The elevator was never this slow.

Arjun knew it, the building knew it, and the cracked digital display blinking B2 → 9 definitely knew it. He jabbed the *close door* button again, not because it would make a difference, but because impatience had a way of making people do illogical things. His tie was knotted perfectly, his gray shirt crisp, his shoes polished to a mirror finish. Yet the faint crease on his forehead betrayed his irritation.

He entered and jabbed the button close, frustrated. He was too exhausted to notice a young woman beside him. He glanced once. She was angled away from him, hair spilling forward in a loose curtain that shielded most of her face. She was leaning casually against the wall, thumbs flying over her phone screen. Whatever conversation she was having through text seemed urgent enough to pull every scrap of her focus. He didn't care. He couldn't bother himself to initiate a conversation. She was a stranger and he was not interested.

The elevator lurched upward with its usual slow determination.

An extremely loud thunder rumbled outside. The lights flickered once.

Twice.

And then everything shuddered to a halt. He dropped his bag and braced  against the wall. There was a softer, warmer impact against his chest, a body colliding into him with enough force to knock the breath out of his lungs. His hands moved before his brain caught up. One instinctively braced against the cool metal wall, the other wrapped firmly around her waist to steady them both. His palm landed on bare skin where her top had ridden up  warm, smooth, and startlingly familiar.

A  desperate attempt in balance before either of them fall.  He heard her gasp, clutching her shirt tight. He fumbled with his phone and switched on the flashlight and pointed directly towards her.

Fate has its cruel timing. Was it a destiny?

The girl he pushed away five years ago to chase his dreams. The girl he had once held closer than anyone else. The girl he had walked away from five years ago with all the arrogance of a man convinced ambition was worth more than love.

Varsha.

Literally in his arms. She looked older, Wiser and even prettier. The faint gleam of a nose pin caught the beam of his flashlight, as did the gold hoop earrings she hadn’t worn in their younger days. She blinked a few times to adjust her vision against the bright light.

And she was looking at him now like she’d rather be anywhere else in the world. The glare was dripping cold. Colder than Antarctica. She pushed herself away and stood against the wall, holding her bag close against her chest trying to protect herself. He stood there, dumbfounded.

"Varsha…" he breathed, the name falling from his lips before he could stop it.

"Of course. Of all people to get stuck in a lift with." Her brows drew together, her glare cutting through the dimness. The temperature dropped at least 5 degrees inside the elevator.He felt the corner of his mouth twitch despite himself.

"Damn Woman...."

She shushed and interrupted.They stood in silence for a long moment. The air was warmer than it should have been, the faint scent of her perfume threading through the small space. Something floral, with a hint of sandalwood. Familiar. Comforting. Dangerous.

"Don't."

"Par Varshu...."

"I said don't!"

Before he could respond the lift lights lit back to life and started moving.

"Varsha...."

"Chup!" She yelled, cutting him off with the same force she’d once used to win their old debates. The lift stopped at the ground floor. Once the door opened, she strode out without throwing him a second glance. He walked out staring at her figure disappearing away.

Damn him!

He didn't know whether to cuss his fate or kiss it. Is this the second chance, the god is tryna offer? With the girl who doesn't even want to offer a second look. Ice cold glare cold enough to freeze his spine. It's gonna be a long journey ahead.

VARSHA

Varsha wasn't the same girl she was five years ago. Five years ago, she was a dreamer. Maybe a bit naive? She loved spreading love. She loved Arjun. She dreamt of a life with him. Full of colours, magic and tons of love. She wasn't delusional, but she dreamt.She believed in Arjun. Loved him with the kind of wholeheartedness that didn’t ask questions.

Arjun was perfect. He was loving, caring and pampered her like a princess. They planned their whole life ahead. He was the perfect lover. Passionate, romantic and soft. She knew about his entrepreneurial dreams. His app ideas and start-up plans. She was there. Everyday and every night. The passion took over him. She was happy, until she wasn't. The cracks were slow but inevitable. Slowly, the missed calls piled up. Date nights were cancelled. His temper shortened. The warmth in his eyes began to flicker. Arguments replaced laughter. Tears became more common than kisses. Fear crept in. Exhaustion and pain as well. She thought it was temporary. Just his anxiety talking. But then, a week before the app launch, her fear became the reality.

The break-up was messy. There was a lot of screaming and tears. But at the end she was labelled a burden and her love was exhaustive. She walked away with a broken heart. He didn't text her back, hold her and tell it was a mistake. He didn't call her back. Hug her. Cajole her.

She still waited eagerly for the app launch. She even set the alarm to make sure she doesn't miss it. The app launched. Almost a week later she heard the start-up was about to shut down because of the lack of response. Investors walked away. She still wanted to go to him. Hug him. But she was afraid to break her heart again.

She did what she could. Packed up her stuff and moved to a different city. She buried herself in academia and work. She didn't give herself time to think. The memory lane was dangerous. She exhausted herself with her work so that she didn't have time to remember him. Deleted his contact. Moved away but never forgotten. He was her first love. How could she forget him? She became an assistant professor. One of the youngest in the department. She was the cool teacher. She taught, joked and made sure she was always there for the students. The students adored her.

She rejected the marriage proposals, that her parents scouted. She was navigating her new life, one without him. She was happy, at least she thought she was until the damn lift stopped working. She hated how fate played with her at times. Fate trapped her in a metal box with the one man she’d vowed never to see again. Out of all the people in the world, she had to be stuck with him. Now thinking, most probably share the same compound. She tried to lock away her past and love. But damn her. But this time? No second chances. She reminded herself with determination.

Days later,

Arjun woke up to the sound of pattering food steps across the corridor. Familiar voice. Arguing. Bargaining. Sharp, clipped syllables that sent an involuntary jolt of recognition through him. He opened the door.  There stood Varsha, arguing with the movers as she moved in suitcases. Right next door. Next freaking door!

She turned back and threw a withering glance before slamming the door shut behind her.

"God loves me!" He whispered sending some flying kisses up.

Because whatever game fate was playing, it had just moved them from chance encounter to daily proximity.

And he wasn’t planning to waste it.

____________________________________

Heya people!!

Hope you guys liked the chapter. Please do vote and share your comments. Thank you for reading ❤️✨

Will meet in the next chapter

Until then, have a great day ahead!

Byeeeeeee.❤️