Chapter 4: The Threads of Destiny

Chapter 4: The Threads of Destiny

A week had passed since Kiara joined the company, and to my surprise, she had already become an integral part of the team. Her quick wit, diligence, and infectious energy had everyone in the office warming up to her. As her mentor, I couldn't deny that she was doing exceptionally well, and a small part of me felt proud watching her excel.

That Friday afternoon, Kiara rolled her chair toward mine, clutching a stack of neatly organized documents. Her almond eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she handed them to me.

"You're already done with typing these up?" I asked, scanning through the pages. "That's impressive."

Her face lit up at the compliment. "There were a few hiccups, but nothing too serious."

Flipping through the content, I nodded. "Good job. Everything looks solid."

She smiled, a radiant expression that could brighten even the dullest corners of the office. "I think I must have been doing this in my previous life too."

Her unexpected remark caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Hahaha, yeah, maybe you were."

Most people had started brushing off her "previous life" talk as a quirky personality trait. Even I had begun to laugh along. After all, the idea of two souls reuniting across lifetimes seemed far-fetched. Or so I thought.

"Huh? I can't find it…" Kiara muttered, rummaging through her desk drawers.

"Your phone's in your purse," I said instinctively without even glancing up.

"Oh, right! Thanks!" she exclaimed, giving me a grateful smile.

It wasn't until I heard a low whistle from across the room that I realized how naturally the exchange had unfolded. Harsh was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, watching us with an amused expression.

"What's with that look, Harsh?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.

"You two must've been married in your previous life," he said with a teasing grin. "I mean, you're practically reading each other's minds."

Kiara's eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to him. "You think so too?!"

"Of course," Harsh said, leaning into the joke. "It's the only explanation."

Rolling my eyes, I tried to steer the conversation away. "If I sat next to you, Harsh, I'd probably start predicting your thoughts too."

Kiara pouted, crossing her arms. "Nope. It's definitely the bond from our previous life!"

"Alright, alright," I relented, unable to resist her determined expression. "Sure, let's call it that."

"You don't believe me!" she accused, puffing her cheeks like a child.

"Umm… hahaha, sorry," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender.

Before I could say anything more, a familiar voice interrupted. "Hehehe, but you're getting along well in this life too, Kiara."

I turned to see Keshav standing behind me, his arms folded and a playful smirk on his face.

"Keshav—uh, boss?" I stammered.

Keshav chuckled, pointing to our wrists. "Hey, look. You guys even have matching watches."

Startled, I glanced down at my wrist, then at Kiara's. Sure enough, we were wearing identical watches. The realization hit me just as Harsh exclaimed, "Whoa! You guys are really close. Same watch and everything!"

Kiara grabbed my hand to inspect the similarity more closely. Her touch was warm and soft, her nails polished with a simple, transparent gloss. A faint floral scent wafted from her, sending my thoughts into a spiral.

"Wow! I just noticed!" she said, her eyes wide with wonder.

My gaze shifted to her watch to distract myself. "It's a popular unisex model. Pretty common, actually," I said, trying to sound casual.

But Kiara had other ideas. "It has to be the connection from our previous life!" she declared, still holding my hand. "We were married, so of course we'd like the same things!"

I gently pulled my hand away, my pulse quickening. "It's just a coincidence," I said, trying to keep my tone light.

Kiara's smile faltered for a moment, and she sighed wistfully. "I wish it really were destiny…"

Her words lingered in the air, tugging at something in me I couldn't quite identify. My heart gave an unsteady flutter before I forced myself to focus. No, Sai, don't go there.

Keshav's voice brought me back to reality. "Anyway, I just came by to check on our new hire. Looks like she's in good hands."

Kiara beamed at him. "I really enjoy working here, not just because of Sai and Harsh, but because of everyone."

Keshav placed a hand on his chest, feigning a dramatic swoon. "You've touched my heart with that. I'm proud of my team."

"Boss, we've got work to do," I interjected, desperate to end the conversation.

Keshav laughed. "Alright, alright. Carry on, everyone!"

As he left, I turned to Kiara. "I've sent your next assignment to your email. Let me know if you have any questions."

"Got it!" she said with a cheerful nod, rolling back to her desk.

But even as the day progressed, whispers about the matching watches began to circulate through the office. By lunchtime, it had become a full-blown rumor.

"You and Kiara, huh?" someone teased in the cafeteria.

I waved them off, but deep down, I felt conflicted. I liked this watch—it was one of my favorites. Changing it now would feel like giving in to the gossip. Still, as much as I tried to dismiss the rumors, a tiny voice in the back of my mind wondered: Could it really be more than coincidence?