Looking at You

12

September

I felt I was still the same and that only circumstances around me were changing but not for better.

Sankalp got promoted! I was thrilled to see that his hard work had paid off and that he'd be advancing without any problem. Success would have come to him anyway; he is brilliant and intelligent. But his promotion made me really happy. I congratulated him by writing a short poem and sending it to him. His birthday also had just passed two weeks ago, and I wished him heartily. Things between us weren't going to change, and I had accepted that.

Anyway, bad news was now everyone knows how I got him on my head, and I had become the occasional talk of the town. All my colleagues and some people from higher management knew that I had a massive crush on Sankalp. I think he was also completely aware of that because periodically, he would look at me. But you know - you know the saddest thing? I never saw what I wanted too. Not once. Every time I looked in his eyes, I could see disrespect for me. I had noticed one more thing he gets lost in his own thoughts, staring blankly at a spot from his desk. So, every time he was looking at someone didn't necessarily mean he was looking at someone. But I also noticed his eyes were soft when he looked at Sagun but not for me, there was rage.

Anyway, always remember that Axel follows the unofficial motto, like any other multinational companies' Work Hard, Party Harder'.

So, by the mid of the first week of that September, people at the office had gotten into the annual party spirit full swing. Employees who had participated in any of the three competitions, dancing, singing, and stand-up comedy were practicing hard with total dedication and enthusiasm because at the end of the month with the party we also had the annual talent competition.

I realize that practicing may not sound like a lot of fun, but for us, any change from the daily boring routines was astounding.

It was the first time I would ever have a party that would have bars with unlimited free alcohol, a dance floor with a DJ, and a sitting area with good quality food. So, I was very excited to go to the party with my friends.

The responsibility of the arrangements of the party was given to Sankalp and another manager named Briyanka.

The responsibility of the arrangements of the party was given to Sankalp and another manager named Briyanka.

I saw Briyanka and Sankalp were working together as a very energetic team. They started spending more and more time together.

"Shri, Sankalp didn't hang the stars and the moon. Do you know that?" Aaheli said, teasing me and entertaining herself.

"I don't understand." I looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"You've been staring at him for so long now I thought you might have fallen asleep with your eyes open!"

I knew she wasn't lying; I was looking at him. I couldn't help or couldn't stop but see how nice he looked.

"It has been effortless for me to find Sankalp nowadays. The see at what direction Shri is looking!" Sara said, a faintly mocking tone in her voice. Sara and Aaheli laughed and gave each other high-fives.

I found nothing funny in that, and my eyes went back to Sankalp again. And I saw, Briyanka said something to Sankalp, her hand on his shoulder. She practically leaned on him to peer on the laptop screen.

'Germ transference!' The spooked part of my brain screamed. "I know you aren't excessively germophobic, but with all the new Ebola viruses swarming around, people should maintain distances, so should he!"

I agreed with myself, "yep!"

The sensible part of my brain slapped the other bit in her face and said, "Don't do it!"

If I blinked, I would see Sankalp. If I slept, I would find him in my dream, and I would wake up to come to the office to see him in person. It didn't make sense, but it didn't have to make sense. I was in love, or I was infatuated, I was hoping for infatuation because I heard infatuation fades away, but love doesn't.