"New Curiosity"

_________@UTHOR'S POV~~

As the days passed, Anaya found herself becoming more entangled in the web of office politics, subtle glances, and the growing tension between her personal life and professional responsibilities. Each day felt like a delicate balancing act, and today was no different.

The morning started with a flurry of emails, meetings, and deadlines. Anaya, seated at her desk in the corner, worked quietly but diligently. Her desk, neat and organized, was a reflection of her meticulous nature. The sunlight streamed in from the large windows of the office, casting a warm glow on the room. Around her, the hum of typing, muted conversations, and the occasional ring of a phone created the usual background noise of the workplace.

Anaya was deep into reviewing some reports when she felt a presence nearby. Looking up, she saw Kunal standing a few feet away, his eyes on her as if he had been watching her for some time. His usual air of mystery was even more pronounced today, as his gaze was intense and unreadable.

"Morning," Kunal said in a smooth tone, breaking the silence. He was dressed impeccably, as always, in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark trousers. His jacket was casually slung over his shoulder. He looked every bit the confident, powerful senior that he was.

"Good morning," Anaya replied, her voice polite but professional, hoping her nervousness didn't show. She quickly returned to her work, not wanting to linger on whatever unspoken tension was brewing between them.

Kunal, however, wasn't in a hurry to leave. He leaned against the edge of a nearby desk, arms crossed, observing her. "You've been working late the past few days. Everything going okay?" he asked, though there was something in his tone that suggested he already knew the answer.

Anaya hesitated, her fingers lightly tapping her keyboard. "Yes, everything's fine. Just trying to stay on top of things."

Kunal's eyes flickered with something like curiosity, or maybe even concern. "Make sure you don't overwork yourself. You have a tendency to take on too much. We wouldn't want you to burn out." There was a softness to his words, but also an underlying warning. His gaze lingered on her a second too long before he straightened up.

"I'll try not to," Anaya managed to say, offering a small smile. But as soon as he left, she exhaled deeply, realizing she had been holding her breath. Why was Kunal paying her so much attention? It was beginning to feel... unsettling.

Later in the day, the office buzzed with discussions about the new project. The workload had increased significantly, especially for the interns, who were expected to prove themselves. Anaya was juggling her tasks in both the development and marketing departments, and her schedule was packed. But today, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kunal's eyes were on her more than usual.

Around midday, the team began migrating toward the cafeteria for lunch. Anaya, though usually eager for a break, was still caught up in her work. She was reviewing a presentation for her marketing pitch when Pranali appeared beside her, looking slightly exasperated.

"Anaya!" Pranali said, hands on her hips. "You need to take a break. You've been working non-stop. Come on, let's get some food. You're not the only person in my team, you know. We've got others handling things too."

Anaya chuckled softly, realizing she had lost track of time. "Okay, okay, you're right. Let's go."

As they headed to the cafeteria, Anaya caught sight of Jai and Janvi sitting at a table, laughing about something. She smiled at the sight. Janvi was shy and quiet, but around Jai, she seemed to open up more. Anaya felt a warm sense of camaraderie among the interns, even if the work was challenging.

As they joined the group, Jai grinned at Anaya. "Finally, she emerges from the mountain of work!" he joked, causing Janvi to giggle.

Anaya rolled her eyes playfully. "Someone has to get things done around here."

Jai shook his head, still smiling. "Yeah, but you're not a robot, Anaya. You need to relax."

Just as the conversation was lightening up, Kunal entered the cafeteria, his presence instantly noticed by everyone. He moved with a quiet confidence, carrying his tray as if he had all the time in the world. When he reached their table, he placed his tray down, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "What's going on here?" he asked casually, though there was always a deeper layer to his words.

"We're talking about relationships," Jai said with a smirk, turning the conversation back to its previous track. "Who's single, who's taken... that sort of thing."

Kunal's expression didn't change, but there was a faint amusement in his eyes. "Interesting," he said, taking a seat and looking at Anaya out of the corner of his eye. "What about you, Jai? Are you single?"

Jai laughed. "You know it. And proud of it. Freedom and all that."

Pranali snorted. "You say that now, but just wait until you meet someone."

Jai leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Not happening. I like my space."

Kunal smirked. "We'll see." His tone was cool, but his gaze subtly drifted toward Anaya, who was focused on her food, trying to stay out of the conversation. Pranali, ever the observant one, noticed the brief look and smirked to herself.

Suddenly, Pranali noticed the delicate bracelet on Anaya's wrist, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "That's a pretty bracelet, Anaya. Who gave it to you?"

Anaya's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly glanced down at her wrist, fiddling with the bracelet. "Oh, this? A friend gave it to me," she said lightly, trying to avoid further questions. She didn't make eye contact with anyone, hoping the subject would drop.

Janvi, however, wasn't one to let things go easily. "A friend, huh? Is this 'friend' special?" she teased, nudging Anaya with a shy smile.

Anaya blushed but shook her head. "No, nothing like that."

Kunal, sitting across from her, was unusually quiet, his attention seemingly elsewhere but his eyes occasionally darting toward her wrist and the bracelet.

After finishing their lunch, Pranali and Anaya headed back to their desks. Kunal and Jai lingered behind, finishing their coffee.

As they sat in silence for a moment, Jai glanced at Kunal with a knowing look. "So... you're still single, huh? Think that's going to change anytime soon?"

Kunal didn't reply immediately, his gaze distant for a moment before he spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. "Not forever. But soon... things might change."

Jai raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. He had a feeling there was more going on with Kunal than he let on, but he knew better than to pry.

Back at her desk, Anaya tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the strange tension between her and Kunal. What was he thinking? Why was he paying so much attention to her? She couldn't afford distractions, especially not now. She had too much at stake—both in her career and in her secret life.

As the day wore on, the office buzzed with activity. The new project was demanding, and everyone was working overtime to meet the deadlines. Anaya pushed herself hard, balancing both her internship and her college work, but the weight of her secrets was beginning to feel heavier.

By the end of the day, as she gathered her things to leave, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kunal's eyes were on her. And as she walked out of the office, she knew that the delicate balance she had been maintaining was starting to shift—whether she was ready for it or not.

The tension in the office grew palpable as the days passed, and Anaya became more aware of the subtle shifts in her environment. Kunal's gaze lingered longer, his presence becoming more pronounced, and the secret she carried—her marriage to Rudra—began to feel heavier. Each day felt like a balancing act, and today was no different.

It was early morning, and the office was quiet except for the low hum of computers. Anaya sat at her desk, typing away at a report for the marketing department, her mind preoccupied with the multiple deadlines looming over her. The soft click of Pranali's heels approaching snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Anaya," Pranali said, leaning against the side of her desk, "are you seriously working already? You're worse than me."

Anaya gave her a tired smile, "I'm just trying to get a head start. There's so much to do."

Pranali rolled her eyes. "Well, don't forget to take a break. You've been running yourself ragged."

Anaya nodded, appreciating Pranali's concern, but she knew she couldn't slow down. The work was piling up, and with Rudra's situation at home, she had to keep things as smooth as possible. She was just about to respond when Kunal appeared at the entrance of the office, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on her.

He walked over, his usual calm and mysterious demeanor in place. "Morning," he said, his voice smooth.

"Good morning," Anaya replied, trying to maintain her composure.

Kunal's gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary before turning to Pranali. "Pranali, I need those reports by noon today. The board's meeting has been moved up."

Pranali sighed, but nodded. "I'll have them ready. Don't worry."

Kunal gave a small nod before his gaze flickered back to Anaya. "Anaya, are you working on the presentation for the new project?"

"Yes," she replied, keeping her voice professional. "I'm making progress."

"Good. I expect you'll have something for me to review by the end of the day?" His tone was calm, but there was a subtle authority in it that made it clear this wasn't a suggestion.

Anaya nodded, feeling the weight of his expectations settle on her shoulders. "Of course."

Kunal lingered for a moment longer, his eyes searching hers as if he was trying to figure out something unsaid. Finally, he turned and walked away, leaving Anaya and Pranali alone.

Pranali raised an eyebrow at Anaya, a knowing smirk on her face. "You know, I think Kunal has a soft spot for you."

Anaya shook her head quickly, her cheeks heating up. "No, it's nothing like that. He's just being... professional."

Pranali laughed softly, leaning in. "Sure, professional. But you can't deny he looks at you differently than the rest of us."

Anaya bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She couldn't afford to get tangled up in office gossip, not with everything else on her plate.

As the day progressed, the workload became more intense. Anaya worked through her lunch break, focused entirely on the project she was working on for both departments. The new project required intense collaboration, and her dual role in the development and marketing teams left her juggling more than most interns. She knew she was walking a fine line, but failure wasn't an option.

Later in the afternoon, the stress in the office was palpable as deadlines approached. Everyone was doing their best to keep up with the pace, but the strain was evident. Anaya's desk was cluttered with papers and notes, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she tried to finalize her presentation.

By the time Pranali walked by her desk again, it was late in the afternoon. "Anaya, you've been working nonstop. You need a break. Come on, let's grab a coffee."

Anaya hesitated but finally nodded. She could use the break, and it would give her a chance to clear her head.

As they made their way to the cafeteria, Anaya noticed that most of the interns were already there, chatting and unwinding. Jai and Janvi were sitting at a table near the corner, laughing about something. When they saw Pranali and Anaya approaching, Jai waved them over.

"Hey, look who decided to finally take a break," Jai said with a grin.

Anaya smiled and sat down, feeling a little more relaxed. "I was starting to think you lived at your desk," Jai teased.

"I feel like I do," Anaya joked back, earning a laugh from the group.

Janvi, who was normally quiet, seemed more at ease around Jai. She blushed slightly as Jai kept the conversation light, making everyone laugh with his usual humor.

"So, Anaya," Jai said, his tone more serious now, "you're always working so hard. Do you even have time for a personal life?"

Anaya felt her stomach tighten slightly. She didn't want to talk about her personal life, especially not in front of everyone, with Kunal potentially listening in. But before she could reply, Kunal entered the cafeteria, carrying his tray, his eyes subtly scanning the group. He walked over and placed his tray down next to Jai.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.

"We're just talking about Anaya's work-life balance," Jai said with a smirk. "You'd think she's married to her job or something."

Kunal's eyes flickered for a split second, but he quickly masked any reaction. "Anaya's dedicated. That's why she's valuable to the team," he said, his voice even.

Anaya felt her heart race, wondering if Kunal knew more than he let on. She had been careful not to let anyone in the office know about her marriage, but Kunal's sharp intuition always left her on edge.

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, with Jai joking about his single life and how he enjoyed his freedom. Pranali chimed in, mentioning her boyfriend and how they were planning a trip soon. The lighthearted banter filled the air, but Anaya remained quiet, not wanting to share too much.

Janvi, noticing Anaya's silence, finally spoke up. "So, Anaya, do you have a boyfriend?"

Anaya shook her head, smiling softly. "No, nothing like that," she said, keeping her answer short and avoiding eye contact with Kunal.

Pranali, always the observant one, noticed the bracelet on Anaya's wrist again and tilted her head. "That's a nice bracelet. Who gave it to you?"

Anaya's breath caught, and she quickly glanced down at the delicate piece of jewelry. "Oh, just a friend," she replied, trying to sound casual.

Kunal, who had been quietly listening, didn't miss the way she avoided the question. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't say anything.

As the conversation continued, Anaya could feel the weight of Kunal's gaze on her. He was watching her closely, as if trying to figure out what she wasn't saying. It made her uneasy, but she did her best to remain composed.

After the girls finished eating, they returned to their desks, leaving Jai and Kunal to finish their coffee.

"So," Jai said, leaning back in his chair, "are you planning to stay single forever?"

Kunal didn't respond immediately, his eyes still focused on the spot where Anaya had been sitting. "Not forever," he finally said, his voice low. "But soon."

Jai raised an eyebrow, surprised by Kunal's answer. "Really? You thinking about settling down?"

Kunal didn't say anything more, but his expression was thoughtful, as if he was already making plans in his mind.

Back at her desk, Anaya tried to focus on her work, but the strange tension from lunch lingered. She knew Kunal was watching her, and she couldn't help but feel like he was slowly piecing together the puzzle of her secret life. She just hoped she could keep things under control before everything unraveled.

## To be continue...**