I wasn't sure how it happened.
One moment, I was having peaceful, solitary lunches.
The next?
I was permanently seated at Vihaan's table.
With his friends.
Like this was normal.
Like I had agreed to this.
Like I wasn't making things worse for myself every single day.
It started innocently enough.
One afternoon, I grabbed my tray, intending to sit alone as usual.
Then—a voice.
"Mehul! Over here!"
I froze.
Looked up.
Vihaan.
Waving. Loudly.
Like we were best friends.
Like I wasn't already considering turning around.
Arjun and Riya were with him.
Talking. Laughing.
Like this was just another normal workday.
And before I could stop myself—
I walked over.
And sat down.
Like this was completely fine.
It happened again the next day.
And the next.
And the next.
Until suddenly—this was my life.
Lunches? No longer silent.
Tea breaks? Full of unnecessary conversation.
Vihaan?
Everywhere.
Riya and Arjun?
No better.
They talked too much.
Joked too much.
Included me in their nonsense way too easily.
And the worst part?
I didn't hate it.
One afternoon, Riya smirked at me over her cup of chai.
"So, Mehul."
I raised an eyebrow. "What."
She grinned.
"How does it feel?"
I frowned. "How does what feel?"
Arjun leaned forward. "Being Vihaan's favorite person."
…What.
Vihaan choked on his drink. "Oi—what?"
I froze.
Riya narrowed her eyes. "Don't 'oi' me. You've been attached to him ever since you met."
I clenched my jaw. "We work together."
Arjun smirked. "And yet, you keep sitting with us even after the project ended."
…Damn it.
I should have walked away.
I should have ignored them.
But instead—
I glanced at Vihaan.
And he was already watching me.
Expression unreadable.
Like he was wondering the same thing.
Like he was starting to see what I had known all along.
That this?
Was never just work.