Chapter 19 girlfriend?
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. The night had been incredible, and being around Vihaan, Priya, and Raj had brought back so many memories. I couldn't help but smile as I thought about the laughter, the music, and the dancing.
As I made my way to my bedroom, I noticed Priya's door was slightly ajar. I pushed it open and peeked inside. She was fast asleep, a peaceful smile on her face. I chuckled, remembering the night's escapades.
I went to my room, changed into comfortable clothes, and climbed into bed. But despite the exhaustion, I couldn't shake off the feeling that things were changing between Vihaan and me. The way he looked at me, the way he smiled... it was like no time had passed at all.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring. Would things go back to normal, or would this night mark the beginning of something new? Only time would tell.
I got ready for the office, still feeling a bit hungover from the previous night's festivities. I said goodbye to Priya, who was still sleeping, and headed out the door. As I arrived at the office, I was greeted by the hum of chatter and the clinking of cups. I made my way to my desk, exchanging pleasantries with colleagues along the way.
That's when I saw him - Vihaan, standing by the conference room, chatting with a stunning girl who was laughing and touching his arm. My eyes narrowed slightly as I took in the scene. Who was this girl, and why was she touching Vihaan like that?
As I watched, Vihaan glanced up and caught my eye, flashing a brief smile before returning his attention to the girl. I felt a pang of... something. Irritation? Jealousy? I pushed the feeling aside, telling myself I was being ridiculous. It was none of my business who Vihaan was dating.
But as I settled into my chair, I couldn't help but overhear the whispers around me. "Is that Vihaan's new girlfriend?" "She's gorgeous!" "I heard they're together now." The words stung, and I found myself wondering why I cared so much. I stood up, smoothing out my dress and taking a deep breath. Time to focus on work, not Vihaan's love life. But as I walked towards the conference room for a meeting, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Vihaan and his mysterious companion.
I approached Vihaan, trying to seem nonchalant despite the flutter in my chest. "Hey, Vihaan. Can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Vihaan looked up, his eyes briefly meeting mine before darting back to the girl beside him. "Not now, Janvi. I'm busy," he said curtly, his tone dismissive.
I felt a sting from his words, but I tried to brush it off. "Okay, no problem. I'll catch up with you later then," I said, attempting to sound friendly.
But before I could even finish my sentence, Vihaan was already turning away, his attention focused on the girl. "Let's go, Sophia. We have a meeting with the marketing team," he said, gesturing towards the elevator.
As they walked away, Sophia smiled at me, and I forced a smile in return, feeling a pang of jealousy. Who was this girl, and why was Vihaan being so short with me? I watched as they stepped into the elevator, feeling a sense of irritation wash over me. It seemed like Vihaan was doing his best to avoid me, and it was getting under my skin.
I stood there for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Irritation, jealousy, and a dash of hurt all fought for dominance. I took a deep breath and shook my head, chiding myself for being ridiculous. Why was I letting Vihaan's behavior get to me? I had no claim on him, and I certainly didn't owe him any explanations.
With newfound determination, I turned away from the elevator and headed back to my desk. I had work to do, and I wasn't going to let Vihaan's antics distract me. As I sat down at my computer, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Priya. "Hey, girl! Need some coffee and a vent session. You free?"
I waited for her response, feeling a bit more centered. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with her reply. "Always! Meet you at the café down the street in 15?" I smiled, feeling grateful for my friend's understanding. Now, it was time to focus on work and get my mind off Vihaan. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a complicated day.
I grabbed my purse and headed out of the office, eager to meet Priya and spill my guts. As I walked into the café, I spotted her sipping on a latte, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.
"Hey, girl! What's going on?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
I took a deep breath and launched into the story, telling her everything - the party, Vihaan's behavior, and the mysterious girl. Priya listened intently, her eyes wide with excitement.
"So, let me get this straight," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You're jealous of this Sophia girl, but you're not supposed to be because you're just his employee?"
I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Exactly! It's ridiculous. I have no claim on him, and I shouldn't care."
Priya raised an eyebrow. "But you do care. You care a lot. And I think it's because you're still got feelings for him."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Priya held up her hand. "Hear me out. You've been working with him for a while now, and you've seen the real Vihaan. The one you used to know in college is still there, underneath all that arrogance and charm."
I thought about her words, my mind racing with possibilities. Could Priya be right? Was I still harboring feelings for Vihaan? And what did it mean for our working relationship if I was?
I shook my head, pushing aside the thoughts of Vihaan and Sophia for now. "Let's not jump to conclusions, Priya. I'm just going to focus on work and ignore him for a while. See if that helps me clear my head."
Priya nodded, a sly smile still playing on her lips. "Whatever you say, Janvi. But I'm rooting for you to admit your feelings soon."
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "You're impossible. Let's grab some food. I'm starving."
We chatted and laughed over lunch, and later, Raj joined us for dinner. We had a great time catching up and gossiping about everything except Vihaan. I was grateful for the distraction, and Raj's easygoing nature helped take my mind off things.
As we finished dinner and prepared to part ways, Raj turned to me and said, "Hey, Janvi, Vihaan's been trying to reach you. You okay? You've been avoiding him?"
I raised an eyebrow, a bit annoyed that Raj was bringing him up. "Yeah, I'm just busy with work. I'll catch up with him soon."
Raj nodded understandingly. "Alright, I'll let him know. But you know he's not going to like that, right?"
I smiled sweetly. "I'm not really concerned about that right now."
Raj chuckled and leaned in. "I'll make sure to tell him you're ignoring him on purpose. That should be fun."
I playfully glared at him. "Don't you dare."