Saturday afternoon.
Karthik checked his watch for the fifth time in two minutes.
They'd decided on a quiet bookstore café near Besant Nagar. It wasn't far. He arrived ten minutes early, obviously. He ordered an iced coffee and sat near the window, nervously sipping and staring at the entrance.
Then—
Ananya walked in. Ponytail. Casual blue kurti. No makeup. But her smile? Bright enough to melt him.
"You look… normal," she teased, sliding into the seat across from him.
"You were expecting a tuxedo?"
"I was expecting you to not wear the same T-shirt you wore to class three days ago."
Karthik looked down. "…I did laundry."
Ananya laughed, stealing a sip of his coffee without asking. "So, this is officially our first date?"
He blinked. "I—I guess? Unless you have a checklist or something."
"Oh, I do." She pulled out a small notepad and flipped it open. "Item one: Embarrass you."
"I walked right into this."
---
Just as they settled into a warm rhythm of banter and book talk, a loud voice interrupted them.
"Oiiiii! Karthik?!"
Karthik froze.
It was Sethu—one of the loudest, nosiest boys from school. Behind him were two other classmates, all in cricket jerseys, clearly fresh off a match.
Ananya muttered, "I'll punch him."
"Too public," Karthik whispered.
Sethu sauntered up. "I knew it! You two are on a date!"
"No, we're just here… coincidentally," Karthik lied badly.
"Coincidentally sipping from the same cup?" Sethu raised an eyebrow. "Bro, you're blushing!"
Karthik was about to combust.
Ananya, calm as ever, stood and said, "Sethu, right?"
"Yeah?"
She leaned forward. "If you tell anyone about this, I'll post that photo of you crying during PT on the class group."
Sethu's face drained of color.
"Have a good day," she said sweetly, sitting back down.
Karthik stared at her. "What was that?"
"Leverage," she grinned. "Now. Where were we? Ah yes. Item two—make you fall a little more in love with me."
"I don't need help with that," he murmured before realizing it escaped his mouth.
She blinked.
Then smiled.
---
End of Chapter
Shall we keep going with Chapter 39 – Coffee & Confessions nenex?