Kapoor house
The morning at Siya's home was gentle and familiar.
Soft sunlight filtered through half‑open curtains, settling quietly on the dining table. The smell of fresh chai and lightly toasted bread filled the air, mixing with the faint sounds of utensils and morning news playing in the background.
Nothing felt rushed.
Everything felt routine—comforting, predictable.
"Siya, nashta lag gaya hai!" her mother called from the kitchen.
"Bas aa rahi hoon, Maa!" Siya replied, adjusting her watch as she walked into the dining area.
Her father sat with the newspaper. The table was simple—paratha, chai, and routine silence.
"Hospital ka shift kitne baje ka hai?" her father asked.
"Eight. Aaj rounds zyada hain," Siya said, tearing a piece of paratha.
Her mother watched her carefully.
"Roz kaam, roz thakaan... kab tak beta?"
Siya smiled lightly.
"Doctor hoon, Maa. Thakaan job description mein aata hai."
Her father folded the newspaper slowly.
"Siya," he began calmly,
"hum soch rahe the... ab tumhari shaadi ke baare mein bhi sochna chahiye."
Siya's hand paused mid‑air.
"Maa..." she sighed softly.
"Abhi nahi."
Her mother spoke gently,
"Hum force nahi kar rahe. Par umar rukti nahi."
Siya stood up, picking up her bag.
"Mujhe late ho raha hai."
She left.
The door closed.
Her father looked at her mother.
"Ab aur delay nahi kar sakte."
Her mother nodded slowly.
"Haan... waqt aa gaya hai."
Rathore mansion
Morning at Advik's house was quiet in a different way.
No rush, no noise—just discipline wrapped in silence.
Pale sunlight slipped through the tall windows, touching clean surfaces that felt more organized than lived in. The faint aroma of strong coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the soft ticking of a wall clock—steady, precise.
Advik buttoned his cufflinks when—
"Good morning, Halwa Chef."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"Atharav," he said without turning, "subah‑subah bakwaas mat shuru kar."
Atharav leaned on the door, grinning.
"Kal raat punishment ke baad special halwa? Wah bhai."
"Extra bana tha," Advik replied calmly.
Atharav laughed.
"Haan haan. Aur main 'extra' hoon."
Advik picked up his keys.
"Punishment yaad hai na?" he asked coldly.
Atharav straightened.
"Phone 10 baje band. College ke baad seedha ghar."
"Good," Advik said.
"Halwa ka matlab pampering nahi hota."
Atharav smirked.
"Bhai... aap daantte bhi ho aur khana bhi bana dete ho. Confusing personality hai."
Advik stepped closer.
"Zinda rehna hai?"
Atharav raised both hands.
"Bilkul."
Advik walked out.
Atharav muttered, smiling,
"Par halwa best tha
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The café was warm and quiet, wrapped in soft yellow lights and the smell of fresh coffee.
Wooden tables, low music, and clinking cups made the place feel slow—almost suspended.
Outside, the city rushed. Inside, moments lingered a little longer.
Siya rushed into the café near the hospital.
She was checking her phone and didn't notice someone stepping out.
Thud.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she said instantly.
The guy steadied himself.
"...Siya?"
She looked up.
Her eyes widened.
"Kabir?"
For a second, both just stared.
Then they laughed.
"Yaar, tum!" Kabir said.
"Kitne saal ho gaye!"
"Tum toh bilkul change nahi hue," Siya smiled.
"Tum ho gayi ho," he replied playfully.
They decided to sit.
"Abhi bhi hospital?" Kabir asked.
"Haan," she nodded. "Aur tum?"
"Yahin office hai paas mein."
Neither of them noticed someone else entering.
Advik walked in, on a call.
"Yes. We'll close it here."
He didn't look around.
Didn't see Siya.
Didn't see Kabir.
He sat for a short client meeting.
Professional. Controlled. Sharp.
Meeting ended quickly.
He stood up.
At the same time—
Siya stood up too, holding her coffee.
She turned.
And crashed straight into him.
Coffee spilled.
All over his white shirt.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Siya's eyes widened.
"Main... oh God... sorry!"
Advik looked down slowly.
Then at her.
"Tumhe safed shirt se personal problem hai?"
She blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"Yeh doosri baar hai," he said calmly.
She grabbed napkins quickly.
"Accident tha."
"Tumhare accidents interesting hote hain,Doctor" he replied.
She started cleaning his shirt.
"Zyada attitude mat dikhaiye.Mr.akdu"
"Main attitude nahi," he said narrowed his eyes—
"pattern notice kar raha hoon."
She stopped and stared up at him.
"Aap har cheez ko mystery kyun bana dete ho?"
"Kyuki har cheez simple nahi hoti."
For a second, their eyes locked.
Kabir approached from behind.
"Sab theek?"
Siya turned.
"Haan, bas coffee..."
Kabir looked at Advik.
"Sorry sir, hum log thoda careless ho gaye
Advik's gaze shifted
Calm. Measured.
"And you are...?"
The boy met his eyes without hesitation.
"Kabir. Kabir Malhotra."
A brief glance at Siya.
"Siya's friend."
Advik held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.
"Friend" he repeated quietly.
Nothing more.
But the word didn't sound casual.
Careless logon ko thoda dhyaan rakhna chahiye," he said evenly.
Siya crossed her arms.
"Aap overreact kar rahe ho."
She almost rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Main dry cleaning ka bill de dungi."
He leaned slightly closer.
"Bill ka issue nahi hai."
"Toh phir?" she challenged.
"Bas dekh raha hoon... coincidence kitni baar repeat hota hai.doctor"
She held his gaze.
"Coincidence hi hai."
"Dekhenge," he replied.
Kabir excused himself to take a call.
Siya adjusted her bag.
"Sorry again," she said more softly.
Advik looked at the stain.
Then at her.
"Coffee jaldi sukh jaati hai," he said.
She frowned slightly.
"But some things... leave a mark."
Before she could reply—
He took one step away.
Then stopped.
Didn't turn back.
"Tumhe lagta hai main sirf rules aur patterns dekhta hoon?" he asked quietly.
Siya frowned.
"Toh aur kya dekhte ho?"
A pause.
"Log," he said.
"Jab woh comfortable hote hain... aur jab nahi."
She felt her spine straighten.
"And right now?"
He finally looked at her.
"Right now," he said evenly,
"you're pretending this didn't shake you."
She scoffed and rolled her eyes—
"You give yourself too much credit."
"Maybe," he replied.
"Par tum coffee girne ke baad bhi wapas nahi gayi."
That landed.
She opened her mouth—then closed it.
He adjusted his cuff, calm as ever.
"Agli baar jab takraoge," he said, almost casually,
"notice karna... tum ruk kyun jaati ho."
Her heart skipped.
"Main nahi rukti," she said.
A faint, knowing look.
"We'll see."
This time, he walked out.
And this time—
Siya didn't move for a long moment.
Because something about the way he said we'll see
felt less like a challenge...
and more like a promise.
He turned to leave.
Then paused.
Siya didn't know why she said it.
"Advik."
He stopped.
Slowly turned back.
For a second, neither spoke.
The café felt quieter than before.
Like the world had stepped back.
"You're overthinking," she said, but her voice wasn't as steady as she wanted.
He walked back one step.
Not close enough to touch.
Close enough to feel.
"Am I?" he asked softly.
She swallowed.
"You think everything means something."
"And you think nothing does," he replied.
A beat.
Her hand was still holding the empty coffee cup.
His fingers brushed against it when he took it from her.
Accidentally.
Or maybe not.
The contact was brief.
Barely a second.
But it burned.
She felt it.
He felt it.
Neither pulled away immediately.
His eyes dropped to her hand.
Then slowly lifted to her face.
"Careful," he murmured.
Her heart thudded.
"From what?" she whispered.
"From pretending you didn't feel that."
Silence.
The air tightened.
Then he stepped back.
Control restored.
And walked out.
SIYA'S POV
Why was her heart racing?
It was just a touch.
Barely that.
She'd bumped into people before.
Spilled coffee before.
Argued before.
But this—
This felt different.
He didn't shout.
Didn't accuse.
Didn't flirt.
He just looked at her like he could see through the noise.
And that was worse.
She hated that she hadn't moved her hand away first.
Hated that she was replaying the moment.
Hated that she noticed how calm he stayed.
"Careful."
The word echoed.
Careful of what?
Of him?
Or of herself?
Siya exhaled slowly.
This was ridiculous.
It was just coffee.
Just coincidence.
Just a man who thought too much.
Then why did it feel like something had shifted?
Why did it feel like the beginning of something she wasn't ready for
.
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
Inside the café, Siya thought the moment had ended.
Outside, it had just begun.
"Full background," Advik instructed.
"And I want it before tomorrow."
Because he didn't compete.
He assessed.
And nothing entered his orbit
without being measured first.
.
.
.
.
Do tell me what was your fav scene!
Who exactly kabir is?
If you enjoyed this chapter
do vote and share your thoughts in the comments 🥀
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