From Coffee Breaks To A Proposal : Can Friendship Survive Love?

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Recap

Ashwathy, a civil engineer , learns that her harsh and critical colleague, Aditya, has been in a car accident and is in the ICU. Despite their rocky relationship, she feels compelled to visit him at the hospital, where she bonds with his family, his sister Radhika and mother Mrs. Sharma. This experience softens her perception of Aditya, leading to a more humane understanding of his character.

As Aditya recovers, he returns to work with a changed demeanor, offering Ashwathy a yellow rose and an apology. Read on to see what unfolds next.

"Wow, that's such a beautiful yellow rose. Who gave it to you?" asked Anjali, her eyes narrowing with a teasing smile.

Ashwathy frowned, feeling the weight of her friend's gaze. "It's just a yellow rose, not a red one. So, get all those unwanted thoughts off your head. I know exactly where your mind is heading," she replied, her voice firm but tinged with a blush.

Anjali raised her brows, unbothered by Ashwathy's response. "Okay, whatever. Who gave it to you?" she asked again, this time with a playful grin.

"Aditya," Ashwathy said, showing her the note he had written.

"What? Our senior Aditya?" Anjali's voice rose in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

Ashwathy simply nodded, her fingers still holding the delicate stem. She watched as Anjali's eyes went from confused to stunned.

"Well, this is new," Anjali remarked, her voice lighter. "A note of gratitude? Someone's changing. I was there with you too. I didn't get a gratitude letter and a rose."

Ashwathy rolled her eyes. "Because you were only there on the first day. I frequently visited his family at the hospital."

"And why was that?" Anjali asked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Because it just felt like the right thing to do," Ashwathy explained, her tone softening. "I saw my sister and mother in them. I felt like I had to be there for them."

"Oh-ho," Anjali teased, leaning in with a teasing grin. "Someone's got a soft spot!"

"Stop it," Ashwathy said with a blush and a frown. Before the teasing could continue, a voice broke through, drawing their attention.

"Has lunch break been extended?" came a voice from behind. Both girls looked at each other in confusion before turning around to face the familiar figure.

Ashwathy caught Anjali's gaze. She could read the unspoken words in her friend's expression. Perhaps I was wrong when I said "someone is changing." Aditya will always stay the same - so serious, so distant.

They both turned to face him, and sure enough, there he was - Aditya, arms crossed, a quiet curiosity in his eyes.

"Sorry, Aditya," Anjali said, trying to sound casual. "We were just talking... lost track of time. We won't repeat it again. Bye!" She quickly excused herself, sidestepping past him, leaving Ashwathy standing alone.

Ashwathy hesitated, not sure if she should rush back to her desk or explain herself. "Sorry, I'll get back to work," she said sheepishly, already turning away.

But then, his voice stopped her.

"Ashwathy," he called softly.

Her heart skipped a beat. Oh no, here it comes, she thought. He's going to say something to hurt me again. Something cold and dismissive.

She turned slowly, bracing herself. But when she met his gaze, something was different. Aditya wasn't standing there with his usual stern demeanor. There was a softness in his eyes, a vulnerability that she had never seen before.

"Can we... grab a coffee together after work?" he asked, his voice hesitant but genuine.

Ashwathy's heart raced. She wasn't sure what to say. She had never imagined he would ask her something like that. A part of her wanted to say no, to keep things casual, but another part of her-an unfamiliar, softer part, felt drawn to him.

"Yeah, why not?" she replied, trying to sound cool and collected, even though her pulse was racing.

A broad smile spread across Aditya's face, and for the first time, Ashwathy saw him smile in a way that was not just polite but real. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart raced. He was actually smiling and, oh, how beautiful it was.

"Great. After work, then," he said, and there was something in his tone that made Ashwathy's heart flutter.

A New Beginning: Coffee Conversations

From the day Aditya had asked Ashwathy to join him for coffee, everything had changed. Their coffee outings, once an unspoken gesture, turned into something they both looked forward to every evening after work. At first, it was awkward-small talk, occasional silences, and fleeting glances but soon, their conversations began to flow naturally. They would sit for hours, talking about everything and nothing at all.

Ashwathy was beginning to see a side of Aditya she hadn't known existed. His humor, once masked by his seriousness, started to shine through. His stories about his family, especially his mother and sister, painted a picture of a man with depth, compassion, and loyalty. She found herself drawn to him more than she had ever expected.

Over time, they grew comfortable in each other's company. The quiet moments between them no longer felt awkward. Instead, they felt like a space of mutual understanding. No pretenses. No expectations.

Aditya had become her favorite part of the day, someone she could confide in and laugh with. She realized how much she looked forward to their coffee outings, how much she cherished their time together.

A Conversation with Anjali

One evening, after another quiet coffee session with Aditya, Ashwathy couldn't shake the feeling that things were becoming more complicated. She needed someone to talk to, and that someone was her best friend, Anjali.

They met in their favorite café, and after the usual pleasantries, Anjali immediately noticed the change in Ashwathy's mood. She could sense something was off.

"Ashwathy," Anjali asked, her tone concerned, "You've been quiet today. What's on your mind?"

Ashwathy took a deep breath, her hands fidgeting with her coffee cup. "It's... everything, Anjali. The way people are looking at me and Aditya. The whispers. It's starting to feel like we can't just be friends anymore without people assuming things."

Anjali's brow furrowed as she listened, her eyes softening with empathy. "I get it. I've noticed the way people are talking. But, Ashwathy, I'm just worried that you're getting too caught up in something that might not be what you think it is. I don't want you to end up in a situation that feels uncomfortable for you later."

Ashwathy's gaze dropped to her cup, her mind racing. "I never meant for it to get to this point. We've just been meeting after work... talking. But now it feels like we're crossing a line. Maybe I need to take a step back."

Anjali nodded thoughtfully, her expression gentle. "I'm not saying you should cut him out of your life, but maybe it's best to slow things down if you both are just friends. And remember, he's your senior colleague, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation."

Ashwathy was quiet for a long time, processing her friend's words. She wasn't sure what to think, but she knew one thing for sure, something had to change. The weight of the gossip was already too much, and she didn't want to risk their friendship becoming something neither of them was prepared for.

"Okay," Ashwathy said softly, finally meeting Anjali's eyes. "I'll talk to him. Maybe it's better to step back for a while."

Facing Aditya

The next day, Ashwathy sat across from Aditya in their usual coffee shop booth. The soft hum of conversation around them felt distant to her as she wrestled with the words she knew she had to say. Aditya, however, seemed oblivious to her inner turmoil, sipping his coffee and making casual conversation. He was still the same-easygoing, relaxed, with no hint of the tension that Ashwathy felt growing between them.

"Ashwathy, you're quiet today," Aditya finally remarked, setting his cup down and looking at her with a curious expression. "Is everything okay?"

She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been dreading this conversation. But the truth was, the growing distance between them had started to weigh on her. She needed to do this, for her own peace of mind, even if it hurt.

"I've been thinking a lot," Ashwathy began, her voice soft but steady. "About us, about everything that's been happening. And... I think maybe we need to stop meeting after work."

Aditya's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?"

"I just... I feel like it's getting too much. People are starting to talk, and I don't want to make things uncomfortable for either of us. It's better if we slow things down a bit," she explained, trying to keep her voice steady, though it was hard to ignore the knot in her stomach.

Aditya sat back in his chair, clearly taken aback. "Ashwathy, I don't understand. Why all of a sudden?"

"Because it's not just about us anymore," she said, her voice quieter now. "I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. And honestly, I don't want to make things more complicated than they already are."

Aditya stared at her for a moment, processing her words. Then, slowly, his expression softened. "You're saying you want to stop seeing me altogether? Just... like that?"

Ashwathy could see the hurt in his eyes, and it made her feel even worse. But she couldn't deny the reality of the situation. She wasn't sure what was happening between them, but the constant speculation from others was starting to drown out the quiet joy she'd once felt in his company.

"I think it's for the best," she said, though her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "I don't want people to gossip about us, and we work in the same place, it's not healthy."

The Confession

Aditya remained silent for a moment, staring down at his coffee cup. When he finally looked up, there was an intensity in his eyes that Ashwathy hadn't seen before. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on hers, and his eyes scrutinised her face in an affectionate way that made her heart race.

"Ashwathy," he said, his voice low but steady. "I don't want to stop seeing you. And I don't care what people are saying. I never have. What matters to me is that I'm here with you now. I can't just pretend like nothing's happening between us, because... I don't want this to end."

Ashwathy felt her breath catch in her throat. She hadn't expected this, hadn't expected him to open up like this, to speak so openly about what he was feeling. For a moment, she was speechless, her mind spinning.

"I've been trying to ignore it," he continued, his voice growing softer, "but I can't anymore. I... I think I'm in love with you, Ashwathy. And I've been wishing for a while now that what people are assuming about us would actually be true. That we could be more than just friends."

Ashwathy blinked, completely caught off guard by his confession. Her heart pounded in her chest as the reality of what he was saying settled over her. She had always been cautious, unsure of what she was feeling, but hearing him speak so honestly, so vulnerably, it shook her to her core.

The café around them was busy, but to Ashwathy, everything went silent. The words he had just spoken echoed in her mind. She stared at him, trying to make sense of it all. Was this really happening? Was Aditya, the once serious, rude guy who'd always kept his distance really saying that he was in love with her. Now she questioned herself in her mind - Did she feel the same?

If you've been waiting for the right moment to propose to that special someone, what are you waiting for? Now's the time to take the leap and express your feelings!

In light of this heartfelt proposal, here's wishing everyone a very Happy Propose Day!

What do you think Ashwathy's reply will be to Aditya's heartfelt confession? To find out, stay tuned! Their journey is just beginning, and it's bound to blossom beautifully throughout this Valentine's week. Keep reading to discover what happens next.