Rhea stirred her coffee and narrowed her eyes.
"You know, sometimes you act like you've never been in a relationship."
Yuvika froze for half a second.
Only half.
Years of practice had made her good at hiding things.
She leaned back in her chair.
"Maybe that's because I don't enjoy the daily drama."
Rhea rolled her eyes.
"Drama? Yuvika, every relationship has arguments. Every couple fights."
"Exactly."
"That's normal."
"Sounds exhausting."
Rhea pointed a finger at her.
"See? That's what I'm talking about. You talk about relationships like they're office projects."
Yuvika forced a laugh.
"Maybe because office projects make more sense."
Rhea opened her mouth to argue, then stopped.
The smile on Yuvika's face looked normal.
Too normal.
The kind of smile she wore whenever she didn't want people asking questions.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Outside the café window, the city lights flickered against the dark evening sky.
Then Rhea's voice softened.
"You still think about him, don't you?"
Yuvika's grip tightened slightly around her coffee cup.
Just slightly.
Not enough for most people to notice.
But Rhea noticed.
She always did.
"There's nothing to think about."
"Yuvika."
"He left."
The words came out quieter than intended.
A brief silence followed.
Rhea looked down.
She already knew the story.
College sweethearts.
Five years together.
Plans.
Promises.
Dreams.
Then careers happened.
Yuvika got busier.
The working hours became longer.
The deadlines became harsher.
The calls became shorter.
The messages became fewer.
Until one day there was more silence than conversation.
And eventually...
Nothing.
"He felt neglected," Yuvika said calmly.
As if she were talking about someone else's life.
"He wanted more time. I couldn't give it."
"You tried."
"Maybe."
Rhea sighed.
"You loved him."
Yuvika immediately looked away.
The city lights blurred behind the café glass.
Love.
Such a simple word.
Such a complicated thing.
After a few seconds, she forced a small smile.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"Yuvika—"
"No, really."
She straightened her shoulders.
The vulnerable expression vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Replacing it was the confident, composed Yuvika Arora everyone knew.
"It's probably better this way."
"Better?"
"No emotional complications."
She picked up her bag.
"No waiting for calls."
A small smile.
"No expectations."
Another smile.
"Just you and your work."
The words sounded convincing.
Even to her.
Almost.
Rhea watched quietly.
Because she knew something Yuvika didn't.
People who had truly moved on didn't need to convince themselves they had.
And for the briefest moment, when Yuvika looked away toward the city lights...
She looked exactly like someone still carrying a broken heart.
Rhea stared at her for a few moments before suddenly laughing.
"What?"
Rhea shook her head.
"You know what your actual problem is?"
"I'm sure you're about to tell me."
"You've become a machine."
Yuvika raised an eyebrow.
"A machine?"
"Yes. A highly efficient, deadline-obsessed, assignment-completing machine."
Yuvika looked offended.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course you would."
Rhea pointed her spoon at her dramatically.
"You don't go out."
"I do."
"No, you go to work."
"That's technically going out."
"You don't attend parties."
"I don't like parties."
"You avoid gatherings."
"They're loud."
"You barely socialize."
"I socialize."
"With me."
Yuvika opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Unfortunately, Rhea had a point.
A very annoying point.
Rhea leaned forward.
"Seriously, Yuvika. How exactly do you plan on finding someone?"
"I don't."
"See?"
"What?"
"That's exactly the problem."
Yuvika sighed.
"I am perfectly fine being single."
"You're not."
"I am."
"You're surviving single. That's different."
Yuvika rolled her eyes.
"You've become insufferable ever since you got back together with Aman."
"Answer the question."
"What question?"
"Who do you think could actually date you?"
Yuvika nearly choked on her coffee.
"What kind of question is that?"
"A serious one."
"There are billions of people in the world."
"Most of whom would run away after your color-coded weekly schedule."
Yuvika glared.
Rhea continued.
"You need someone exactly like you."
"That sounds terrible."
"No, think about it."
Rhea sat back, counting on her fingers.
"Someone who hates parties."
"Someone who doesn't need constant attention."
"Someone who understands working late."
"Someone who doesn't panic if you don't reply for six hours."
Yuvika hated how reasonable this sounded.
"And where exactly am I supposed to find this mythical person?"
Rhea smirked.
"A male version of you."
Yuvika laughed immediately.
"Impossible."
"I'm serious."
"No human being should have to deal with two versions of me."
"I'm serious."
Rhea pointed again.
"You need a guy who's equally antisocial."
"Wonderful."
"Equally obsessed with work."
"Even worse."
"Equally awkward."
"Rhea."
"And equally emotionally unavailable."
Yuvika groaned.
"That sounds like a disaster."
For some reason, an image suddenly flashed through her mind.
A tall man.
Quiet.
Reserved.
Always working.
Speaking only when necessary.
A man who had answered a dinner invitation with a single word.
No.
Yuvika blinked.
Then immediately pushed the thought away.
Absolutely not.
Vardhaan Rathore was the last person she would ever imagine in that context.
Meanwhile, Rhea noticed her expression.
A slow grin appeared on her face.
"Wait."
"No."
"You thought of someone."
"No, I didn't."
"You totally did."
"Rhea."
"Oh my God, you did."
Yuvika stood up and grabbed her bag.
"We're leaving."
Rhea's grin only widened.
She thought of one person.. Vardhan.. because he is same as her....
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