When she gets in the car, Srijita huffs as she puts on her seatbelt, saying, "I don't know how aunty and uncle tolerate you in the house."

He smirks, "Like you're any easier to deal with."

She shoots him a look, then asks, "How is your dadi now?"

"It's quite better than before," he replies, glancing at her briefly before focusing back on the road.

Indra then asks, "When does your office end?"

She raises an eyebrow, "7 pm. Why are you asking?"

"Just curious," Indra says, while thinking to himself that he'll be the one to pick her up.
"Don't want you wandering the streets alone."

Srijita rolls her eyes. "I can handle myself, Indra."

"I know you can," he replies, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But it doesn't hurt to have someone looking out for you."

Srijita turns to look out the window, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

Despite her annoyance, she can't deny the small flutter of warmth at his words.As they reach her office, Indra pulls up to the entrance.

He hands her the ID card with a playful smile. "Here you go, safe and sound."Srijita snatches it from his hand."

"Have a good day, Srijita."She hesitates for a moment, then mutters, "Thanks," before stepping out of the car.

Indra watches her as she walks into the building, a determined look on her face.

He smiles to himself, already planning to be there at 7 pm, ready to pick her up and continue their playful banter.

As she walks away, Srijita can't help but glance back briefly, catching Indra's gaze before quickly looking away.

She shakes her head, trying to focus on the day ahead.Indra sits in the car for a moment longer, his thoughts lingering on Srijita.

He then drives off, a satisfied grin on his face, already anticipating their next encounter.

Inside the office, Srijita tries to shake off the morning's events. She takes a deep breath, straightens her shoulders, and heads to her desk, determined to bury herself in work and ignore the fluttering sensation Indra's words had caused.

.
.
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In the evening, as promised, Indra arrives at Srijita's office to pick her up.

The moment he steps in, Diksha, her best friend, exclaims, "Sriju, you made a boyfriend and didn't even tell me anything! That's why you always ignore every boy, right?"

It's been 5 minutes that Indra has came to pick her up.

Srijita, completely unaware that Indra would be coming to pick her up, is taken aback by both his sudden appearance and Diksha's overdramatic behavior.

She palms her face and, through gritted teeth, says,

"Are you done, Diksha? Can I say something? For your kind information, he is not my boyfriend. He is just a friend. Don't get your hopes high."

Indra, amused by their exchange, struggles to stifle his laugh.

Diksha makes an 'o' face, saying, "From the start, everyone says 'just friends,' but as days pass, nobody realizes when it changes from friend to boyfriend."

Srijita gives her a look that prompts Diksha to laugh nervously. "I'm just telling you, you know... just experience, hehe."

Indra just laughs at her revelations...it corrects though...

Then both Diksha and Indra introduce each other...and after have some talk Indra and srijita goes from there...

Indra opens the door for her,she puts her seatbelt as she could hear Diksha's voice..

Diksha calls after them, "Have fun, you two lovebirds!"

Srijita turns around and shouts, "Diksha! For the last time, we are not a couple!"

Indra laughs seeing her annoyed face.

As Indra drives, he glances at Srijita, noticing her massaging her temples and remaining unusually quiet.

Trying to lighten the mood, he says, "You know, your friend Diksha is a very cute and funny person. She's totally the opposite of you."

Srijita retorts, "Of course, you would like her since you both have the same personality."

Indra chuckles but doesn't respond. He notices her discomfort and silently opens the window on her side, letting the cool evening breeze flow in. He then discreetly adjusts her seat, reclining it to give her more comfort. Soft music from the radio fills the car.

Srijita gets startled, "What are you doing with the seat? Why did you stretch it backward?"

He gently stops her from moving. "You're having a headache, right? Just lay back like this. You'll feel better."

Srijita doesn't say anything but a soft smile appears on her lips. She closes her eyes, the tiredness washing over her, and within a few minutes, she dozes off.

Indra smiles as he sees her sleeping peacefully. He gently removes a few stray hairs from her face and caresses her hair softly.

In her sleep, she unknowingly places her hand on his thigh for support.

He looks down at her hand and murmurs, "I don't know, Srijita, what you'll do when you find out how I feel about you... how much I love you. Maybe you'll stop talking to me, right?"

He gives a light laugh, watching her make pouty lips in her sleep. The car moves smoothly through the city streets, the soft music playing in the background, and Indra's heart feels both full and heavy, knowing the depth of his unspoken feelings.

As they drive on, Indra occasionally glances at Srijita, ensuring she's comfortable. The streetlights cast a warm glow inside the car, and the rhythmic hum of the engine adds to the tranquil atmosphere.

Indra's thoughts drift to all the moments they've shared, the laughter, the arguments, and the quiet times like this.He whispers softly, almost to himself,

"Srijita, you have no idea how much you mean to me. I wish I could tell you, but I'm afraid of losing you."Indra's heart aches with a mix of longing and fear. He wants to reach out and hold her hand, to tell her everything, but he's terrified of the consequences. What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if their friendship is ruined forever? The thought of losing her, even as a friend, is unbearable.

As they approach her house, he slows down, not wanting to wake her just yet. He parks the car quietly and turns off the engine, the sudden silence almost startling in its intensity.Indra takes a deep breath, looking at Srijita's serene face. He leans in slightly, close enough to feel her gentle breaths, he whispers. "I hope one day you'll see how much I care for you."

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