Days started feeling busy again.
Work was increasing for both of them. Anna had new designs to complete, and her team expected more from her now. Sid was also handling more responsibility. His schedule was tighter, and he often looked more tired than before.
At first, it didn't seem like a problem.
They still met. Still talked. Still shared small moments.
But slowly, something began to change.
One afternoon, Anna was sitting in the cafeteria, waiting. She checked her phone again.
No message.
"Sorry, got stuck in a meeting."
The message came late.
She stared at it for a second, then typed, "It's okay."
And it was okay.
But it didn't feel the same.
This started happening more often.
Sid was busy. Anna understood that. She really did. But understanding something didn't always make it easier to feel.
That evening, Anna walked past Sid's department to call him. She saw him talking to someone.
A girl.
They were standing close, discussing something on a laptop. Sid looked focused, explaining something calmly. The girl smiled and nodded.
It was normal.
It was just work.
Still, Anna paused for a moment.
She didn't go in.
Instead, she turned back quietly.
Later that night, Sid called her.
"Hey, sorry. Today was hectic," he said.
Anna tried to sound normal. "It's okay. You sound tired."
"I am," he admitted. "There's a new project. I'm working with someone from another team."
Anna stayed quiet for a second. "Oh."
"Her name is Riya," he added casually. "She's helping me with it."
Anna didn't know why that name stayed in her mind.
"That's good," she said.
The conversation continued, but something felt slightly off. Not wrong. Just… different.
The next few days were similar.
Sid was more occupied. Riya's name came up sometimes in conversation. Anna didn't ask much, but she noticed everything.
At the same time, Anna's own work became stressful. Her designs were being reviewed more strictly. She stayed late often, trying to meet expectations.
One evening, she sat alone, staring at her screen.
Her design looked good.
Still, she felt unsure.
Not about the work.
About something else.
Sid walked in after a long meeting and saw her there.
"You're still working?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah."
He sat beside her. "You okay?"
"Just tired," she replied.
He looked at her for a moment, like he wanted to say more, but didn't.
Anna noticed.
"You can go," she said softly. "You must be busy."
Sid frowned slightly. "I can stay."
"It's fine," she said. "Really."
He hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Call me when you get home."
"I will," she said.
But after he left, the room felt quieter than usual.
Anna leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
Nothing big had happened.
No fights. No harsh words.
Still, something felt like it was slowly shifting.
And she didn't know if it was just her feeling it…
Or if Sid felt it too.