The office was silent again.
Too silent.
Like it was holding its breath.
It had been two days.
Two long days.
Since that almost moment.
Since the interruption.
Since everything that should've happened… but didn't.
Anika stood on the terrace of the building.
The city stretched below her.
Lights flickering.
Wind brushing softly against her face.
She came here to think.
But her mind refused to stay quiet.
It kept going back—
To him.
To that moment.
To how close they were.
"You really like running away to quiet places."
She didn't turn.
"I'm not running."
Footsteps came closer.
"You always say that."
Arman Khurana stood beside her.
Not too close.
But not distant either.
For a few seconds—
Neither spoke.
Just the sound of the wind.
And their uneven breathing.
Then Anika said softly—
"We can't keep doing this."
"Doing what?"
"This," she turned to him,
"whatever this is between us."
Arman looked at her.
Steady.
Unreadable.
"Then define it."
She exhaled.
"That's the problem. I can't."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Say it," he said again.
That word.
Again.
Always.
Anika shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you won't say it."
A pause.
"You'll just stand there, look at me like that… and then walk away."
That hit.
Because it was true.
Arman stepped closer.
This time—
No hesitation.
"No," he said quietly.
"Not this time."
Her heart skipped.
"Then say it," she challenged softly.
Their eyes locked.
Close.
Too close.
Arman's voice dropped—
"I don't like seeing you with someone else."
Her breath caught.
"You've said that before."
"This time I'm not stopping there."
A step closer.
Now there was no space left.
"I think about you when you're not around."
Silence.
Her heartbeat racing.
"I notice things I shouldn't."
His voice lower now.
Rougher.
"Like what?"
"Like the way you smile when you're not trying to."
Her lips parted slightly.
"And the way you look at me," he continued,
"like you're trying to figure me out."
The air felt heavier.
Warmer.
Closer.
Anika whispered—
"And what does that mean?"
Arman held her gaze.
"It means I'm done pretending this is just work."
That was it.
The line.
Crossed.
For a second—
She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just looked at him.
Then—
Very softly—
"Finally."
And that was all it took.
Arman's hand moved to her face.
Gentle.
Careful.
Like he was giving her time to stop him.
She didn't.
Their foreheads almost touched.
Breathing uneven.
Eyes locked.
"Still want to walk away?" he whispered.
She shook her head.
"No."
And this time—
No interruptions.
No hesitation.
No holding back.
The distance disappeared.
The kiss wasn't rushed.
Wasn't forceful.
It was slow.
Real.
Like everything they had been holding back—
Finally found its way out.
Anika's fingers lightly held his shirt.
Arman pulled her closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
For a moment—
Everything else disappeared.
The office.
The tension.
The past.
It was just them.
When they finally pulled apart—
Neither moved.
Foreheads still close.
Breathing uneven.
Anika whispered softly—
"This changes everything."
Arman looked at her.
"It already did."
And this time—
Neither of them tried to deny it.
Because this wasn't hate anymore.
Wasn't confusion.
Wasn't almost.
This was real.