Chapter 3: The Beginning of Change
1070 Words
The Beginning of Change
The next morning, Randhir stood near the front door of the bungalow, checking the time for what seemed like the tenth time.
"Where is she?" he muttered.
Just then, Sanyukta walked downstairs cheerfully.
"Let's go."
Randhir looked up.
The moment he saw her, he froze.
She was wearing denim shorts with a loose white shirt, her hair tied into a high ponytail.
For a few seconds, he simply stared.
Sanyukta folded her arms.
"If you've finished staring, can we leave?"
Randhir cleared his throat.
"What are you wearing?"
She looked down at herself.
"My clothes."
"I can see that."
"Then what's the problem?"
"I don't think this is appropriate for the office."
She frowned.
"Why? It's comfortable."
"It isn't professional."
She crossed her arms.
"Or do you simply have a problem with it?"
Randhir sighed.
"Go and change."
"No."
"You have to."
"Why?"
"As the head of the company, I expect all employees to dress professionally."
Sanyukta stared at him for a few seconds before rolling her eyes.
"Fine."
"I'm changing."
"Happy?"
Without waiting for his answer, she walked upstairs.
Randhir exhaled slowly.
She can wear whatever she likes...
Then why didn't I like seeing her dressed like that?
He shook his head.
It's because she's my wife on paper.
If someone recognizes us, it could affect my reputation.
That's all.
A few minutes later, Sanyukta came downstairs wearing black trousers and a light-blue formal shirt.
"Now?"
"Any objections?"
Randhir nodded once.
"No."
"Let's go."
As they walked outside, he added,
"And next time, don't make us late."
Sanyukta muttered under her breath,
"Bloody hypocrite."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Their first official day at the Nainital branch began.
Over the next few days, Randhir observed Sanyukta carefully.
She learned quickly.
She never complained about long working hours.
She completed every task before the deadline.
Employees liked her because she treated everyone with respect, from managers to office assistants.
One evening, Randhir looked at the report she had prepared.
Everything was perfectly organized.
He couldn't help admitting to himself,
"She's actually good."
A week later...
During the afternoon break, Randhir headed toward the office cafeteria.
"I really need coffee today," he murmured.
As he entered, his eyes searched for the coffee machine.
Instead, they landed on Sanyukta.
She was sitting at a table with one of the employees.
They were laughing over something.
The young man was Aryan, a senior analyst in the branch office.
Randhir had seen him before.
Aryan smiled.
"So that's how you ended up here?"
Sanyukta laughed.
"It's a long story."
"One day you'll have to tell me."
"Maybe."
Watching them laugh together made something inside Randhir tighten.
He didn't like the feeling.
He couldn't explain why.
Without taking his coffee, he quietly turned around and left.
Back inside his cabin, Randhir tried to focus on work.
Instead...
His mind replayed the scene from the cafeteria.
She never laughs like that with me.
He immediately scolded himself.
Why should that matter?
We're only married because of a contract.
Still...
The feeling refused to disappear.
A few minutes later, Sanyukta knocked on the cabin door.
"May I come in?"
"Come."
She placed a file on his desk.
"I've completed the financial report."
"Please check it."
"I'll wait outside."
As she turned to leave—
"Wait."
She looked back.
"Yes?"
"Sit."
She looked confused.
"But why?"
"I want to discuss a few things."
She sat down opposite him.
Randhir opened the file.
Everything was perfect.
Still, he continued flipping through the pages without saying anything.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Finally, Sanyukta sighed.
"Randhir..."
"How long are you going to keep me waiting?"
"You haven't even started discussing the report."
He looked up.
"I'm checking it."
She smiled slightly.
"I think you're just pretending to stay busy."
He closed the file.
"It looks good."
"I knew it."
She stood up.
"I'll get back to work."
Just as she reached the door, Randhir spoke.
"Who were you talking to in the cafeteria?"
She turned around.
"Aryan."
"Your colleague?"
"Yes."
"You seem comfortable with him."
She looked surprised.
"He's friendly."
"So am I."
She couldn't help laughing.
"You?"
"Friendly?"
"That's the funniest thing I've heard all week."
Randhir glared at her.
She quickly covered her smile.
"Sorry."
"But seriously..."
"He's just a colleague."
"Nothing more."
Randhir nodded.
"Fine."
"You can go."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
With this she stands and go towards gate,when she was dragged to adjacent wall and was pinned to it by none other than rd.
S: Are you gone mad leave me.
R( anger) Where are you going,I have told not to go.
S(with irritated): I am bored
So thought to do work
And leave me
Rd relaised his position but maintains poisture
R: So you are feeling something.
S: No,but I don't like to be touched by stranger
Can you get aside
As she stepped outside, she accidentally bumped into Aryan.
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry," she said.
Aryan laughed.
"No problem, Sanz."
"You look like you're in a hurry."
She smiled awkwardly.
"Just finished a meeting."
"Everything okay?"
"Yes."
"Completely."
They walked toward their desks together, discussing an upcoming project.
From inside the glass cabin, Randhir watched them.
His jaw tightened.
With me, she speaks so formally.
With him... she smiles so easily.
He leaned back in his chair.
Why is this bothering me?
After a long silence, he finally admitted the truth to himself.
She's my wife.
Even if it's only on paper... seeing another man so close to her doesn't feel right.
He immediately shook his head.
"No."
"This isn't jealousy."
"It's simply about maintaining professionalism."
"Nothing else."
But somewhere deep inside...
His heart already knew the answer his mind refused to accept.
Without realizing it, the distance between two strangers had begun to shrink.
Neither of them noticed.
Yet every argument...
Every conversation...
Every shared day under the same roof...
Was slowly changing the relationship they had once called nothing more than a business deal.
Their journey from strangers to companions had quietly begun.
What neither Randhir nor Sanyukta knew was that the biggest challenges—and the strongest feelings—were still waiting for them.
To Be Continued...
Precap: A sudden storm traps Randhir and Sanyukta alone at the old bungalow. As they work together to deal with the situation, they begin to see sides of each other that had always been hidden behind pride and misunderstandings.
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