The Next day

The air was crisp, carrying the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling dishes as Riya and Anu stepped into the bustling restaurant. The warm glow of fairy lights intertwined with indoor plants gave the place a cozy yet sophisticated feel. Anu, still recovering from her breakup, was dramatically sighing every two minutes, making their entry anything but subtle.

"I swear, Riya, love is a scam," Anu declared, flopping onto the chair as if she had been carrying the weight of an entire Greek tragedy on her shoulders.

Riya rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, love is a scam, relationships are fraudulent, and men are the villains of the century. Now, please, just order something so I can eat in peace."

Anu pouted. "You don't understand my pain, Riya. My heart is shattered into microscopic pieces. My soul is—"

"Would you like me to order garlic bread to go with that monologue?" Riya cut her off, signaling the waiter.

Just as Anu was about to launch into another dramatic speech, a deep voice caught Riya's attention. "Excuse me."

Riya looked up and nearly choked on her own breath. There, standing like a misplaced Greek god, was none other than Dhruv. The same man she had bumped into, the same man who had arrogantly brushed her off, the same man who had—quite literally—saved her life.

He raised an eyebrow at her reaction. "You again?"

Riya felt her soul temporarily exit her body. Of all the restaurants in the city, why did he have to come here? She quickly turned to Anu, who was staring at Dhruv like he was an angel who had descended from the heavens.

"Oh my god," Anu whispered, gripping Riya's arm. "Do you see him? He looks like he was carved by the gods themselves."

"Shut up," Riya hissed, trying to compose herself. She turned back to Dhruv, who was still waiting for a response. "Um… what are you doing here?"

He glanced around. "Eating. Like normal people do in restaurants."

Riya blinked. Well, that was fair.

Before she could say anything, the waiter interrupted. "Sir, would you like to be seated?"

Anu, still in the depths of her heartbreak but not missing the opportunity to act, suddenly clutched her chest dramatically. "Oh no! I think I'm about to faint from sorrow. Riya, I cannot bear to eat alone. I need company."

Riya's eyes widened. "Anu, don't you dare—"

Too late. Anu turned to Dhruv with teary eyes that could rival a sad puppy's. "Would you like to join us? It would mean so much to me in my current state."

Dhruv looked mildly amused. "I—"

"She insists," Riya quickly added, shooting Anu a death glare. Anu merely grinned in response.

Dhruv gave a small shrug and sat down. "Fine."

Riya exhaled sharply, mentally preparing herself for what was about to be the most awkward dinner of her life.

Anu, who just moments ago had declared all men to be the root of evil, was suddenly all smiles. "So, Dhruv, tell us about yourself. Do you have a tragic backstory? A long-lost love? Are you secretly a prince in disguise?"

Dhruv sipped his water calmly. "No."

Anu gasped dramatically. "No tragic backstory? That's impossible! Everyone has one."

Riya groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Anu, please."

Anu waved her off. "I'm just saying, a guy like him? He either has a dark past or an elite-level secret identity."

Dhruv's lips twitched slightly, as if suppressing a smile. "I can assure you, I'm just a normal person."

Riya snorted. "Yeah, right."

He turned his gaze to her, his eyes holding something unreadable. "You don't believe me?"

She hesitated. "I just think… you don't seem like the kind of person who sits in a restaurant and has casual conversations."

He leaned back, studying her. "And what kind of person do I seem like?"

Riya suddenly felt like she was being examined under a microscope. She fidgeted slightly. "The brooding, mysterious, I-don't-care-about-anything type."

Anu clapped her hands. "Oh! Like those hot male leads in dramas who act cold but secretly have a soft heart!"

Dhruv's expression remained unreadable. "I'm not in a drama."

Anu sighed wistfully. "If only."

Their food arrived, and for a moment, the table was quiet as they ate. Riya was hyper-aware of Dhruv sitting across from her, but she tried her best to act normal. Anu, however, was not making things easy.

"So, Dhruv," she started, twirling her fork, "if you had to choose between saving one person or saving the world, what would you choose?"

Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "That's an oddly specific question."

"It's an important one," Anu insisted. "Tells us what kind of person you are."

He looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Depends on the person."

Riya frowned. "So, you wouldn't automatically choose to save the world?"

He met her gaze. "Would you?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it. She hadn't really thought about it like that before.

Anu groaned. "Ugh, that was such a philosophical answer. I was hoping for something dramatic."

Dhruv smirked slightly. "Sorry to disappoint."

Riya exhaled. This was, hands down, the weirdest dinner she had ever been a part of. As they finished their meal, she noticed Dhruv glancing at the time before standing up. "I should go."

Anu pouted. "Already?"

Riya rolled her eyes. "Let him live, Anu."

Dhruv nodded at them.