Inder smiled as he watched Seraphina, quietly amused by the way she sipped her tea. He then, walked back to the kitchen, and poured himself a cup. The steam rose softly from the tea as he carefully carried it back, sitting beside her, maintaining a respectful distance. For a few moments, they both focused on their cups, sipping quietly. The silence wasn't awkward; it was comfortable, with the sounds of the city outside barely reaching them.
Seraphina placed her tea on the small table in front of them, shifting slightly in her seat. She glanced at Inder, the playful glint in her eyes returning. "So," she began, her tone casual but with a teasing edge, "you always bring strangers home and offer them clothes and tea?"
Inder looked over at her, eyebrow raised, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Only the interesting ones," he replied, his voice light but amused. He placed his tea beside hers, leaning back a little, clearly picking up on her mood. "I'd say you're one of a kind."
Seraphina laughed softly. "Oh, really? And here I thought I was just another guest trying to stay dry."
He chuckled. "You've made quite an impression already."
Seraphina's gaze lingered on him, the air between them growing warmer. She shifted closer, closing the space between them just enough to make him notice. "You don't say," she murmured, her voice playful, her eyes locking with his.
Inder's amusement deepened. He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "You know, you're not so bad at making a first move."
Seraphina's smile widened. "And you're not too bad at flirting back."
Inder was fully in tune with the lighthearted tension, giving her his full attention now. The room seemed to shrink, pulling them closer as the conversation flowed between playful and charged.
After a while, Seraphina leaned back, her curiosity breaking through the surface. "Inder," she began, her tone suddenly a bit more serious but still warm, "I was meaning to ask you something."
Inder raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing just slightly in a playful suspicion. "Those two latest posts you made... who were they about?"
He paused for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful before he smiled, a little coy this time. "Ah, those. Let's just say they were about someone who has been on my mind lately."
Seraphina smirked, catching the hint but not pressing too hard. "Hmm, intriguing. You're not going to give me more than that, are you?"
Inder shook his head slowly, a soft chuckle escaping him. "Not yet."
Seraphina laughed lightly but changed the subject, her voice lowering again. "Well, then, let's change the topic.. I couldn't help but notice... when we had that Zoom conference with you and Mr. Pathak, I felt like you were... watching me. Why were you looking at me like that?"
Inder's playful smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. He shifted in his seat, his voice softening. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry if I did."
Seraphina studied his face for a moment, noting the sincerity in his apology. She shook her head slightly, her smile returning. "You didn't make me uncomfortable. I just... noticed, that's all."
He let out a quiet sigh of relief, the tension easing again. "Well, you were the most interesting person in the room. It's hard not to notice you, Seraphina."
She looked away for a moment, a soft laugh escaping her. "You have a way with words, don't you?"
Inder smiled, the moment settling back into that easy warmth. After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, Inder glanced at her, curiosity creeping back into his expression. "Can I ask you something, Seraphina?"
