Monday morning arrived faster than I expected. As I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my outfit, I couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts of last night. Or rather, of him.

Kabir.

It was ridiculous, really. I barely knew him, yet his words, his teasing smirk, and his smooth confidence had managed to worm their way into my mind. I scoffed at myself, grabbing my bag. This was the start of a new journey—college. I didn't have time to be distracted by a man who seemed to enjoy getting under my skin.

But as I walked into the campus, surrounded by excited students and buzzing conversations, I still found my thoughts drifting back to him. Had he texted me again? Was he thinking about me too? Ugh, stop it, Shanaya.

I busied myself through my first few classes, meeting new people and getting used to the environment. It was exciting, but something still felt missing. Or maybe, I was just waiting for something to happen.

And then, during lunch break, my phone vibrated.

Unknown Number: "So, how's the first day of college treating you, Miss Mystery?"

I frowned at the message before realization dawned upon me.

Me: "Should I be concerned that you somehow know it's my first day? Stalker much?"

It didn't take him long to reply.

Kabir: "Ouch. And here I thought I was just being considerate. A little birdie might've told me."

Me: "Kartik has a big mouth, doesn't he?"

Kabir: "He does. But let's be honest, you love the attention."

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips.

Me: "Bold of you to assume that."

Kabir: "I deal in facts, not assumptions, Shanaya. And the fact is, you replied instantly."

I bit my lip. He wasn't entirely wrong, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

Me: "Don't flatter yourself. I just had time to spare."

Kabir: "Mhm. Keep telling yourself that. Anyway, are you surviving, or do I need to come rescue you from the horrors of college life?"

Me: "Very funny. I think I'll manage just fine."

Kabir: "Good. Because if you ever need a break, I know a few places with excellent coffee."

I paused, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Was he... asking me out? Or was this just more of his teasing?

Me: "Are you offering coffee or your company? Because one is more tempting than the other."

Kabir: "And which one would that be?"

Me: "Wouldn't you like to know?"

A minute passed before his response came in.

Kabir: "Careful, Miss Mystery. If you keep playing this game, you might just win my full attention."

I felt a strange warmth spread through me. I shouldn't be this entertained by him, but I was. He was charming in a way that made it impossible to ignore.

Me: "Now wouldn't that be a tragedy?"

Kabir: "For me or for you?"

Me: "Guess we'll have to find out."

Another pause. Then—

Kabir: "Challenge accepted."

I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath. Damn it. He had a way of making everything feel... intense. Like this was just the beginning of something I wasn't entirely ready for, yet couldn't walk away from.

As the lunch break ended, I found myself smiling at my phone, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.

I had just started college, but somehow, a certain arrogant yet annoyingly charming man had already found a way to make my day infinitely more interesting.

------

As the last lecture wrapped up, I let out a sigh of relief. My first day of college had been a whirlwind of introductions, endless syllabus discussions, and an overwhelming amount of new faces. But amidst all of it, my mind kept drifting back to one person—Kabir.

Our conversation from earlier still lingered in my thoughts, making me bite my lip every time I remembered his playful teasing. And now, as I stepped out of the college building, I couldn't shake the feeling that my day wasn't quite over yet.

And then, I saw him.

Leaning against his sleek black rolls Royce, sunglasses on, arms crossed like he had all the time in the world. My breath hitched slightly at the sight. He looked effortlessly handsome, like he belonged in a movie scene. And the worst part? He knew it.

As if sensing my gaze, he turned toward me and smirked. "Took you long enough, Miss Mystery. I was beginning to think you got lost."

I blinked, still processing his presence. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking you up, obviously," he said casually, pushing his sunglasses up into his hair. "Unless, of course, you prefer taking the bus?"

I narrowed my eyes. "And how did you know what time I got done with college?"

He chuckled, walking toward me. "I have my sources."

He opened the passenger door for me. "Now, get in. We have somewhere to be." He said.

I hesitated, my heart racing slightly. "And where exactly is that?"

He smirked. "You ask too many questions, Miss Mystery. Just trust me."

Something in his voice made it impossible to refuse. Rolling my eyes, I slid into the car, and he shut the door behind me before making his way to the driver's seat. The scent of his cologne filled the space between us, and I found myself stealing a glance at him as he started the engine.

"So," I said, trying to act nonchalant, "this isn't some kidnapping plot, right? Because I have people who would come looking for me."

He let out a soft chuckle. "Kidnapping? Please. If I wanted to steal you away, I'd do it in a much grander way. Maybe a helicopter."

I laughed, shaking my head. "So dramatic."

"Only for you," he said smoothly, glancing at me with a teasing glint in his eyes.

A few minutes later, we pulled up to a quaint little café, tucked away from the busy streets. It was cozy, with fairy lights strung along the windows, giving it an almost magical feel.

"Coffee?" he asked, raising a brow.

"You do realize I just spent an entire day in college, right? Caffeine is practically a necessity."

He chuckled. "Good. Then let's go."

As we stepped inside, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee surrounded us. He led me to a quiet corner booth, and as we sat down, I suddenly became aware of just how close we were.

"So, first day?" he asked, leaning slightly forward, resting his chin on his hand. "How was it?"

I sighed dramatically. "Exhausting. Professors dumping expectations on us, awkward introductions, and don't even get me started on the icebreaker games."

He smirked. "Ah, the joys of college."

"You say that like you didn't just skip all this and go straight into being a business mogul."

He shrugged. "Fair point. But hey, you survived. That calls for a reward."

"A reward?" I raised an eyebrow.

He reached into his jacket pocket and placed something on the table—a tiny wrapped chocolate.

I stared at it before looking back at him. "Seriously?"

"What? You like sweets, don't you?" he asked, feigning innocence.

I shook my head, picking up the chocolate. "You are something else, Kabir."

"I get that a lot," he said smugly, taking a sip of his coffee.

We sat there, talking about everything and nothing, our playful banter making time slip away. And as I laughed at another one of his sarcastic remarks, I realized something—I wasn't just intrigued by him anymore.

I liked being around him.

And that thought was far more dangerous than I cared to admit.

____

As they sat in the cozy corner of the café, the warm aroma of coffee filling the air, Shanaya found herself relaxing more than she expected. Kabir had a way of making conversations feel effortless, even with his teasing smirks and overconfident remarks.

"So, how many formalities did you have to go through today?" Kabir asked, stirring his coffee lazily.

Shanaya sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair. "Too many. I swear, they make you sign so many documents, it feels like you're selling your soul just to attend college."

Kabir chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, the joys of higher education. And yet, here you are, surviving it all."

She rolled her eyes. "Barely. But enough about my exhausting day. What about you, Mr. Business Tycoon? How was your Monday?"

He smirked, setting his cup down. "Eventful. But not as interesting as this."

She raised an eyebrow. "This? You mean coffee?"

"No," he said, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer than necessary. "Talking to you."

A warmth spread across her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, pretending to take a sudden interest in the café menu. "Smooth. Do you rehearse these lines, or are they all spontaneous?"

Kabir chuckled, amused. "I like to think of it as a natural talent."

Shanaya scoffed playfully, taking a sip of her coffee. The banter between them felt so easy, so natural, as if they had known each other for longer than just a few days. It was unsettling, how quickly she was getting used to his presence.

As they continued talking, the sky outside darkened, the city lights coming to life. Time slipped by unnoticed until Kabir glanced at his watch.

"It's getting late. I should drop you home," he said, finishing the last of his coffee.

Shanaya hesitated for a second before nodding. "Alright. But only because I'm too tired to argue."

He smirked. "A victory for me. I'll take it."

They walked out of the café, the cool night air brushing against them. His car was parked just outside, sleek and expensive, just like she would have expected from someone like him. He opened the door for her, and she slid inside, trying not to think about how comfortable this felt.

The drive was quiet at first, the city lights passing by in a blur. Then, he broke the silence. "So, did today live up to your expectations?"

She turned to look at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "It was... better than I expected."

He glanced at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I'll take credit for that."

She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.

As they pulled up outside her house, she unbuckled her seatbelt, hesitating before stepping out. "Thanks for the coffee. And the ride."

Kabir leaned slightly towards her, resting his arm on the steering wheel. "Anytime, Miss Mystery."

She shook her head, smiling. "Goodnight, Mr. Singhania."

"Goodnight, Ms. Singh ," he said, his voice softer this time.

As she stepped out and walked to her door, she could feel his gaze on her. And for some reason, it made her heart race just a little faster.

This was only the beginning.

______________________________________

How's the first official meet?

Let me know all about it in the comments ❤❤