The Beauty of Balance

A Late-Night Surprise

Nirvaan waited until 10 PM to send Nitya a message, not wanting to come off as too eager. He kept it casual, asking her how she was doing and if she wanted to grab a coffee sometime.

But, to his surprise, Nitya didn't respond until midnight.

"Really, Nirvaan?" she wrote, her tone playfully stern. "It's midnight, and you're just now messaging me? And you got my number from Mrs. Wattson? You're lucky I'm in a good mood."

Nirvaan's heart sank. He had hoped that Nitya would be happy to hear from him, but it seemed like he had made a misstep.

"I'm sorry, Nitya," he wrote back, trying to sound sincere. "I didn't mean to message you so late. I just wanted to see if you wanted to grab a coffee sometime. And I promise, I didn't get your number from Mrs. Wattson in a sketchy way. She gave it to me, and I swear, I won't abuse it."

Nitya's response was quick. "I'm just messing with you, Nirvaan. I'm actually glad you messaged me. I've been thinking about you too. But, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Nirvaan wrote back, feeling a sense of relief.

"Why do you want to see me again?" Nitya asked. "I mean, I know we had a good conversation at the bookstore, but what's in it for you?"

Nirvaan hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. He didn't want to come off as too intense or needy, but he also didn't want to lie.

"I just... I like you, Nitya," he wrote, his fingers trembling. "I know it might sound silly, too early for me to say this we don't even know each other that much but I feel like we have a connection. And I want to see where it goes. I promise, I won't pressure you or make you do anything you don't want to do. I just want to get to know you better."

There was  No  response for a minute

"I appreciate your honesty, Nirvaan, but I'm not looking for romantic love. Mrs. Wattson is just... you know. She's always trying to set me up with someone, but I'm not interested."

Nirvaan felt a pang of disappointment, but he refused to give up. He wanted to see Nitya again, even if it wasn't for romantic reasons.

"Can I still meet you for coffee, Nitya?" he asked, trying to sound casual. "I'd really appreciate it. We can just talk about life, or whatever you want."

Nitya hesitated for a moment, and Nirvaan could sense her uncertainty. But then, she surprised him by saying yes.

"Okay, Nirvaan. But just coffee, and just friends, got it?"

Nirvaan's face broke into a wide smile as he agreed to her terms. He couldn't wait to see her again, even if it was just as friends.

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The next day, Nirvaan arrived at the coffee shop early, his nerves buzzing with excitement. Nitya walked in a few minutes later, looking stunning in a yellow sundress and her hair tied up in a ponytail.

As they ordered their coffee, Nirvaan couldn't help but notice the way Nitya's eyes sparkled when she laughed. They sat down at a small table, and Nirvaan launched into a series of questions, trying to get to know her better.

Nitya was a delight to talk to, her quick wit and sarcasm leaving Nirvaan in stitches. At one point, she teased him about not knowing what she did for a living, and Nirvaan laughed, feeling a sense of comfort around her that he couldn't explain.

Nitya smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I work at Sathee," she said, her tone casual.

Nirvaan's eyes lit up. "Sathee? I've heard of that place. It's a restaurant chain, right?"