ℂ𝕆ℂ𝕂𝕋𝔸𝕀𝕃𝕊 𝕎𝕀𝕋ℍ ℂ𝕌ℙ𝕀𝔻

𝟯𝟳

Protective
>>>>–––– 💘 ––––<<<<

403 sat in his corner of the office, a pair of binoculars in hand, peering over the stack of files on his desk. He squinted through the lenses, observing Avi's every movement with an exaggerated intensity. The office bustled around him, oblivious to the unusual scene. To an outsider, it might have looked like he was scanning for some highly classified secret, but in truth, 403 was hunting for any telltale sign that anything had changed between Avi and Ananya. Avi was standing in Ananya's cabin, saying something , possibly giving instructions, while she typed on her laptop.

However, 403 felt a twinge of disappointment as he watched them. Everything seemed unchanged-same work, same discussions, same exchange of papers. There was no sign of progress or any meaningful shift in their dynamic. Partway through, Avi waved a hand and walked out, issuing more instructions as Ananya grabbed her laptop and stumbled behind him, her small strides struggling to match Avi's normal pace.

Once they disappeared into Avi's cabin, 403 clenched his fist and punched his desk in frustration. The tinted glass of the cabin now blocked his view, leaving him unable to see anything more. His brows furrowed, and he muttered under his breath, annoyed at the lack of developments he had hoped to witness.

Avi fell back on his chair while Ananya sat across him, in her usual spot. She noticed him shake his head, shaking the tiredness and mundaneness of workload after returning back. While she internally muttered,

Velai kudukuradhuke ivlo tired ana, naan lam yenna aguradhu?

( If he can get this tired just for giving people work, imagine me?)

Avi suddenly looked up, causing Ananya to almost drop the laptop from her lap; she managed to catch it and grinned sheepishly. He narrowed his eyes at her but then shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. As she resumed her work, he waited, eyes drifting to the window where the bustling city and moving cars reflected his wandering thoughts. Ananya noticed his distracted demeanor, sensing something amiss but chose not to ask. Instead, she quietly focused on her task.

But then she couldn't resist it—what could he be thinking? Biting his nails so intently, was he even human at this point, she wondered to herself. As her train of thoughts continued, Avi suddenly turned towards her. She quickly snapped her head back to the laptop screen, pretending to be engrossed in her work. Again.

Yedhavadhu kekanuma?

( Do you have anything to ask?)

Ananya shook her head without looking up, and Avi sighed. He clasped his fingers together and rested his elbows on his knees as he revealed,

Enaku kekanum

( I do)

Ananya's eyes shot up instantly, curiosity sparking as she looked at Avi, somewhat surprised. He let out a deep sigh and hesitantly asked,

Na keppen ana nee thappa nenaika kudhadhu, unaku answer panna pudikilana kuda paravala

( I'll ask you something, I hope you don't mind it and you don't have to answer me if you don't to)

Ananya cocked her head to the side, her curiosity growing. Avi finally voiced what had been troubling him.

Adhu, Mithra.. yedho oru madhiri iruka. Shakthi'yum dha. Aniki nee airport'la sonniye, adhuku related'ah irukumonu thonudhu. Worried'ah iruku, apdhiye vidha manasu varala. Munnadhilam ava chinna ponnu, enaku yepdhi kekuradhunu theriyum, ana ippo...