His secret obsession

Prajakta stood hesitantly at the entrance of the office building, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. Morning light streamed down onto the bustling streets, illuminating her pale expression, but the warmth of the day did little to ease her dread. She didn't want to come to work; but she did

Prajakta forced herself past the reception area, where familiar faces flickered with smiles, but they quickly fell away, morphing into expressions of contempt that she had never encountered before. The whispers began almost immediately.

Kavya, once her rock, now sat distant, engaged in hushed conversations with others.

Prajakta overheard snippets:

"Kavya, how can you still be friends with her?"

“Did you see her? How shameless!” said one voice, dripping with disdain.

“Look at her innocent face. It’s hard to believe she could trap Abhiman sir like that,” another added, a smirk lacing their tone.

Prajakta tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, as if it would shield her from the piercing gazes that followed her. She had heard them;

"I heard she's been strategizing for months, trying to get his attention..."

"Unbelievable! Abhimaan sir could have anyone, and he chooses her.??

"

"Or maybe Abhimaan sir is just using her for fun..."

"...and I heard she's getting favors from the higher-ups..."

Prajakta's ears burned, her face aflame. She tried focusing on her tasks, but the snide comments and judgmental looks suffocated her.

  She had never intended for the situation to spiral this far; she just wanted to do her job, to focus on her work. But since Abhiman, her boss and inadvertent subject of office gossip, had taken a moment of kindness towards her, the entire narrative had flipped, leaving her isolated among her peers.

Her best friend, Kavya, had been the first to turn away. Prajakta had hoped, against hope, that Kavya would stand by her side, but the look of betrayal on her face had stung more than any of the gossip. Kavya should have known better, she thought, brushing past a group of coworkers who giggled behind their hands. She could feel their eyes on her back, their whispers clawing at her sanity.

After a series of unbearable encounters, she finally caught sight of Kavya loitering at the edge of the break room, her back stiff and arms crossed.

Prajakta dragged herself to the office, dreading the day ahead. She hadn't taken a leave, knowing her work piled up. But the thought of facing her colleagues, the stares, and the whispers made her stomach twist into knots.

Kavya, her best friend and confidante, sat at her desk, eyes fixed on her screen. Prajakta approached, hoping for a friendly ear.

"Hey, Kavya..."

Kavya's response was curt. "Hey."

Prajakta sensed the chill. "Kavya, what's wrong? You're upset with me?"

Kavya shrugged, still avoiding eye contact. "I don't know what to say, Prajakta. This whole thing ... it's just too much."

Prajakta said. "Kavya, you know me. You know the truth. Why are you believing them?"

Kavya finally looked up, her expression a mix of concern and distance. "Prajakta, I don't know what to believe. The article... the pictures... it's all so convincing."

Prajakta flinched at her tone.Prajakta nodded,tears pricking at
Her eyes “It’s not like this, please don’t say that,” she pleaded, her voice quavering. “I didn’t do anything wrong