Pine Trees

chapter twenty three

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Inaya packed the belongings in her cubicle and switched off the mini light attached to the side.

She made her way out of the building, nodding at the security guard, who was used to her working a little late into the evening.

Her schedule had been packed with unexpected work. She had to deal with angry clients who weren't able to access the broken ATM. The bank manager had taken a day off, resulting in chaos about work delegation.

Inaya pulled out her phone as she stared at the traffic. It was going to take a while before she reached Paniyat.

She clicked on her chats to find messages waiting for her from Vani's mother.

Vani's Mom

Hey! I heard you and Arjun are neighbors. I hope it would be alright for you to take classes at his home?

Actually, Vani's badmintom academy is quite near his house. I can just drop her at his house.

If this arrangement is ok, would you be able to take classes at 6?

Vani will be done with her badminton class by then.

Inaya carefully read through the messages. The new arrangement was quite convenient for her. Only, she would have to stop working overtime to be in time for the class at 6. The working hours of the bank only ended at 5.

Inaya replied her agreement in text and hurried back to her apartment complex. She was rather nervous about staying at Arjun's house for even just an hour.

For the past few weeks, Arjun and herself had fallen into a strange routine, in which he bought her a milkshake can everyday.

She had tried refusing but he had been particularly stubborn.

It felt like she was a witnessing a new side to him she hadn't known before.

At sharp 6 in the evening, Inaya found herself lingering outside Arjun's house. She felt hesitant to press the doorbell. If she pressed it, she would have to step inside. She would have to remain in close proximity, probably, of him.

Was she even ready for this?

She had just gone and agreed to the arrangement without thinking twice about it.

Before she could do anything, the door opened. Arjun stared at her, blankly, "How long are you going to drag your foot here?"

Drag her foot?

"Come inside." He left the door, wide open. Inaya got the sense that he was in some part, amused. She quietly entered and closed the door behind her.

"Vani's going to be late. There's a bit of traffic."

"I see."

She had really been counting on Vani's presence to ease her mind. Suddenly, the black cylindrical speaker blared a message, in a robotic voice.