"Come in, come in and sit down both of you," Mr. Chaudhary's toad-like face broke into a toad-worthy grin as he welcomed us in his office. I fought to keep an eye roll in check. 

He was extra chirpy that morning, contrary to my dreary mood. My grumpy self was a lot because of lack of sleep from last night. The rains had got me late, and Abeer Sen had got me sleepless. 

Last night played on my mind like a tape recorder on repeat. It drove me insane. I had resorted to ordering pizza and binge watching Netflix. Which meant I hadn't had a blink of sleep since last night, and I was positive I wasn't going to get any work done today. I watched the oldie with masked suspicion as he guided us both to chairs opposite his. What had happened that had made him this happy with life?

"So... you both must have got to know each other by now. How is your chemistry?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I sat up wide awake at the innuendo, as if a jug full of coffee was dumped down my throat.

Background? Yes. As soon as I had made my not so eloquent entry in the office - owing to me accidentally emptying my piping hot tea on an intern's desk - I was greeted by the peon's toothy grin and the sad news of Mr. Chaudhary requesting our presence in his office. He had also mentioned a certain 'exciting' something my bone head boss was planning. The last time the peon had said that I was handed an appreciation letter instead of a promotion letter. I had no expectations from this one either.

But I hadn't paid attention to the peon's 'our'. Major mistake. As soon as I entered the gaudy cabin of my boss, my eyes flew to the muscular figure standing beside Mr. Chaudhary's desk. Abeer. I had greeted him with a brief nod and strode in, determined on ignoring his presence from then on.

My boss had other plans, it seemed. I stared at the toad-like face of my boss, dumbfounded.

What was he on? Heroine, steroids? Sleeping pills?

Sensing I wasn't going to reply anytime soon Abeer said, "Aashi works very hard, sir, she is a very good team member." 

Typical professional answer. I didn't mind that at all. Our business was our business, and none of his business.

Is there a 'our business', Aashi? Goddamnit! My mind just can't keep quiet.

"Yes yes," Mr. Chaudhary said, waving his hand dismissively. "That is why I want to make a team of only the two of you." I felt like banging my head on the desk. My boss sounded like the married friend whose matchmaking mission ends only when everyone around them is set up with someone.

And to think he is my boss.

"The Tirany project I had spoken about with Aashi, I want the both of you to work on it." I balked. He was finally talking some sense but it didn't make any sense at all.

"But sir, Natasha and I were gonna work on that! You had said so yourself!" I nearly cried out, a headache on its way to ruin my day. Abeer had turned to look at me, but Mr. Chaudhary was unfazed by my exclamation.

"Two girls on a project leads to more attention on office gossip than on work," he said, leaning back on his chair, revealing his protruding belly. My hands balled into fists as I fought to keep my anger in check.

Too bad, it felt someone else was way more interested in office gossip than me right now.

But I didn't say that out loud. "We don't gossip sir," I bit out.

"Come on now, Aashi, it's a fun fact everyone knows. Bad driving and gossiping are vices women just can't get rid of!"

That chauvinist son of a bachelor! I swear I will...

"I am a bad driver myself. Never managed to drive on the slopes, you know. Bad driving doesn't have gender, Mr. Chaudhary. And about the gossiping part...it's an office, sir. Everyone realizes their responsibilities. Aashi realizes them more than any other employee I have known. That's why they have been hired," Abeer spoke in a calm, yet assertive tone to get his point through before I could burst in the highly informative lecture on disrespect and stereotypes against women that would have calmed my temper but perhaps got my job at risk. A small part of me was ecstatic that Abeer had spoken on behalf of me. The larger part was seething with anger at the moment.

"That's all nice Abeer, but I won't change my terms. I have already set my mind on it," Mr. Chaudhary said, flipping through the document on his desk. I didn't care about any project anymore. 

He continued. "I will mail you the details. I expect you two to complete all the other pending work and get to this as soon as possible." I got up as soon as he finished, eager to get out of the room as early as possible. 

Or I just might end up throwing something on someone's head. 

Abeer wished him a good day, but I didn't bother with the formalities. I dashed to the door, and was half a mind away from banging the door close, when an eerily warm hand wrapped around mine. I looked up to find Abeer staring at me with a knowing look. He shook his head, indicating that he knew what was running through my mind. I rolled my eyes, but retreated my hand anyway.

Why? It had felt so nice though...

As soon as we were out of the fox's lair and out of hear shot, I spun around to face Abeer. "Forward me the details when he forwards them to you. Because he won't do that," I spat out, my anger getting the better of me. He simply nodded, understanding glistening in his eyes.

Way too nice for you Aashi...way too nice. But you like it that way, don't you? I grunted. This day is not going well.

I whirled around to leave for my cabin when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to face Abeer, raising my eyebrows. "Umm...I think you might like to go to the washroom first before heading to your cabin," he said, and looked at my...head? My eyebrows knit together in confusion as I touched my hair, not understanding-OH!

My hands came in contact with my uncombed, mess of a hair, the bun that I had worn in bed last night sitting atop my head half undone. I swore so colorfully that the intern passing from there dropped his files in shock.

I had forgotten to comb my hair! I shook my head, not quite believing I was capable of doing this.

Who am I kidding? Of course, I am. Me being sleep deprived is never a good occurrence.

"This day couldn't get any worse," I groaned, rubbing my face, before storming to the washroom.

I had made such a fool of myself in front of Abeer. I willed myself not to think about that. I was working in my cabin after having fixed my hair problem, when all of a sudden the peon made an entrance with a drink in his hand.

"Kya hai? Why did you come here?" I asked, my tone a bit ruder than I would've liked it.

"Yeh aapke liye bheja hai, ma'am," he said, handing me the Starbucks mug and dashing out of the cabin before I could question him further.

Someone sent a drink for me! I stared at it in confusion, when I saw the black ink on the mug. I rotated the mug to have a better look at the words.

'For days that start bad but would end better :D'

I stared at them for a good minute. Abeer.

I drank a sip of the drink, my head reeling back at the sheer deliciousness of the drink. Double chocolate chip frappuccino, caffeine-free. How did he know I don't like coffee?

My heart fluttered in the most obnoxious manner as a soft smile took over my face. Little gestures account for more than over-the-board preparations. For me, simple things mean more than anything on this planet. Nobody had gone this far to make my horrible day a bit better. He definitely deserved a thank you.

I took his number from the department group chat and texted him.

Aashi: Hey this is Aashi. Thanks for the milkshake. It was really thoughtful of you.

He replied within ten minutes.

Abeer: You shouldn't thank me for that. It is my duty as your senior to take care of you. It comes in the job profile.

I rolled my eyes.

Aashi: Smartass. When should we have our first meeting?

Abeer: For discussing ways to turn Chaudhary in a feminist ;)

Aashi: Interesting! But I don't really take up hopeless projects. Lunch?

Abeer: Oh no, I have a lunch date with Chaudhary! :D

Aashi: Lunch meeting.1:30 P.M sharp. Cafeteria.

Abeer: Okay

I chuckled at his last one-worded reply. Like an obedient child agreeing to this teacher. I bit the skin of my nails, still grinning stupidly at the short text-convo we just had.

NO NO NO...GET BACK ON TRACK!!! TOXIC...DANGER...JOB-STEALER!

Sirens buzzed in my head, trying to remind me of all the things wrong with Abeer Sen. But they were untrue. My heart knew it. My conscience knew it. I knew it. I was just being the unreasonably tough, stubborn soul that I am. 

Abeer Sen was one of the most male men I had known in my twenty seven years of existence, and yet, he possessed a gentleness which was almost impossible to find in any human alive. At least with that looks and that brain. A person calmer than the ocean, with eyes glistening with wisdom, and gosh that mouth of his! I came back to earth at that thought.

You really venture into territories you know are dangerous. I sighed. Thinking about Abeer was dangerous. And not just because of what it did to me. But because what it could do to my world if I let my thoughts free. 

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