Of Ifs & Buts #WriteAPageADay
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.
This post is written for #WriteAPageADay by Blogchatter
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
Nice! Now I want to know what happens next. Keep it going.
ReplyDeleteI think they are meant to be. Wonder what decision Astha will take next. Good story, Reubenna. Mayuri/Sirimiri
ReplyDeleteSo tantalising. Are they going to be together or not?
ReplyDeleteYou have quietly captured how our minds get stuck between ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. It felt very real and relatable. Sometimes the hardest part is simply moving forward despite the doubts.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. I'm impressed how this manages to be a standalone story and I could enjoy it without having read the first two parts. Of course, I'll now be reading those as well :D But I miust admit I'm impressed Reubenna. Well done
ReplyDeleteThis is like waking halfway from a dream. Nicely written. Now what Aron has to say.
ReplyDeleteYou write so well, Reubenna. I am a great fan now. I wanna read the rest of the story. Romances are the only genre that I read or watch these days.
ReplyDeleteI read all the three today ! Waiting for the fourth :)
ReplyDeleteOh this is very interesting. I want to know more.. waiting
ReplyDeleteinteresting story and well-written. im voting for a twist and a happy ending.
ReplyDeletehaha...curious to know what unfolds!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this reflection. The title alone "Of Ifs & Buts" already pulled me in because it’s such a familiar place for the mind to wander. I think most of us spend more time than we admit replaying past moments or imagining different outcomes. It’s so easy to get caught in that quiet spiral of “what if I had done this instead?” or “if only things had turned out differently.”
ReplyDeleteYour piece reminded me how often we hold on to those invisible forks in the road. Sometimes the smallest decisions seem insignificant at the time, yet later they feel like they could have changed everything. I’ve definitely had moments where I look back and think about how life might have unfolded if I had chosen differently.
What I appreciated most is how your writing gently acknowledges that tendency without sounding heavy or regretful. It felt more like an honest observation of the human mind. We naturally wonder about alternate versions of our lives, but we’re also learning to live with the choices we’ve already made.
I also liked the reflective tone. It felt thoughtful and calm rather than dramatic. That kind of writing invites readers to pause and think about their own experiences, which is exactly what happened to me while reading.
The idea that our thoughts drift between “ifs” and “buts” feels very true to life. At the same time, it’s comforting to remember that the path we’re on now is still unfolding. Every day gives us another chance to write the next page.
Thank you for sharing such a relatable reflection. It made me slow down for a moment and think about my own journey, which is always the sign of meaningful writing.
Such an interesting piece, Reubenna. It almost feels like waking halfway from a dream. Looking forward to what Aron has to say next and waiting for the next part already. Well penned.
ReplyDelete-Anjali Tripathi Upadhyay/Messymom
Now I am seriously keen to know what next is coming up.... You penend it so well and in a unique manner that I cant almost take a breathe till I reached the last line..... tell me what happened next
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Would love to see what happens next- haven't read part 1 and 2 so will go back and read!
ReplyDeleteI am really eagerly waiting for the next part. What a fantastic piece of writing Reubenna!!
ReplyDelete