Third person P.OV
As he stepped out of the cold shower, his mind raced with thoughts of the day ahead. Water droplets running down his chest to his abs as he gently pushed his hair back, before, picking up a towel from the bathroom counter and wraps it around his torso loosely and steps out of the bathroom with a refreshed look and water droplets still clinging to his chest.
As soon as he stepped inside the room the feeling of warmth and relaxation filled his body before moving towards the bed with a quiet confidence, muscles shifting fluidly under his skin as he reached for another towel, this one to dry his hair . The air seemed to cool as he walked across the room, his broad shoulders and strong arms flexing with each motion. His chest rose and fell deeply, his breathing calm and steady.
As he rubbed the towel through his hair a few hair strands fell forward, covering almost half of his eyes before he pushed it back smoothly and tosses the towel aside onto a nearby chair after drying his hair. He then reached for the glass of orange juice sitting on the table . The cold liquid was a refreshing contrast to the heat still lingering on his skin from the shower . His fingers wrapped around the glass , and he brought it to his lips, savoring the slight tang that hit his taste buds.
Before he could take a second sip, the door to his room burst open. Two figures-his bestfriends, Veeranshu and vivaan-strode in, laughing loudly, their energy almost contagious as they barely paused before making themselves comfortable on his bed." Bro, really ?" Veeranshu said, eyes widening in mock disbelief as he glanced at the towel still hanging low around his waist.
"You just get out of the shower and already looking like a Calvin Klein ad?" Vivan smirked, plopping down on the edge of the bed, his hand lazily dragging through his own messy hair. "Honestly, you make the rest of us look bad, man. What do you do, sleep in the gym or something?"
He lowered the glass from his lips, a small, amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It's called basic hygiene," he replied smoothly, his voice a deep calm in contrast to their teasing. "Maybe you should try it sometime."
Veeranshu laughed and shook his head, leaning back against the headboard. "Please, like we could ever compete with your 'perfect' physique. Tell me, though-how do you manage to look like that and still not have a date on a Friday night?" Vivaan joined in, his grin widening.
"Seriously, man. What's your secret? Do you, like, reject girls on purpose?"He took another sip of his juice, unbothered by their playful jabs. Setting the glass down, he turned to face them. "Maybe I'm just waiting for the right challenge." His tone was casual, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Veeranshu snorted. "Challenge, huh? Dude, you're too picky. You're gonna end up alone at this rate."Vivaan laughed. "Or worse, we'll be the ones stuck picking up the pieces of your broken heart when you finally do find her-and she dumps you."
He leaned back against the dresser, crossing his arms with an easy confidence. "I think I'll manage. Besides," he added with a smirk, "you two clearly need me to raise the bar around here. Imagine what it would be like if you were the standard."
Veeranshu chuckled, throwing a pillow at him. "Yeah, yeah, keep talking. Just wait until the next party, we'll see who's laughing then." Vivaan nodded in agreement, eyes twinkling. "Yeah, man. You think you're smooth now, but we'll see how cool you are when someone turns you down for once."He caught the pillow mid-air, tossing it back at Veeranshu "Guess we'll have to see." His smile grew wider, and though his voice was relaxed, there was an underlying confidence in every word. After some time talking with his bestfriends he went towards his closet, getting ready for the day , while attending a business call making him sigh in annoyance while his bestfriends exchanged looks . And starts to talk with eachother as soon as kartikey was out of sight . They both left his room and walks downstairs towards living room while talking.
"I'm telling you, Vivaan," Veeranshu leaned forward, his excitement barely contained. "I've heard amazing things about that place. The ambiance, the food... everyone's raving about it. It's like the perfect spot to just unwind for a bit." Vivaan nodded, swirling the drink in his glass. "You're right. I've seen it all over social media. People can't stop talking about how cozy it is. It seems like the kind of place we could enjoy without dealing with the usual chaos."A brief pause settled between them, both of them exchanging a look.
They knew convincing Kartikey to join them was the real challenge. Getting him to agree to anything that wasn't related to business or work felt like pulling teeth sometimes. Kartikey, ruthless in his business dealings and closed off emotionally, rarely indulged in casual outings. If it wasn't for Vivaan and Veeranshu, Kartikey would have likely buried himself in endless meetings and strategic takeovers.Vivaan chuckled, knowing exactly what was running through Veeranshu's mind.
"He's not going to agree easily, you know. Kartikey's always got something going on, and if we tell him it's a 'cute café,' he'll shoot it down in a heartbeat."Veeranshu grinned mischievously. "Oh, I know. But I've got an idea."Just as he said that, the sound of firm footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Kartikey entered the living room, dressed in a crisp black suit, his sharp features unreadable as always. His eyes shifted from one best friend to the other, sensing that they were up to something. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice calm but authoritative."What are you two scheming now?" Kartikey asked, his tone hinting at both curiosity and irritation.
Vivaan cleared his throat, his casual smile never faltering. "We were thinking, maybe, you could join us this evening for a change? There's this new café in town, and we figured it might be a good way to unwind for a bit."Kartikey arched a brow, already disinterested. "A café? You want me to waste my time at some hipster café when I have deals to close?"Veeranshu leaned back on the couch, giving Kartikey a knowing look.
"Come on, Kartikey. You work nonstop. We know that. But even you need a break sometimes. This place has been getting great reviews, and it's not just some ordinary café. It's sophisticated, elegant... and it wouldn't hurt to check out the competition." Kartikey sighed, his patience thinning. "And why, exactly, would I need to care about a café? I own multinational companies, not coffee shops."
Vivaan chuckled lightly. "Think of it as market research. See what's out there, enjoy the atmosphere, maybe find a way to relax for once. You could use it, trust me."Kartikey's jaw tightened as he looked between his two best friends, both of them wearing expressions that bordered on smug confidence. They knew how to get under his skin, and the worst part was-they were right. He had been going at full speed for weeks, if not months, with hardly a moment to himself.
"Fine," Kartikey relented after a long pause, his voice cold and measured. "But if it's as pointless as I think it is, I'm not staying longer than necessary."Vivaan and Veeranshu exchanged quick glances, triumphant smiles breaking out as they got up from the sofa."We'll hold you to that," Vivaan smirked, patting Kartikey on the shoulder.Veeranshu was already heading to grab his jacket, looking back with a playful grin. "Trust me, Kartikey, you'll thank us later."
Without wasting more time, they all began getting ready to head out. Kartikey, always precise and meticulous, changed into something more casual but still expensive-dark jeans, a fitted shirt, and a leather jacket. His expression remained serious as ever, though Vivaan and Veeranshu knew better than to take his cold demeanor to heart. Beneath the layers of power and control, Kartikey was their closest friend, even if he wouldn't admit it.The three of them left the penthouse, the cool evening air hitting them as they stepped outside.
Kartikey's sleek black car awaited them, the driver standing by, and as they slid into the back seat, Vivaan and Veeranshu couldn't help but glance at each other, their excitement barely contained. This café visit wasn't just about drinks and ambiance-it was about breaking Kartikey out of his rigid shell, even if just for a while.As they drove toward the café, the city lights flickered outside the car windows, and for a brief moment, even Kartikey felt the weight of his work and responsibilities begin to lift. But little did he know, this trip was about to introduce him to something-or someone-that would make his world spin in ways he never anticipated.The café awaited, and so did Uma.