Shadows Of Us

 The office was unusually quiet that evening. Most of the staff had left, leaving behind an eerie calm. Meera sat at her desk, finishing up the last of her tasks. She glanced at the clock. It was past eight. 

She sighed. "Another late night," she muttered to herself. 

As she began gathering her things, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Arjun's assistant: 

"Mr. Malhotra would like to see you in his office."

Her heart skipped a beat. Lately, every interaction with Arjun felt heavier, more strained. She shook her head, forcing herself to stay composed. "It's just work," she whispered, heading to his office. 

---

When she entered, Arjun was sitting behind his massive desk, his sleeves rolled up, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The dim lighting made his features look sharper, almost intimidating. 

"You called for me, Sir?" Meera asked, keeping her tone polite. 

He looked up, his gaze piercing. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just stared at her. The silence stretched, making her shift uncomfortably. 

"Sit," he finally said, gesturing to the chair across from him. 

Meera hesitated but obeyed, clutching her file tightly against her chest. "Is there something you need me to work on?" 

Arjun leaned back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Tell me something, Meera," he said, his voice unusually soft. 

She frowned slightly. "Yes, Sir?" 

"Do you ever feel… trapped?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her. 

The question caught her off guard. "Trapped?" 

"In life," he clarified. "In expectations. In roles that people force on you." 

She blinked, unsure of where this was going. "I think everyone feels that way sometimes." 

Arjun smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I do," he admitted. "Every day." 

Meera wasn't sure how to respond. It was rare for him to show vulnerability, and it made her uneasy. "Sir, is everything okay?" 

"No, Meera," he said bluntly, standing up and walking around the desk. "Nothing is okay." 

She tensed as he leaned against the desk, standing directly in front of her. His proximity was unsettling. 

"I'm a man who has everything," he said, his voice low. "Wealth, power, influence. But you know what I don't have?" 

She shook her head slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. 

"Freedom," he said, his eyes boring into hers. "Freedom to feel what I want. To want what I can't have." 

Her breath hitched. She didn't like where this conversation was heading. "Sir, I'm not sure I understand." 

He smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "You understand, Meera. You've always understood." 

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Arjun…" 

"You think I don't notice the way you look at me?" he continued, cutting her off. "The way you blush when I'm near? Don't pretend, Meera. We're not so different." 

She stood abruptly, clutching her file like a shield. "I think I should go." 

"Wait," he said, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. 

"Sir," she said, her voice trembling. "Let go of me." 

He released her immediately but didn't back away. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "What if we stopped pretending? What if, just for once, we gave in to what we both want?" 

Her heart stopped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What are you saying?" 

"You know exactly what I'm saying," he said, his tone steady. "No strings, no emotions. Just us. Together." 

The words hung in the air like a storm cloud. Meera felt her chest tighten, a mix of shock, hurt, and anger flooding through her. 

"Are you out of your mind?" she whispered, her voice shaking. 

He frowned. "I'm being honest, Meera. I --" 

"No," she said, cutting him off, her voice rising. "You're being cruel. You think this is some kind of solution? You think I would ever…?" 

She took a step back, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I respected you. I admired you. But this… this is disgusting." 

Arjun's jaw tightened. "I didn't mean to offend you." 

"Offend me?" she repeated, laughing bitterly. "You've done far worse than that, Sir. You've shown me who you really are." 

She turned to leave, but he called after her. "Meera, wait." 

She stopped, her hand on the door handle. "I'm done waiting, Arjun," she said without looking back. "I quit." 

"Meera -- " 

"Goodbye," she said firmly, walking out of his office and out of his life. 

---

Arjun stood in the middle of the room, staring at the door she had just walked through. For the first time in years, he felt powerless. He had thought he could control the situation, control his emotions, but he had underestimated Meera. 

Pouring himself another glass of whiskey, he muttered under his breath, "What the hell have I done?" 

Meanwhile, Meera walked out of the building, her head held high, even as tears streamed down her face. Her heart was shattered, but she knew one thing for certain-- she deserved better. 

And she wouldn't look back.

.

To be continue...