"Hello ma'am Sorry I didn't see you there. I'll come after a while. Ted thought his timing was wrong so he was about to turn back to leave when Muskaan stopped him.

"Mr. Ted, you wait. I'll be back later. You guys have your lunch, I didn't notice it was lunch time. I'm sorry." Muskaan was getting up from her place asTed was continuously trying to stop her on Jay's command but that couldn’t stop. That's when Jai also said.

"No Muskan, I mean Ms. Muskan . Seems like you also haven't had your lunch. If I’m correct and you don’t mind then can you do it with me?” Jay asked very expectantly.

Jay reminisced about his school days when during lunch break Muskan would forcefully feed her home cooked food in his mouth. He would not bring tiffin from home as he didn’t want to disturb his grandmother because at that time she was not keeping well. He used to feel that by staying with her, he was already a burden on her.

She didn't want to revisit the pages of the past which Muskaan had left far behind, so ignoring everyone's requests, she turned back towards the door.

“As you said we’re here for work, so let’s discuss work. But while eating. Please Ms. Muskan. Do me a favor. Have lunch with me.” Jay insisted. On his cue Ted left the room.

“Then, I’ll take my leave. Enjoy lunch.” 

Conflicted Muskan took a deep breath in and sat back at her place as Jay smiled.

Ted went to the canteen for his lunch as he gave his share of lunch to Muskan. There he saw all the seats were filled except one. The seat on which Riya was eating. With no option left he went there with his plate.

“May I?” He asked her for permission. 

Though she didn’t want to, after looking around she had no choice to allow him. SO Riya nodded her head in yes.

“If you don’t mind, can I ask why you’re eating here alone?” He asked while taking first from his plate.

Riya who was confused at first with whom he was talking to, realized it was her as there was no one else on the table. 

“Just like that.” She replied curtly.

"If you don't want to answer, just say so. Always being rude." Ted whispered softly to himself.

"What did you say?" But Riya overheard.

"Nothing. "

After their bickering, both of them started eating silently. Coincidentally, both of them finished eating at the same time. Staring at each other, they left the canteen after keeping the plate. As they passed by the coffee machine outside, they overheard some people talking. Riya stopped when she heard her name, so did Ted.

"What does this Riya think of herself? How could she always be so demanding?" One said to his colleague while sipping coffee.

"Why won't she, after all she has the support of Muskan ma'am." The other said while agreeing with him.

"You are seeing Riya's flaws, I can see that the old Muskan is coming back. Didn't you see how she shouted at us today. We were just looking here and there. After all, we don't get a chance to come to Roy's office everyday."

While drinking coffee, Riya's co-workers are talking bad about her and Muskaan, which Riya and Ted overhear by mistake. Saddened by their words, Riya left without saying anything. Ted also followed her out of concern for her.

Riya was staring at the sky in the office garden of the building and was lost in some deep thought, and a voice from behind.

"Are you ok?"