Roshni's POV

"Hey!"

"Hi!"

"How are you?"

"I'm good. This place is so beautiful. Can you hear them?"

"Ssshhh... close your eyes. Now listen."

Cooo... Coooo... Coooo...

Chirp... Chirp... Chirp...

Swoosh...

Cooo... Coooo... Coooo...

Chirp... Chirp... Chirp...

Swoosh...

"This melody is enchanting. Who is singing this song?"

Chirp... Chirp...

Swoosh...

"Hey! Where are you?"

Cooo... Coooo... Coooo...

"Helloooo!"

"Helllloooo!" I wake up with a jolt as a shrill voice dissolves my tranquil dream.

"Sleeping at work? Are you serious girl? What's the progress with your work?" My annoying boss hovers over me as she pierces her cold black stare through me.

"Umm... I'm sorry Naina. Actually, I'm not getting any kind of inspiration to write motivational stories." I say sheepishly looking down preparing myself for another round of lecture.

"What do you mean by not getting inspiration? For God's sake, you are a writer! It's your job to write for our magazine. This is why you are hired. Not to sleep and daydream! And what inspiration are you talking about? Just open your eyes and look around. Inspiration will come within a blink of an eye. Please Roshni. I need..."

Yeah right. Ever heard of writer's block? Why do writers even have this block? Irritating! Shut up, you stupid mind.

"Roshni! Are you even listening to me?" My boss shouts as she slams her palm on my desk drawing everyone's attention once again.

"Yes, I am listening." I peep around only to find everyone trying their best to suppress their laughter.

"You better submit your work by next week, or else try searching for a new job. And you all..." Naina looks at others with her piercing gaze and continues, "...is any kind of show going on here that you all have stopped working? Get back to work. Right now! And Roshni, this is your last chance."

Lecturing me for the second time since this morning, my boss goes towards her room as her stilettos click against the whitish green-designed marbled floor.

I slump down my tired body on my revolving chair ignoring the fake sympathy that is clearly visible on the faces of my colleagues.

"Another day of monotony!" I sigh as my mind brings back that one thought which I want to run away from.

Why am I even alive? What's the reason that I am still breathing? It's not that I've any important work to do for which I've to live.

"Ugh! Bloody mind!" I massage my forehead as a heavy feeling lingers in between my eyebrows. It's as if a huge mountain is rooted on my head and it's sharp stones are piercing my temples while gliding down.

"Woah! Why so stressed in the early morning? Long steamy night?" Hearing the mischief in the tone, I immediately recognized the owner of the voice.

"Shut up Mayank! Not in the mood for your bullshit. Your wife has already made my morning hell." Irritated, I throw away some paper balls to my friend who also happens to be my boss' husband.

"Come on girl! You know how she is when the time for publishing nears. She goes all hysterical. She even threw me out of the room last night because I was snoring and madam had some work to finish. Can you believe it? She threw me out? Me? Her poor little husband." I roll my eyes as Mayank feigns an upset face.

"Drama queen! What are you doing here by the way? Has your boss kicked you out as well?" I rearrange the papers which are scattered on my desk.

"Nope. I took a sick leave today. I'm very unwell." He says as he presses his temples with his fingers.

My eyes wander to see any sign of sickness but in vain. I gaze at Mayank sternly as he gives me his innocent smile.

"What? That's not my problem that I'm such a good actor." Mayank boasts as he leans against my cubicle.

"Exactly. That should not be your problem but your boss' that he is such a fool. Now shoo! Go and disturb your wife." I wave my right hand gesturing him to leave.

"Oh, I will. That's why I took the leave and came here." He winks at me once again with a playfulness reflecting in his black eyes.

"Really? You came here so that you can disturb both of us? You are gone today, my friend. I'll not be surprised if I find you at the hospital by the end of this day." I open Microsoft Word on my desktop hoping that I'll be able to write something down.

"She'll never do anything like that. After all, she loves me. So, just wait and watch." Mayank starts walking towards his wife's room as he runs his long fingers through his wavy brown hair.

"Don't tell me I didn't warn you." I shouted out as he takes the turn and goes out of my sight shouting, "Never!"

I sigh looking at the blank white screen as I smile thinking about Mayank, my friend as well as... my love. Surprising right? Mayank is not only my best friend but also my childhood crush. I thought that with time, those feelings will fade away. But it never happened. Instead, it turned into love. I could never tell him, thinking it'll affect our friendship and then one day he made me meet Naina, the love of his life who is currently his wife and my boss. In short, he is the unrequited love of my life. But it's okay. Love can't be forced. Love just happens.

***

"Hello dream girl." Don't know how fast time flew away but Mayank's happy voice brings me out of my thoughts. But sadly, my emotions are still readable as a teary smile lingers on my face despite my tries to stay normal.

"What?" I start typing the keyboard randomly to avoid any kind of eye contact.

"What shit are you typing? Are these even words? U T R E A N N G I S S H E T S G N O F O O E V L! What are these?" Mayank comes behind me and reads the letters. His warm breath fans my cold, open shoulder. My palms start sweating and all I could hear is the racing beats of my heart. He is saying something but my mind has gone blank. I can't decipher any single word coming out of his mouth.

"Ouch!" Feeling a pain, I scream, realizing that Mayank has pulled my ponytail from behind.

I put my palm behind my head and looked at him as my brows furrowed.

"Which world do you live in? I'm saying such an important thing for such a long time." He shouted on my face but my eyes are fixed on his lips which are close to mine. I can feel my furrowed brows becoming calm with a sudden urge to kiss his lips.

Snap out of it Roshni!

My mind makes me see the reality which forced me to look up to his eyes from his lips. He is still looking at me with questioning eyes. I quickly narrow my eyes with a fake annoyance on my face.

"You again went into your dream world? Nothing can be done with you. Leave it and now guess what?" Mayank asks me with excitement clear in his eyes and voice while I look at him expecting another of his dramatic guess.

"I've found the meaning of these random letters! I didn't know you have this talent as well Rosh. I'm impressed." Mayank pats on my back leaving me dumbstruck.

"What meaning? What are you even talking about?" I ask him as my mind tries to understand whatever he said before.

"Oh, man! Looks like you are not as smart as I thought. Maybe it's just a coincidence. It's all my fault." Mayank makes a crying face.

"Stop it Mayank and tell me the meaning." I shut him up from continuing his drama and gaze at the desktop screen

"Fine. Just accept that I'm smarter than you, then only I'll tell you." Mayank moves away from my back and stands straight.

"Okay fine. Dear sir, you are smarter than me. Now will you please do the honour of telling me the meaning?" I say with a fake sweet tone.

"Yes! Its meaning is nature sings the song of love." Mayank says as he looks at the desktop screen again.

"Nature sings the song of Love." I mumble the words as a flash of my tranquil dream comes to my mind while my ears hear coooo... from somewhere far away.

***

Words: 1437