The next day, Hari stepped into the office with his usual casual stride, but Jace was already there—buried neck-deep in meetings, his calendar painted red.
Before Hari could even approach, Jace raised his head slightly. “Hari, whatever it is, it can wait,” he said, his voice low but firm.
“I was just asking about your schedule…” Hari began.
“I know, I know. Block twenty minutes in the evening.”
Hari rolled his eyes slightly, “I was just saying—lunch! When can we have it?”
That made Jace stop in his tracks. He turned back briefly, considered, then said, “At 2?”
“I’ll order something then.”
“No need,” Jace said, already walking away. “We’ll go out.”
Hari watched him disappear into another glass-walled meeting room and muttered under his breath, “I thought you were busy…”
At 2 PM sharp, they found themselves at the very place where their paths had once crossed with Reva’s—Cyber Hub. An expansive IT park teeming with suited professionals, chic cafes, rooftop bars, and that one quiet fine-dining spot the two frequented when they needed real conversation.
“You’re kidding me, right?” Hari raised an eyebrow.
“Closest place from the office,” Jace shrugged, as if that justified the coincidence.
Hari sighed, glancing at the polished glass doors and the softly lit ambiance inside. “If you think she’s going to just show up here again—not happening.”
“From what we heard, she’s an IT consultant,” Jace replied, almost defensively.
“Still wouldn’t come to a fancy place like this regularly,” Hari countered. “You can afford it without blinking. Reva? She’s probably saving up for a new phone or paying EMIs. This place isn’t her routine.”
Jace didn’t answer Hari. Not because Hari was wrong—but because Jace didn’t know how to admit Hari wasn’t.
He kept glancing around, quietly, foolishly hoping.
Hari leaned forward. “Jace… I know that look. Don’t start making this a ritual, Just give up already, alright?”
Jace looked up, his voice soft but sure. “I’m not. I just like the food here.” It was a lie. And a poor one.
But he couldn’t explain himself to Hari—because he couldn’t explain himself at all.
—
But he did return.
Once… then twice. Then again.
Days blurred into weeks. One month, to be exact.
Jace—obsessed in the most silent, stubborn way—walked through every corner of Cyber Hub. Every artsy café, every quirky bistro, every rooftop strung with fairy lights and jazz that tried too hard to feel spontaneous.
He dined. He lingered. He pretended not to wait.
He never admitted why he kept going—never dared to spell it out, even in his own mind.
Each time, he convinced himself it was just lunch. Nothing more.
Each time, he promised himself he’d stop. And yet, he found himself back.
Because maybe, just maybe… she’d show up again.
Fooling himself, the way fate had fooled him too.
But Reva didn’t come.
And yet Jace no longer ordered food at work. Even after a week-long business trip to New York, the first place he went upon landing in Gurugram wasn’t home.
It was Cyber Hub. For dinner. Alone.
Funny, what hope makes us do.
But eventually, a slow, suffocating resignation crept in. Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe she was a dream that slipped into his reality once and never belonged to it.
That first moment—how his heart had paused, just for a breath, and then kicked back to life with a force he didn’t expect.
Maybe it was never real. A beautiful blip. A moment that didn’t ask to be remembered, yet refused to be forgotten.
So, when he finally let go, he returned to that same high-end restaurant once more, this time just for food, not for hope.
He sat at his usual corner seat, leaning back against the wall. His lunch lay untouched as he listened to a work call, earbuds in, eyes blank with exhaustion.
The call ended. A WhatsApp ping lit up his screen. Aanya. Jace’s Sister.
Aanya: “Where are you? Did you talk to mom about the anniversary plans?”
Jace: “I will… today.”
Aanya: “Hey, are you okay? Everything alright?”
Jace: “Of course. Super calm, as ever.”
No emoji. No exclamation. Just plain, dry replies.
Aanya: “Really? You’re not stressed? How’s work? All peace?”
Jace: “Don’t worry. Everything is super smooth. I’ve got a great team this time. All peace.”
And that’s when it hit him. That word—peace.
He remembered her words, like a whisper echoing back from time.
“The day he’ll say—‘God, this is too peaceful. I’m tired of peace. Bring in the chaos, I’m ready’—that’s when we’ll meet.”
He paused.
What if she wasn’t just joking?
What if it was real?
He slammed the phone gently on the table, scoffing. “Bullshit,”
Then whispered to the air, like a fool, “God, Do you think i can’t handle this chaos! You’ve given me everything. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“If that’s what it takes—fine. Bring it.”
There was no thunder, no divine sign. Just a quiet room and half-eaten food. He chuckled again. “What a childish thing to say.”
And just as he stood up, one foot leaving the comfort of that table—
The door opened.
And there she was.
Reva. In a fitted grey one-piece office dress paired with a court blazer. Her long hair tied neatly into a bun, with soft flicks falling gently over her forehead. Elegantly poised. Radiating quiet strength.
And utterly out of place in such a high-end restaurant.
She wasn’t alone. With her were four others—an Indian gentleman in his 50s and three East Asian clients. Japanese, as confirmed by Reva’s gentle “Sumimasen, douzo” and a polite bow. That voice—Jace remembered it with painful clarity.
Their eyes met for the briefest second.
She smiled…maybe…faintly… then walked past like he was nobody.
Did she really not recognize me? Jace stood frozen, stunned.
Their tables weren’t far. He could make out bits of the conversation—client talk. Formalities. Introductions.
As soon as he left the restaurant, Reva exhaled—loudly. Her back, which had been stiff like a soldier’s, collapsed onto the chair. It drew attention.
She realized it, straightened up, and explained quickly, “Was waiting for an emergency call until 3 PM. It never came, so… all good.”
As they stepped out, her manager gently said, “Reva, take some rest. Come fresh tomorrow. You seemed… flustered today. Everything okay?”
Reva smiled—too brightly. “Don’t worry, boss. All good.”
“Then why were your cheeks so red all lunch?”
“Were they?” She touched her face and felt the warmth. “Maybe I do need rest.”
Later that evening, she rushed to her childhood friend Sim’s house.
The two had been inseparable since they were seven. And Sim could read her like an open book.
Rolling on the bed, Reva groaned, “Dude. I swear, he saw me. I didn’t react. Didn’t smile. Didn’t even blink. I must look like a weirdo.”
“Or he’s thinking he’s the weirdo, since you ignored him,” Sim teased.
Reva wasn’t amused. “You don’t get it. The first time we met—I couldn’t even look at him properly. I just said ‘handsome’ out loud like an idiot. And he didn’t even say thank you. I must’ve sounded crazy.”
“From what you described, he doesn’t even sound that pretty.”
“Maybe not…” Reva paused, eyes fixed on the ceiling fan. “But when I saw him smile… damn. That calm smile when he laughs hard—or when he doesn’t. He’s something.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“You know the first time I saw him from a distance… when he was walking toward me—”
“Spare me,” Sim groaned. “I’ve heard this story.”
“He had this major end-of-the-world smile. So calm, it just… melted all my stress. And the way he was talking to Hari—I don’t know. I felt like he was talking to me. I couldn’t look away”
“He wasn’t talking to you. He was talking to Hari,” Sim said flatly. “You realized that only when you got closer, and that’s when you walked up and joined them.”
“I know. But… what if it’s fate? I mean, how do I end up crushing on a guy who’s my friend’s friend?”
Sim rolled her eyes. “Reva, come on. You can’t fall for a random guy just because you saw him having a conversation on a street. What if he was telling Hari about his girlfriend?”
“Don’t say that!” Reva snapped. “I confirmed at dinner. He’s legit single.”
“And you also said he’s some hotshot CEO.” Sim’s tone sharpened. “Think again. You’re not exactly in his world. You don’t have a plan, you don’t even know what you’ll be doing next year. Guys like him? They have a vision, a timeline, a type.”
“But his smile…” Reva whispered, almost to herself.
Sim flung a pillow at her. “You’ve been single too long. It’s messing with your head. Wake up. He’s not looking for a middle-class girl who’s still figuring things out.”
Maybe Sim was right.
Maybe she was just building castles on a glance and a smile.
Reva fell silent. The rant dried up.
But somewhere across town—
Jace knew exactly what he had to do.
He stormed straight to Hari’s cabin.
Hari stood up in alarm. “What? Don’t tell me it’s bad news!”
“No,” Jace panted. “I was thinking… I have an idea. It could help you.”
Hari narrowed his eyes. “Go on…”
“Why don’t you ask Reva to help you shop?”
“What!?”
“Jenna sent you a whole list for the baby shower. Reva’s a woman—she’ll know what to pick.”
“And she’s your friend,” Jace added without missing a beat.
Hari sighed. “Jace… even if there’s a one-in-a-million chance you end up with her, that chance doesn’t exist in this world. You’ve been single for too long. It’s time you thought about marriage—about someone who’s actually compatible with you. Intellectually. Financially. Emotionally.”
Jace smiled, soft and sure, his eyes carrying that quiet gleam of belief. “Even if there’s just a sliver of a chance—I won’t waste it. Not when my heart wants it. And trust me… this is more than a chance. It’s a possibility. I felt it today.”
“You met her? Let me guess—she called you handsome again?”
“She didn’t even look at me,” Jace said, voice low. “No smile. Not a word.”
Hari blinked. “And you still think something could happen?”
“I don’t think.” Jace’s voice was calm, steady. “I know.” Jace said, stepping out the glass door, but not before turning back with a grin. “God’s watching.”
Hari fell back into his chair, groaning. “God! This guy never stops.”
Chai & Matcha Diaries 
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