Chapter 25 – The Hidden Smile
The afternoon sun filtered through the window blinds, painting stripes of light across Aryan’s desk. The world outside the office hummed with life — phones ringing, printers churning, footsteps echoing down the hall. But inside his small, quiet space, time seemed to pause. Kavya had come by to drop off a report, her hair slightly messy from the wind, her expression thoughtful. She had knocked once, then peeked in, smiling politely. “You wanted this by noon,” she said, holding out the folder. Aryan looked up from his laptop. For a moment, he didn’t take the file — his eyes lingered on her instead. “Thanks,” he murmured, finally reaching for it. Their fingers brushed briefly, and the faint contact sent a ripple through her chest. She turned to leave but stopped midway. “Are you... okay?”
- Writer
