Of Ifs & Buts #WriteAPageADay

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Astha

Astha was seated in the lobby, reflecting on the unexpected and sudden events of the previous night. Aron had never been so passionate before, but she could sense his genuine attraction towards her. Overwhelmed with emotion, she succumbed to her feelings for him. They began kissing just in front of the door, but as Aron was about to push it open, Astha's phone rang. Suddenly, she snapped back to reality, pushed Aron aside, and ran to her room, answering the call. This felt wrong; it shouldn't be happening. Aron had been working at her company for the past year, and while they had shared numerous dinners—mostly for work and office parties—there had been subtle flirtations from him that only increased his charm. Although Astha wanted to reciprocate, she never dared to act on her feelings. Last night was different, though; after a successful conference, a gala dinner, and a few rounds of champagne, they only had eyes for each other. Everything else faded away, but the phone call abruptly pulled her back to reality. They were there for work, and this was inappropriate. 

Aron

Aron couldn't take his eyes off Astha yesterday; she looked stunning. He often thought about how the naïve and overweight girl he once knew had transformed into this beautiful woman. He wanted to be around her all the time, and fortunately, work allowed him to do just that. He sometimes caught her stealing glances at him, but mostly she maintained a professional demeanour, focused on work-related matters. Yesterday felt different; she seemed willing to connect with him, but that phone call had ruined the moment. Now he wondered why she was sitting in the lobby wearing sunglasses. Was everything alright? He felt the need to check on her.

The Day After

Aron approached Astha, who was pretending to read a glossy magazine while wearing her sunglasses. He knew she had seen him and was trying to ignore him. "Is everything alright?" he asked politely as he sat down next to her. She shifted to the corner of the couch, avoiding eye contact, and nervously replied, "Yes." After some hesitation, Aron decided to bring up the previous night. "Astha, if you're feeling uncomfortable about what happened, please let me know." Without looking at him, Astha replied curtly, "Let's not talk about last night. It was a mistake. We're here for work, so let's keep it professional." Aron was taken aback. "I realise it was sudden, but don't call it a mistake, Astha. It wasn't a mistake for me. Now, if you want to maintain professionalism, we'll miss our flight. Our luggage is in the cab, and it's waiting for us." His words pierced Astha's heart. Why was she still scared after all these years? She stood up and climbed into the cab. Throughout the flight, they didn't speak or make eye contact; Astha buried herself in a book while Aron watched a movie. After arriving in Mumbai, they went their separate ways. Later that evening, something nagged at Astha. She absentmindedly fiddled with her phone, checking Aron's number. While reaching for the television remote, she accidentally pressed the call button on her phone instead. As Aron's number began to ring, she quickly disconnected, praying it wouldn't show up on his phone. When there were no callbacks, she felt relieved and resumed watching TV. About an hour later, while she was engrossed in a movie, the doorbell rang. It could be a delivery! When she opened the door, it was Aron, holding flowers. Astha was taken aback and fumbled, "You didn't have to do this." Aron placed his index finger on her lips and softly said, "Ssshhh." She tried to reason with him, "But…" He gently took her hand and led her to the couch. "If", she still resisted. "No more ifs and buts, Astha. Don't overthink it. This isn't your office, nor is it a work-related meeting. Let the moment unfold. I'm here to talk. Am I welcome?"

This is the 3rd part of a series. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

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