LUNA AND ERTHA

:: CHAPTER 19 ::

AFFINITY

Honesty can make things feel simple but in return it can create chaos.

In was a typical Friday morning at the office, with the usual chatter and clinking of coffee cups filling the air.
Dhruv, engrossed in his work, suddenly looks up and asked Sanjay, "Where do this heading need to be mentioned?"

Sanjay, too focused on his laptop, didn't respond.
Dhruv patted him on the shoulder saying, "DUDE?"

Sanjay got a jolt and tuned around, "YEAH?"
"Why do you seem so worried?"
Sanjay forced a tired smile and replied,
"Nothing! Just too much work."
Dhruv probed further,
"Oh! Office work is a hectic, right?"

Sanjay shook his head,
"Nah! Not this work. I shifted to a new apartment, so I had a lot of extra work to do last night."
Dhruv's eyes widened with surprise, "Woah! You bought an apartment?" Sanjay nodded, beaming with pride.

Dhruv shook his hand, exclaiming, "Way to go bro!"
Sanjay laughed, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

In the afternoon,
As the cafeteria's soft glow wrapped around, people engrossed in their lunch. Dhruv and Jhanvi grabbed their usual place, sat together, lost in conversation.

"Did you hear about Sanjay's new apartment?" Dhruv asked,
Jhanvi nodded, mouth full with food which she love.

"Wwhhqwerrerew aahhhrhhreee- "

"Complete that and speak!"

She gulped her stuff with high intensity which is not possible for normal humans.

"Where is your army?" she asked.

"Army?" he asked, grabbing some salt for his salad.

"Yeah! I mean VADC"
Casually naming Dhruv's gang with their first letters.

"They are busy flirting" he said taking a bite of lettuce from his plate.

"I envy them!" she said grabbing water to fill her thirst.

"Where is your army?" he asked.

"I wish I could say 'They are busy flirting' but nah! They are just scattered across their cabins binge-watching Dramas."

"Such a waste of lunch time!" he said eating his meal which seemed like 'grass on plate'.

"Right! ......Dumbos!" says the girl who completed a drama last night.

"I heard it's big and comfy!" he added,

"What?" she asked looking at him in confusion, as that was out of blue.

"Sanjay's apartment!" he said,
She nodded, a stray rice grain clung to her lip caught his attention.

Without thinking, he reached out, his fingers grazing her lip as he gently removed the grain. Popping it into his mouth.

Her heart skipped a beat.
Their eyes met, the air thickening with tension.
His voice dropped to a whisper, "You had a little something..."

Jhanvi's pulse raced,
As he continued, "Wanna eat more?" diverting the tension to a casual tone.

Her mind, however, had already skipped town, replaced by a chorus of 'He touched my lip! He ate the rice! What does it MEAN?!'

"Sorry guys!" Sanjay exclaimed, moving forward towards the duo. Breaking the tension which was created.

"I'm organizing a house warming party tomorrow in my apartment!" he said with a smile.

"WOAH!" Dhruv and Jhanvi said in unison.

"You guys are invited! Please be my guest!" He said handing a card from the bag.

"Thanks! We'll be there, don't worry. But why is it only one?" Dhruv asked looking at the single card passed to him.

"What do you mean?" Sanjay asked.

"Card bro! Give her one as well." He said pointing towards Jhanvi.

"Giving it to you or her is same thing!" Sanjay said waving a bye, leaving the area, also leaving these two in confusion.

Awkward silence descended for a while,
"So......Are you coming?" He asked breaking the silence.

She was taking her time to think,
"Maybe I can't!" She said, absently stirring her food.

"WHY?" he asked, leaning forward.

"It's at 8 pm!"

"SO?"

"I don't think any public transport will be safe for me during that time."

"I'll be your transport!"

"What?"

"I'll pick and drop you!"

"No, you don- "

"You don't wanna come?"

"I do want to come!"

"Then complete your meal now, be ready by 7 tomorrow, I'll pick you up and if you deny this, I think I might get hurt."

She didn't utter a single word after that, obeying the orders given. Her smile was sneaky, as she was happy that he wants her to visit it with him.

A knock, on Rohit's door caught him off guard. Rohit, focused on his computer, replied, "Yeah!"

Radha entered, dropping a load of reports on the table.
"Thanks!" Rohit said, without looking up.
"Anything else, sir?" Radha asked,
"Maybe a kiss?" Rohit whispered.
"Huh?" Radha oblivious to his whisper,
"Uh-Nothing! Thanks for the work." Rohit quickly covered.

Radha, oblivious to Rohit's momentary slip, left the cabin. Rohit sighed, wondering when he'd make his move.

While moving back to the office wing, Radha spotted Dhruv sitting on a bench near the cafeteria, seemingly waiting for someone. She saw a man in a black suit handing Dhruv some documents and leaving.

As soon as she reached, she asked, "Who was that?"
Dhruv calmly replied, "Sanjay's friend! He just gave me some work documents."

Radha sat beside Dhruv,
"So, how are things going?" Radha asked,
"Pretty normal! What about you?" Dhruv asked leaning back.

"Nothing much! Just getting bored with daily work sessions."

"Damn! Need some fun time I guess."

"Yep!! Something like that." Radha said smiling.
"You don't seem like someone who would do a 9 to 5 job." She added.

"What do you mean?"

"Ever saw yourself in the mirror?"

"Woah! Do I seem that ugly?"

"Heyy!! I mean you look good, why don't you try modelling?"

"Damn! You think so? Hahaha" Dhruv laughed, his hair waving with the air around the area.
His dimples emerging out, his eyes sparkling.
Radha never saw Dhruv this way, her eyes fixated on him.

"Ma'am?"

"...."

"Radha?"

"...."

"Dumbo??" Dhruv snapped his fingers.

"U-Uh! Ye-yeah!!" she got back her senses.

"Daydreaming is not good!" he said.

She nodded while recollecting herself,

"Especially for a HR" he said handing a bottle of water.
"Drink this! You seem tired."

"Thanks!" She said, taking a sip from it.

"Coming to the party tomorrow?" He asked, resting his head on the edge of the bench.

"Yeah! What about you?" She asked, placing the bottle beside Dhruv.

"Ofcourse I will!" He said with a smile.