---
[11:47 p.m. – Vihaan’s Apartment]
The city outside was quiet, but inside, the living room was littered with open case files. Anaya sat cross-legged on the carpet, highlighter in one hand, and a coffee mug in the other.
Anaya: “Do you always make your juniors work out of your apartment?”
Vihaan: “Only the ones who mess up my office desk.”
Anaya: “I put your pens in size order, that’s called organizing.”
Vihaan: “You put them in rainbow order. This is a law firm, not a stationery shop.”
Anaya smirked, highlighting another line in the document.
---
Anaya: “You live like your desk — cold and clinical.”
Vihaan: “Better than chaotic and impulsive.”
Anaya: “You’ve been dying to call me impulsive since college, haven’t you?”
Vihaan: (without looking up) “I didn’t need to. You proved it often enough.”
Anaya: “Like when?”
Vihaan: “The moot court in our final year. You skipped half your script just to argue with the judge.”
Anaya: (laughs) “And still scored higher than your team.”
He finally looked up, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips.
---
[Flashback – College Moot Court Room]
Judge (professor): “Ms. Sharma, that’s not in your allotted argument.”
Anaya: “With due respect, sir, neither was the question you just asked me.”
Gasps from the audience. Vihaan, seated two rows back, watched with mild amusement.
Vihaan (thinking): She’s either fearless… or reckless.
---
[Back to Present]
Vihaan: “You haven’t changed.”
Anaya: “And you have?”
Vihaan: “More patience. Less faith in people.”
His tone was matter-of-fact, but she caught something in his eyes — something he wasn’t saying.
---
Anaya: “That sounds… sad.”
Vihaan: “It’s realistic.”
Anaya: “No, it’s what people say when they’ve been hurt.”
He looked at her for a moment, as if deciding whether to answer.
Vihaan: “We’re here to prepare for court, not my biography.”
Anaya: “You’re impossible.”
Vihaan: “You’re distracting.”
The words hung in the air, heavier than he intended. She blinked, caught off guard.
---
[Tension Break – Work Mode]
Vihaan: “Focus on Exhibit D. It’s the crux of tomorrow’s cross-exam.”
Anaya: “Already done. I also found a contradiction in the witness statement from page thirty-two.”
She slid the file toward him. He scanned it, brows lifting slightly.
Vihaan: “Good catch. That could turn the case.”
Anaya: “You’re welcome.”
Vihaan: “Don’t get smug. You still talk too much in court.”
Anaya: “And you still think silence is the only sign of intelligence.”
---
[Midnight Coffee Break]
She stood to refill their mugs. The kitchen was spotless, almost unnervingly so.
Anaya: “Your fridge has two bottles of water, one box of eggs, and… is this an unopened jar of Nutella?”
Vihaan: “Essentials.”
Anaya: “You need a life, Rajput.”
Vihaan: “I have one. It’s just… not yours.”
Anaya: “Which is why it’s boring.”
She handed him his coffee, their fingers brushing for the briefest second.
---
[Quiet Moment]
Anaya: “Five years and you’re still the same—sharp suit, sharp words.”
Vihaan: “And you’re still the same—messy hair, messy heart.”
Anaya: “Messy hearts make better lawyers. We care.”
Vihaan: “Caring gets you hurt.”
Anaya: “Maybe. But it also wins cases like this one.”
The clock struck one. Files were stacked, mugs emptied. As Anaya packed her notes, Vihaan spoke without looking at her.
Vihaan: “You did well today. Don’t let it go to your head.”
Anaya: “Too late.”
She grinned, walking to the door. He watched her leave, an unreadable expression in his eyes.
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