Episode 4 (THE MEETUP)

10:00 AM — Modern Café, Noida

Nancy paused outside the glass door, fingers tightening around the strap of her bag.

Breathe. It’s just a meeting. He’s just a person.

Yeah. A person who ruined her peace for the last three days.

She pushed the door open anyway.

The soft chime of the bell echoed as she stepped inside. Her eyes scanned the café—and there he was.

Of course he had picked that seat.

Near the window. Perfect lighting. Like he owned the place.

And him?

Annoyingly composed. Effortlessly sharp.

Hot—

No.

Absolutely not.

Nancy looked away immediately, mentally slapping herself.

Get a grip. He’s not hot. Not even close.

God, she was losing it.

Straightening her shoulders, she walked toward him, each step heavier than the last. By the time she reached the table, her heartbeat was way too loud for comfort.

She pulled the chair and sat down across from him.

He looked up, calm as ever.

“Oh.. You’re here.”

That’s it? No smile, no surprise?

Nancy gave a small nod. “Hmm.”

Wow. Amazing, Nancy. Full conversation right there.

Silence stretched between them, thick and awkward.

He gestured to the waiter and then glanced back at her.

“Nancy… what would you like?”

What would she like?

To disappear. To teleport. To not sit in front of this dangerously composed man who made her brain malfunction.

“To go anywhere… wherever I can’t see you.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Her eyes widened instantly.

What. Did. I. Just. Say.

Ishaan’s eyebrow lifted slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

Nancy straightened, forcing a quick, awkward smile.

“Oh—sorry! I mean—uh… I’ll have a cold coffee. And a brownie.”

Smooth. Very smooth. Kill me now.

The waiter nodded and left, leaving behind a silence that somehow felt even louder than before.

Nancy avoided his gaze, staring at literally anything else—the table, the window, a random plant—anywhere but him.

Because if she looked at him again…

She might just say something worse.

A few minutes later, the waiter returned, placing their order neatly on the table.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the space between them, but neither of them spoke immediately.

Nancy wrapped her fingers around the cold glass, more for something to hold onto than anything else.

Ishaan picked up his cup, took a slow sip, then set it back down with deliberate calm.

“Nancy…”

Her eyes flickered up to him.

“We are getting married.”

Just like that. No hesitation. No sugarcoating.

Nancy blinked, her grip tightening slightly around her glass.

“I guess,” he continued evenly, “you were as shocked as I was when you heard about it.”

She let out a small, controlled breath. “Hmm.”

Understatement of the century.

He leaned back slightly, studying her—not intensely, not aggressively—but enough to make her aware that she was being read.

“Well,” he went on, “since that’s happening… we should at least get to know each other.”

Nancy didn’t respond immediately this time. She just watched him, quieter now, more attentive.

There was something different about him in this moment—less irritating, more… real.

“I’m Ishaan Verma,” he said, his tone steady. “Though most people call me Veer.”

A brief pause.

“You can too.”

Nancy raised an eyebrow slightly at that, but didn’t interrupt.

“I’ve never been in a relationship before,” he added, as if stating a fact in a courtroom. “I’ve always priorities my career and my family.”

His gaze didn’t waver as he looked at her.

“And now…” he paused, just for a second—just enough to make the next words land heavier—

“…now you’re part of that priority. I guess.”

Nancy’s breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

I guess?

What was that supposed to mean?

She tilted her head slightly, finally finding her voice again.

“That sounds less like a decision… and more like a compromise.”

There it was.

A spark.

Not loud. Not dramatic.

But sharp enough to cut through the calm.

Ishaan’s lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite.

“Maybe,” he said. “Or maybe it’s just honesty.”

Nancy took a slow, steady breath, as if grounding herself.

Then she straightened slightly, lifting her gaze to meet his.

“Name—Nancy,” she began, her tone composed but edged with something firm. “Career—Professor.”

A small pause.

“Maybe I’m not easy to handle…” she added, a faint tilt of her chin giving away her defiance, “but I think you’ll get used to me.”

Ishaan didn’t interrupt. Didn’t react much either.

Which somehow made her more aware of every word she was saying.

She continued anyway.

“Well, about relationships…” Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass before relaxing again. “I just never met the right person.”

Her voice softened—barely noticeable, but enough.

“So… no relationship.”

For a moment, her eyes flickered—uncertain, thoughtful.

Then she looked back at him, holding his gaze this time.

“Now it seems…” she said, quieter but steadier, “you’re going to be that person.”

The words lingered between them.

Too direct. Too honest.

Nancy realized it the second they left her mouth.

Her lips parted slightly before she pressed them together—biting down gently, as if trying to pull the words back.

Why did I say it like that…

Across the table, Ishaan stilled.

Not shocked.

Not amused.

Just… watching her.

Carefully.

Like he had just discovered something unexpected.

His fingers tapped once, lightly, against the table before he leaned forward just a fraction.

“And you’re sure about that?” he asked, his voice lower now, quieter—but carrying weight.

Not teasing.

Not mocking.

Testing.

Nancy held his gaze, even as uncertainty flickered beneath it.

“No… I’m not sure,” she admitted honestly.

A small pause.

Then, quieter—but firmer—

“You’ll have to make me sure.”

Her fingers lightly traced the rim of her glass, grounding herself.

“Because I don’t want to regret anything… not in my life… and not in my decisions.”

For a moment, silence settled between them again.

But this time—it wasn’t awkward.

It was… heavy.

Real.

And then—

Ishaan smiled.

Not the polite, controlled expression from before.

This one was different.

Genuine.

Unrestrained.

And it completely caught Nancy off guard.

Her breath hitched.

She had never seen him like this.

And suddenly, she couldn’t look away.

There was something about that smile—warm, rare, almost disarming—that made her forget every sarcastic comeback she had prepared.

She just… stared.

Right till the very end.

As if afraid it might disappear if she blinked.

“I feel the same,” he said, his voice softer now.

Steadier.

“So I’ll make sure…” he continued, holding her gaze, “that you never regret this decision.”

The words weren’t dramatic.

But they carried certainty.

Promise.

Something quiet… but strong.

Nancy felt the heat rise to her cheeks before she could stop it.

A soft blush spread across her face, completely betraying her.

Great. Now I’m blushing.

She quickly looked down at her drink, trying to hide it—

But it was already too late.

Because across the table—

Ishaan had noticed.

Nancy cleared her throat softly, trying to steady herself after… whatever that moment was.

“Um… we should probably… add each other,” she said, a little more casually than she felt. “On WhatsApp… and… other apps.”

Wow. Very professional, Nancy.

Ishaan gave a small nod, already pulling out his phone.

“Yeah. That would make things easier.”

Their fingers brushed for the briefest second as they exchanged phones.

It was nothing.

Barely even a touch.

And yet—

Nancy pulled her hand back just a little too quickly.

Calm down. It’s just a phone.

They saved each other’s numbers, a quiet understanding settling between them now. No awkwardness. No forced conversation.

Just… something new.

Something forming.

They ended up talking longer than expected.

What was supposed to be a short, formal meeting somehow stretched into an hour.

Topics shifted—from work, to daily routines, to small, almost insignificant things that somehow didn’t feel insignificant at all.

Nancy found herself… relaxing.

And Ishaan—

He wasn’t as rigid as she had assumed.

Not entirely.

Eventually, they both stood up.

The moment lingered again—like neither of them said it, but both knew this wasn’t just a meeting anymore.

“I’ll get the bill,” Ishaan said, already standing.

Nancy nodded, watching him walk toward the counter.

The moment he left, the space felt… oddly quieter.

She exhaled softly, leaning back in her chair, letting her guard drop for just a second.

And then—

“Nancy ma’am?”

Her name.

She turned, slightly surprised.

A young man stood a few steps away—familiar.

“Oh—Arjun?” she said, recognizing him.

One of her students.

He smiled instantly, stepping closer. “Yes, ma’am! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Nancy let out a small, genuine smile—much lighter than anything she had shown all morning.

“Same here. What are you doing in Noida?”

“Just came to meet a friend,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You?”

“Just… a meeting,” she replied vaguely.

They slipped into easy conversation—casual, comfortable.

Arjun spoke animatedly about college, assignments, random campus gossip.

Nancy laughed softly once or twice, her posture relaxed now, her expressions unguarded.

For a moment—

She looked… different.

Warmer.

Freer.

At the counter, Ishaan signed the bill, his mind still replaying fragments of their conversation.

Her words.

Her expression.

That blush.

A faint, almost unnoticeable smile lingered on his lips as he turned back toward the table—

And stopped.

His gaze landed on Nancy.

But she wasn’t alone.

A man stood beside her.

Too close.

Talking.

Smiling.

And Nancy—

She was smiling too.

Not the guarded, restrained version he had seen.

This one was… easy.

Unfiltered.

Something tightened in his chest.

Sharp.

Unexpected.

The faint warmth in his expression disappeared.

His jaw set almost imperceptibly as his eyes stayed fixed on them.

For a second—

Everything inside him went still.

Cold.

He walked back slowly.

Measured steps.

Controlled.

By the time he reached the table, his expression was composed again.

Unreadable.

Nancy looked up first. “Oh—you’re back.”

Her tone shifted slightly—subtle, but there.

Arjun turned as well. “Oh—sorry, ma’am, I didn’t mean to interrupt—”

“It’s fine,” Nancy said quickly. “He’s—”

She paused.

For a fraction of a second.

Then—

“He’s Ishaan.”

Nancy paused for a fraction of a second.

Then her lips curled slightly, almost teasing—

“My friend’s brother.”

For a moment, everything stilled.

Ishaan’s jaw tightened.

Just enough to notice.

Just enough to feel.

He stepped closer—calm, composed… but something beneath it had shifted.

“Yeah,” he added smoothly, his voice even.

A brief pause.

“Also her husband.”

Silence.

Nancy’s eyes widened instantly.

Heat rushed to her face before she could stop it, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.

“H-husband…?” she almost choked on the word, completely caught off guard.

What is he doing—

Arjun froze for a second, clearly not expecting that.

“Oh—oh… okay,” he said quickly, awkwardness creeping into his tone. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Ishaan gave a slight nod.

“Hmm.”

Arjun glanced at Nancy once, then back at Ishaan, suddenly very aware he had stepped into something far more serious than a casual café conversation.

“Alright, ma’am… I’ll see you in class.”

“Y-yeah… see you,” Nancy replied, still flustered.

And just like that, he left.

The moment he was gone—

Nancy turned to Ishaan immediately.

Her cheeks were still flushed, her composure slightly shaken.

“We aren’t married,” she said, a little breathless. “Shouldn’t you have said… fiancé?”

Ishaan looked at her, irritation flickering briefly across his face.

“Does it matter?” he replied, his tone calm—but edged. “We’re going to be husband and wife sooner or later.”

A slight pause.

“Or are you not going to marry me?”

Nancy blinked, taken aback.

“No—it’s not that,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “I was just… not prepared to hear that.”

Her voice softened, a hint of honesty slipping through.

“I mean… I’m not used to it.”

For a second, Ishaan just watched her.

Then—

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

He stepped closer.

Close enough that Nancy instinctively held her breath.

Leaning down slightly to her level, his voice dropped—low, steady, and just a little dangerous.

“Then you should start getting used to it.”

Nancy’s heart skipped.

Again.

Why does he do that…

She looked away, trying to hide the way her expression betrayed her.

A few minutes later, they stepped out of the café.

The outside air felt different—cooler, quieter… but the tension between them hadn’t faded.

If anything—

It had deepened.

“I’ll drop you,” Ishaan said, unlocking his car.

Nancy didn’t argue this time.

She just nodded.

The drive was calm.

Too calm.

Nancy kept her gaze out the window, but her mind replayed everything—

His words.

His tone.

That look in his eyes.

And that—

“You should start getting used to it.”

Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.

When the car stopped in front of her house, she unbuckled her seatbelt slowly.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For… everything.”

Ishaan gave a small nod.

“Hmm.”

Nancy opened the door—

Then paused.

Just for a second.

She turned slightly, not fully looking at him.

“…You shouldn’t say things like that so easily,” she murmured.

A quiet confession.

Before she stepped out.

Ishaan watched her walk toward the house.

His expression unreadable.

But his grip on the steering wheel tightened—just slightly.

As if something inside him had already decided—

This wasn’t just an arrangement anymore.

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