The office felt oddly quiet that morning. Mahira's usual energy wasn't there, and neither was her team. The third floor — her domain — was practically deserted.
She walked slowly down the stairs, looking for something… or someone. And then, on the second floor, her eyes found me.
I looked up from my screen, surprised to see Mahira out of her zone.
Mahira gave me a crooked smile and leaned casually against the edge of my desk. "Hey… busy?"
I tilted my head, noticing the flicker of tiredness in her eyes. "Not really. You okay?"
"Everyone's on leave today," Mahira said with a small sigh. "Pihu's working from home, and even Karthik took off. The floor feels like a graveyard."
"Ohh," I said gently. "That's why you're here."
"Yeah," Mahira gave a sheepish laugh. "I didn't realise how boring it is without them. Feels like the office shrank two sizes today."
I closed my laptop halfway and smiled. "Wanna go downstairs for a Tea?"
Mahira's eyes lit up instantly, "Yes! That's exactly what I was going to ask you. Let's go. It's too dead up there."
---
We stepped out of the entrance door and into the late morning sun. The air outside was humid, but the breeze near the tea shop was surprisingly refreshing. The little shop was tucked beside the street of the building, a place most employees knew but rarely acknowledged — a casual corner where small talk brewed better than tea.
As they waited for their order, Mahira kicked a tiny stone on the ground. "I really didn't think I'd feel this… off today."
"Missing the gang?" I asked softly.
"Yeah. It's weird," Mahira said. "You think you like your job, but then one day no one shows up and suddenly, it feels like you're dragging your feet."
"Honestly, the same thing happened to me in my old office," I said, accepting the first cup of steaming tea. "It's not the work that keeps us going… it's the people."
Mahira smiled as she took her cup. "You're wise."
I grinned. "I fake it well."
We laughed, sipping our tea, standing in the corner like rebels skipping class.
Mahira glanced at me. "I never really hung out with you like this."
I nodded. "Same. But I'm glad you came down today."
There was a small silence. The kind that doesn't weigh heavy but says everything.
Suddenly, Mahira turned toward me. "You know what? We should do this more often. Not just when we're lonely."
"I'd like that," I replied genuinely.
Mahira sipped thoughtfully. "Actually, we should pull Pihu into this too. She's fun."
"You think she'd come?" I asked, a little skeptical.
"Oh, she would. Especially for tea," Mahira said confidently. "She loves drama and tea."
I giggled. "Deadly combo."
We stood there for another five minutes, talking about random things — favourite tea flavours, horrible office , and how Kartik is her best buddy.
As we walked back, Mahira said, "This was nice. I needed it."
I smiled warmly. "Anytime."
Two cups of tea rest on the ledge. Me and Mahira lean against the shop
I asked. "So… how was your day?"
(chuckles softly)
"Same old. Meetings, targets, and a hundred emails I don't want to open. What about you? How's the office treating you?"
I pause. Then, with a sigh, I let it out.
"Honestly? It's been rough. I don't like the people here. I feel isolated… my whole team is full of boys, and I'm just there. Alone. It's like I'm invisible."
Mahira looks at me with a sudden spark of recognition, like she knows exactly what she is talking about.
"I get that. I was in the same department you're in now. And trust me, it was toxic as hell. That's why I asked our Co-Founder of the Company Gautam Sir directly to switch teams. Pleaded, actually."
"Wait—you went straight to Gautam Sir?"
Mahira nods. "Yeah. I couldn't survive there. I told him I wanted out. And now… this team? It feels like breathing again."
I smiled at her courage. "Good for you. Really. That takes guts."
She shrugs humbly, sipping her chai. A silence lingers, comfortable.
Mahira asked with a smirk on her face, "So… are you seeing someone?"
I laughed, almost choking on my tea. "Nope. Single. Not even crushing on anyone, honestly."
Mahira raises an eyebrow. "Really? No one?"
I hesitantly said, "Well… okay, I mean… not like that. But, my team leader—he's attractive. Handsome, confident—has that whole tall-silent thing going on."
Mahira grins knowingly, "Ohooo."
I laugh, "But don't get me wrong—I don't like him. He's a bit of a narcissist. And I have a rule: no narcissists. Attractive, yes. Crush-worthy, maybe. But not my type."
We both burst into laughter, the tea almost spilling.
"God, I needed this laugh." Mahira said with a smile on her face
"Me too."
Mahira pauses, then speaks a little more softly. "I'm actually in a relationship. My boyfriend sometimes comes to meet me at work."
"That's nice. What's he like?"
"He's sweet. Actually… he's also my cousin."
I blinked, surprised. "Wait—seriously?"
Mahira laughs, "Yeah. I know, sounds strange to some people. But it works for us."
I nod, non-judgmental. "As long as you're happy."
...
...
...
A week had passed since that day. That afternoon, Mahira looked at me and said, "Let's call Pihu with us today. You remember what we promised?"
I nodded, feeling a little nervous. Pihu had a calm energy—like a soft corner in a loud world. I wasn't sure if she'd want to come, but we asked anyway.
To my surprise, she smiled and said, "Sure, I'll come. I was hoping we'd go out together someday."
We ended up in our usual Tea shop. It felt safe there.
While sipping her tea, Mahira glanced at me. "I don't know what's happening with this office. They've been acting weird with you. And it's not fair."
I looked down at my cup, not knowing what to say.
But before I could speak, Pihu leaned in gently. "Hey," she said, her voice soft, "if it ever gets too much, talk to me. Please don't shut yourself out. People can be mean without even realizing. You don't have to carry that alone."
Her eyes were kind. There was no pity in them—just understanding.
She added, "Drama will always be there. But we don't have to let it live in our head rent-free."
I let out a small laugh. That line was so... her.
"Thanks, Pihu," I said. "That really means a lot."
She nodded, brushing it off like it was nothing. But to me, it wasn't nothing at all.
Even though Mahira was the first person I bonded with, there was something different about Pihu. Something that pulled me towards her, without even trying.
Mahira and I clicked quickly — she's easy to talk to, full of life, and fun to be around. But with Pihu, it wasn't about how fast we became close. It was the kind of person she was that made me admire her — quietly, deeply.
She had this calm way of sitting in a storm. She wouldn't talk much, but when she did, it felt like every word had weight. She didn't try to prove anything. She didn't care about attention. She just… was.
I think that's what I loved the most — she didn't need to be loud to be strong. She was real. Observant. The kind of friend who notices when you're quiet, who remembers things you thought no one was listening to. I saw how she treated people. With kindness, with fairness Just pure, quiet honesty.
I wanted to be friends with her not because everyone liked her — but because she made me want to be better. More patient. More honest. More grounded.
Mahira was the first door. But Pihu felt like home.
The Next day began like any other — until I found out it was Mahira's work anniversary.
She came to the office dressed beautifully that morning — short pearl earrings, kajal in her eyes, lipstick done just right. It was clear she had put in effort. And why not? She was the star of the day.
What I didn't know at the time was that Kartik had planned something special for her. He had ordered a portrait painting of her — yes, a full portrait. But unfortunately, it didn't get delivered on time. So instead, he arranged a cake and a bouquet to make her day special.
Now, at that point, I wasn't very close to Mahira. Our friendship was new, a little distant. I was still forming my own opinions about her. But Pihu—someone I admired, someone I was trying to get closer to—suggested we should also do something.
So we decided to buy her a gift.
---
There's an Archie's store just near our office. So the three of us — me, Pihu, and Mahira — went there together. Yes, even Mahira came along to choose her own gift.
Pihu picked out a few cute things for her — a small teddy, some pretty accessories, something thoughtful but not too much.
Me? I was totally lost. I'm honestly terrible at gifting. I always feel like people should just tell me what they want — and I'll go get it. Simple.
Then, while walking around the store, Mahira stopped in front of a giant teddy — soft, pink, and extremely huggable. Her eyes lit up.
"I want that teddy," she said, pointing at it with a smile.
I stared at the price tag: ₹2500 INR.
Now let me be brutally honest: I didn't like her enough to spend that much money on her. In fact, I was starting to dislike her — mostly because of how she treated Kartik. But still, I said:
"Okay, I'll buy it for you."
Why?
Not for Mahira.
I did it for Pihu.
I wanted to impress her, show that I'm thoughtful, that I can be generous. We weren't close then, and I really wanted us to be friends. She was mature, wise, and gave the kind of advice that hit deep. She irritated me sometimes with how introverted she was — but still, I respected her.
So yes, I bought that teddy. And I've regretted it ever since.
---
When we got back to the office, I was carrying that huge teddy. It was the size of a small human. People noticed it immediately.
My friend Aliza — who's also my HR bestie — came over and saw it. She asked Mahira with a smile, "Oh my god, that's so cute! Who gave it to you?"
Mahira, without blinking, replied, "My friends gave it to me."
She didn't say names. Not once.
Now, from an outsider's view, who would assume I gifted her that teddy? No one. Mahira sits on the third floor. I sit on the second. We're not seen together much. Most people thought Kartik had gifted it — because let's face it, everyone knew he was always doing too much for her.
Even Aliza thought so. She came to me later and said, "Did you see that teddy Kartik gave her? So big, so cute!"
I looked at her and calmly said, "No, sweetheart. Kartik didn't give her that. I did."
She was shocked. Her jaw literally dropped. "Wait, what?!"
From that moment on, Aliza turned into my hype woman. She went to almost everyone she knew and started telling them, "You know that teddy? Noor gifted that! Not Kartik!"
I didn't ask her to do it. But I was secretly glad someone was speaking the truth.
---
But then came the part that hurt.
The celebration.
It was held on the third floor, in the big meeting room. Kartik had planned everything — the cake, the decorations, the setup. He had made her feel special.
Pihu and I, of course, brought our gifts. We thought it was a small gathering — just a few close friends.
But Mahira had other plans.
She invited everyone — even her seniors, the whole team, people who had no connection to Kartik's planning or our gift shopping. It was no longer a close, cozy celebration. It was now a public performance.
I watched Kartik's face as she made him click her photos with her other friends. Not with him. Not with us. But with the people she had brought in at the last moment.
He looked… broken.
And at that moment, all my regrets came crashing in.
Not because of the teddy.
Not because of the money.
But because I felt used.
---
Oh, and there's more.
That same day, Mahira went around the entire office — one by one — asking people to wish her on the company group. Not kidding.
In her soft, childish voice, she'd walk up and say:
"Heyyy, wish me on the group na, it's my work anniversaryyy."
It was all… so forced. So fake.
And that's when I decided.
That teddy?
That gift?
That moment?
Never again.