Dually Devoted ✓

Chapter 9

"How do you even handle working that much? We all leave by six, and you stay till eight! That in itself is so exhausting," Leela sagged in her seat, taking another bite of her sandwich and sending a worried look Arpita's way.

"I'm fine with that," Aprita waved it off. "But not Sunday. I actually want to ask him the reason, but I guess I've missed my chance to." She admits, sighing in defeat.

"You always do everything with a little too much of dedication. I feel like our boss's taking advantage of it."

"I don't think so, Lee. I still don't know why he needs me on a Sunday. If I feel he's being unreasonable, I'll tell him directly," Arpita shrugged, as she finished the cucumbers that came with the meal.

He hadn't liked that she had stayed overtime the day before. Would such a man be asking her to work on a Sunday, if it wasn't really required?

"Forget it. Rather, you tell me why I hadn't known that Mehul confessed to you! I can't believe you hid it from me for years!"

"There's nothing to tell. I don't like him that way."

"You should've given him a chance," Lee said, not knowing that Arpita was more observant than she had deduced the lady to be.

Arpita's expression turned serious, a small smile of concern slowly gracing her lips. "You like him a lot, don't you? I'm sorry." She apologized, though there was no need for her to.

Lee flushed, and attempted to hide it as she barked out a laugh. "I only date rich and hot men, darling. Mehul isn't my type. He's just a close friend." Her voice got so weak by the end that it had her sighing. She couldn't hide it any longer.

Arpita chose to not say anything further, though she knew Leela not only liked but loved Mehul, and had wanted him to choose her since forever. She couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible, for having taken that wish away from her. She prayed that Mehul would notice Lee's feelings one day.

Seeing Mehul approaching, she wanted to leave. As she slurped on her milkshake faster, Leela's hand touched hers. "Don't ignore him. I'm fine, really," she insisted.

Arpita heaved a sigh.

"Hi," Mehul greeted her, his eyes filled with tenderness.

It made Arpita shift in her seat, as she cast a worried glance at her friend, before replying to him. "Hi."

Mehul sat next to Lee and they began bickering. Arpita adored the sight. It used to always remind her of Addy and Arnav. However, now, she saw them both differently. They were a pair of friends who could have been more, if not for her. Discarding those disturbing thoughts, she dipped a piece of roti in the curry and resumed eating.

As small talks, a few chuckles and sometimes comfortable silence took over the moment, the break soon ended. While she washed her hand and walked to the elevator, she mentally started to list down the work she had for today. Suddenly realizing that she could use the private elevator, she laughed at herself. Her habit had gotten the better of her. Dismissing herself from the long queue of people, she strode towards the other elevator.

"What was it again? Four. Four. Four, zero." She entered, suddenly blinking at the numbers. "AAA...0." She strained her eyes, staring at the passcode, in deep thought. Then, she shook her head, "Nonsense."

She was about to enter, when someone dragged her back. Startled and nearly struggling to balance herself, she looked at the young lady who was glaring at her. "Isn't that the private elevator?" Her voice held an authority, Arpita noticed.

She pulled her hand away from the woman's grasp. "Yes, it is, but-"

"And you are using it? Who might you be?" She tilted her head, looking at her from up to down with a look of disgust.