Another encounter

Riya and Anu sat at a cozy corner table in a lively restaurant, the warm lighting casting a soft glow over their faces. The smell of sizzling food filled the air, but the atmosphere at their table was anything but pleasant, thanks to Anu, who was currently in the middle of what could only be described as an Oscar-worthy heartbreak performance.

Anu dramatically slumped forward, resting her head on the table like she had lost all will to live. "Love is a scam, Riya. A beautifully packaged lie. A fairytale designed to make fools out of us!"

Riya rolled her eyes, stirring her drink. "Anu, you went on six dates with him."

"SIX DATES TOO MANY!" Anu cried out, making the couple at the next table glance over.

Riya sighed. "I thought you said he was 'the one' after date number three?"

Anu lifted her head, placing a dramatic hand on her chest. "That was before he proved himself to be the ultimate traitor. Do you know what he did?"

Riya leaned forward, pretending to be invested. "What?"

"He left me on READ, Riya. READ. After I sent him the most heartfelt, emotional text about how I was craving ice cream!"

Riya blinked. "That was your heartfelt message?"

"YES! He saw it and didn't reply for three hours! THREE! By then, I had already moved on from ice cream to fries. How could I ever trust him after that?"

Riya pressed her fingers to her temples. "You do realize people have jobs, right? And lives?"

"Excuses, excuses." Anu waved her off. "If he had time to be online, he had time to reply. It's simple logic, Riya!"

At that moment, the waiter arrived, looking mildly uncomfortable as he took out his notepad. "Are you ladies ready to order?"

Anu let out a deep sigh, as if carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Nothing can heal the gaping hole in my heart, but... I'll take extra cheese on my fries."

The waiter raised an eyebrow but nodded. "And for you, ma'am?"

"Just a lemonade," Riya said.

As the waiter walked away, Anu groaned dramatically, leaning back in her chair. "You know what I need? A distraction. Something... or someone to take my mind off this betrayal."

And right on cue, as if fate had a cruel sense of humor, in walked Dhruv.

The Awkward Encounter

Riya froze. Of all the people to run into, why him?

Dhruv walked in, his usual expression unreadable, dressed in his usual effortless, mysterious way. He wasn't alone, he was with a guy who looked a little too animated, talking his ear off. Riya immediately recognized the newcomer as Sunny, the overly talkative guy who had somehow latched onto Dhruv like a stubborn puppy.

"Ohhh," Anu whispered, her dramatics momentarily forgotten. "Isn't that the guy who saved you from that creep?

Anu smirked. "Why do I feel like the universe keeps throwing him in your path, hmm?"

Riya shot her a look. "Shut up."

But it was too late. Anu, always eager for drama (when it wasn't hers), waved, yes, WAVED, at Dhruv.

"Anu, what are you, " Riya hissed, but before she could stop her, Dhruv and Sunny noticed them.

Sunny, being the overly enthusiastic person he was, practically dragged Dhruv toward their table. "Oh hey, we just met but we're already making friends? I love this city!"

Dhruv, clearly unenthusiastic, followed reluctantly.

"Hello, ladies!" Sunny beamed, pulling out a chair without invitation. "Mind if we join? Actually, even if you do, we're already here, so it's too late!"

Dhruv shot him a look, but Sunny was unfazed.

Riya groaned internally. This was not how she wanted her night to go.

"You look familiar," Sunny said, squinting at Riya. "Wait a second, you're the one from the whole running-for-your-life situation the other night, right?"

Riya sighed. "Thanks for that reminder."

"Wow, small world!" Sunny turned to Dhruv. "You're like her knight in shining armor! First saving her from danger, now bumping into her in random places, what's next? A dramatic rain scene where you offer her your coat?"

Dhruv's expression remained blank. "You talk too much."

Sunny shrugged. "It's a gift."

Anu, who had been silently observing, suddenly perked up. "Oh, so this is Dhruv! The mysterious, brooding hero who reluctantly plays the role of savior!" She turned to Riya with a knowing look. "You never told me he was this good-looking."

Riya nearly choked on her drink. "Anu!"

Dhruv arched an eyebrow at her, while Sunny grinned. "Ooooh, this just got interesting."

Anu, sensing an opportunity, continued dramatically, "You know, Riya's been SO affected by that night. Tossing and turning in her sleep, whispering 'Dhruv, save me!'... "

"I have NOT,... !" Riya nearly slapped a hand over Anu's mouth.

Sunny gasped. "This is straight out of a drama! Bro, you're the reluctant hero, she's the damsel who doesn't want to admit she needs saving,this is GOLD!"

Dhruv leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "You all read too many fictional stories."

"And you, my friend," Sunny pointed dramatically, "ARE living one!"

Anu giggled, clearly enjoying Riya's suffering. "Fate is a funny thing, huh?"

Riya groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I hate all of you."

The night continued with Anu dramatically exaggerating Riya's reactions, Sunny adding unnecessary commentary, and Dhruv remaining as stoic as ever. But for Riya, it was one of the most excruciatingly awkward meals of her life.

And something told her... this wouldn't be the last time she'd run into Dhruv.

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