23

The next day, Tara and Aryan arrived at the restaurant for the site visit as planned. The kitchen was bustling with activity—the clinking of utensils, the sizzle of food on the stove, and the occasional call-out from the head chef created a lively atmosphere. Simran greeted them with her usual warmth and introduced them to the kitchen staff.

Aryan took the lead, his eyes sharp as he observed every detail. He asked precise questions—about the flow of orders, the seating capacity, how the kitchen managed peak hours, and how private events were handled logistically.

"So, how do you handle online reservations when there's a walk-in rush? Does the system block out certain times when you're overbooked?" Aryan asked, leaning slightly against the counter.

One of the senior chefs, a stocky man with a kind face, wiped his hands on his apron. "Right now, we handle it manually. If we're packed, we just stop taking online bookings, but it's not seamless."

Tara stood next to Aryan, jotting down notes quickly. She occasionally asked questions, but mostly she let Aryan lead. It was his thing—this sharp, confident way of handling the technical side while she preferred ensuring that their ideas translated well into the user experience.

As Aryan inspected the POS system and discussed inventory tracking with the kitchen manager, Tara quietly noted down the user journey for a reservation system that would accommodate walk-ins and online bookings simultaneously.

After a few hours, they wrapped up the visit. Simran thanked them both, and Aryan assured her they'd begin drafting the tech integration plan.

By the time they got back to their studio building, it was early afternoon. Tara unlocked her door, ready to retreat into her own space, when Aryan suddenly reached out and caught her wrist gently.

"Where are you going?" His voice was soft but firm.

She turned to him, eyebrows slightly raised. "To my studio. We're done, right?"

Aryan shook his head with a faint grin. "No, we need to work on this. We have to map out the backend flow and integrate your designs into it."

She sighed, pulling her wrist back. "You don't need me for that. You handle the backend, I'll work on the designs later. Just send me my part."

His eyes softened, but his voice held steady. "Tara... I need you for everything, baby."

Her heart twisted at his words, but she refused to let it show. She looked away quickly, pretending to brush her hair behind her ear. "Don't call me that," she muttered. "Just... send me my work. I'll do it on my own."

Without waiting for his response, she stepped inside her studio and closed the door. Aryan stood outside for a moment, staring at the closed door, his hand resting briefly on the doorknob before he sighed and let it go.

He leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair.

"She's a tougher nut to crack than I thought," he murmured to himself, a faint, wistful smile tugging at his lips.

~•~

That night, Aryan was in his studio, casually leaning against his desk, laptop open, but his attention was elsewhere. A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts. He opened it to find Karan standing there with his usual grin, holding a bag of chips.

"Bhai, what's up?" Karan stepped in, dropping onto the chair.

Aryan smirked, closing the door behind him. "Nothing much, man. You?"

"Same yaar... assignments piling up. But tell me, what's new with you?"

Aryan stretched his arms, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Actually... there's this business project I'm working on. It's a tech setup for a restaurant. It's kinda big, paid and all."

Karan raised his eyebrows. "Oh ho, look at you. Doing big things. Handling all this alone?"

Aryan shook his head, his smile softening. "No... I'm working with Tara."

Karan paused, mid-bite. "Tara? As in our Tara? Your Tara?"

Aryan nodded.

"Bhai, what? How? Since when?"

"Professor Mark assigned us together after seeing our class project. We had to say yes on the spot."

Karan leaned back, whistling. "Wow... the universe is really rooting for you two."

Aryan chuckled, but there was a bit of hope in his eyes. "Maybe."

Karan grinned. "So? Is it awkward, or are sparks flying again?"

Aryan ran a hand through his hair. "It's... complicated. She's keeping her guard up. But we've been spending time together—site visits, working late. And honestly... it's making me happy. Like, properly happy, man."

Karan nodded, understanding. "I can see that. You look different... lighter."

Aryan exhaled, nodding. "Yeah... I missed her. I'm trying, Karan. She's tough, but I'll wait."

Karan clapped his shoulder. "Good. You better. I want you guys back together by the end of this project."

Aryan laughed. "We'll see."

The boys spent the next half hour chatting, occasionally teasing Aryan about his "project partner," but it was all in good spirit.

Meanwhile, in her flat, Tara lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone was next to her, but she hadn't touched it in a while. Her thoughts were tangled—work deadlines, design ideas, and... Aryan.

She thought about the way he knew exactly how she liked her chai, the way he guided her at the restaurant, how he had pulled her back earlier that day. Her heart felt traitorous—it was getting too comfortable around him again. Her body too. Like it remembered him.

And that scared her.

She turned onto her side, hugging her pillow. This is a maze, she thought. And I don't know the way out.

💜