The park was nearly empty, save for a few morning joggers. The sun was just beginning to peek over the trees, casting long, golden shadows across the concrete basketball court. They had just finished a grueling night shift, but instead of heading home to sleep, they were here.
Ashok stood at the free-throw line, spinning the ball on his finger. He looked at Sony, who was dressed in track pants, her hair tied in a high, bouncy ponytail. She looked energetic, her "bold" side fully awake.
"You said I'd be terrible at this, PA," Ashok teased, bouncing the ball. "Care to make a bet?"
Sony smirked, dropping into a defensive stance. "The bet is simple, Boss. If I steal the ball and make a basket, you have to take me for chicken rice and dosa for three days straight. My choice of restaurant."
"And if I win?"
Sony tilted her head, her eyes flashing with a bit of mischief. "Then I'll tell you a secret. One I haven't even told my night-tablets."
Ashok's heart skipped. He took the challenge. He began to dribble, moving with a grace that surprised her. In his past life, he had played a lot of sports to cope with the loneliness of her being in Dubai. Sony tried to block him, her small frame darting left and right.
In a sudden move, Ashok spun around her, but Sony was quick—she lunged for the ball. Her foot tripped on the uneven concrete, and she stumbled forward.
"Sony!"
Ashok dropped the ball and caught her mid-air. He pulled her flush against his chest to steady her. For a long moment, the only sound in the park was their heavy breathing. The basketball bounced away, forgotten, echoing against the fence.
Sony's hands were resting on his forearms, feeling the heat of his skin. She looked up at him, her face flushed from the exercise and the proximity.
"I think... that's a foul, Boss," she whispered, her voice losing its boldness and turning soft.
Ashok didn't let go. He looked down at her, his gaze lingering on her lips before moving back to her eyes. "I'll take the penalty. Is my PA hurt?"
"Only my pride," she murmured. She didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "Ashok... why do you do that? You act so shy in the office, but when we're alone, you look at me like... like you're afraid I'm going to disappear."
Ashok tightened his grip slightly. "Because I know how quiet the world is without you, Sony."
He reached into his gym bag and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box—the one he'd been carrying for two days. "I didn't win the bet, but I wanted to give you this anyway."
Sony opened the box. It was a high-quality, elegant leather work bag. It was professional enough for the office but stylish enough for her.
"The strap on your old one was dull," Ashok said, sounding shy again. "This one won't hurt your back."
Sony touched the leather, her eyes misty. "It's beautiful. But I didn't get you anything."
"You gave me the soup," he reminded her. "And you gave me your morning. That's enough."
They spent the next hour playing shuttlecock (badminton). Ashok was surprisingly good, but he let her win a few points just to see her laugh. As they walked out of the park, sharing a bottle of water, Sony suddenly stopped.
"Boss? You know how you taught me to ride the bike?"
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking... I want to go somewhere far. Somewhere like... Dubai. I heard the work there is good. My sister's friend says the salary is double."
The air in Ashok's lungs felt like it turned to lead. It was happening. The "Dubai Talk" was starting. In the old timeline, he had ignored this conversation until it was too late.
He stopped walking and turned to her, his expression serious. "Is that what you want, Sony? To go far away?"
Sony looked at her feet, overthinking again. "I don't know. It's a lot of money for my family. But... I'd miss the chicken rice. And the park. And..." she looked up at him, her voice trembling slightly, "...you."
Ashok took her hand, his thumb tracing the bracelet he had bought her. "Then don't go for the money, Sony. If you go, let it be because you want to see the world. And if you go... remember that I'm a very stubborn Senior. I don't let my juniors quit that easily."
Sony laughed, but there was a sadness in it. They headed to their favorite street—the one with the lamps—to practice her bike riding one more time.