"5:30 at Coffee Zone"

It was already 5:30.

They had set the date, planning to meet at the Coffee Zone.

She wore blue jeans, a white tee, and white shoes. She had run there before 5:30, hoping he would already be waiting. But he wasn’t.

She stood at the front gate, looking around.

Ten minutes passed. Still, he wasn’t there.

She thought about calling him but hesitated what if he found her annoying?

She started feeling uncomfortable just standing there. It felt like people were watching her, judging her, thinking she had been stood up.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. Was this a mistake? Had she made the wrong decision meeting him?

What if he doesn't come? What will I do?

She thought of Riva what if she teases me?

Her thoughts spiraled. Feeling overwhelmed, she turned and decided to leave.

She walked slowly along the street, trying to calm her racing heart.

Then someone called out.

“Sasa.”

“Sasa!”

A figure ran toward her, grabbed her hand gently, and stopped her.

“Where were you?” she asked, startled. “I was about to go home.”

“Something came up,” Luke said, a little out of breath. “I came here as fast as I could.”

“But were you really about to leave?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said honestly.

He laughed, a silly kind of laugh, as if relieved. “Let’s go inside.”

He was still holding her hand, and she didn’t even realize it until they were inside. She smiled shyly.

(Her anger faded. Everything melted away.)

They sat in a quiet corner. He ordered two coffees without asking her.

Then, realizing, he turned to her. “Oh what do you want to order?”

“Coffee is fine,” she replied, even though she didn’t really like coffee.

They talked about their days. Then his phone rang it was his mom.

He picked it up and said, “I’m here with the girl I told you about.”

Sasa stared at him, stunned. He told his mom about me?

Oh my God.

Luke offered the phone to her. “Do you want to talk to her?”

Nervous, she only managed, “Namaste, Aunty.”

The Luke she had met at the wedding and this Luke now he seemed different. But she liked this version even more.

They talked for hours, and when it was time to leave, he offered to give her a ride home. She happily agreed.

On the bike ride home, she felt a quiet, immense happiness.

It was just a ride but she knew this moment would live in her heart for a week, maybe longer.

When they reached her home, he said goodbye, and they parted ways.

She looked back.

He was already gone.

She felt a little disappointed. Maybe she had hoped he’d look back at her. Or

Maybe she had imagined him with flowers.

None of that happened.

Except he had held her hand.

And somehow that was enough.

She smiled.

Then she smiled.

That night, he called her just to say, “Good night, Sasa.”

She felt a rush of happiness.

He called... just to say good night to me.

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