Until We Meet

It's been two days since we got back from Austria, and I'm a mess. Not the "cute, disheveled heroine" kind of mess. Nope. I'm the overthinking, obsessing-over-Sahir-Malhotra kind. My mind just won't shut up.

That smirk.

That laugh.

That almost-kiss.

And, oh, his voice—the way he said my name in Austria.

Like it was something precious. Ugh, snap out of it, Meera! What if I'm just reading too much into everything? What if he was just being polite?

And, by the way, Mr. Malhotra still hasn't texted me. Not even a simple "hi." Amazing, right? I'm spiraling into full-blown 抖阴社区 drama, and he's probably out there, oblivious, ruining other girls' sanity with that stupid smirk of his.

Anyway, yay me—my office job starts tomorrow. Insert sarcastic confetti here. My new schedule includes working full-time. Fantastic.

That evening:
"MANNAT!" I yell, dramatically flopping onto my bed.

"What now, Meera?!" she yells back from her room.

"COME HERE. EMERGENCY!"

She storms into my room like she's ready to throw hands. "What?!"

"I can't decide what to wear tomorrow," I say, pointing at two outfits hanging in my closet.

She stares at me like I've just declared war on common sense. "Meera, you're 24. Why do you need my help?"

"Correction: I'm 24 and completely indecisive. Help a sister out!"

With a groan, she grabs one of the outfits and tosses it at me. "This one. Light makeup. Done. Anything else, princess?"

"Thanks, Mannat. You're my favorite human."

"You owe me Starbucks for this."

"Deal!"

・❃・❃・❃・

Later that night:

After dinner, I curl up on my bed and scroll through 抖阴社区. Yep, I've been writing my heart out. The story? Totally inspired by me and Sahir. But in my version, he's a CEO (shocker), I'm his assistant, and our parents accidentally get us married. Dreamy, right?
I finish my latest chapter and update it on 抖阴社区. Within seconds, the group chat explodes.

Me: "GUYSSS, UPDATED! Goodnight."
Dimple: "BITCH, I LOVE YOUUUUU. Also, slay at work tomorrow!!! 💃❤️"
Me: "THANK YOUUU, LOVE YOU!"
Rishi: "Meera, what if your book actually happens IRL? 😂"
Me: "Then I'll faint. 🥰"
Abhishek: "WHY DID YOU END IT ON A CLIFFHANGER?!"
Me: "Patience, kids. Toodles!"
Everyone: "Good luck, writer ji! ❤️"

・❃・❃・❃・

Monday morning:

"MEERA, WAKE UP!" Mom's voice yanks me out of my dream (a very interesting one about Sahir, thank you very much).

"Five more minutes!" I groan, hugging my pillow like it owes me money.

"Beta, it's your first day at work!"

First day. Crap. I spring up like toast from a toaster, racing to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, I'm downstairs, fully dressed, trying not to let my nerves show. My parents, meanwhile, are acting like they're in a Bollywood romance. Dad has Mom in a back hug while she's making tea, and I swear they're about to break into a Kuch Kuch Hota Hai song.