• Abir •

I got ready in a bit and settled into my car, driving towards the school. We needed to reach quickly today to collect all the information about the students taking their entrance exams.

Upon reaching the administrator's office, I went to the classroom I was assigned to. I saw Mishti already sitting there, chatting with someone. It was still early, and the students were currently doing their biometrics. I walked in with a folder of documents and our ID cards in my hands. She looked at me and smiled.

"Good morning, Abir sir."

"Morning, Mishti ma'am," I replied, placing the folder on the desk and settling onto the chair next to her. I handed her her ID card as she wore it around her neck, and I did the same.

She smiled at me and said, "I brought Fevicol and scissors since we might need them to paste the photographs."

"Yes, of course. Give me the sheet, and I'll fill it out quickly."

She handed me the sheet, and her scent comforted me as I inhaled that vanilla fragrance. My god. Lipgloss shined on her lips, and she was wearing a lovely kurta set.

She stepped out to grab water bottles for both of us. I guess she's not comfortable with me. When she came back, she handed me a water bottle and drank hers while I looked at her adoringly. I don't know what's happening to me.

Main pagal ho chuka hoon.

Soon enough, the students came in, and we started our work. Mishti pasted the photographs while I double-checked student identities. We were done checking and seating them when the answer and question sheets arrived. Mishti tore open the packet while I signed all the necessary documents. She handed me the question papers and asked me to distribute them. Our fingers touched, and I looked at her face, but she instantly looked away, realizing the place we were in.

She moved first to distribute the answer sheets, while I followed her with the question papers. After about ten minutes of students filling in their details and us double-checking them, their exam time started. We both settled down at our seats. She looked at everyone while I looked down to see the pattern of her suit. She chuckled, bringing a smile to my lips.

"Has kyun rahi hain aap?"

"Aap itne bore ho gaye ki ab suit ke patterns dekh rahe hain."

"Ji, bilkul. Bohot boring hai ye sab. I don't know why they are even giving entrance exams right after clearing their boards."

"I know, right? Tough for them," she said, smiling.

Her smile lit up the room, and for a moment, all the tediousness of the task vanished.

As the exam time drew to a close, Mishti and I got up from our seats to collect the answer sheets. She moved gracefully between the rows, collecting the sheets with ease, while I followed suit on the other side of the room.

"Alright, everyone," I said, raising my voice slightly to get the students' attention. "Please pass your answer sheets to the front."

Mishti and I met in the middle, our hands brushing briefly as we took the collected sheets from the front desks. I couldn't help but smile at the touch.

"You're really efficient at this," I said, trying to keep the conversation light.

She smiled back. "Well, practice makes perfect. We do this often enough."

As we sorted the collected sheets, I couldn't resist the urge to compliment her. "By the way, Ms. Mishti, you handle this whole process with such grace. It's impressive."

She glanced up at me, a hint of a blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you, Abir Sir . That's sweet of you to say."

We started distributing the new exam sheets, and I tried to keep the conversation going. "So, how did you get so good at managing all this? It's like you have everything under control."

Mishti chuckled softly. "Years of teaching, I suppose. You learn to be organized and efficient."

As we handed out the sheets, I leaned in slightly and whispered, "Well, it's definitely working for you. You make it look effortless."

She looked at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Are you trying to flatter me, Abir?"

I grinned. "Maybe a little. But it's the truth."

Mishti shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're incorrigible."

"And you're beautiful," I replied, my voice low. Her reaction was priceless—a mix of surprise and shyness. She quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand.

We continued to distribute the sheets, our conversation flowing easily. "So, what do you do to unwind after a long day like this?" I asked, trying to learn more about her.

"I usually read or watch something on Netflix," she said, glancing at me. "And you?"

"Well, lately, I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have a coffee with a colleague after work," I said, testing the waters.

She laughed softly. "That sounds like a good idea. Maybe we can do that sometime."

I smiled, feeling a sense of victory. "I'd like that."

As we finished distributing the sheets, I couldn't help but feel hopeful. Mishti was slowly opening up, and I was determined to break through her walls. This old-school romance was just beginning, and I couldn't wait to see where it would lead.

°•°•°•°•°

• Mishti •

The exam was finally over, and the students had all left, leaving the classroom eerily quiet. Abir and I gathered the answer sheets and prepared to submit them. As I organized my things, Abir rifled through the papers.

"Wait a minute," Abir said, his voice breaking the silence. "We still need to sign these."

I looked up, surprised. "Oh, I didn't realize."

He quickly signed the documents and handed the pen to me. "Here, you need to sign these as well."

I already had my hands full with a few other things I needed to carry, so I walked over to where Abir stood.

As he took them, I leaned in to sign the papers. Standing so close to him, I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. I pressed my shoulder against his chest for balance as I carefully signed my name. His scent—a mix of fresh cologne and something uniquely him—filled my senses.

"Done," I said softly, handing the pen back.

Our faces were inches apart, and for a moment, our eyes locked. There was something in his gaze, a warmth and intensity that made my heart flutter. The world seemed to shrink, leaving just the two of us in this small bubble.

I could feel my cheeks heating up, and I knew I had to step back. Realizing our proximity, we both moved apart, the moment lingering between us. I quickly gathered my things and tried to compose myself.

"Shall we go submit these?" Abir asked, his voice a little huskier than usual.

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. We walked down the empty hallways together, the silence only amplifying the echoes of our footsteps. The air felt charged, as if something significant had just happened between us.

We reached the office and handed in the documents. I could still feel the warmth of Abir's presence next to me, the memory of our close encounter fresh in my mind. As we walked back to the classroom to gather the rest of our things, I couldn't help but steal glances at him, wondering if he felt the same way.

The day had been long and exhausting, but that brief moment of closeness had given me a new energy, a new hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more to this professional relationship. Something worth exploring.

Damn more than professional relationship what the heck you're thinking mishti it's not possible.
Usse kuch feel hi nahi hua hoga I know yes .

As we exited the building, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over everything, I could feel Abir’s presence beside me. There was a charged silence between us, filled with the unspoken words and lingering feelings from our earlier encounter. I couldn’t help but steal glances at him, and I caught him doing the same.

This is embarrassing !

When our eyes met, a warm smile spread across his face. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on finding my car keys in my bag. We walked in silence to the parking lot, the distance between us feeling simultaneously vast and intimate.

As I approached my car, I fumbled with the keys, trying to maintain my composure. Just as I was about to get inside, I heard Abir’s voice call out to me.

“Ms. Mishti!”

I turned to look at him, one hand on the car door. He walked over to me, a playful smile on his lips. “Our coffee is still pending,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I couldn’t help but smile back at him. “Yes, it is,” I replied, feeling a flutter of excitement.

He nodded, seeming satisfied. “Good. Let’s make sure we get that coffee soon.”

“Definitely,” I said, my smile widening.

As we both lingered in our cars, he asked, “By the way, which society do you live in?”

“Sunshine Greenfield Society,” I replied.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? I live there too!”

I laughed, genuinely amused. “Then how come we never see each other?”

He shrugged with a smile. “Probably because we’re both so busy with our lives.”

“Which block do you live in?” I asked, curious now.

“Block A. And you?”

“Block C,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

We both laughed at the coincidence. “Small world,” he said.

“Very small,” I agreed, feeling the warmth of the moment.

“Alright, drive safe, Ms. Mishti,” he said, breaking the spell with a light laugh.

“You too, Mr. Abir,” I replied, feeling a warmth spread through me.

He gave a small wave, and I watched him walk to his car. I couldn’t help but feel a bit giddy. There was something about the way he looked at me, the way he smiled—it was different, and it made my heart race.

As I started my car and drove out of the parking lot, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Abir doing the same. We both headed in the same direction, towards our society. The drive was short, but it felt significant, like a promise of something more to come.

Arriving at the society gate, I saw Abir pulling in right behind me. We exchanged another quick glance, and he waved, laughing lightly. I waved back, feeling my cheeks heat up.

Parking my car, I couldn’t help but replay the day's events in my mind. The way he looked at me, the gentle touch of his hand on mine, and now this pending coffee—it all felt like the beginning of something new and exciting.

As I walked to my flat, I found myself looking forward to the next day, to the next conversation with him. There was a lightness in my step, and a smile I couldn’t quite hide. Abir Malhotra had a way of making the ordinary feel extraordinary, and I couldn’t wait to see where this journey would take us.

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~ Author T