Chapter 8: The Arjun

The office buzzed with excitement as the employees prepared for a casual work dinner planned for Friday evening. It was a much-needed break from their hectic schedules, and everyone seemed to be looking forward to it. Everyone except Rudra.

It's been three days since confession and Still he didn't get any reply from Diya, on top of that the new guy Arjun who was out for some business related work is back in office and it's annoying Rudra, that's because Arjun keeps following Diya like shadow and keeps her engaged with him.

From the corner of his office, Rudra Roy kept his eyes on Diya. She was busy laughing at something Arjun, one of their newer hires, had said. Arjun had joined the company six months ago, quickly becoming the life of the office with his easy-going attitude and charm.

And lately, his charm had been directed almost exclusively at Diya.

Rudra's jaw tightened as he watched Arjun lean closer to Diya, a playful grin on his face. She laughed, tossing her head back slightly, completely unaware of the storm brewing in Rudra's mind.

Arjun Sharma was tall, good-looking, and annoyingly charismatic. He had a knack for saying the right things at the right time, and his relaxed demeanor made him instantly likable.

"Hey, Diya," Arjun said as they walked to the coffee machine together. "What's the deal with Mr. Roy? He always seems so intense. Do you think he ever smiles?"

Diya chuckled, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "He's not as intimidating as he seems. You just need to know how to handle him."

Arjun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And you've figured out the secret formula?"

She shrugged, smiling mischievously. "Maybe."

Behind them, Rudra walked into the breakroom, his presence instantly commanding attention. His sharp gaze landed on the two of them, and his expression darkened when he noticed how close Arjun was standing to Diya.

"Miss Mehra," Rudra said, his tone clipped. "A word in my office."

Diya blinked in surprise. "Now?"

"Yes, now," Rudra replied, not even glancing at Arjun.

Arjun smirked as Diya excused herself. "I think your boss has a soft spot for you," he teased, loud enough for Rudra to hear as they left.

In his office, Rudra wasted no time.

"Do you think it's appropriate to spend so much time chatting during office hours?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Diya frowned, confused by his sudden change in demeanor. "We were just getting coffee. Is that a problem, Mr. Roy?"

"Yes," Rudra said firmly. "When it disrupts work."

Diya crossed her arms. "Arjun is new. I'm just being friendly. Is that not allowed?"

Rudra's jaw clenched. "It's not about being friendly, Miss Mehra. It's about maintaining professionalism."

"Professionalism," she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what this is about, or are you just—" She stopped herself, realizing she was about to say something she couldn't take back. She was about to say jealous but she doesn't want make fun of his feelings.

Rudra's gaze softened for a brief moment, but he quickly masked it with his usual stoic expression. "Just get back to work."

Diya left his office feeling frustrated and confused. She couldn't understand why Rudra was suddenly acting so possessive.

By the time Friday evening arrived, the atmosphere in the office was electric. Employees gathered at a trendy restaurant, eager to let loose and enjoy the evening.

Rudra, who rarely attended such events, made a rare exception this time. He entered the restaurant in his usual impeccable style, his sharp suit making him look every bit the commanding boss.

Diya was already there, laughing at one of Arjun's jokes as they stood near the bar. Rudra's eyes narrowed when he noticed how close they were standing.

As the evening progressed, Arjun seemed to grow bolder. He made Diya laugh effortlessly, and his occasional flirtatious comments didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the team—or Rudra.

At one point, Arjun leaned closer to Diya. "You look amazing tonight," he said, his voice low enough to make it seem like a private compliment.

Diya blushed slightly. "Thanks, Arjun."

Rudra, who had been observing the interaction from a distance, finally had enough.

The opportunity presented itself when the team gathered around the table for drinks. Arjun, emboldened by the relaxed atmosphere, raised his glass.

"To Diya," he said, grinning. "For being not only an amazing coworker but also someone who makes work so much more enjoyable."

The team cheered, raising their glasses, but Rudra remained silent. His eyes locked on Diya, who looked both flattered and slightly embarrassed by the attention.

Before anyone could say anything else, Rudra stood up. "Actually," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter, "there's something you should all know about Diya."

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him. Diya's eyes widened in panic.

"She's not just a coworker," Rudra continued, his gaze fixed on Arjun. "She's my girlfriend."

The words hung in the air, shocking everyone at the table—including Diya.

"What?" Diya blurted out, her face turning red.

Rudra ignored her, keeping his attention on Arjun, whose confident grin had vanished. "I thought it was time to clear the air," Rudra added, his tone calm but firm.

The room erupted into a mix of laughter, gasps, and whispered conversations.

"Wait, is this for real?" one of their coworkers asked.

Diya shot Rudra a glare, her mind racing. She couldn't believe he had just claimed they were dating without even consulting her.

"Excuse me," she said, grabbing Rudra's arm and pulling him aside. "What the hell are you doing?"

Rudra met her furious gaze with an uncharacteristically sheepish expression. "I had to do something, Diya. Arjun was getting too close."

"That's not your call to make!" she hissed. "You can't just announce something like that without my permission and i have not given my answer yet".

"I'm sorry," Rudra said quietly. "But I couldn't stand the way he was looking at you."

Diya's anger faltered at the sincerity in his voice. For the first time, she saw a vulnerability in him that she hadn't noticed before.

When they returned to the table, Rudra addressed the group. "I'd appreciate it if we could keep this private," he said. "It's a personal matter."

The team nodded, some clearly skeptical but too intimidated by Rudra to press further.

Arjun, however, didn't seem ready to back down. "Well," he said, forcing a smile, "that's unexpected. But I guess congratulations are in order."

Diya avoided his gaze, feeling trapped in the awkward situation Rudra had created.

As the dinner wound down and people began to leave, Diya found herself walking out with Rudra. The night air was cool, and the streets were quiet as they headed toward the parking lot.

"You didn't have to do that, * can handle him, if I'm uncomfortable i will directly tell him on face" she said finally, breaking the silence.

Rudra sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But I couldn't help myself."

"Why?" she asked, her voice softer now.

He stopped walking and turned to face her. "Because you already know, I love you and I care about you, Diya. More than I probably should."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she quickly looked away, unsure of how to respond.

"You don't have to say anything," Rudra added. "I just needed you to know."

As they stood there in the quiet night, Diya felt a mix of emotions—confusion, frustration, and something else she couldn't quite name it.

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