Life rarely unfolds the way we expect it to.
We think about a thousand things. We plan for a few of them. We work hard for even fewer. And from all that effort, maybe—just maybe—we’re rewarded with one or two.
That’s what we call the fruit of our hard work.
But what if life hands us something we never planned for?
Something we never even imagined, let alone wished for?
That… is called fate.
And what happens when that fate crashes headfirst into the path of our carefully built dreams?
This story is about exactly that.
Two people—Reva and Jace—who collided into each other’s lives completely unplanned.
And that collision?
That was fate—stepping in, uninvited, to play with their carefully laid plans.
_*_
The sun was mild, the street busy but familiar. Reva and her colleague were walking back to their office after lunch, talking about everything and nothing.
That’s when she saw a familiar face in the crowd—a voice she remembered from months ago.
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes narrowing.
“Wait… I know that guy.”
Without another word, she jogged across and tapped him on the arm.
“Wait, wait, wait—Hari, right?”
He turned, slightly startled.
“Hari, right? Oh my god, you don’t remember me?”
He blinked.
Petite and glowing, with warm fair skin, cheeks kissed a little pink from the sun, soft lips curled into a bright, slightly mischievous smile. Her eyes sparkled under a messy strand of hair she hadn’t noticed yet.
“Uh—Reva?”
“Oh my God, yes! Don’t tell me you forgot me already. I’m your wife Jenna’s friend. We met last year at her birthday brunch.”
Hari laughed. “Right! Of course, I remember. Wow, small world. How are you?”
“Alive, mostly,” she grinned. “Just heading back to the office.” She paused. ” But hey, we have to meet again—I got the cutest gift for Jenna’s baby shower. You have to give it to her for me!”
“She’ll love that,” Hari nodded.
Reva gasped, checked her phone. “Crap—I’m late. Ugh. Okay, just give me your address and I’ll—actually, wait. I’ll find you later, I swear!”
She turned to leave but halfway through her stride, she pivoted back and gasped again—this time louder, and definitely not to herself.
“Oh my God—what a handsome guy!” she blurted, eyes falling on the tall, quiet man standing beside Hari.
Jace.
Then, as if she hadn’t just exploded someone’s heartbeat, she waved with her usual dramatic flair.
“Okay! I’ll text you. Byeee!”
She disappeared into the afternoon, still laughing with her colleague, utterly unaware that she had just lit a fire in someone’s soul.
Hari blinked at the air where she once stood. “She doesn’t even have my number…”
Jace, who had been standing quietly beside him the whole time, hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Not for a second.
“You should’ve asked for her number,” he murmured.
Hari smirked. “Maybe you should’ve asked for hers.”
Jace didn’t respond.
They had walked quietly to the restaurant that day, but the real noise started the next day.
[]
Back at the office, Jace sat in his chair—the one that commanded the entire floor.
The CEO’s desk, the towering screens, the soft hum of strategy in the making—it all belonged to him.
This wasn’t just a workspace. It was the command center of an empire he had built from metal, dreams, and sleepless nights.
Hari walked in, arms crossed, eyeing the man who once used to sketch ideas on napkins and now ruled over one of India’s top automotive firms.
“Plans tonight?” he asked casually.
“Meeting at 4 a.m.,” Jace replied, still scanning his tablet.
“Come on, free yourself a little.”
“I can’t, Hari. You know how things are…” Jace sighed, placing the device down. “We’re initiating this new project—global scale. AI-integrated trucks. I’m dealing with all the stakeholders solo, not a single support lead assigned yet. I’m not complaining, and I know you’ve already got your hands full managing the current line. We’ve made crazy progress. But this truck I’m building now… it has to succeed.”
“I’m personally handling interviews,” Hari reassured. “We’ll have the best team in place soon.”
“Don’t overburden yourself,” Jace said, eyes softening. “Our current innovation’s already killing it in the Indian market—thanks to you. But this dream… a truck built for the world—that’s mine. And I can’t expect you to carry it too.”
“I’ve always got your back. So… you coming tonight?”
Jace shook his head. “I already told you—no.”
Hari raised an eyebrow. “Reva texted.”
Jace’s head lifted instantly. “She has your number?”
“Instagram. Gen Z magic.”
Hari turned to leave, but before he could reach the door, a voice stopped him.
“I’m coming too.”
Hari spun around. “I thought you were busy?”
“I’m available now.”
Hari smirked knowingly. “I knew it. The way you were looking at her… I knew.”
“There’s nothing like what you’re thinking,” Jace replied, letting out a deep breath.
“And there shouldn’t be. You two? You don’t stand a chance.”
That struck a nerve.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Hari shrugged, half-joking, half-serious. “You’re the CEO of one of India’s top automotive companies. A visionary. And she’s… well, we don’t even know what she does.”
“We’ll find out today, then,” Jace replied coolly.
“You’re filthy rich, Jace. And she’s not. Let’s be real.”
“Only 0.1% of Indians are ‘filthy rich.’ I don’t expect anyone to match me. And…I’m not looking for a merger, Hari.”
Hari tried again. “You’re 33. Too old for her.”
“She’s your wife’s friend right! Come on, if Jenna’s 30, her friend’s gotta be at least 25—at the very least. That’s not scandalous and It’s not like she’s fresh out of college.”
“Wait, are you actually going to try and date a 25-year-old?” Hari squinted. “Are you that desperate? Why would she even be into you? She’s young, gorgeous—and you?”
“She did say I’m handsome,” Jace said, a little smug.
Hari chuckled. “She’s fair-skinned, and you’re… brown.”
“I’m six feet tall. She’s barely 5’4″,” Jace snapped back, eyes narrowing. “Want to keep going?”
“She has long, beautiful hair. Yours is turning grey.”
That hit differently. Jace paused, ran a hand through his hair, thoughtful.
“You think… that’s going to bother her?”
Hari stared. “Oh my God. After everything I just listed, that’s the one that worries you?!”
Jace looked almost childlike in his conviction. “Hari, I think you’re underestimating me. I became a CEO for a reason.”
On the way to the meet-up, Jace leaned in again, quieter this time.
“Do you really think grey hair will matter?”
Hari burst out laughing. “No way. You can’t be serious.”
A long silence.
Then Jace, almost to himself, said softly, “She’s beautiful.”
Hari glanced over, this time not laughing.
“You’re serious now.”
*The Meeting at the Restaurant
“We’ve been here five minutes. Are you sure she’s even coming?” Jace asked, impatience written all over his face.
“Can’t even wait five minutes? You’re really not in a situation to date,” Hari teased.
“I’ll just take this call.” Jace stood up, phone already in hand.
“Yeah, really not,” Hari muttered as Jace walked out.
But just as Jace stepped outside to get better reception, something unexpected happened.
There she was.
Reva—walking toward the restaurant, fixing her hair, still a bit messy from the helmet. Jace froze, mid-call. His eyes followed her every step.
What shocked Hari wasn’t just Reva’s sudden appearance—it was Jace. Still as a statue.
And Reva?
She didn’t even glance at him. Just walked past, like he was another face in the crowd. She stepped inside, handed Hari a small gift with a half-smile, and took her seat—and Jace stayed outside—still on the phone, still watching.
Fifteen minutes later, Reva excused herself to take a call from her mother. As she turned toward the exit, she nearly bumped into Jace, who was standing right there. She stumbled slightly. He offered his hand—but she didn’t need it, didn’t take it. Their eyes met briefly before she stepped outside.
“Jace, are you interested in her?” Hari asked, straight up.
“No, come on!” Jace shrugged it off. “We’re just here to meet her.”
Just then, Reva returned.
“Why are you here?” she asked sharply.
“Oh, he’s here to meet—” Hari began.
“I was nearby for a meeting. Hari invited me,” Jace added smoothly.
“Reva, this is my childhood friend Jace. We work together” Hari explained. “Jace, meet Reva—Jenna’s friend. They used to work together.”
They exchanged polite greetings.
“So, how’s work?” Reva asked casually.
“Pretty normal,” Hari replied.
“Oh please! Don’t be so formal. Talk to me like a friend. No one’s job is ever ‘normal.’ I swear, offices feel like cages and bosses are just wardens. My manager’s a complete idiot. Don’t tell me you haven’t dealt with that.”
“I don’t like incompetent people who complain about work but don’t work efficiently,” Jace responded calmly.
“Oh wow. Don’t act like a boss now—that’s exactly what my manager says. You know, the real issue with bosses is that they don’t see people as humans, they see resources. And when they meet someone smart, they just don’t appreciate them—they think, ‘How can I use this person for my benefit?’ Bosses aren’t humans. They’re just business machines.”
“Uhmm… Reva,” Hari interrupted, laughing nervously, ” almost forgot to mention. Jace is also my boss. He brought me into his startup.”
Reva paused. “Oh…”
Then with perfect comic timing: “Bosses are amazing! So wise, so inspiring—where would we be without them? Thank God we have them.” Her tone flipped so fast it made Jace chuckle.
“So, Reva…” Hari leaned forward. “Why are you still single?”
Jace nearly spit out his drink as Hari winked at him.
“Me? Single? What makes you think that?” Reva shot back.
“You’re not?” Jace asked, intrigued.
“Oh? You really think I’m single?” she fired back.
“I do,” Hari chimed in as Jace remained quiet.
“Why?” she demanded.
“Well, you’re out drinking with people you barely know, and it’s past 10—no calls or texts. That’s not a taken woman’s life.” Hari said smartly.
“What about this?” Reva held up the ring on her left ring finger.
Silence.
“Oh no, yes—I am single,” she admitted, giggling. “I just wear this so creeps don’t hit on me. Still doesn’t work. No one notices. I’m doomed.”
That made Jace chuckle again, flashing a warm smile. Reva stared at him, and when he caught her looking, he asked, “What?”
“No doubt you’re beautiful,” she said softly. “You have a really beautiful smile.”
And then, shifting tones, “What a dangerous smile. Flash that at your girlfriend if you ever argue and she’ll come running back, I promise!”
Jace actually laughed now.
“Too bad he doesn’t have a girlfriend!” Hari added.
“Oh? I’m sorry, Jace.”
“But are you married? You look too old to be single,” she added with a playful smirk.
“I’m single and unmarried—by choice,” Jace replied, straight-faced.
“By choice! Oh, you startup entrepreneur guys…I know you people” Reva rolled her eyes. “It’s never about having a choice—it’s that you can’t make one.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jace asked, calm as ever.
“You’re smart, attractive, and let’s say successful too. But all your energy goes into your startup. You don’t have time for someone who needs as much attention as your company does. Can you give someone that?”
“No,” Jace admitted honestly.
“There you go. You can’t make that choice. I know your type.”
“You talk like it’s a bad thing,” Jace said. “But let’s be honest. Most women want someone financially stable and strong. And that kind of strength doesn’t come from ‘balance’—it comes from sacrifice, from building something worthwhile.”
“Oh, please! What century are you living in? Honestly, thank god you’re not married. Tell me this— are you a family man?” she asked.
“I admit, I’ve sacrificed time with my parents.”
“See? And you think a woman would want to marry you? Let’s pretend I’m the girl,” she leaned in dramatically. “Why should I marry you? You’re a businessman and you’re proud of your business—but you’re not a family man. So why should I think of building a family with you while you’re busy building your company? Thanks, but no thanks. In fact, I say don’t marry a girl just to ruin her dreams. She probably dreamed of someone who’d actually make time for her, someone who’d know how to love her when life gets messy. And then she’ll get some startup guy—a busy businessman with no time, no space, no warmth. What would she even do with someone like that?”
“No wonder you’re single,” Jace smirked.
Reva paused, stared at him. Hari braced himself for another fiery comeback—but she didn’t give one.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I talk too much. I’m an idiot. Don’t take me seriously.” She knocked back another shot and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Hari asked, tipsy now, laughing along.
“You know what I think?” Reva looked at both of them.
“Hm?”
“I think my future husband is somewhere very busy praying for peace. That’s why God hasn’t sent me to him yet. Because I’m the chaos he’ll have to handle.”
They laughed.
“But the day he says—” she looked at Hari seriously, controlling her drunken buzz, “The day he says, ‘God, this is too peaceful. I’m tired of peace. Bring in the chaos, I’m ready’ that’s when we’ll meet. And God will say, ‘Here she is, my child. You asked for it. Enjoy.’ ” She mimicked God in a deep voice and cracked up.
Jace chuckled quietly. He didn’t say much. Just listened.
Then, her expression softened.
“But what if I disappoint him?” she asked suddenly.
She went on. “He probably imagines someone elegant, sophisticated, no drama, well-dressed, well-spoken… and then—” she paused, smiled, “and then he’ll get me—crashing into his life like a hurricane.”
“You don’t need to worry about disappointing anyone,” Hari said sincerely.
“I think…” Jace spoke gently, “I’d be lucky to have someone like you, someone I can share a real laugh with.”
Both Reva and Hari stared at him, blinked.
“You? No, no. Not you,” she said, waving him off. “You haven’t sinned enough to deserve me. You’re too sweet… too charming… and too old.”
They all burst out laughing.
As the night ended, Reva was a little too drunk to ride her bike, so she booked a cab. Hari and Jace, watched her leave, and then drove home in thoughtful silence.
But now, there was no reason for them to meet again. None at all.
Well… unless a certain smart entrepreneur decides to create one.
Chai & Matcha Diaries 
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