DESIRES - Tarini & Samir

The Perfect Day.

Today had been one of those days where everything felt like an uphill climb. I arrived at the office early, hoping to get a head start on the pile of work waiting for me, but from the moment I walked through the door, the pressure hit me. A sea of documents sat on my desk—contracts, financial reports, budgets, and expense approvals—every single one demanding my attention.

It was only 9 AM, and the finance department was already in full swing. Emails were flying back and forth, meetings were being scheduled, and requests kept coming in. Every time I thought I’d cleared something from my list, another request would pop up—like an endless game of whack-a-mole, but with spreadsheets and compliance forms.

I barely had time to grab a coffee, and by noon, I realized I hadn't had a proper break. My head throbbed slightly from staring at numbers for too long, and my inbox was overflowing with follow-ups from both the finance and accounting teams. I had reviewed the quarterly budget projections, finalized expense reports, and still had to go over some critical documents related to an upcoming financial audit. These were all responsibilities that came with the role, but today felt heavier than usual.

The whole office was buzzing, and even though I was used to multitasking under pressure, today’s tasks were pushing my limits.

The office slowly started to empty out as evening rolled in. My colleagues waved goodnight one by one, headed out to enjoy their evenings, while I remained glued to my chair. Everyone I was close with had already left, but there were still a few people lingering around, rushing to finish last-minute tasks before disappearing. It felt like I was in a bubble, disconnected from the rest of the world.

Eventually, after hours of reviewing data and making last-minute checks, I stretched in my chair and realized it was nearing 9 PM. I had finally reached a point where I could call it a day. My body felt heavy, and my mind was still racing with the tasks left for tomorrow, but I knew it was time to go home.

I grabbed my bag and headed to the parking lot, dreading the idea of the long drive home. But when I reached my car, I saw it—my front tire, flat as a pancake. Perfect. Just what I needed at the end of a long day.

I stared at the tire for a few seconds in disbelief. How could this happen? Of all days. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, not now. I just wanted to get home, but of course, nothing was going to be that simple. I pulled out my phone to book an Uber.

I stared at the screen, watching it try to find a ride. No cars available. Great, just great. I sighed, feeling my frustration build.

“Of course,” I muttered to myself. “This day just keeps getting better.”

Reluctantly, I called Mihir. Maybe he hadn’t gone too far and could swing back to pick me up.

(Phone Call)

“Hey, where are you?” I asked, hoping he wasn’t far.

“I left a little early today. What’s up?” Mihir’s voice sounded casual, as though he was already relaxing at home.

I sighed. “I’ve got a flat tire, and I can’t seem to get an Uber.”

“That’s rough,” Mihir said sympathetically. “Is there no one left in the office to give you a ride?”

I glanced around the nearly deserted parking lot. “Not really. Everyone I know has either left or is headed the opposite way.”

Mihir chuckled. “Of course you stayed late. Typical.”

“I had so much to finish,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.

“I wish I could help, but I’m out with Neha right now,” he said. “We’re grabbing dinner.”

I didn’t want to interrupt his evening plans.

"Oh, okay. No worries. Say hi to her from me.”

There was a pause, and I could hear Mihir thinking. “Listen, there’s someone I know who lives nearby. He might be able to pick you up. Want me to ask?”

I hesitated for a moment, but I really didn’t have any other options. “Yes, please. That would be great.”

While Mihir made the arrangements, I went back to my office and sat down. Waiting. The building was quiet now, the earlier rush of work long gone. All I could hear was the faint hum of the air conditioning. I leaned back in my chair, feeling the fatigue settle into my muscles. What a day. It seemed like I was forever caught between deadlines and emergencies, always managing crises but never having time to breathe.

After about 15 minutes, a car pulled up outside. I walked over to the window, peering down. Was that Mihir’s friend?

Just as I looked, my phone rang. Mihir’s name flashed on the screen.

“He’s reached. I shared your number with him, so he’ll call you in a second.”

“Thanks, Mihir,” I said gratefully, hanging up.
Almost immediately, my phone buzzed again, and an unknown number appeared.

I answered, and the moment the voice on the other end spoke, I froze. That voice. It was unmistakably familiar.

Could it be…?

I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline as I realized who it was. The man I had bumped into last night. Samir. My heart beat a little faster, and suddenly, this long, frustrating day took on an entirely different tone.

I quickly grabbed my things and headed for the elevator. The parking lot was dimly lit, the kind of half-light that made everything look a little more mysterious. When I reached the car, I saw it but… no one else was there.

I glanced around, looking for Samir. Where was he? My heart pounded a little harder. This was the man who had crossed paths with me so unexpectedly, and now here he was again. Was fate really playing this hand?

As I stood there, scanning the lot, I felt the air thicken with anticipation. Something was happening. Something I didn’t yet understand, but it felt like it was pulling me closer and closer.