aditya, babe. Not some candlelit date. Yash, Imraan, Nisha, and even you are going to be there!"

Zoya blinked, completely caught off guard. "A... welcome dinner? Okay..." she repeated, feeling foolish for jumping to conclusions.

Pooja nodded, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Yeah, you know, just the team bonding over food. No romance, no drama. Though, I have to admit, your reaction was priceless."