Chapter 1: Welcome and Misunderstandings

The hum of computers ?lled the air as Dhruv Sharma settled into his cubicle on the third ?oor of the bustling IT company in New Delhi. It was just another day, or so he thought.

The HR manager’s voice echoed through the o?ce speakers, "Good morning, everyone. Please gather in the conference room for an important announcement." Dhruv, Aryan, and Karan exchanged curious glances before making their way to the room.

Inside, the HR manager stood with a bright smile. "I’d like to introduce you all to Ananya, who has been promoted from the fourth ?oor to join us here on the third ?oor. Let's give her a warm welcome!"

Ananya, a lively young woman with an infectious smile, waved at the room. Dhruv noticed Aryan’s eyes light up the moment he saw her. Karan nudged Aryan, whispering something that made Aryan blush. Dhruv chuckled inwardly at the sight but maintained his usual reserved demeanor.

During the introduction, Dhruv observed Karan and Aryan exchanging glances. It turned out that Karan already knew Ananya as she was dating one of his friends from the fourth ?oor. The two were determined to have Ananya join their team and began scheming a way to convince their ?oor head, Manvi.

"Dhruv, you have a good rapport with Manvi," Karan said. "You need to ask her to put Ananya on our team."

Dhruv hesitated but eventually agreed, knowing their chances were slim without his help. He approached Manvi with a well-thought-out argument. "Manvi, I think having Ananya in our team would really boost our productivity. Karan and Aryan might actually focus on work with a girl in the team," he said with a slight grin.

Manvi pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, Dhruv. I'll assign Ananya to your team, since your team is a member short as well. Let's see if your plan works."

By lunchtime, Ananya was o?cially part of their team. To celebrate, Karan and Aryan organized a small party in the break room. True to his nature, Dhruv remained in his cubicle, engrossed in his work.

"Why didn’t Dhruv join us? Don't mind me saying this but he doesn't look happy with

me joining you guys, didn't say a Hello even, that's pretty rude to be honest" Ananya exclaimed, looking around.

Karan shrugged. "He's not rude or anything, just prefers to stay out of parties. But don't worry, he’ll introduce himself once we’re back at our desks."

By every passing hour, Aryan couldn’t help but steal glances at Ananya. He was mesmerized by her cheerful demeanor and the way she carried herself. During a break, he gathered the courage to approach her at the co?ee machine.

"Hey, Ananya," Aryan began, trying to sound casual. "How are you ?nding your ?rst day on the third ?oor?"

Ananya smiled warmly. "It's good so far. Everyone seems nice, though it's a bit hectic."

"Yeah, it can get pretty busy," Aryan agreed. "By the way, if you need any help settling in or understanding the work, just let me know. I’d be happy to help."

"Thanks, Aryan. That means a lot," Ananya replied. She appreciated his o?er, even though she could see through his intentions.

 

Karan, noticing Aryan's e?orts, decided to play along. He walked over and patted Aryan on the back. "Aryan here is one of the best when it comes to understanding our projects. You'll be in good hands."

Aryan shot Karan a grateful look. "Yeah, I’ve been here a while, so I know the ropes. Plus, I can show you the best spots around for lunch."

"Sounds great," Ananya said. "I’d love to explore more around here."

 

As they chatted, Dhruv watched from his desk, amused. He knew Aryan's antics well and could see how hard his friend was trying to impress Ananya.

 

As the day progressed, the reality of an impending deadline dawned on them. Their project was far from complete, and the three of them decided to face the wrath of Manvi together the next day and give up the hope of completing the task on time.

 

At 7 PM, the o?ce began to empty out. Karan, Aryan, and Ananya had left half an hour earlier, eager to show Ananya a new café. Dhruv, lost in his thoughts, suddenly remembered that his landlord had scheduled painting work in his room. He had no place to go.

He decided to stay back in the o?ce, he thought that if he takes a hotel room now then the hotel will charge more as the hotels charge per hour of person's stay, so he decided he will leave the workplace late by 11:00 PM, so that he can save some money. By 11:30 PM, he was still at his desk when a noti?cation from his bank jolted him: ?60,000 had been withdrawn.

A call from his sister explained the situation—she needed the money for college fees. Dhruv reassured her, masking his own concerns, and then returned to his work, completing the team’s project by morning.

The next day, Dhruv was found sleeping at his desk. Whispers spread among the employees, but no one dared wake him. Karan and Aryan made jokes, but Ananya watched silently. Manvi’s arrival brought a swift end to the murmurs.

"Wake up, Dhruv," she said sternly. Dhruv jerked awake, disoriented. Laughter erupted around him, but Manvi quickly restored order and scolded everyone.

She turned to Karan...Continue Reading