Ishani was frustrated, on Sai, on herself. Whatever this is needs to stop. She entered her flat, exhausted. After freshening up she went to the kitchen to make evening chai.
Meanwhile Koyel entered.
She kept her bag on the sofa and sat, "You know whom I met in the elevator today?"
Ishani was too tired to listen. She gave a lazy reply, "Who?"
"Mr. Sudhir"
Ishani acted casually. She is caught it seems.
"He said he was out of town for an event from past 2 weeks. Didn't your team meet for a project at his place last week?", Koyel asked.
Ishani quietly handed over the tea to her.
"I didn't lie" , Ishani said.
"You made up a whole story. That counts as lying Ishu" , Koyel was soft with her tone.
Ishani looked up, "I went to meet Saikiran"
"Alone? Outside of work,", Koyel laughed bitterly, "And why didn't you tell me?"
"You would have misunderstood the situation", Ishani said with puppy eyes.
"Ishu, let me get this straight. You are the owner of your life. You are in charge of that. You can lie to me as much as you want but please don't lie to yourself.", Koyel didn't say anything further and got up to go to restroom.
Ishani sighed. She is unable to forget that little moment of attraction between her and Dhiraj, but she is also drawn towards Sai.
Koyel came out of the restroom after a while, towel-drying her hair.
"Have you decided what you're wearing to the office party tomorrow?" she asked, settling back on the couch.
Ishani groaned, placing her hands over her face. "Oh god. I totally forgot about that. I don't have anything to wear."
Koyel's eyes sparkled. "Then we're going shopping. Tonight."
Ishani peeked at her through her fingers. "Really? Now?"
"Yes, now," Koyel grinned. "The gentlemen at the party will be awestruck seeing us both walk in. You, especially."
Ishani rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
Koyel nudged her playfully. "No, I just know the effect you have when you dress up. Our partner MNC employees are also invited. So your Pookie boy might come too. Even your confused PS5 boy won't know where to look."
Ishani threw a cushion at her, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks.
Next evening at the party
The hotel ballroom shimmered under a canopy of crystal chandeliers. Soft jazz flowed from a live band tucked in the corner, mingling with the clinking of wine glasses and the low hum of conversations. The event was far grander than Ishani expected-velvet drapes, gold accents, and a lush open bar that had already drawn in half the office.
Ishani stepped in, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Her dress was a deep emerald green, fitted at the waist, the neckline delicate yet bold-revealing her collarbones and the elegant curve of her shoulders. Her hair was softly curled, pinned back to one side, a pair of long earrings catching the light when she turned.
A few heads turned. And then a few more.
Even Koyel, dressed in a sharp midnight-blue gown, gave a low whistle. "Told you. Gentlemen, beware."
Ishani tried to laugh it off, scanning the room-and then she saw him.
Saikiran.
He was in a black shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to show his forearms, top button undone, hair slightly ruffled as if he'd given up fighting it. His eyes found her too soon. Froze. Then looked away too quickly. He brought his glass to his lips but didn't sip. Just stood there, caught somewhere between admiration and disbelief.
Koyel leaned in, "Okay, why does he look like someone just punched him in the gut?"
Ishani avoided answering. "Where's the food?"
"Oh no no, don't deflect. That boy just had a full-on moment."
Before Ishani could respond, a warm voice broke through.
"Hey," Dhiraj said, appearing beside her, dressed in a tailored grey suit that made him look both suave and boyishly charming. "You look..."
He blinked once.
"You look amazing."
Ishani smiled. "Thank you. So do you."
He gestured toward the bar. "Wanna get a drink before the crowd thickens?"
She hesitated for the briefest second, but nodded. "Sure."
From across the room, Saikiran's eyes trailed her. He saw the exchange, the ease, the comfort.
The way Dhiraj leaned in slightly when she laughed. The way she looked relaxed around him. Something inside him twisted.
Koyel returned to Saikiran's side, completely unaware of the storm brewing in his chest.
"Dhiraj and Ishani look good together, don't they?" she said casually, sipping her drink.
Saikiran didn't respond immediately. His jaw flexed once. Then again.
"Yeah," he muttered, eyes still on the pair, "perfect match."
Koyel turned toward him. "You okay?"
"Never better."
Later, when the music picked up, Dhiraj nudged Ishani toward the dance floor with a teasing smirk.
"Dance?"
She chuckled nervously. "I'm not great at it."
"Neither am I. But we can be bad together."
Ishani took his hand and went to the dance floor.
Saikiran's grip tightened on his glass. Every inch of him screamed to look away, but he couldn't.
And then-when the music shifted to a slower tune-he surprised even himself. He set down his glass, took a breath, and walked across the room.
"Ishani," he said, voice low.
She turned, startled.
"May I?"
There was a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. She glanced at Dhiraj, who nodded with a quiet smile and stepped back.
And just like that, Saikiran's hand touched hers. Warm. Grounding. Too familiar.
She placed her other hand on his shoulder, their bodies close, tension heavy between them.
"You don't dance," she said softly.
"Neither do you," he replied, eyes locked on hers.
"But we're doing it anyway."
His hand slid lightly to the small of her back-warm, careful, as if she might vanish. Her hand rested on his shoulder. The space between them wasn't much, but it still felt electric.
They swayed to the music, slowly at first, then falling into rhythm. For the first time, there was no sarcasm, no jokes between them. Just breathing. Just closeness.
Ishani glanced up at him, and for a second, his eyes caught hers-intense, unreadable. She looked away.
His thumb brushed the edge of her waist, barely noticeable, but it made her pulse race. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt near the collarbone.
Neither of them spoke. The music did all the talking.
Ishani exhaled slowly. "You're impossible sometimes."
Saikiran didn't respond. He just looked at her-eyes dark, jaw slightly clenched. And for once, no teasing smile came.
The song ended, and the lights shifted. Ishani stepped back, suddenly aware of everything.
"Thanks," she said softly, not meeting his eyes. She was clearly nervous.
He nodded once.
She left the dance floor, in a haste.
Saikiran saw Dhiraj's eyes following her.
"Excuse me gentlemen", he said to the executives he was speaking to.
"Hey, you okay?", Dhiraj followed Ishani to a room, the muffled music from party still could be heard.
"Yes, needed some air", Ishani said, breathing heavily.
"You didn't seem to be like this when you came to my place when I was injured. You were much calmer. Now you seem stressed. What's wrong? Even the other day in the store you seemed nervous.", Dhiraj gesturing with his hands and took a step closer to her.
As she looks up to meet his eyes, she saw Saikiran standing at the door. In disbelief.
"Sorry to interrupt"
"You forgot your phone in the bar", Saikiran held up Ishani's phone.
"We both were talking. You need not follow her", Dhiraj interrupted.
"Pardon me?", Saikiran took few steps closer.
"It's you because of whom she is so much stressed. She was not like this when I met her for the first time.", Dhiraj charged him.
"Stop both of you", Ishani said, but no one heard.
"And how was she?", Saikiran asked, his voice cracking.
"Much calm, smart. Even when I was injured she took care of me at my place. And now look at her. She was in a panicky mode.", Dhiraj almost yelled.
"What do you think I did to her?", Saikiran asked Dhiraj and looked at Ishani
"Guys please-", Ishani said.
"Don't act like you know anything about her", Saikiran said in rage.
"From the day I saw you with her in that store I sensed something. She has changed.", Dhiraj charged again.
"Sai, you should go now", Ishani touched his shoulder giving a light push as rage was starting to show on his face.
"Who does he think he is?", Saikiran snapped.
Dhiraj stood there, firm.
"Sai, lets go. Don't aggravate it.", Ishani grabbed his arm.
Saikiran looked at her eyes, "Do you really care for him that much?", his eyes glistening
"Lets go, lets leave the party", Ishani insisted.
He listened to her, and his eyes still on Dhiraj while leaving the room. Fiery, silent-
And Dhiraj didn't look away.
Ishani texted Koyel that she is leaving the party, while Koyel was busy with some business talks.
"Do you really care about him that much?", Saikiran acted like a spoilt child.
"Get in the car Sai. Enough", Ishani grabbed his hand again.
"Why can't you answer me? You barely know him.", Saikiran was a total mess.
"Get in the car", Ishani herself got into the car too.
The car door clicked shut, enclosing them in a cocoon of silence.
City lights blurred beyond the windshield, casting shifting patterns across Ishani's face. Her makeup had faded slightly, hair a little tousled, and that shimmering neckline of her dress now looked softer in the dim light.
She exhaled, the tension slowly leaving her body, but not entirely.
Saikiran sat beside her, hands gripping the steering wheel, knuckles pale. He hadn't started the car. The engine was off, like the night itself was holding its breath. His eyes were welled up.
"I didn't want it to escalate", Ishani's voice just above a whisper.
"Do you really not know how I feel?", Saikiran's voice was hoarse.
"We both were in denial I guess", Ishani touched his bare arm
"I was not. It was you who was pulling away", Saikiran looked at her eyes, slowly moving his hand towards her face.
He grazed her cheeks and moved the little strand of hair from her face.
She closed her eyes with his touch.
"I didn't want to lie to you," she said at last, her voice barely a whisper. "I just didn't know what to do with how you make me feel."
He looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. The vulnerability in her eyes, the way she curled slightly into herself-as if scared of her own emotions.
"You think I know what I'm doing?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "Half the time, I'm trying not to let it show. And the other half... I'm afraid it already has."
Her lips parted, but she didn't speak. Instead, her gaze dropped again to their joined hands. She lifted them, placed them gently over her heart.
He felt it-her heartbeat, racing beneath his palm.
"I hate this," she murmured, eyes glistening. "I hate how you make me feel like I'm losing control."
"I don't want control," he said, voice hoarse. "I just want to know you're not pushing me away for the wrong reasons."
There was no space between them now. Only breath. Only heat.
His hand moved slowly to her cheek again, brushing a soft path down to her jaw. This time, she leaned into it.
"Saikiran," she whispered. It sounded like a warning. Or maybe a plea.
He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing hers, not quite. Hovering. Waiting.
"Tell me to stop," he said, his breath mingling with hers.
She didn't.
Instead, her hand slid up to his neck, fingers threading through the hair at his nape, pulling him that last inch.
Their lips met-soft at first. Unsure. Searching.
But then something broke loose.
The kiss deepened, slow and aching and real. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't perfect. But it felt inevitable.
Like they'd both been walking blindfolded toward this moment for far too long.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and stunned, their foreheads touched again.
Neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
The silence said everything.