The next day, I arrived at the office as usual and sank into my chair, pressing the power button on my computer. A heavy yawn escaped my lips before I could stifle it, my fingers rubbing the drowsiness from my eyes. The air-conditioned office felt colder than usual, sending a shiver down my spine. I hugged my arms and exhaled, watching the glass pane fog up slightly from my breath.
As I lazily scanned the large transparent window, a familiar silhouette passed by. Kathir.
My spine stiffened. My fingers instinctively curled around the armrest of my chair as my eyes flickered to him. He walked with his usual composed aura, his sharp gaze fixed straight ahead, his dark blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves, revealing his strong forearms. He turned slightly—our eyes met.
A strange jolt shot through me, and I quickly turned away, my breath catching for a second.
I sighed.
Even now, my mind couldn't shake off what I had witnessed yesterday—Kathir's softer side with his mother. The way his voice had lost its usual coldness, the way his gaze softened for just a fleeting moment. But if he loves his mother, then why does he choose to stay away from his parents? Why does his father seem so mad at him?
I bit my nail absentmindedly, my forehead creased in thought. Who does he even live with? Does he stay alone?
My stomach tightened slightly at the realization of how much space he was taking up in my thoughts. I shook my head, letting out a sharp breath. Why am I even thinking about him?
Focusing back on my monitor, I noticed Emma's empty seat beside me. Where did she go?
Suddenly, the clatter of files on my desk made me jump.
"Hey, Vidya, you have five files to work on," Emma announced, her voice laced with exhaustion. She wiped the sweat off her forehead, blowing out a deep sigh.
I glanced at the pile of documents and let out a groan. Five?
"And I have seven," she muttered, sinking into her chair like she carried the weight of the world.
"Looks like we're drowning in work today," I said, forcing a chuckle.
"Yeah, and once you're done, you need a signature from Mr. Rawther."
I nodded and turned to the first file, flipping it open. But just as I started scanning the text, giggles erupted behind me.
I tried to ignore them. But then, I caught his name.
"Did you see Kathir sir today?" Swetha's voice carried a teasing lilt. "He's scary, but damn, he looks so hot."
I blinked, my grip on the file tightening. Why do I care? Ignore them, Vidya.
"I agree," Harini chimed in. "The way he talks… Ugh, I could die."
My eyes drifted toward the glass window again, betraying my better judgment. Kathir was outside, standing by a desk, flipping through files with sharp precision. The employees around him moved cautiously, their eyes glued to his face as he spoke. One of them—a woman—had a dreamy expression, her cheeks tinted pink.
A strange irritation crawled under my skin.
Why are they all acting like he's some sort of forbidden fantasy?
"I secretly admire him," Harini continued, her voice dripping with excitement. "But I don't dare to flirt with him."
"Being in love with him is insane. You know that, right?" Swetha said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Harini let out a small laugh. "Maybe. But if I ever get the chance, I won't miss the opportunity to spend one night with him."
My breath hitched, and my eyes snapped back to my desk. Did she just…?
Heat rushed to my face—not out of embarrassment, but out of sheer disbelief. How could she talk like that about him? About anyone?
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Not my business. Just focus on work.
But before I could stop myself, my gaze flickered back toward him—only to find his sharp eyes locked onto mine.
My stomach twisted, and I whipped my head back to my screen, my hands gripping the edge of my desk.
Did he catch me looking? No, no, no. Please, no.
A few seconds passed, and I dared to glance back through the corner of my eye. To my relief, he was still flipping through the files, uninterested.
I clenched my jaw. Why do I keep looking at him? Why am I—
"Hey, Vidya."
Emma's voice snapped me out of my spiral.
"Yeah, Em?" I turned to her, thankful for the distraction.
"Are you done?"
I glanced at the files and sighed. "Two more. You?"
"Three," she groaned, rubbing her temple.
I smiled at her, squeezing her shoulder. "We've got this, don't worry."
She managed a tired grin. "Hope so."
—
After what felt like an eternity, I shut my last file with a victorious sigh.
"Done?" Emma asked.
"Yeah. You?"
"Not yet. You can go first."
I nodded, gathering the files. The staircase leading to the third floor was eerily quiet. As I climbed up, I passed by Kathir's office door. My gaze flickered to the nameplate.
Kathir Rathore
I rolled my eyes and knocked on Mr. Rawther's door instead.
Inside, he barely looked up from his paperwork.
"Good evening, sir," I greeted.
He glanced up and smiled warmly. "Evening, Vidya. Files?"
I handed them over.
After signing the last page, he handed the files back to me. But before I could leave, he added, "By the way, you looked beautiful at the party yesterday."
Heat crept up my neck. "Tha—thank you, sir. I didn't see you there."
"I was busy with clients."
I smiled. "Well, have a good day, sir."
As I stepped out of Mr. Rawther's office, I didn't expect to see Kathir. But there he was, his door opening just as I was about to walk by. I froze for a moment, startled, before quickly lowering my head and walking past him, hoping he wouldn't notice. But before I could reach the staircase, I felt his hand grip my arm tightly. My body tensed, and I jerked back, shocked by the sudden force.
I could feel the pressure building in my arm as he held on. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let go. His touch was firm, too firm, and I winced, unable to hide the pain that was starting to shoot through my arm.
"Kathir sir, you're hurting me," I said, my voice shaky from the unexpected pain.
He didn't respond immediately. I tried to free myself again, but his grip was unyielding. Tears blurred the edges of my vision from the strength of it, and I bit my lip to stop myself from making a sound.
"Let go of me!" I shouted, frustration rising in my chest.
Finally, he released my arm, but only to turn away without a word. My fingers clenched at my sides, my heart pounding with confusion and anger.
I stared at him, not knowing what to feel. "Kathir sir, wait!" I called out before I could stop myself.
He stopped, but only slightly. His back remained to me, and the silence stretched between us, heavy and thick.
"What's wrong with you?" I demanded, stepping forward. "Why do you always hurt me? What did I do today to deserve this?"
I stood there, my voice trembling, but I forced myself to meet the back of his head, waiting for an answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was cold.
"Go away," he said.
"Go away?" I echoed, taken aback. "Is that all you have to say? You think you can hurt anyone and no one has the right to question you?" I took a breath, anger bubbling up. "Maybe I annoyed you before, but what did I do today? Why do you always hurt my hand? Do you know how much it hurts?"
There was a long pause, his back still to me. I could feel the heat rising in my chest as I fought to hold back the tears.
"I want to know the reason why you're hurting me," I said, my voice steadier now.
He inhaled deeply, as though contemplating his response, but instead of answering, he grabbed both my wrists in one swift motion, pulling me closer to him. I gasped, stumbling as the files I was holding slipped from my hands and scattered to the floor.
"Do you want to know the reason?" he asked, his tone sharp.
I winced as he tightened his grip, but I nodded, determined to get an answer.
"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He stared at me, his eyes dark and intense. I could feel the pressure on my wrists growing, and the pain started to seep through my thoughts, but I held my ground.
"You want to know the answer?" he repeated, his words slow and deliberate. His grip tightened even more.
"Stop..." I said, struggling to free myself. "Stop hurting me."
But he didn't let go. Instead, he leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my ear.
"You wanted to know, right?" he murmured, his voice husky.
I shuddered involuntarily at the feeling of his lips so close to my skin. His grip was crushing now, and I had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over.
Finally, summoning the strength I had left, I pushed against him with both hands. It was just enough force for him to release his hold on my wrists, but my foot slipped as I took a step back. The sharp edge of the stairs loomed behind me, and for a moment, I thought I was going to fall.
Just as I felt myself tipping over, his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist again and pulling me back toward him. My chest collided with his, and I froze, heart hammering in my chest.
For a brief moment, I clung to his shirt, feeling the warmth of his body beneath me. Then, in a flash of realization, I let go and quickly stepped back, my face flushing with embarrassment.
Kathir didn't move at first, just stood there with his hands in his pockets. I took another step back, avoiding his eyes, but he leaned in toward my ear, his lips brushing against it.
My heart raced, and I felt the chill run down my spine.
"Because you remind me of her," he whispered, his voice low and edged with something I couldn't place.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I stood there, rooted to the spot, a thousand questions swirling in my mind. Who was she?
Kathir took a step back, his eyes never leaving me, before he turned and walked down the stairs without another word.
I stood there, trying to gather my thoughts, my heart still pounding in my chest.
What did he mean? Who did I remind him of?
I placed my hand over my chest to steady my breathing, but the questions only grew louder in my mind.
As I kneeled to pick up the fallen files, my hands trembled, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something important had just happened, something I couldn't yet understand.