Morning — Leena
Morning light slipped through the thin curtains of Leena's apartment, pale and quiet.
Leena stood in front of the mirror tying her hair loosely. Her eyes looked slightly tired from the previous night, but her face was calm.
On the chair behind her lay the yellow-and-white striped dress she had worn yesterday. Today she chose something simpler—a soft cream blouse and dark trousers, professional enough for the office.
Just as she reached for her bag—
The doorbell rang.
Leena frowned slightly.
No one usually visited her.
She walked to the door and opened it.
Ruhi stood outside.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
It was awkward.
Ruhi shifted her weight slightly, clearly uncomfortable. She had never really talked to Leena much before. Their interactions had always been brief, polite… distant.
Leena stepped aside.
"Come in."
Ruhi entered slowly, looking around the apartment with curiosity.
Leena walked toward the kitchen.
"Water?"
Ruhi nodded.
Leena placed a glass of water in front of her and leaned against the counter.
"So," she asked calmly, "why are you here?"
Ruhi took a breath.
"Tushar gave me your address."
Leena's eyes flickered for just a second.
Ruhi continued quickly.
"You know… tomorrow is his birthday."
Leena stayed silent.
"I'm throwing a party at my house," Ruhi said. "And you're his childhood friend."
She hesitated.
Then spoke honestly.
"I know I've always been… a little mean to you."
Leena tilted her head slightly but said nothing.
Ruhi looked down at the glass in her hands.
"It's just… I love him."
She laughed nervously.
"And I guess I was jealous of your friendship with him."
Leena gave a faint smile.
"There's nothing you should worry about."
Ruhi looked up again.
"So you'll come tomorrow evening?"
Leena didn't answer immediately.
"Please don't say no," Ruhi added quickly. "I want you there."
"Why?" Leena asked quietly.
Ruhi's face softened.
"Because tomorrow… I'm going to tell him."
"Tell him what?"
Ruhi smiled shyly.
"That I love him."
Leena's expression didn't change much, but something strange flickered behind her eyes.
She gave a small, quiet smile.
"That's nice."
Then she asked softly—
"But… is he the right person for you?"
Ruhi blinked.
"I think so."
She stood up quickly.
"I should go."
At the door she turned back.
"Please come."
Then she left.
Leena closed the door slowly.
For a moment she stood there.
Then a strange smile appeared on her lips.
"He trapped her," she murmured to herself quietly.
Office
The office was busy that morning.
Leena had missed a day of work, and now papers covered her desk.
Files.
Reports.
Documents waiting for signatures.
She sat down and began sorting them carefully.
Photocopying.
Arranging.
Checking numbers.
Her head slowly began to ache.
A dull pressure behind her eyes.
Migraine.
She pressed her fingers to her temple and closed her eyes briefly.
"Just a break," she whispered.
She stood up and walked outside.
Behind the office building was a small narrow area where employees sometimes stepped out for fresh air.
Leena leaned against the wall, letting the cool breeze brush against her face.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
After a few minutes she went back inside.
More files waited.
She opened another folder.
Then another.
And suddenly—
Her eyes froze on a document.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
The paper contained property records connected to the redevelopment project.
Names.
Land ownership.
Acquisition details.
But something was wrong.
Leena quickly scanned the page again.
Her heartbeat picked up.
Without drawing attention, she quietly walked to the photocopier.
The machine hummed softly.
One copy.
Then another.
She folded the copied papers carefully and slipped them into her bag.
Her face remained calm.
But inside—
Her plan had just found another piece.
Evening — Apartment Building
Leena left the office as the sun was beginning to set.
A warm wind moved through the streets as she walked home.
By the time she reached her apartment building, a thin layer of sweat had gathered at the back of her neck.
Her hair had loosened slightly from the wind.
She stepped into the building just as the elevator doors opened.
Sami stood inside.
He looked up.
For a moment both of them froze.
Neither expected the other.
Leena stepped inside quietly.
The doors closed.
The elevator began to rise.
Silence filled the small space.
Leena stood beside him—close enough that their hands were only a few centimeters apart.
Not touching.
But close enough to feel the warmth of each other's presence.
Sami noticed the faint scent of something sweet—maybe the soap she used… or something from the bakery near the office.
Her breathing was soft but slightly uneven.
A strand of her hair brushed against her cheek.
Her neck glistened faintly with sweat from the walk home.
Sami looked straight ahead.
But from the corner of his eye he could see her.
Finally he spoke.
"Are you—"
Leena interrupted immediately.
"I'm fine."
Her voice was calm but quick.
"And again… sorry."
Sami turned his head slightly.
"For what?"
She kept her eyes forward.
"As you said," she murmured, "I won't bother you anymore."
The elevator hummed softly as it passed another floor.
Sami studied her quietly.
Her hair was messy from the wind.
There were faint shadows under her eyes.
She looked tired.
But stubborn.
"You didn't bother me," he said.
Leena gave a soft, humorless laugh.
"That's not what you said."
Silence again.
The space between them felt heavier now.
Sami's hand shifted slightly beside hers.
For a second—
Their fingers almost touched.
Leena noticed.
Her breath caught just slightly.
But neither of them moved.
Finally Sami spoke again, more quietly this time.
"You looked sick yesterday."
Leena shrugged lightly.
"Just migraines."
"You take a lot of medicine for 'just migraines.'"
She finally turned her head and looked at him.
Their eyes met.
For a moment neither looked away.
"You notice too much," she said softly.
"And you hide too much," Sami replied.
The elevator slowed.
Their floor.
The doors slid open.
Neither of them moved for a second.
Then Leena stepped out first.
Sami followed.
They walked down the hallway side by side.
Her apartment door came first.
She stopped there.
For a second she looked like she might say something.
Instead she simply said—
"Good night."
Sami watched her unlock the door.
Just before she stepped inside, she turned her head slightly.
And their eyes met again.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then the door closed.
Leaving Sami standing alone in the quiet hallway.