"Your smile is very irritating… It's like someone is teasing me... Can't stay with you… I’m leaving."

“Muskan! Muskan!” Muskan’s colleague woke her up. “It’s time to leave. Aren’t you going home?” 

While working, Muskan dozed off. She fell asleep at her desk. It was 8 pm. Slowly the whole office was getting empty, but Muskan had plans to work till late.

“Some documents need to be approved last minute. So, I’ll stay longer.”

“You are working on this now? Isn't this Mr. Dobi's report? Did he submit again at the last minute?” Her colleague checked the screen and asked.

She nodded her positively. “He couldn't submit it before because of his xyz reasons. Can’t leave the job because the team leader is a slouch.” To keep herself awake, Muskan stood to get a cup of coffee. 

“Relax! I’ve heard the new boss is very chilled. By the way, don't you have a school reunion today. Aren't you going to attend it?” 

Muskan, on her way to the canteen, froze at her place. Hiding her discontent she replied.

"No. There's a lot of work. Well, how did you get to know about the reunion?" She dodged the question, without giving a proper explanation.

“I saw it on your screen today. There was an invitation.” Satisfied with the answer they bid farewell for the day. Muskan also went to make her coffee. While making coffee, she got a notification on her phone. 

It was a message from her best friend Karina.

"You won't come today either? No problem. Like always I’ll be your news reporter. I'll keep you updated with the news. That’s my job, isn’t it? 

You know what?! Everyone’s over excited today. God knows why. Anyways, I know you’re still in your office. I'm busy, that doesn't mean you'll spend your night in the office with your computer instead of a pillow. Leave for home right now. I might stay for long tonight. Good night." Karina had sent her a message with some cute emojis from the reunion party location. It brought a smile to Muskan’s face. 

Karina and Muskan were friends for over a decade. They got to know each other when Muskan transferred to her school, St. Julian’s High, during their first year of higher secondary. They were always together and had lived in the same apartment ever since graduation. They have lived all the happy and sorrowful days together and know everything about each other.

Muskan was tapping continuously on her keyboards with a cup of half full coffee when another message arrived from her friend and attached with it was a picture.

"It's good that you didn't come here today, otherwise your mood would get spoiled. I'll tell you the whole thing later. But for the gist, this was the reason why everyone was excited." 

The picture that came with this message seized her sleep even before drinking coffee. That picture was of Jay. Jay after 10 years. In a blue casual suit, white t-shirt with expensive watch and shoes, he was shining among his peers. He still had that radiant face which made her go crazy for him. But his gaze had changed a lot. He seemed different just by looking in the picture, how much must he have changed in reality.

Like the thick clouds of rain, old days, old memories were covering the skies of Muskan's mind.