The next day…
Riya avoided Arjun.
Completely.
She stayed at her desk, focused on work.
Or at least pretending to be.
Because her mind kept going back—
To last night.
To that moment.
To that kiss.
And his words after.
*"This was a mistake."*
Her chest tightened again.
---
"Miss Riya."
She froze.
Slowly looking up.
Arjun stood there.
Same expression.
Cold.
Distant.
As if nothing had happened.
"Yes, sir?" she said.
Formal.
Careful.
Arjun noticed it.
That change.
That distance.
"Come to my cabin," he said.
---
Inside…
Riya stood in front of him.
Professional.
Calm.
Or at least trying to be.
"About yesterday—" Arjun started.
"There's nothing to talk about," she interrupted.
Arjun frowned.
Riya looked straight at him.
"It was a mistake, right?" she said.
Silence.
Arjun didn't answer immediately.
That silence said everything.
Riya smiled slightly.
A painful one.
"I understand," she continued.
"It won't happen again."
Her words were calm.
But her eyes—
They weren't.
Arjun stepped closer.
"Riya—"
"Sir," she corrected.
The word hit him.
Hard.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
"Fine," he said coldly.
"If that's what you want."
Riya nodded.
"Yes. That's what I want."
Lie.
A complete lie.
But she didn't show it.
---
The tension in the room grew.
Unspoken words.
Unfinished emotions.
Both pretending.
Both hiding.
---
Later that day…
Nisha walked into the office again.
Smiling as always.
Her eyes immediately found Arjun.
Then—
Riya.
She noticed the distance between them.
And smirked slightly.
"Something's changed," she whispered to herself.
---
Meanwhile…
Riya sat quietly.
Trying to stay strong.
Trying not to feel.
But deep inside—
Something had already changed.
Something real.
And no matter how much she tried—
She couldn't ignore it anymore.
---
Because sometimes—
The biggest lies…
Are the ones we tell ourselves.