Aditya’s words lingered in the silence.
“…this place still doesn’t feel like anyone lives here.”
For a brief moment, Vishesh simply stood there with one hand still resting on the door handle.
Then, as though he had heard nothing unusual, he quietly closed the door behind them.
“I’ve heard that before.”
Aditya smiled.
“I know.”
“And I still mean it.”
The apartment was breathtaking.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked the glittering city below.
Minimalist furniture, warm wooden flooring and muted grey interiors reflected understated luxury.
Every object had its place.
Every surface was spotless.
Yet there wasn’t a single trace of life scattered around.
No books lying open on the coffee table.
No half-finished painting.
No family photographs.
No music playing in the background.
It resembled a beautifully furnished hotel suite more than someone’s home.
Vishesh placed his laptop on the console table and loosened his tie.
“You’ll have coffee?”
Aditya laughed.
“Was that even a question?”
Without waiting for a reply, Vishesh walked towards the open kitchen.
The familiar routine required no thought.
Coffee beans.
Grinder.
French press.
Boiling water.
Every movement was precise, almost mechanical.
Aditya leaned casually against the kitchen island, watching him.
“You still refuse to let anyone make coffee for you.”
Vishesh poured the freshly ground beans into the press.
“I make it the way I like it.”
“You mean stronger than humanly acceptable.”
“It keeps me awake.”
“It could probably wake the neighbours too.”
A faint smile appeared on Vishesh’s face.
“You’re free to make your own.”
“I’ve tasted mine.”
“I prefer yours.”
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee soon filled the apartment, softening its quiet emptiness.
For a few moments neither spoke.
Outside, the city lights shimmered beyond the glass walls as distant thunder rolled somewhere across the horizon.
Vishesh carried two mugs to the living room and placed them on the centre table before taking a seat opposite Aditya.
Steam curled lazily from the cups.
Aditya wrapped his hands around the warm mug before taking a slow sip.
He closed his eyes dramatically.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The only reason I still visit your apartment.”
Vishesh raised an eyebrow.
“I thought it was my company.”
“No.”
“The coffee.”
“I tolerate you because it comes free.”
Vishesh shook his head with quiet amusement.
“You should’ve become a comedian.”
“I considered it.”
“They rejected me.”
“They said I wasn’t serious enough.”
“I can see why.”
Both laughed softly.
The easy conversation settled into another comfortable silence.
Aditya looked around once again.
His eyes rested on the large bookshelf against the far wall.
Economics.
Architecture.
Leadership.
Finance.
Every shelf reflected Vishesh’s disciplined life.
Nothing reflected the man behind it.
“You know,” Aditya said thoughtfully, “Rohan would hate this.”
Vishesh looked up.
“The apartment?”
“The lack of colour.”
“He’d probably start hanging paintings before you’ve finished making coffee.”
“He probably would.”
“He’ll say this wall needs a landscape.”
“And that one an abstract.”
“And before long…”
“My apartment would become his gallery.”
“You say that as though it’s impossible.”
Vishesh smiled quietly.
“It’s happened before.”
Aditya laughed.
“I remember.”
The mention of his younger brother softened something in Vishesh’s expression.
Rohan had always been the exact opposite of him.
Where Vishesh preferred order, Rohan embraced chaos.
Where Vishesh found comfort in schedules, Rohan found inspiration in spontaneity.
One built businesses.
The other painted worlds.
Different in almost every way.
Yet inseparable.
A flash of lightning illuminated the skyline beyond the windows.
Seconds later, rain began tapping gently against the glass.
Aditya looked outside.
“There it is.”
“The second evening in a row.”
Vishesh followed his gaze.
The rain was lighter than yesterday.
Steady.
Calm.
Almost peaceful.
“You’ve been thinking about yesterday, haven’t you?”
Aditya asked quietly.
Vishesh looked back at him.
“The incident?”
“Hmm.”
“For a while.”
“What exactly stayed with you?”
Vishesh didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he took another sip of coffee.
Finally he spoke.
“She surprised me.”
“In what way?”
“I’ve met plenty of people who try to impress.”
“Some because of my position.”
“Others because of my surname.”
He looked at the rain beyond the glass.
“She did neither.”
Aditya listened without interrupting.
“She disagreed with me.”
“More than once.”
“And she wasn’t rude.”
“She simply believed she was right.”
“And?”
“And she was willing to stand by what she believed.”
A thoughtful silence settled between them.
Aditya smiled.
“Sounds familiar.”
Vishesh frowned slightly. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
“What does?”
“You.”
Vishesh looked at him questioningly.
“You supported her proposal today because you believed it was the right decision.”
“You stood against the board’s hesitation.”
“You even accepted responsibility when your mother made it clear that the project would be on your shoulders.”
He paused.
“Yesterday she refused your help because she believed she could manage.”
“Today you defended her work because you believed she deserved the opportunity.”
He smiled knowingly.
“Different situations.”
“Same stubbornness.”
Vishesh let out a quiet laugh.
“I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“I have.”
Another comfortable silence followed.
The rain outside grew slightly heavier, creating shimmering trails across the glass windows.
Aditya leaned back into the sofa.
“So…”
“What do you think she’ll be like on-site?”
Vishesh considered the question.
“I don’t know.”
“You’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Hmm.”
“I expect she’ll ask questions.”
“Argue with contractors.”
“Challenge engineers.”
“And refuse to compromise if she believes something affects the design.”
Aditya laughed.
“That specific?”
“I noticed how she handled questions today.”
“She didn’t defend ideas emotionally.”
“She defended them logically.”
“That’s rare.”
“It is.”
He paused for a moment before adding quietly,
“And valuable.”
For the first time since the conversation began, Aditya heard genuine admiration in Vishesh’s voice.
Not admiration for a woman.
Admiration for competence.
For dedication.
For integrity.
Exactly the qualities Vishesh respected most.
He smiled to himself.
The project, he realised, was going to be far more interesting than either of them had expected.
Just then…
Vishesh’s phone vibrated gently on the coffee table.
Both men instinctively looked down.
The screen lit up.
Rohan Calling.
A warmth immediately crossed Vishesh’s face.
He picked up the phone without hesitation.
“Hey.”
Before he could say another word, an energetic voice burst through the speaker.
“Bhai!
Please tell me you’re not still working.”
Vishesh chuckled softly.
“For your information…”
“I’ve already reached home.”
“Miracles do happen.”
Aditya shook his head, smiling as Vishesh stood and walked slowly towards the window with the phone in his hand.
Outside…
the rain continued to fall over the sleeping city.
Inside…
one conversation was ending.
Another was just about to begin.