My Last First Love

~13

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Arunoday leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the files in front of him, though his mind was far from the numbers and deadlines. Ever since he had moved to the design department, life had taken an unexpected turn. Sangeeta was right there, just a few steps away, her desk directly in front of his office.

Why does she have to sit so close? he thought, annoyed at how aware he was of her every movement. Determined not to let his mind wander, he decided to stick to his plan: ignore her. Completely. Pretend she didn't exist.

For the first few days, Arunoday stuck to his strategy like glue. When Sangeeta greeted him with a polite "Good morning, sir," he barely nodded, acting as though he hadn't heard her. During meetings, he avoided looking in her direction and deliberately spoke to everyone but her. He convinced himself it was working.

But was it?

Sangeeta, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She had been curious about this new project manager, the man who had once helped her during a rainstorm and unknowingly left a mark on her heart. But he seemed indifferent, cold even. She shook her head, scolding herself. Why do I even care? He's my boss, nothing more.

Despite her efforts to stay focused on her work, a tiny part of her felt hurt by his lack of acknowledgment.

A few days later, things took an unexpected turn.

Arunoday was walking back from the break room, coffee in hand, when he stopped in his tracks. There she was—Sangeeta—standing by the window with Ashish. They were talking and laughing, and the way her eyes lit up while smiling caught him off guard. She looked... different. Too happy.

Arunoday's grip on his coffee cup tightened. Why is she smiling so much? he thought, his jaw clenching. The sound of her laughter reached him, and something twisted in his chest—a feeling he didn't like. And why does Ashish have to stand so close to her?

He stormed back to his office, slamming the door behind him. Throwing himself into his chair, he ran a hand through his hair. His mind raced with irrational thoughts. She's probably like this with everyone. Laughing, smiling, making them feel special. That's all it is. Why does it bother me?

Still fuming, he tried to focus on his work, but the image of Sangeeta and Ashish laughing together wouldn't leave his mind. To make matters worse, he overheard two coworkers talking in the hallway.

"I heard Sangeeta has a boyfriend," one said.

"Really? Is it Ashish?" the other replied. "They look close."

Arunoday's hand froze mid-air. A boyfriend? His mood darkened instantly. Of course, she does. Why wouldn't she? She's the type who... He couldn't even finish the thought. Shaking his head, he decided he needed to "put her in her place."

Moments later, he called her to his office.

Sangeeta walked in, her expression polite but cautious. "Yes, sir?"

"I noticed your latest designs lack... depth," Arunoday said, leaning back in his chair with an air of nonchalance.

Sangeeta blinked, surprised. "Depth? But sir, these are the same designs you approved yesterday."

"I've changed my mind," he said curtly. "Redo them."

Sangeeta frowned but nodded. "Alright, sir. I'll make the changes."

As she turned to leave, Arunoday added, "And focus more on your work, not... other distractions." His tone was sharp, laced with hidden meaning.

Sangeeta paused, confused by his comment, but chose not to ask. "Of course, sir," she replied, walking out with a mix of frustration and confusion.

Back at her desk, Sangeeta couldn't help but grumble under her breath. "What's his problem? One moment he ignores me, the next he's criticizing everything. Make up your mind already!"

Meanwhile, Arunoday sat in his office, feeling oddly satisfied. Good. Now she'll stop laughing with Ashish and focus on her work. But the satisfaction was short-lived. As the day went on, he found himself stealing glances at her through the glass door. She looked annoyed, her lips pressed into a pout as she worked.

He shook his head, frustrated. Why do I care if she's annoyed? But the answer eluded him.

The next day, things got even stranger.

Arunoday walked into the design department, only to find Sangeeta laughing again—this time with a group of coworkers. She was animated, her hands moving as she spoke, and everyone around her seemed captivated. His irritation bubbled to the surface. Does she always have to be the center of attention?

He decided to test her patience again.

"Sangeeta," he called out, his voice cutting through the chatter.

She looked up, startled. "Yes, sir?"

"Can you bring the revised designs to my office? I want to go over them... thoroughly."

Her shoulders sagged slightly, but she nodded. "I'll bring them right away."

As she gathered the files, Ashish leaned over and whispered, "What's his deal? He's always calling you into his office."

Sangeeta shrugged. "I think he just enjoys torturing me."

Arunoday, who overheard the comment as she entered his office, bit back a smile. "Torturing you, is it?" he said, arching an eyebrow.

Sangeeta flushed. "I didn't mean—"

"Don't worry," he said, cutting her off with a smirk. "If I didn't challenge you, how would you grow as a designer?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I'll keep that in mind, sir."

As she left, Arunoday leaned back in his chair, feeling an odd mix of amusement and guilt. He didn't understand why he was behaving this way, but one thing was clear: Sangeeta was far from ordinary, and she had an undeniable effect on him—one he couldn't ignore, no matter how hard he tried.

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