The fairy lights in Brew & Bliss twinkled like they were in on the plan, casting a soft glow over the café as Arjun, Kiara, and Vikram stepped back inside. The air smelled of espresso and anticipation, and Arjun's heart was doing its best impression of a Mumbai local train during rush hour. Kiara's arm was still looped through his, her warmth grounding him even as Vikram's loud commentary made him want to disappear.
"Bro, this is your moment!" Vikram whispered, way too loudly, as they weaved through the crowded tables. "Riya's still here, looking like she's about to unfollow you on Insta. Keep up the couple vibes!"
Arjun shot him a glare. "Can you not announce it to the whole café?"
Kiara smirked, squeezing his arm. "Let him hype you up. He's not wrong—this is your big scene." Her voice was playful, but her eyes held a glint of something else, like she was enjoying this more than she should. "Ready for the encore, babe?"
There was that word again—*babe*. Arjun's face heated up, but he nodded, trying to channel whatever confidence Kiara seemed to think he had. They settled at a new table, closer to Riya's, where she was scrolling through her phone with a scowl. Leather Jacket Guy was slouched beside her, looking bored, which gave Arjun a tiny spark of satisfaction.
Kiara didn't miss a beat. She leaned across the table, her fingers brushing Arjun's as she handed him her phone. "Look at this meme," she said, loud enough for nearby tables to hear. "It's so you." The screen showed a cartoon of a guy tripping over his own feet with hearts in his eyes. She laughed, her voice bright and teasing. "Reminds me of you trying to dance at that imaginary Juhu Beach date."
Arjun's lips twitched into a grin, despite his nerves. "I'd be a great dancer if seagulls weren't attacking my ice cream."
She gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "My hero! Saving my gola from those evil birds!" Her laughter was infectious, and for a moment, Arjun forgot about Riya, Vikram, and the fact that this was all fake. Kiara's eyes crinkled when she laughed, and the way she leaned toward him felt… real.
Vikram, perched at the edge of their table like an overeager referee, clapped Arjun on the shoulder. "See? You're killing it! Riya's practically burning holes in you with her eyes."
Arjun stole a glance. Vikram was right—Riya was staring, her fingers frozen on her phone. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away, but not before Arjun caught the flicker of something like regret. His chest swelled with a mix of triumph and guilt. Was this what he wanted? To make her jealous? Or was he starting to care less about Riya and more about the girl sitting across from him?
Kiara seemed to sense the shift. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She's rattled, but let's not overdo it. Rule six of fake dating: leave a little mystery." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers lingering near her earring, and Arjun's brain blanked out for a second. How was she so good at this?
Before he could respond, the café door jingled, and a new figure strode in—a girl in a sleek black dress, her hair in a perfect bun, exuding the kind of confidence that made everyone turn. She scanned the room, spotted Kiara, and made a beeline for their table. Arjun's stomach dropped. Something about her sharp smile screamed trouble.
"Kiara Malhotra," the girl said, stopping in front of them. Her voice was smooth but edged, like a knife wrapped in silk. "Didn't expect to see you working a job on a Saturday."
Kiara's smile faltered for a split second, but she recovered fast. "Nisha. Fancy running into you. What, no clients today?" Her tone was light, but there was a tension Arjun hadn't heard before.
Nisha smirked, glancing at Arjun. "Oh, I've got clients. But I don't take the budget jobs like you." Her eyes flicked to Vikram, who was staring like he'd just seen a Bollywood star. "This your guy? Cute, but he looks like he's about to faint."
Arjun's face burned. Vikram, unhelpful as ever, laughed. "Yo, who's this? Another fake girlfriend?"
Nisha's eyebrow arched. "Fake girlfriend? Oh, Kiara, you didn't tell him the full deal, did you?"
Arjun's heart skipped. "Full deal?" He looked at Kiara, whose expression was now a mix of annoyance and something like panic.
"It's nothing," Kiara said quickly, shooting Nisha a warning look. "Nisha's just… joking. Right?"
Nisha laughed, a sound that was more mean than merry. "Sure, let's go with that. But, cutie," she said, turning to Arjun, "you should know Kiara's the best in the business. She's got half the college booked for 'dates.' You're not special, just next in line."
Arjun's stomach twisted. Half the college? Was this just another job for Kiara? He knew it was fake, but the way she'd laughed, the way her hand felt in his… it hadn't felt like just a job. He looked at her, searching for an explanation, but Kiara's eyes were fixed on Nisha, her jaw tight.
"Enough, Nisha," Kiara said, her voice low. "You've got your own drama to stir. Leave us alone."
Nisha shrugged, tossing her hair. "Just looking out for the poor guy. Have fun, lovebirds." She sauntered off, leaving a cloud of expensive perfume and awkward silence.
Vikram whistled. "Damn, that was intense. Who's she? Your fake-dating rival?"
"Something like that," Kiara muttered, stirring her latte like it had personally offended her. She glanced at Arjun, her usual confidence dimmed. "Sorry about that. Nisha's… competitive. She works for the same service. Likes to mess with me."
Arjun nodded, but Nisha's words echoed in his head: *You're not special.* He wanted to ask Kiara if it was true—if he was just another client in a long list—but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he said, "It's fine. I mean, this is just… business, right?"
Kiara's eyes flickered, like she wanted to say something but thought better of it. "Right," she said, her smile forced. "Business."
The mood shifted, the playful spark between them dimming. Arjun glanced at his phone: 5:00 p.m. Their two hours were up. He expected Kiara to check out, maybe make a joke and leave, but she stayed seated, picking at the last cheesy fry.
Vikram, oblivious to the tension, stood up. "I'm hitting the loo. Don't elope while I'm gone." He winked and disappeared, leaving Arjun and Kiara alone.
For a moment, neither spoke. The café buzzed around them—clinking cups, laughter, a Bollywood song playing softly—but it felt like they were in a bubble. Arjun cleared his throat. "So… do you do this a lot? The fake-dating thing?"
Kiara hesitated, then shrugged. "Enough to pay my uni fees. It's just acting, you know? Helps people like you get what they need." Her voice was casual, but her fingers twisted the straw, betraying her nerves.
"People like me," Arjun repeated, half-laughing. "Desperate losers?"
Her eyes snapped to his, sharp and serious. "You're not a loser, Arjun. You're… sweet. Genuine. Most guys who book me just want to show off. You actually care."
The words hit harder than he expected. He wanted to believe her, but Nisha's taunt lingered. "So, what's the deal with her? Nisha. She made it sound like you're, like, a dating superstar."
Kiara sighed, leaning back. "She's just jealous. I get more bookings because I'm good at making it feel real. But it's not like I'm out here breaking hearts for fun. It's a job." She paused, her voice softer. "And for what it's worth, this date's been… different."
"Different how?" Arjun asked, his heart doing that stupid flip again.
She looked at him, her eyes searching his. "You're not trying to impress me. You're just… you. It's nice."
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the café fading away. Arjun's phone buzzed—probably Vikram—but he ignored it. He wanted to say something, anything, to keep this moment going. But before he could, Kiara's phone lit up with a notification. She glanced at it, and her face fell.
"Shoot," she muttered, grabbing her bag. "I've got another… thing. I need to go."
"Another date?" The words slipped out before Arjun could stop them, sharper than he meant.
Kiara flinched, then stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "It's not like that. Just… work." She hesitated, then gave him a small smile. "You did great today, Arjun. If you ever need another round, you know where to find me."
She turned to leave, but Arjun stood too, surprising himself. "Wait. Can I… book you again? Not for Riya. Just… to hang out."
Kiara's smile softened, but there was a flicker of something—uncertainty? fear?—in her eyes. "We'll see," she said, then walked out, her blue kurti vanishing into the Mumbai evening.
Arjun sank back into his chair, his heart a mess of triumph and confusion. Riya was jealous, the plan had worked, but all he could think about was Kiara's laugh, her touch, and the way she'd said "different." As Vikram bounded back, ranting about Riya's latest Story, Arjun realized one thing: this fake date had just made his life a lot more complicated.