Scene: ZK Foundation – Rooftop Garden, Late Afternoon

The ZK Foundation's rooftop garden wasn't a place most employees visited often. It was quiet, open, and tucked away—a well-kept secret above the towering glass building. A soft breeze played with the leaves of potted plants, and sunlight streamed through the terrace, casting golden rays across the wooden benches.

Meher stood by the railing, clutching her journal, lost in thought. She had been working all day in the research wing, but something had pulled her here. Maybe it was the need to breathe, or maybe... something else.

She heard footsteps approaching from behind, light but sure. She didn't turn around—somehow, she already knew.

"It's beautiful up here, isn't it?" Meher turned her head, a small smile on her lips. "I didn't expect you to come up here."

Stepping beside her, Zayaan said, "I come here when my thoughts get too loud. This place helps me... quiet them."

She looked at him more closely. Today, he seemed less like the CEO and more like just a man—with sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, and the city light casting a soft glow on his face.

Meher (smiling): "I can see why. It's peaceful."

Zayaan (after a pause): "I've been meaning to ask... Do you always write in that journal?"

Meher glanced down, a little embarrassed.

Meher: "Haan... It's just something I do. Thoughts, observations... sometimes poetry. I just love to write if something is bothering me, or if I am too happy, or how my day went."

Zayaan: "Poetry?" (teasing slightly) "Should I be flattered or concerned that you might be writing about me?"

She laughed, the sound soft and genuine.

Meher: "If you behave, you might make it into a flattering stanza."

Zayaan (with a chuckle): "Now I'm tempted to misbehave. That way I'll be immortalized as a villain in your notebook."

Their eyes met, and the laughter faded into something quieter—something more electric. Meher felt the familiar flutter in her chest, and this time, she didn't try to push it away.

Meher (gently): "You always speak like you're hiding poetry in your words."

Zayaan (holding her gaze): "Maybe I am. Or maybe I just talk differently around you."

There it was again. The air between them felt charged, like something unspoken was beginning to rise to the surface. She looked away, heart thudding.

You barely knew me two weeks ago. How can you be different around me, I m-e---. Zayaan cut her in between and said, Meher, How can anyone not be different around you?

Meher stood in shock, as if he has proposed her. But she came back and laughed the topic off.

A long silence stretched between them, comfortable and dangerous all at once. She finally looked back up at him, her voice quieter now.

Meher: "Do you always say things that make people question their own thoughts?"

Zayaan (smiling): "Only when I mean them."

Meher: Okay, I guess I should head back home now. It's getting late. "May I get your permission to drop you Meher?" said Zayaan. "No sir, thanks for asking, but my driver is outside."

And she left, giving him a wide smile that made his heart beat so fast.

Meher got a call from her father, she received it, Hello Baba, mai bas gaadi me beth gayi hun, thori der me phoch jaungi. To which Farhad replied, "beta esa kya kaam hai, tumne time dekha hai, achha ab seedha ghar aana meri jaan". "Jee baba" she replied and put her phone in bag and kept staring outside the car window.

It started raining, and all she could think about was Zayaan, how he talks gently around her, and between her thoughts, a text message popped on her phone. She took out her phone, and read the message, "Ghar phoch gayi tum? I was worried, itni tez baarish ho rahi hai."

She smiled at the text, and thought to not reply just to have fun and see if he cares about her or not.

The car stopped at the front gate of her home. One of their guards came with umbrella to receive Meher and she went inside. "Baba, kahan hain aap?" she shouted. "Kya hua meri jaan, theek toh ho, or bheegi toh nahi. Nargis, Kambal leke aao, or ghar ke fans off krwao."

"Baba , mai theek hun, saara din bahar thi, I was just missing you", she said making a cute face. "Idhar aao baba ki jaan" Farhad hugged her and took her to the hall and sat on the sofa.

On the dinner table, the daughter and father both had tasty food, enjoyed their time together.

Farad sent Meher to bed as usual, without any contact with social media, television.

The next morning was a little chilly, as winter was arriving. It felt cozy, the weather was a little cold, there were clouds that Meher could see from her window with half eyes closed.

Suddenly, her phone received a text, It was an unexpected message.

"Coffee? No business. Just time." It was from Zayaan. She smiled and blushed, then looked outside the window with her cozy thoughts, and the conversation she will have with Zayaan after so long, that too, an unofficial meeting.

But when she was about to reply, she hesitated. But then said yes without giving it a second thought.

She left her bed in such a hurry as they were meeting in the morning instead of evening, but soon the thought hit her mind an she muttered, "Oh, why am I in such a haste, we have to meet in evening", and she went to take shower.

She left for college to submit her assignment which was pending. "Hello Sir", "Oh hello Meher, how are you doing?"

"Sir the thesis is going well, I have so much of the research data to look into and it just excited=s me more and more to get deep into this subject."

"Well, thats a good thing to hear, I expected this from you. I guess you must be here to submit your assignment." She replied, "Jee sir, I have already given it to Areeba, as I am leaving, I have some business to deal with". 

Their comversation followed, and she left from the college for her home.

"Meher beta, ye kya haal kar diya hai tumne kamre ka, itne saare kapde kyu faila rakhe hain?" Nargis Bua said, Nargis bua was their very old servant, but no one treated her like one. She was like a mother to Meher. Nargis bua was the one who brought up Meher like a mother.

"Bua, mujhe bahar jaana hai, aur samajh nahi aa raha ki kya pehnu". Meher took a charcoal colour pullover, stood in front of mirror with the pullover, and asked, "Bua, ye kesa lag raha hai? Aur haan, iske saath wo black colour ki jeans toh nikaal dein please." Nargis bua took out the jeans and handed over to Meher saying, "Arey beta tum jo bhi pehen lo sab achha lagta hai tum par toh."

"Arey bua aap bhi na, ye lein isey iron krwa dein please, mujhe der ho rahi hai." 

Meher took a shower, changed herself into the charcoal colour pullover with black jeans, open wavy hair, and got the car ready. All the way, the only thing on her mind was Zayaan.

Scene: Café Lavista – The Following Evening

The café was cozy, tucked between art galleries and bookshops, its walls covered with vintage posters and low-hanging lights.

Zayaan was already there when she arrived, dressed casually in a beige sweater and jeans. He stood when he saw her.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come." Zayaan admitted to which Meher replied, "I was afraid I would", while taking her seat.

They shared coffee, but more than that—they shared stories. About childhood, about fears, about books they loved and places they dreamed of seeing.

Zayaan (leaning forward): "I used to think people like us, who carry too much silence can't find peace."

Meher: "Maybe we don't need peace all at once. Maybe we just need someone's company that feels like it."

He stared at her for a moment too long, and when she shifted, he finally looked away.

Zayaan: "You're different, Meher."

Meher: "And you're... complicated."

He smiled at that, not denying it.

He suddenly popped a question, "If I ask you to meet me again tomorrow, no reason, just time, would you come?"

She hesitated for just a moment then nodded quietly, saying, "Yes."

After their talk, Zayaan asked her again, "Can I drop you home, Meher?" Meher asked back, "You know my answer, then why do you ask this question every time?"

"I ask this every time so that someday you let me do it." "Hahaa", she laughed gently, "But not today sir."

Zayaan nodded his head and came out with her to the car.

At night, Meher received a text. She jumped "Oh It's him, it's him. "Kya kar rahi ho?" She read it. "Kuch khaas nahi bas sone ki taiyari." She replied.

"Oh toh aap itni jaldi sou jaati hain."

"Jee haan, ab sabki life aapki tarah thori hoti hai Sir"

"Kya tum humare beech se sir nahi nikaal sakti. Mera naam Zayaan hai."

"Haan fir sabko lagega hum dono humumar hain or dost hain."

"For your kind information, main tumse 4-5 saal bada toh hounga."

"Mujhe farak nahi padta Mr. Zayaan" "Achha ab mai sone lagi hun, kal milte hain. Good night"

"Good night Meher" he replied.

Scene: ZK Foundation – Research Wing, Days Later

Their work continued, but the atmosphere between them had shifted. What had once been professional had now taken on a softness, a rhythm only they seemed to understand. Lunches turned into lingering conversations. Meetings ended with quiet moments of silence, and Meher started to look forward to every interaction.

One afternoon, as they reviewed a report together, Meher leaned a little closer than usual. Zayaan didn't move away.

Zayaan (teasing): "You're doing it again."

Meher (raising a brow): "Doing what?"

Zayaan: "Looking at the screen like it might sprout wings and fly away."

She laughed, nudging his shoulder playfully.

Meher: "It might, if you keep hovering like this."

He didn't respond immediately. Then, slowly, he turned to her.

Zayaan: "Tumhe mujhse dar nahi lagta?"

Her smile faded slightly, confused.

Meher: "Mujhe aapse dar kyu lagega?"

He shrugged, but there was something cautious in his voice.

Zayaan: "Main itna complicated jo hun, aur ho sakta hai mujhe samajhna bhi mushkil ho."

She looked at him then, seriously.

Meher: "Everyone has a past, Zayaan. But what matters is who you are now. And right now... you're someone I want to understand."

Their eyes met again, and this time, there was no shifting away.

Zayaan (softly): "You're dangerous, Meher."

Meher (smiling): "So are you."

Scene: Zayedi Mansion – That Night

As Meher sat at her vanity brushing her hair, she caught her reflection smiling without reason. She paused, staring at herself, then pulled out her journal and began to write.

"There is something about him, Zayaan. He carries storms in his silence and gentleness in his gaze. He doesn't speak much about himself, but in his pauses, I hear the loudest truths. Is it foolish to feel something already? Or is it the most honest thing I've ever felt?"

She closed the journal softly.

From outside her room, she heard her father's voice calling, and she quickly composed herself.

Farhad (entering): "You've been spending a lot of time at the foundation lately."

Meher (nodding, casually): "We've started a new research stream. It's going well."

Farhad gave her a searching look but said nothing more. He simply nodded and walked away. Meher watched him leave, her heart suddenly uncertain.

For now, everything between her and Zayaan felt new, warm, and quietly hopeful.

And she wanted to hold on to that just a little longer.