E cafe wasn't big. It didn't try to be.
No grand chandeliers, no loud crowd trying to prove something. Just warm amber lights hanging low, soft music that didn't interrupt thoughts, and quiet conversation that stayed where they belonged.
It was the kind of place where people came to be seen--- or to not be noticed at all.
Outside --
Durga leaned against the entrance pillar, arms crossed, eyes scanning every movement like a guard who didn't trust this world.
" If anything even breathes wrong,"she muttered into her mic,"I'm breaking bones first, and asking questions later."
Inside ---
Saraswati adjusted her oversized t - shirt, tugging it lower over her shorts, spectacles slipping slightly down her nose.
"I still don't understand," she whispered glancing at her reflection in a glass panel. " Why do I look like a lost tution student?"
Durga's voice crackled in her ear.
"Because you are lost, stay focused."
Saraswati rolled her eyes." Relax. The only dangerous thing here is Radhika tripping over her own saree."
Right on cue---
Near the entrance,Sia and Radhika walked in.
Or more accurately ---
Sia walked.
Radhika negotiated with gravity.
The glass door pushed open.
Sia stepped in first. She paused for a second -- not because she was unsure, but because she observed.
Always.
"Okay," she muttered softly, glancing at her phone and exhaling a deep breath.
"Table No.8"
She was nervous but she was Sia too.. she can't show her nervousness on her face but her heartbeat was really fast, this was first time when Sia was going to meet a man, not for any deals but for something else...
Just then.
Behind her---
Radhika entered, who was already regretting every life decision that led her to this moment.
"Oh my god --" she whispered, clutching her black saree." This is not okay. This is actually not okay."
Sia didn't turned but listening to Radhika struggling with her saree was funny which somewhere made Sia smile a little, in between the storm of her thoughts and nervousness that smile was needed.
"You said you could 'handle it' and also what was that 'it's just fabric'..." Siawas enjoying it.
"I take it back," Radhika said instantly." This thing is trying to kill me."
Sia finally looked at her.
Really looked.
And for a second--
even she had to admit--
Radhika looked... stunning.
Even while struggling.
The black saree fell slightly uneven, the pleats are not perfect , the pallu slipping every few seconds---
And yet ---
it worked.
Sia adjusted her own dark blue saree with ease. Sia had always been with her grandmother and went to different functions, she was expert in how to wear sarees and carry them and since her parents company "Queens" was handed over to her --meetings, functions and parties was not something new to her.
"That's because you're fighting it," she said calmly."You're supposed to wear it, not wrestle it."
In their ears--
Saraswati's voice came in, already amused.
"Visual confirmation: Radhika vs Saree. Saree is winning."
Durga added, dry as ever.
"If she trips, I don't know her."
Saraswati whispered into the mic, barely holding back laughter.
"I repeat. Radhika is seconds away from national embarrassment."
Durga smirked slightly."Record it."
"I already am."
"Don't you dare. Saru.You know I'm a hacker.... and if that video gets recorded, someone's voice mails is what you will hear in background instead of this calm music." Radhika's voice was surely serious with a devilish smile.
"Who said you are innocent? Look at you, someone who will look at you will surely think what a beautiful smile meanwhile we're the only ones who knows the truth." Saraswati said dramatically.
Meanwhile Durga was enjoying it to the fullest, Sia was still thinking of a way to deal with the person she was going to meet, the unusal feeling was not gone yet, this was the first time she was feeling so nervous.
Sia exhaled quietly.
"And seriously," she added, lowering her voice,"why saree? This is a cafe,not a function."
"Your grandmother," Radhika replied instantly," is a mastermind. This is psychological warfare."
Sia shook her head slightly.
"When she sent the photos of sarees, I thought.... what could go wrong?"
She glanced at Radhika, who nearly lost her balance again.
".... Everything," she corrected.
They moved further inside.
Sia walked like she belonged there. Every step spoke confidence, face composed and unreadable.
No one would guess her heartbeat had picked up.
Radhika on the other hand---
Walked carefully.
Very carefully.
Every step a negotiation.
And somehow---
Still graceful.
They reached their spots.
Radhika collapsed into her chair with visible relief.
"That's it. I'm not moving. If my date wants to talk, he can come to me."
Sia raised an eyebrow.
"Your date who doesn't exist?"
Radhika gave a small, smug smile.
"Hacked system. Cancelled his entry. Table secured."
Sia shook her head.
"Of course you did."
Radhika's expression softened just a little as the nervousness Sia was trying to hide was easily seen by her bestfriend.
"Hey," she said quietly."Relax. It's just a date."
Sia nodded once.
"Yeah."
She inhaled just before walking.
Just once.
And that was enough for her queens to notice.
Across the cafe---
Saraswati adjusted her oversized t-shirt,
pushing her spectacles up.
"First date protocol initiated," she whispered.
"Leader looks... unusually nervous."
Durga entered inside and stood near the entrance, eyes scanning everything.
"Relax," she said." If he misbehaves, I'll break his chair."
A pause.
"Or him."
Sia shot a look in their direction.
"Durga. "
"I said or ,"Durga replied innocently.
Sia didn't respond.
She turned and walked.
She reached the table and sat, her attitude was enough to hide her nervousness,she didn't even looked at the person sitting across the chair
Across from her--
A man sat already.
A newspaper in his hands.
For a second, Sia frowned internally.
A newspaper?
What is this, a date or a morning tea with retirement vibes?
Whatever...
She exhaled softly.
Then Sia smiled politely.
"Hi, Shashank."
The man blinked once.
Behind her ---
Radhika frowned slightly.
"...Why does this feel wrong?"
Saraswati murdered," Because it is."She peeked lowering her spectacles.
Durga didn't speak.
She was already watching him closely.
Back at the table--
The man lowered the newspaper in his hand.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Sia's gaze followed--
Not intentionally.
But it did.
First--
His hair black,neat, effortless with proper haircut somewhere showing discipline.
Then--
His temple with sharp lines.
Then--
His eyes -- dark, emotionless, deep..
The kind that didn't just look--
They observed.
Her breath paused.
He looked about 27- 28, wearing a navy blue shirt, crisp but not stiff. Sleeves rolled with precision. His posture was straight but relaxed, like someone who didn't need to prove control-- he simply owned it.
His face was handsome, but not soft. Sharp jawline, controlled expressions. Eyes steady observant - like he watched the world instead of reacting to it.
Ram.
He was already looking at her.
Their eyes met.
One second.
Two.
Neither of them rushed to look away.
Sia straightened instinctively, matching his calm. If this was a mistake, she wouldn't wear it on her face.
Sia didn't look away.
Why does he look like he is judging my existence?
Ram blinked once.
"I'm not Shashank. I think ...you're at the wrong table."
Radhika who was adjusting her saree stopped instantly.
Saraswati's grip on her cofee cup tightened.
Durga who was leaning before straightened.
Ram's eyes moved in three different direction just when the three reacted.
For half a second, Sia forgot how to breathe.
Inside her earpiece--
Radhika who was dead calm spoke."...Sia"
Saraswati who was shocked,"Please tell me this is a joke."
Durga instantly said," Boss. Table number.now."
Sia's eyes dropped.
TABLE NO. 3
Her soul left her body and filed a resignation letter.
Leader of queens. Defeated by furniture.
Saraswati already laughing," FIRST DATE. WRONG MAN."
Durga continued," Historic."
Radhika couldn't stop her self," Iconic."
Before Sia could recover--
A lazy, amused voice slipped into Ram's earpiece. Yes, he was wearing it too.
"Checklist update, Ram
-Hair? Perfect.
-Shirt? Navy blue--- approved.
-Jawline? Deadly.
-Expression? Serial killer calm.
Conclusion : You're intimidating girls again, Ram"
Ram didn't even move.
Ram with a warning tone,"Krish."
Krish sat two tables away,arm casually thrown over the back of his chair.
He was 25-26, black shirt hugging his frame,sleeves rolled casually, veins visible, sunglasses on despite being indoors. The kind of handsome that knew he was handsome --- and flirted with the life itself. Charm wasn't something he turned on -- it was his default setting.
Krish smiled,"Come on. She sat down voluntarily. That's progress."
Ram glanced at Sia again.
She was composed. Controlled and was not panicking.
Krish again,"Ohhh. She is holding eye contact. Bold. I like her already."
Sia shifted slightly in her seat.
Inside her earpiece---
Saraswati barely holding her laughter," Sia...you're sitting like this is a power meeting."
Durga dramatically,"Do not assert dominance, Retreat."
Radhika said," Sia say something."
Sia cleared her throat.
Ram raised an eyebrow-- barely.
Krish acting serious," Warning sign, Ram : May cause accidental attraction."
Ram exhaled slowly.
Ram said slowly,"Focus."
Krish didn't stop teasing,"I'm just saying, she sat down with commitment. Eye contact. Calm smile. I thought this was your villain origin love story."
Dev, sitting beside him, glanced up briefly. When his eyes saw a girl wearing a oversized T shirt and her spectacles falling down from her nose and she was giggling while looking at her coffee.
Dev was 24, quiet, observant, cute and introvert. Handsome in a way that didn't demand attention.He was wearing a plane white shirt and a black pant just like Ram and Krish.He always noticed details before emotions but the look in his eyes while he was looking at Saraswati was different and of course not usual.
That's when he realised. He said slowly
"Ram, you know, right?"
Ram simply nodded.
Krish didn't understand," What?"
Shiva who was sitting on table beside Krish and Dev, stretched lazily with a book half covering his face, spoke without lifting it.
"If you will get free time from flirting with girls,love guru, you will realise that the girl sitting right infront of you two with that oversized t-shirt is the one..."
As Krish looked while he was talking and completed the sentence with a mocking smile," hugged Dev and called that Brave handsome, It was really hard to stop my laugh that night."
Shiva smiled, Krish wasn't even hiding his laughter. Meanwhile, Ram was the one who was struggling hard not to smile.
Shiva was also 24, his muscles were enough to tell stories of his discipline and a tattoo on his wrist of a trishul symbolised the strength. He was wearing a normal dark green jacket and a grey lower.
Dev's face turned red.
He continued with a soft smile," And the one to whom leader is currently sitting with, she was also at R. Restaurant that night."
Krish realised,"Ohh... she was saved by Ram. Yeah now I remember but you should have seen it Dev,it was epic.The way Ram--"
Krish's gaze shifted and landed on Radhika.
His smile flatered.
Just a fraction.
She was beautiful, even the way she was trying to adjust her saree also looking tensed a small mole on the left side of her upper lip enhancing her beauty. She was calm, focused and eyes lowered to her cup like the world wasn't worth watching.
She didn't look at him. Not even once.
Krish was trying hard to come in straight view. Him trying everything lowering his glasses, moving his hands on his hair everything he tried on girls, which always worked.
But no response again
Krish straightened.
"Dev."
"Yes?"
"Is there something wrong with my face?"
Dev blinked."No."
"Hair?" moving his hands on hair.
"Perfect."
"Charm?"
Dev rolled his eyes," annoyingly excessive."
Krish frowned." Then why isn't she looking at me?"
Dev smiled," May be she has standards."
Krish passed him a look.
Shiva in his same posture," Finally someone... immune."
Krish's jaw tightened.
"That's not a thing."
At table no. 3, Sia cleared her throat.Sia comming back to her normal self.
"Wrong table. You let me sit."
Ram replied no hesitation but challenge in his eyes.
"You looked sure. I didn't want to interrupt confidence."
Saraswati smiling,"finally someone compatible."
Sia replied with little smile and attitude which can't remain hidden anymore.
"It wasn't confidence. Just disinterest."
Dev impressed,"Ram, be careful she is the first girl who didn't tried to impress you."
Ram replied with a teasing smile.
"Strange. You didn't leave immediately."
Krish with a proud smile," Hey, you are learning from me. I'm proud of you.After all you are my bro."
Sia smiled back not of being happy but of being annoyed and angry. Angry because she can't deny that she was affected by his presence but still not accepting it.
She grabbed her bag gracefully and turned to move.
Meanwhile in Ram's earpiece---
Krish teasingly said,"She ghosted you mid - conversation."
Dev replied,"Painful."
Krish said,"I like her confidence."
Shiva smiled,"You like chaos."
But Ram's eyes were still on Sia, he wasn't even blinking.
Ram exhaled slowly.
"Enough."
But Krish wasn't done.
His eyes flicked back to Radhika again.
Still nothing.
Even though he didn't tell anybody that he met a girl too at the Restaurant whose face he can't forget since then.
Someone who called him....
Idiot.
Krish scoffed."I have never been unnoticed."
Shiva replied flatly," Tragic downfall."
Dev and Ram also smiled but this time no hiding.
On the other hand,---
Sia reached table no. 8.
She sat down, composed again,posture relaxed - as if the small disaster moments ago had never happened.
Inside her earpiece --
Saraswati mockingly,"Recovered nicely. Ten points for damage control "
Durga continued,"Minus twenty for table blindness."
The three queens couldn't stop laughing.
Sia replied," I'll kill you all."
I'm never leaving my house again.
Radhika instantly said," Focus. Your date is arriving."
Durga smirked."So? Just a mistake?"
Radhika replied looking at Sia and Ram, who were trying their best to pretend that this incident didn't affected them but easily failing at it.
"People don't make mistakes like that."
A pause
"They walk into things they are meant to. And that's is what we call -- FATE"