UNSCRIPTED • Ahaan Panday (BOOK 2)

18

Three days had passed since the screening—three days since Ira had pretended nothing had shaken her, nothing had shifted inside her, and nothing had cracked open. She had dragged herself through work, through meetings, through laughter that didn't reach her eyes.

Ahaan's words, his voice, the plea in his eyes, and the ache in his posture were all vivid in her memory even if she had tried to wash them off many times.

This evening when she finally returned home, exhaustion sat on her shoulders like a weight she couldn't drop. Lately the work had been hectic, back-to-back events kept her working late and waking up early.

The apartment was dim and quiet except for the clink of plates from the dining table.

Shakshi was already home from her shift, preparing dinner.

"Finally," Shakshi sighed as she opened the rice cooker. "I thought you'd collapse at the office itself."

Ira forced a tired smile and sat opposite her. "Long day."

"Go, change. The omelette will be done in a minute." Shakshi told, walking to the fridge and getting four eggs out.

"You need help?"

"No, fine." Shakshi replied. "Just come quickly; I'm so hungry."

Ira hummed softly as she made her way to her room. After a quick shower, she changed into fresh clothes and returned to the dining room. Shakshi was already plating their meal, and the TV played a Turkish show dubbed in Hindi, filling the room with quiet background chatter.

"Smells nice." Ira complimented, dropping to her chair.

"I'm happy actually, so the food's definitely gonna be amazing."

Ira gave her a questioning look. "Salary increased?" She guessed with a chuckle.

"Nope." Shakshi suddenly placed her spoon down. "Can I tell you something weird?" she asked, cheeks flushed, eyes gleaming.

Ira raised a brow. "That tone is scaring me."

Shakshi leaned in, whispering dramatically, "I
." She inhaled sharply to steady herself. "I'm in love."

Ira blinked. "Wait...what?"

Shakshi nodded, shy in a way Ira rarely saw. "Yes."

"With whom?" Ira whispered, genuinely surprised.

Shakshi's smile broadened. "Remember the surgeon I once told you about.."

Ira listened, strangely fascinated. "I thought.. it was just a crush?"

"It's more than that." Shakshi exhaled. "He feels the same for me. He told me yesterday."

"How.. how did you realize it?" she asked quietly.

Shakshi smiled, tucking hair behind her ear. "It was small things. At first we began talking as colleagues, then slowly he asked if I was free to join for a meal, then we talked nonstop about literally anything."

Ira nodded as if making notes in her mind of every point Shakshi was uttering.

"Missing him when the day ends. Wanting to tell him stupid things. Feeling jealous even when I said I wasn't. And.." she hesitated, "he feels like home. Like the place where nothing feels heavy. Even when I'm stressed, he makes me feel at ease."

Ira's eyes dropped to her plate, her spoon lazily dragging across the plate.

Home.

She used to know that feeling.

Once.

Shakshi nudged her. "Why are you asking, though? Don't tell me you started to feel for Vivansh—"