Kabhi main, kabhi tum, kabhi yeh, kabhi voh

Part 3: Cravings and book club

Sharjeena was trying to shake off the swirl of thoughts from her mind and focus back on work, but no matter how much she willed herself to, the ache in her heart wouldn't go away. She missed Mustafa. Despite everything, despite the distance between them, the absence of his presence felt like a hollow echo in her life. Her fingers hovered over her keyboard, but the words on the screen blurred as her mind wandered back to him.

Suddenly, there was a light tap at her desk, pulling her out of her reverie. She looked up, surprised, and saw Rehan standing there with a warm smile on his face.

"Good morning," he greeted cheerfully.

Sharjeena blinked, momentarily startled, before composing herself. "Good morning," she replied, her tone polite and formal, trying to mask the emotions still swirling inside her.

Rehan tilted his head slightly, concern evident in his eyes. "How are you feeling today? After yesterday, I mean."

She nodded, forcing a small smile. "I'm alright, thank you. And thank you again for yesterday," she added, her voice soft but sincere. "Aapne bohot madad kari."

Rehan waved it off, his casual demeanor lightening the air between them. "Please Sharjeena, maine aisa kuch nahi kia jiske liye aap baar baar mujhe thank you bol rahi hain."

There was a brief pause before Rehan's expression brightened, as if remembering something. "Oh! Mujhe aaj baaki colleagues se pata chala that you're-you're expecting. Kal main dar gaya tha aapki achanak tabiyat bigadti dekh ke but it all makes sense now." As soon as he said the last line, he suddenly looked rueful, realising his words.

"Um-Congratulations, Sharjeena. Aapko bhi aur aapki family ko bhi." His smile awkward but genuine.

Sharjeena accepted his congratulations with a polite nod, though her heart clenched slightly at the word 'family'. "Thank you," she murmured.

"Aapko kisi bhi cheez ki zarurat ho, kisi bhi task mein help chahiye ho," Rehan added kindly, "please don't hesitate to ask. I mean it. It's not easy balancing work and everything else. I'd be happy to help."

Sharjeena offered him a small but genuine smile this time, appreciating his gesture. "That's kind of you, Rehan. I'll keep that in mind."

Rehan nodded, his expression softening. "Take care, okay?" He gave her a quick smile before turning and walking back to his desk.

As soon as he left, Sharjeena let out a quiet sigh. Her thoughts drifted back to Mustafa. She wished it had been him asking about her health this morning, him showing concern, him offering her the comfort she craved. She tried to refocus on her work, but the yearning for his presence remained heavy in her heart.

By the time lunch hour rolled around, Sharjeena instinctively reached for her phone, scanning it for any sign of Mustafa. Nothing. Not a single message or missed call. Her heart sank. She had thought that the guilt he'd shown yesterday—the worry in his voice —was a sign of change. But now, it felt like it had been nothing more than a fleeting moment, a flash of insecurity triggered by seeing another man dropping her home.

She sighed deeply and made her way to the cafeteria, trying to push the thoughts away. As she sat down at the lunch table with two of her colleagues, Meher and Sara, she felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the sight of the lunch she had packed for herself this morning. The smell of the food that usually would have made her stomach rumble now turned it. She pushed her container away.

Meher, a cheerful woman in her late twenties, noticed the slight grimace on Sharjeena's face. "Sab theek hai, Sharjeena?" she asked, concern in her voice.

Sharjeena nodded and attempted a smile. "Haan, haan, sab theek hai... It's just—ever since I got pregnant, I can't stand the food I used to love." She chuckled slightly, more out of frustration than amusement. "Aajkal sirf ulti seedhi cheezein khaane ka dil karta rehta hai."