IT'S NOT OVER

Chapter 33

A few days zipped by in a whirlwind of activity. Both Arun and Swati threw themselves into their work, a silent tension simmering beneath the surface. Stolen glances became a secret game they both played, a delicious dance of unspoken attraction.

The late-night office silence was shattered by a sudden burst of noise. Kavya and Deepali, Swati's coworkers, erupted through the doorway, a chorus of "Happy Birthday!" echoing through the room. Swati, startled awake from a light doze, blinked blearily at the sight of a cake and a gaggle of her colleagues. A tired smile tugged at her lips as she acknowledged their well wishes.

Arun watched the scene unfold from his desk, a pang of guilt twisting in his gut. He'd completely forgotten about her birthday. He'd been so caught up in his own whirlwind of emotions, in the unspoken connection that crackled between them, that he'd let this important detail slip through the cracks.

Swati blew out the candle on the cake, the flickering flame illuminatin