Author POV

Strength doesn’t come suddenly.

It builds slowly.

And sometimes…

before becoming strong, a person becomes quieter.

Not because they are weak.

But because they are tired.

Rhea was in that phase.

Not broken.

Not strong.

Just… trying.

Office – Late Morning

Rhea sat at the desk near the glass wall again, but today her movements were slower.

She checked the same file twice.

Then again.

Not because she didn’t understand.

But because her mind kept drifting.

A staff member came.

"Ma’am, is this okay?"

She blinked and looked at the paper.

"Uh… yes… wait… no… one second."

She checked again properly.

"There’s a small mistake here."

"Okay ma’am."

He left.

She let out a small breath.

Focus kar Rhea… bas kaam kar.

Across the floor, Karthik noticed.

Today she wasn’t as steady.

Not like yesterday.

He didn’t say anything.

But he noticed.

Entry – Harshita

The glass door opened.

And just like always—

attention shifted.

Harshita walked in confidently, heels clicking, expression calm like she belonged there.

"Hi."

Some employees greeted her.

She smiled.

Then her eyes went straight to Karthik’s cabin.

And then—

to Rhea.

A small pause.

A small smile.

The kind that didn’t feel nice.

She walked straight inside the cabin without knocking.

Rhea’s fingers paused on the file.

Just for a second.

Then continued.

Ignore. Bas ignore.

Inside Cabin (Visible Through Glass)

Harshita stood near Karthik’s table.

"You didn’t pick my call."

"I was busy."

"You’re always busy now."

"I have work."

She leaned slightly on the table.

"You didn’t use to talk like this."

He didn’t reply.

Outside—

Rhea tried to read the file.

But her eyes kept moving up.

Unintentionally.

She saw Harshita smiling.

Talking.

Standing close.

Too close.

Her grip on the pen tightened.

Then she looked down again.

Kaam kar. Bas kaam kar.

Comedy Relief (Rohan Entry)

"Bhabhiii!"

Rohan entered the office like it was his living room.

Rhea got startled.

"Tum phir aa gaye?"

"Haan. Tumhari productivity check karne."

She shook her head slightly.

"Yahan bhi timepass?"

"Of course."

He sat on the chair near her.

"Kya kar rahi ho?"

"Kaam."

"Seriously?"

She gave him a small look.

"Haan."

He leaned forward and looked at file.

"Mujhe toh kuch samajh nahi aa raha."

"Mat samjho."

He laughed.

"Attitude aa gaya thoda thoda."

She looked down quickly.

"Nahi… bas…"

"Bas kya?"

"Nothing…"

He watched her for a second.

Then said lightly,

"Tum thoda zyada sochti ho na?"

She didn’t answer.

Because that was true.

Small Sarcastic Moment

Rohan looked toward the cabin.

"Ohhh… guest inside."

Rhea didn’t react.

He whispered,

"Roz aati hai kya?"

She replied softly,

"Mujhe schedule nahi diya kisi ne."

He smirked.

"Nice. Sarcasm aa raha hai."

She almost smiled.

Almost.

Tension Rises

Inside the cabin, Harshita suddenly laughed.

Loud enough to be heard.

Karthik said something.

She touched his arm while talking.

Natural for her.

Uncomfortable for someone watching.

Rhea saw that.

Just a second.

Then she immediately looked down.

Her fingers tightened on the file.

The pen tip pressed harder on paper.

A small ink mark spread.

"Oops…"

She whispered.

Rohan looked.

"Kya hua?"

"Nothing… pen leak ho gaya."

He nodded.

But he knew it wasn’t just that.

Cabin Door Opens

Harshita walked out.

Confident.

Relaxed.

She stopped near Rhea’s desk.

"Working?"

Rhea stood up slightly.

"Yes…"

Harshita looked at the file.

Then at her.

"You’re trying."

That sentence sounded normal.

But didn’t feel like it.

Rhea nodded.

"Hmm…"

Harshita smiled.

"Good. Keep trying."

And walked away.

Rohan made a face.

"Yeh tone mujhe pasand nahi."

Rhea didn’t reply.

Because she didn’t trust her voice at that moment.

Inside Cabin – Karthik Calls

"Rhea."

She looked up.

He was standing at the cabin door.

"Come."

She nodded and walked in.

Cabin Scene

She stood near the table.

"You called…?"

He handed her another file.

"Check this also."

She took it.

Their fingers brushed slightly again.

This time—

she pulled back faster.

He noticed.

"Problem?"

"No…"

"You’re making mistakes outside."

She got nervous.

"I’ll check again—"

"Focus."

"I am…"

"You’re not."

Silence.

She didn’t argue.

Didn’t defend.

Just nodded.

"Okay…"

He looked at her for a moment.

Something felt off.

But instead of asking—

he said,

"Don’t get distracted."

That word.

Distracted.

She understood what he meant.

Even if he didn’t say it clearly.

She nodded again.

"I won’t."

Exit

She walked out.

Slower than before.

Rohan looked at her.

"Daant padi?"

She shook her head.

"Nahi… bas…"

"Bas kya?"

She gave a small tired smile.

"Bas normal hai."

Author POV

Sometimes the worst feeling is not being shouted at.

Not being insulted.

But being treated like something is wrong with you…

without anyone saying it directly.

Rhea wasn’t strong yet.

She still felt things.

Still noticed things.

Still got affected.

But now—

she was trying to hide it better.

And Karthik?

He still thought she was overthinking.

Without realizing…

he was the reason she started thinking this much.

How was the chp !??

Do you all enjoy 😉.

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Bye!!