A Good Morning (That Didn't Last Long)

I was in a good mood.

Which was weird, because nothing special had happened.

But for some reason, My morning chai tasted better than usual. My ride to work? Smoother than ever. Even the Bangalore traffic, which usually made me question my existence, didn't bother me today.

I felt... lighter.

Like something had shifted.

Maybe it was because of last night's text exchange.

I wouldn't admit it out loud, but messing with Mehul over text? Kind of fun.

The way Mehul responded with short, unimpressed replies, yet still kept answering? The way I could practically feel his exasperation through the screen? Entertaining as hell.

Maybe that's why I had woken up with a stupid grin on my face.

But of course, I wasn't going to think too hard about it.

I strolled into the office, coffee in one hand, humming to myself.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Arjun called out from his desk. "Did you forget we work mornings now?"

I dropped into my chair with a dramatic sigh. "Mornings are a scam. We should start at noon."

For which Arjun scoffed and Riya gave her usual side eye.

I set down the coffee, casually scrolling through inbox—deleting spam, ignoring boring announcements, filing away things I'd "read later" (never).

Then, a new subject line caught my eye.

Subject: Inter-Department Project Collaboration – Team Assignments

I sighed. Probably another long-term project he'd get stuck with. I skimmed through the email—blah blah, efficiency, teamwork, deadline—until my eyes landed on a name.

Mehul.

I froze.

No way.

I blinked. Read it again.

Mehul – Systems Team Lead

...Wait.

Lead?

I scrolled down. His own name was listed under the same project.

My head snapped up.

"Hey," I turned to Arjun. "Do you know an Mehul from the systems team?"

Arjun looked up from his screen. "Yeah. Why?"

I squinted. "Since when has he worked here?"

Arjun gave me a weird look. "Uh, four years?"

I stared.

Arjun frowned. "Dude... how do you not know this?"

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

Four years.

Mehul had been here for four years, and I had never once noticed him?

I glanced at my phone, where my last message with Mehul still sat.

Vihaan: "Maybe I just wanted to know if you secretly post thirst traps."
Mehul: "...Goodbye."

Oh my god.

I had flirted with a coworker.

Unknowingly.

Publicly.

On text.

And now, we are on the same project team.

I need a moment.

Riya, noticing his expression, squinted at him. "Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"

I immediately snapped out of it. "What? Me? No, no. I'm totally fine."

Arjun squinted. "You're sweating."

"Just... office humidity."

Riya raised an eyebrow. "You sit directly under the AC."

I grabbed the coffee, taking a huge sip. "Guys. I'm fine."

Arjun wasn't buying it. "Wait... don't tell me your mystery guy works here?"

I immediately choked on my drink.

Riya gasped. "HE DOES?!"

I regretted everything.

By lunch, I had mostly recovered.

Mostly.

I just had one goal: act natural.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

Because the moment I stepped into the break room, Mehul was there.

Standing by the coffee machine. Calm. Unbothered. As if this whole situation wasn't completely insane.

I took a deep breath. Be normal.

I casually walked up next to him.

Mehul acknowledged my presence with the barest glance.

Then went back to making his coffee.

I waited.

Mehul didn't say a word.

Okay. Fine. I could start. No big deal.

"So," I said, grabbing a cup. "Funny running into you here."

Mehul stirred his coffee. "Not really."

I blinked. "Huh?"

Mehul looked at me. "You work here. I work here. Statistically, this was bound to happen."

For the second time today ,I opened my mouth. Closed it.

...Wow. This guy was impossible.

I cleared my throat. "So... systems team, huh? Never seen you around before."

Mehul took a slow sip. "Sounds like a you problem."

I stared. "Excuse me?"

Mehul exhaled like he was already tired of this conversation. "I've been here. You just never noticed."

I dragged a hand down my face. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Mehul blinked, expression unreadable. "Not particularly."

I pointed at him. "See, that right there? The way you talk? It's suspicious."

Mehul raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious of what?"

I narrowed his eyes. "I don't know yet. But I'm gonna find out."

Mehul gave him a flat stare. "Good luck with that."

Then, without another word, he left.

I watched him go.

And for the second time that day, I realized something disturbing.

I was even more curious about Mehul now.

And that? That was a problem.