Let's roam around here in the meanwhile.

Oh, God! Someone, please bring Pallavi a fan before she collapsed to the ground.

She couldn't help but be conscious of her and Adhvik walking side by side. To anyone it may look like a random young man and a woman, walking on a random street but to her, it was her and her special crush walking outside. Outside of office premises, outside of Xiaomi and outside of regular office hours. Did anyone mention it was night time?

“Me, too.” Her voice was small.

That made Adhvik divert his attention to her as she gazed at the starless sky.

“I also came here because of you. I already went out with Tulsi two times before, but I never went out with you to drink or eat so...” She trailed off, letting the rest of the silence reveal the rest while she fidgeted with her fingers.

“I see.” Adhvik was looking at the night sky too. There was nothing special about it. It was just a partial navy blue sky with a few stars lurking around and a crescent moon illuminating its dim moonlight. Nonetheless, they gazed at it.

Pallavi was about to take another step when her leg hit against a pebble, making her falter a bit. She didn't fall but Adhvik couldn't have predicted this so he gripped her arm, swinging her backwards anyway. She could feel the intensity of his hold on her. It caught her in surprise as they faced each other wordlessly.

Just how many times he was going to startle her tonight?

“Eh, what happened?” Adhvik asked, puzzled as Pallavi continued to look away from him. She didn't want him to discover her flustered face. He let out a sigh, leaving his grip as well. “Let's sit down somewhere.”

They settled down on a stone bench nearby. Adhvik continued with one of his trivial conversations about office but she could hardly concentrate. Not when her mind had bigger conversations with herself. Something about them being alone made her edgy. Something made her heart feel full, just begging itself to spill out. The atmosphere seemed to turn brighter when they fell into a comfortable silence. There was nothing but their presence and their calm breaths breathing into the silence. It was the kind of scene in fiction and K dramas where something romantic would happen. She felt like she could bleed her feelings right there and then. Like she could ask anything. Like she could just...

Kiss him on the his cheek.

Kiss on the cheek? Wait, where did that come from?

But they were right next to each other. His eyes that crinkled in the night light, his lips that smiled, his hand that were inches away from hers— She wanted to close that distance and reach them all. Kiss his cheek. She wondered what kind of face he would make if she did that. Would he be surprised or shocked? Such were the emotions she was overwhelmed with. It was all Se- hun and his group's fault for all the teasing tonight.

She parted her lips. “Adhvik, I want—”

And right then, the universe decided to majorly fuck it up by a ringtone on Adhvik's phone. Someone bloody called him. Adhvik got up to pick the call and started talking to that same employee from before.

Pallavi waited and waited, but the longer he talked, the more he kept killing it. Killing all the romantic vibes from before. The bright atmosphere cracked like pieces of glass to reveal the dull reality before her.

Sometimes Pallavi wished Adhvik wouldn't involve himself in office as much. There was so much to life than work but it seemed like his cut- throat workaholic life had blinded him from that reality. She longed to have other kinds of conversations with him. Conversations about space, time, philosophy, future, life, places. It was her wish to have these kinds of intellectual conversation with her future husband. Someone who wouldn't blindly follow the crowd.

“It was necessary,” Adhvik answered when Pallavi voiced out some of her thoughts regarding work life. “An operator was having trouble with his senior and because of that the production wasn't going as smoothly. I ditched my overtime today to be here. The least I could do is support him like this. You don't know them. If I don't then, they might be pointing fingers at me later on. I have to maintain my reputation.”

“Yeah, yeah, your reputation, I understand.” Pallavi waved a dismissive hand at him. She stood up to leave as she didn't want to hear more of his work nonsense. He seemed like the kind of person who would take his work along wherever he went. How boring! Sometimes she pitied her own heart for liking someone like him. “Let's head back.”

More than everything, she was disappointed. Thus, they headed back to the restaurant.

Pallavi could feel four pairs of suspicious eyes when she and Adhvik returned to the booth area. A smirk crept up Se-hun's lips.

“Hmm, you sure took your sweet time. What were you two doing?” Se hun mused, followed by others asking similar questions.

Pallavi replied ‘nothing special’ but her small, shy voice was submerged by the arrogant voice of Adhvik who instead answered, “We can't tell you, Se- hun. It's private.”

“Oi, don't give them wrong ideas!” Pallavi's jaw dropped in horror and embarrassment. She nudged Adhvik's shoulder to stop but once again, her words went unheard while Se-hun wriggled his brows.

“Were you two...” He pulled a dramatic pause, “kissing?”

“Absolutely not!!”

“No, because kissing is forbidden in public.”

“Adhvik sir's right, Se- hun! No PDA in India.” The 3D guys agreed in unison. The guys seemed to be enjoying the hell out of this, including Adhvik who smirked wide. Deep down, Pallavi wanted to join the bandwagon as well.

“No kissing outdoors.” She spoke, looking elsewhere.

“But this is indoors. You two can kiss here.”

The 3D guys wooed in unison while Pallavi's eyes were close to falling out of the sockets. She resorted to speaking in her mother tongue. “Kuch bhi bake ja raha hai ye saala.” (This ass just keeps saying anything he wants).

“But how can I kiss her with all of you guys around? Try to understand,” Adhvik didn't falter one bit.

“Abbey tum kyu badawa de rahe ho usse?!” (Aree, why are you provoking him further?)

“No worries. We can close our eyes. I will provide you privacy because that's the kind of man I'm. Boys,” He called out to the three guys sitting besides him. “Close your eyes and let them express their love.”

“Hey, bhagwaan!”

“This is no time to be calling God, Pallavi,” One of the guys commented though she shut him up. Her nose scrunched in disgust while Adhvik shook his head in amusement. This just went on to whole another level now. They watched as Se-hun convinced the guys to cover their eyes with their hands and avert their heads away. They literally covered their eyes with their palms. Abhishek even tried to peek through the gaps of his fingers.

“Abhishek, no peeking. Now, cover your face.”

“Okay, Se- hun.”

And so, everyone closed their eyes. Adhvik and Pallavi had their much needed privacy now.

Pallavi crossed her arms and and slided her chair further away from Adhvik if possible. As if they would kiss like this. It was the furthest thing away from the first kiss she envisioned. As for Adhvik, he looked at the guys, deadpanned, his expression unreadable. A few seconds passed in anticipated silence.

“Is it over?”

“Can we open our eyes?”

Pallavi went along while flicking her painted nails. “Um, no, just a few seconds more.”

One of the guys opened his eyes to see no action between the participants. He then urged others to uncover their eyes as well.

“Did you kiss her?” Se-hun asked like a curious teenager.

“Fuck yeah!” Adhvik answered licking his lips while winking at Pallavi. She rolled her eyes. “I enjoyed it like hell. Thanks bro.”

Se-hun chuckled, “Don't lie. I know you didn't kiss.”

Pallavi wondered if office parties were like this. No, they wouldn't be. No one would dare to take the jokes this far. She couldn't imagine Hyoung and the rest of the development department talking like this even in their drunkard state. This was an exception and it mostly had to do with Se- hun and his casual nature.

Eventually, the topic of interest drifted from Adhvik and Pallavi to other things, much to her relief. Like them, even the restaurant had taken it's sweet time to prepare the main course. Pallavi was starting to grow anxious by the amount of calls and messages she was receiving from home, urging her to return. It was 8:30 pm after all. Of course that was the time when the waiters arrived, with a tray holding a plethora of dishes, their spicy aroma spreading the room.

“Atleast have dinner, dear. You can go home after that.” Se-hun tried to convince when Pallavi informed them about leaving.

“But my parents are calling me out. It's already late. Sorry but I gotta go...” Pallavi reasoned with a weak resolve. In reality, she didn't feel like going one bit. Dinners like this didn't come by everyday. Especially if it involved Adhvik in it.

Just then, she received another message from Deepali as she wasn't picking up the phone. ‘Come home now sis, otherwise our parents will be very angry.’

“Tell them to wait for 15 more minutes. You finish the food by then and head home.” Adhvik spoke, then dropped his voice to a whisper. “I want us to leave together as a team, Pallavi. Please stay for me.”

Pallavi was surely thrown in a predicament. She was divided between Adhvik's earnest request to stay versus the scary messages she received from Deepali. What do you think she did?

Of course with the warm food lying on the table and Adhvik besides her, she chose the former. She sent a message to Deepali, telling her to convince their parents to wait for fifteen more minutes. She swallowed in dread. I'll just deal with the consequences later on.

If Pallavi was having second thoughts, they lessened when she laid eyes on different Indian vegetables with paneer and naan laid on the table. It already looked delicious with its rich texture. Her stomach grumbled from waiting for so long. Once again Adhvik did the honors of serving food on Pallavi's plate while asking how much she wanted. If they had been a couple, this would be the scene where she'd tell Adhvik to feed her a bite and would have done the same to him. She let out a frustrated sigh.

It was all Adhvik's fault for being nice. And worst thing of all, he probably didn't realise it himself.

* * *

When Pallavi didn't receive a call from her family after twenty minutes, she took it as a sign to continue on with the party. More alcohol was ordered, this time in the form of a drink contained in a small glass in the size of a thumb. She knew this wasn't beer.

“Is this what I think it is?” Pallavi asked, her eyes sparkling like diamonds. “It's neet drink.”

“Not quite. It's whiskey but stronger than the one we had. Do you still want to drink it? You don't have to.” Adhvik asked.

“I will!” She grinned, holding the glass with her fingers. Then she added quietly. “But just one. Nothing more than this.”

“Got it.”

And Adhvik definitely did get it. When Se-hun served her another glass, insisting her to drink it, Pallavi held the glass under the table on her lap. Adhvik took the glass from her, drank it and returned the empty one on her lap. Of course Se- hun noticed that and pointed out how much of a doting boyfriend he was turning out to be.

The rest of the dinner went in conversations and laughter. At one point Se-hun mentioned ‘The Street’ and Pallavi instantly recognized it as the favorite Korean thriller she watched. From then on, the next few minutes were spent with them fangirling and fanboying over K- dramas, movies and K- pop. It was such a different world that the rest of them couldn't dare to interfere. But then, they all grew impatient and deliberately tried to change the topic of discussion. By the time, they ended their discussion, Pallavi's phone was flooded with calls  again. It was her cue to say goodbye. The party went through various tangents but she enjoyed it nonetheless. She enjoyed expressed the same to everyone.

“Everyone, I had a great time with you all, especially you, Pallavi. And the Indian food was truly delicious.” Se- hun winked and she blushed visibly. He then got up from his seat, followed by the rest. “We'll be leaving as well.

The evening had drawn to an end.

The group took a few more snaps once they reached outside although many of them were shrouded in darkness. Pallavi didn't lose the chance to take a snap with Adhvik. Se-hun then requested her to have a photo with him alone. She couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable when he slung his arm over her shoulder and pushed her to his side like they were close buddies.
But then, he posed in a similar pattern with everyone else. He was obviously drunk.

Pallavi rushed herself to the car that was waiting for her for the past three hours. It was already 9 pm. She closed her fists, already dreading to come face to face with her Mum. Thank Goodness, her father was on a work tour. Just then, her mobile pinged with another message and it wasn't Deepali

“Confirm me when
you get back home.”

“Okay. Although I'll be
scolded before that.”

“Hahaha no worries.
They will calm down
eventually.”

“Hmm.
I feel bad.”

“About what?”

“I didn't bid you goodbye.”

“So what? You can do that
here. Goodbye. See you
tomorrow. 👋”

“Not like this. I meant
face- to- face. 😔”

Pallavi wondered what happened because he wasn't replying. Perhaps he was busy. But then, she glanced at her mobile again and her heart leapt through her chest.

Incoming
WHATSAPP VIDEO CALL...📞
Adhvik Dhawan.

Without wasting another second, Pallavi picked the call, holding her mobile a little above her face. The screen flashed a blurred dark image of a facial structure that resembled Adhvik. His features soon came into picture where he was smiling and moving but it was pixelated. Plus, it was dark.

“Urgh, I can't see you properly,” muttered Pallavi in annoyance. “Can you see me?”

“Not clearly, no.” His voice came through like a broken record. Pallavi checked the strength of the phone signal which displayed two bars.

And that was exactly when the call ended, accounting for the lack of signal. It wasn't like they were in the middle of a jungle so why now. Pallavi let out a disappointed sigh before dialing his contact over voice call.

“It's okay... Hmm... Goodnight. See you tomorrow.” Pallavi answered over the phone and ended the call. She leaned her head further into the backseat while gazing at the roads bathed in the city lights. Another sigh escaped her breath.

A sigh of contentment.

If it wasn't clear before, it was clear with the events that transpired tonight.

He likes me.

* * *

Needless to say, Pallavi received a good amount of scolding at home. She was nearly in tears when her father warned her not to go in any other office parties again, lest he would stop her from working altogether. All the drama over one party. Why did Asian parents had to be like this? No wonder Tulsi left early.

'You should have told them beforehand that you will return by 9 ish. They started calling you at 8 pm because You informed them you'll be back home by then. Learn to deal with these situations tactically.' said Deepali after realizing herself afterwards.

“Don't fret it. Most Indian parents are like that. Even my mother scolded me yesterday.” Adhvik consoled her the next day.

“You're right,” She agreed and they shared a smile.

**********************

The last bit was supposed to be in the next chapter but it was becoming long so I shifted here lol. And that concludes the office dinner party arc. How was the whole thing? What conclusions you draw from it? What will happen next?
Vote and Comment. 

And LOOK FORWARD to the next chapter next week. It will be a surprise. 😏😏