Chapter 27

I could've handled this.

Really.

If Mehul had just stayed exactly the way he always was—silent, unreadable, distant— I could've convinced myself that I was just overthinking everything.

But lately?

Lately, he was doing things.

Small things. Subtle things.

Things that made it impossible to ignore him.

And the worst part?

I don't even think he realizes what he's doing to me.

The First Sign of My Doom

It started the next day at lunch.

The breakroom was full as usual, but when I walked in, my attention automatically went to one person.

Mehul.

Sitting at our usual table.

The table where I always ended up sitting across from him.

Except today…

He had placed his bag on my seat.

I frowned. "What's that about?"

Mehul barely looked up. "It was empty. Someone else might've taken it."

I stared.

He had saved my seat.

Like it was normal.

Like I was supposed to sit there.

Like… he expected me to.

And now?

I couldn't breathe properly.

I pulled the chair out and sat down, trying to act normal. "You do realize I could've just sat somewhere else?"

Mehul finally glanced at me. "But you didn't."

My brain short-circuited.

I took a sip of chai just to avoid answering.

Because he was right.

I didn't.

The Second Sign of My Doom

Later that afternoon, I was at my desk, trying to work, when a voice cut through my focus.

"Vihaan."

I looked up way too fast. "Yeah?"

Mehul placed a cup of chai on my desk.

I blinked. Completely thrown off.

Mehul just shrugged. "You forgot to get one."

I stared at the cup.

Then at him.

Then back at the cup.

"You—" I swallowed. "You noticed that?"

Mehul tilted his head slightly. "You always have one around this time."

My pulse spiked.

Because since when did Mehul pay attention to my habits?

Since when did he get chai for me?

Since when did he—oh my god, I'm going to die.

I tried to respond. Failed.

Mehul, of course, was completely unbothered.

"Drink before it gets cold," he said, before turning back to his work.

And I sat there, staring at the chai, having a full-blown crisis over a cup of tea.

The Final Blow (AKA Mehul Is Not Helping My Situation)

By the time evening rolled around, I was barely functioning.

Between the saved seat and the chai incident, I was convinced I was reading too much into things.

Until—he did it again.

I had just stepped into the elevator, ready to head home, when—

A hand stopped the doors from closing.

Mehul.

My heart did a thing.

He stepped in, standing next to me, calm as ever.

The doors closed.

Silence.

And then—the thing that ruined me.

As the elevator started moving, our shoulders brushed.

Not accidental.

Not rushed.

Just the lightest touch.

And he didn't move away.

I held my breath.

Because it was so small, so insignificant—

And yet, it sent my entire system into a spiral.

The elevator dinged.

The doors opened.

Mehul stepped out.

Paused.

Glanced at me. "See you tomorrow."

And then he walked away.

Leaving me completely destroyed.