---
**Chapter 33: The Internship**
London in spring was deceptive. The skies were still grey, the wind still sharp, but here and there—daffodils bloomed like yellow defiance. Aanya had begun to find her rhythm, carving out days between lectures, case studies, and silent moments in the library. She liked the quiet here. It asked no questions.
Until an email shattered it.
**Subject: Internship Placement – Shortlisted**
Aanya clicked on it out of habit.
*Congratulations. You've been shortlisted for a Spring-Summer internship with the London arm of SynTech Solutions, focusing on their European expansion model.*
Her breath stopped.
**SynTech. Arjun.**
She read the sentence three more times.
Was this a joke?
She hadn't even applied to his firm directly—LSE had a centralized portal. Her resume had likely been matched through the algorithm. No favoritism. No interference.
Still, she felt her stomach churn.
Would he even allow her in his workspace?
But the internship was prestigious. SynTech London had been making noise in tech circles. And it was *perfect* for her career goals.
She stared at the screen.
Would working with Arjun… destroy the fragile distance she'd built?
Or would it force her to face the truth?
---
Two days later, she received the official letter.
**Report to: Raj Malhotra, Co-Founder, SynTech.**
Not Arjun directly.
She let out a breath of relief. *This was doable.*
She told herself it would be temporary. Professional. Necessary.
But deep down, something else stirred.
---
When Aanya walked into the sleek glass building in Shoreditch, her heart felt like a trapped bird.
Raj greeted her warmly. "We're lucky to have you, Aanya. Arjun mentioned your name when we were shortlisting, but you came through on merit. Welcome aboard."
So Arjun *knew.*
Of course he did.
She nodded, unsure how to respond. "Thank you. I'll do my best."
Raj laughed. "I'm sure you will. Just be prepared—he's been extra intense lately. London is his baby."
*No. London is his obsession. Because I'm here.*
---
She was assigned to a small team working on a product-market-fit analysis for the European user base. Her manager was a woman named Tara—smart, confident, and thankfully oblivious to Aanya's connection with the company's CEO.
But the illusion didn't last long.
On her second day, she spotted him.
Arjun.
In the hallway. Deep in conversation with someone. He didn't see her at first.
And when he did—his expression didn't flicker.
No smile. No reaction.
Just a slow, steady gaze that said everything.
She quickly looked away and ducked into the meeting room.
---
That evening, she received a message.
**Arjun: Don't avoid me here. I'm not your enemy.**
She stared at it for a long time, then typed back.
**Aanya: This is work. I'm here to learn. Not reconnect.**
**Arjun: Can't we do both?**
**Aanya: No.**
He didn't reply.
But he didn't stop watching either.
---
The internship became a silent battlefield.
Aanya impressed everyone. Her presentations were crisp, her strategies solid. Raj often praised her. Tara grew fond of her.
But Arjun?
He remained a shadow.
Some days he'd be present in meetings, but never addressed her directly. Other days, she'd catch him watching her from his glass cabin.
And then came the late evening email.
**Subject: Presentation Feedback – Internal Use Only**
She opened it to find a detailed critique. Thoughtful. Respectful. Encouraging.
*He was still paying attention.*
---
One Friday evening, the office emptied earlier than usual for a company dinner. Aanya tried to skip it. But Raj insisted.
"You're part of the team now."
She arrived late, dressed in a simple black blouse and jeans.
He was already there.
Arjun stood at the far end of the rooftop venue, laughing with investors, drink in hand. His hair ruffled by the breeze. His coat slung casually over his arm.
When he saw her, the laughter faded. His gaze locked on her like gravity.
He didn't approach. But he didn't look away either.
---
An hour passed. Aanya found herself alone on the terrace, staring out at the London skyline. She needed air. Space.
And then—
His voice.
"Cold again?"
She didn't turn. "Don't do this."
"I brought your scarf," he said quietly, holding it out.
She glanced at him. He had, indeed, brought the same cashmere scarf.
"I don't want—"
"You don't have to want anything," he said, gently wrapping it around her shoulders. "Just don't freeze."
His fingers brushed her neck, and her breath caught.
They stood in silence.
Then he murmured, "Why does being near you hurt so much?"
Aanya turned to face him. "Because we're not supposed to be near."
He looked at her like a man in a storm. "Then why do you keep showing up in the middle of my chaos?"
"I didn't ask for this internship."
"But you stayed."
She didn't answer.
His eyes darkened. "Do you hate me enough to still let me in like this?"
She stepped back. "It's not hate. It's something worse. Confusion."
"And I'll live in that confusion," he whispered. "If that's the only place I get to exist with you."
She closed her eyes.
"I don't know what you want from me."
"I want to be your home again."
She shook her head. "You never were. You were the cage."
His expression faltered.
Then slowly, he stepped away. "I'll never touch you again without permission. But I won't stop being near."
She stood frozen as he walked away.
---
That night, Aanya didn't sleep.
The scarf still smelled faintly of him.
Of something lost and waiting to be found.
---
Two days later, Tara called her into a meeting.
"You've been chosen for a client-facing pitch in Paris next week. Arjun wants you and Raj to lead."
Aanya blinked. "Paris?"
Tara smiled. "Big break. Congrats."
But inside, Aanya wasn't celebrating.
Because *Paris* meant flights. Hotels. Time.
With *him.*
---
That night, she sent him a message.
**Aanya: Are you doing this on purpose?**
He replied instantly.
**Arjun: No. But I won't pretend I'm not glad. I want you to succeed. Even if it's from two feet away.**
She threw her phone on the bed.
She was losing control again.
And he knew it.
---
**End of Chapter 33**