17-04-2025, 11:38 PM
An Unexpected Visitor
The next morning, Vanitha drove to the quarters in her car, wearing a maroon cotton saree tucked neatly above her navel, fully covering her waist, paired elegantly with a black blouse. Stepping out, she walked toward the entrance, where Mani stood alone in a worn blue shirt, a small bag over his shoulder.
Vanitha: "Where’s Sumithra, Mani?" she asked, her tone professional, with a slight nod.
Mani hesitated.
Mani: "Madam, she’s at the hospital again for a check-up," he replied.
Vanitha: Alright, she thought, following Mani inside—both maintained strict professionalism, masking past tensions, settling into a quiet routine.
At the office desk, Vanitha flipped through files, diving into work. Mani brought requested documents, placed them silently, and retreated. At noon, he set lunch on the table.
Mani: "Madam, eat," he said softly.
Vanitha offered a faint smile.
Vanitha: "Thanks, Mani," she replied, eating alone—both kept their distance, formal and reserved.
By 3 PM, Vanitha was engrossed at her desk, numbers and files on the computer screen holding her focus. Mani, in the kitchen, scrolled on his phone when a call from the office came. After hanging up, he approached her hesitantly.
Mani: "Madam, a visitor’s here from the office with documents for you. I’ll bring them," he said.
Vanitha looked up, curiosity piqued.
Vanitha: "Alright, Mani," she said, wondering, Who could it be?
She visited the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, adjusted her saree, and returned refreshed, resuming work while awaiting the visitor. Fifteen minutes later, Mani called from the small balcony outside.
Mani: "Madam, the visitor’s here. Come," he said.
Vanitha stepped out and froze—Angith stood by a tea table between two chairs, holding a file, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, a small smile on his face. Their eyes met, and they laughed, greeting in unison.
Vanitha: "Hi," she said softly.
Angith: "Hi," he echoed.
Vanitha sat, curiosity sparking.
Vanitha: "When did you get here?"
Angith sat opposite.
Angith: "Half an hour ago. I’m heading back tonight."
Mani glanced at them.
Mani: "Madam, I’ll get tea for both," he said with a nod, heading inside.
On the balcony, seated across the table, they began talking.
Vanitha: "Are you doing well? How’s the family?" she asked.
Angith smiled.
Angith: "I’m good, Vanitha. How’s your family?"
They shared updates on health and family before Angith explained his visit.
Angith: "I brought documents for a project from our training and meeting. They asked me to submit them in person for approval. I was thrilled to learn you’re the approval officer—such a happy surprise."
Vanitha chuckled.
Vanitha: "I just found out myself and was surprised too. I don’t even know all my responsibilities yet. With the promotion coming, there’s a lot to finish—bit of pressure."
Angith encouraged her.
Angith: "Congrats, Vanitha! You’ll handle this easily. You deserve even more."
Vanitha began reviewing the documents. Mani arrived with two cups of tea, placed them on the table, and left. Reading, Vanitha felt a quiet relief—being on the balcony with Mani nearby felt safe for her and Angith. Finishing, she said.
Vanitha: "Everything’s in order, but you need to submit two more approval request letters."
Angith hesitated.
Angith: "Oh, sorry, I forgot."
Their talk continued. Mani returned, cleared the empty cups, and spoke.
Mani: "Madam, a call from GM sir. I need to pick up an important file and get it signed at the nearby office. I’ll be back in half an hour. I’ll drop Angith sir at the airport."
He went inside, returning in three minutes.
Mani: "Madam, I’m leaving," he said, exiting.
Angith relished the thought of half an hour alone with Vanitha, but she felt a twinge of unease—having once sought to avoid Mani, she now wished for his presence. Handing the file back, she said.
Vanitha: "Add these two letters."
Angith asked.
Angith: "Is there a printer and system here?"
Vanitha paused, uneasy at the thought of being alone inside.
Vanitha: "Yes, inside," she said.
They entered, Angith’s eyes scanning the room.
Vanitha: "When’s your flight?" she asked.
Angith: "8 PM," he replied, then grinned.
Angith: "Oh, they even gave you a bedroom here for resting?" he teased.
Vanitha kept it casual.
Vanitha: "Yeah," she said, sitting at her desk, powering on the computer.
Angith sat to her left. Vanitha typed the letters, silently wishing for Mani’s quick return. Finishing, she printed them and handed them to Angith. He started a casual chat.
Angith: "Didn’t you wear this saree the first time we met?" he asked, signing the papers and handing them back slowly.
Angith: "But you look even more beautiful now than then," he added softly.
Vanitha, tense, managed a small smile, filing the letter politely.
Vanitha: "All done. Your work here’s finished," she said, handing back the file.
Angith understood her cue.
Angith: "I don’t want to disturb you, but work brings us together like this."
Vanitha smiled faintly.
Vanitha: "It’s fine, I get it."
They both laughed—Vanitha resumed typing for work. Silence settled. Angith, sitting close, quietly admired her beauty, his eyes tracing from her hair to her waist. His gaze lingered briefly on her covered waist—Vanitha sensed it, casually adjusted her saree to ensure coverage, and kept her eyes on the screen, continuing her work.
The next morning, Vanitha drove to the quarters in her car, wearing a maroon cotton saree tucked neatly above her navel, fully covering her waist, paired elegantly with a black blouse. Stepping out, she walked toward the entrance, where Mani stood alone in a worn blue shirt, a small bag over his shoulder.
Vanitha: "Where’s Sumithra, Mani?" she asked, her tone professional, with a slight nod.
Mani hesitated.
Mani: "Madam, she’s at the hospital again for a check-up," he replied.
Vanitha: Alright, she thought, following Mani inside—both maintained strict professionalism, masking past tensions, settling into a quiet routine.
At the office desk, Vanitha flipped through files, diving into work. Mani brought requested documents, placed them silently, and retreated. At noon, he set lunch on the table.
Mani: "Madam, eat," he said softly.
Vanitha offered a faint smile.
Vanitha: "Thanks, Mani," she replied, eating alone—both kept their distance, formal and reserved.
By 3 PM, Vanitha was engrossed at her desk, numbers and files on the computer screen holding her focus. Mani, in the kitchen, scrolled on his phone when a call from the office came. After hanging up, he approached her hesitantly.
Mani: "Madam, a visitor’s here from the office with documents for you. I’ll bring them," he said.
Vanitha looked up, curiosity piqued.
Vanitha: "Alright, Mani," she said, wondering, Who could it be?
She visited the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, adjusted her saree, and returned refreshed, resuming work while awaiting the visitor. Fifteen minutes later, Mani called from the small balcony outside.
Mani: "Madam, the visitor’s here. Come," he said.
Vanitha stepped out and froze—Angith stood by a tea table between two chairs, holding a file, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, a small smile on his face. Their eyes met, and they laughed, greeting in unison.
Vanitha: "Hi," she said softly.
Angith: "Hi," he echoed.
Vanitha sat, curiosity sparking.
Vanitha: "When did you get here?"
Angith sat opposite.
Angith: "Half an hour ago. I’m heading back tonight."
Mani glanced at them.
Mani: "Madam, I’ll get tea for both," he said with a nod, heading inside.
On the balcony, seated across the table, they began talking.
Vanitha: "Are you doing well? How’s the family?" she asked.
Angith smiled.
Angith: "I’m good, Vanitha. How’s your family?"
They shared updates on health and family before Angith explained his visit.
Angith: "I brought documents for a project from our training and meeting. They asked me to submit them in person for approval. I was thrilled to learn you’re the approval officer—such a happy surprise."
Vanitha chuckled.
Vanitha: "I just found out myself and was surprised too. I don’t even know all my responsibilities yet. With the promotion coming, there’s a lot to finish—bit of pressure."
Angith encouraged her.
Angith: "Congrats, Vanitha! You’ll handle this easily. You deserve even more."
Vanitha began reviewing the documents. Mani arrived with two cups of tea, placed them on the table, and left. Reading, Vanitha felt a quiet relief—being on the balcony with Mani nearby felt safe for her and Angith. Finishing, she said.
Vanitha: "Everything’s in order, but you need to submit two more approval request letters."
Angith hesitated.
Angith: "Oh, sorry, I forgot."
Their talk continued. Mani returned, cleared the empty cups, and spoke.
Mani: "Madam, a call from GM sir. I need to pick up an important file and get it signed at the nearby office. I’ll be back in half an hour. I’ll drop Angith sir at the airport."
He went inside, returning in three minutes.
Mani: "Madam, I’m leaving," he said, exiting.
Angith relished the thought of half an hour alone with Vanitha, but she felt a twinge of unease—having once sought to avoid Mani, she now wished for his presence. Handing the file back, she said.
Vanitha: "Add these two letters."
Angith asked.
Angith: "Is there a printer and system here?"
Vanitha paused, uneasy at the thought of being alone inside.
Vanitha: "Yes, inside," she said.
They entered, Angith’s eyes scanning the room.
Vanitha: "When’s your flight?" she asked.
Angith: "8 PM," he replied, then grinned.
Angith: "Oh, they even gave you a bedroom here for resting?" he teased.
Vanitha kept it casual.
Vanitha: "Yeah," she said, sitting at her desk, powering on the computer.
Angith sat to her left. Vanitha typed the letters, silently wishing for Mani’s quick return. Finishing, she printed them and handed them to Angith. He started a casual chat.
Angith: "Didn’t you wear this saree the first time we met?" he asked, signing the papers and handing them back slowly.
Angith: "But you look even more beautiful now than then," he added softly.
Vanitha, tense, managed a small smile, filing the letter politely.
Vanitha: "All done. Your work here’s finished," she said, handing back the file.
Angith understood her cue.
Angith: "I don’t want to disturb you, but work brings us together like this."
Vanitha smiled faintly.
Vanitha: "It’s fine, I get it."
They both laughed—Vanitha resumed typing for work. Silence settled. Angith, sitting close, quietly admired her beauty, his eyes tracing from her hair to her waist. His gaze lingered briefly on her covered waist—Vanitha sensed it, casually adjusted her saree to ensure coverage, and kept her eyes on the screen, continuing her work.