Wife by Heart (He May Not Carry My Name but He Carries the Soul)

coffee Day and First sight

Chapter 2: Coffee Day and First Sight

Sushant had a way of convincing people without really trying.

After their first meeting at the gym, he asked Rahul for a “small” interview outside. Rahul almost refused—he wasn’t the kind of man who liked talking about himself. But the sparkle in Sushant’s eyes and the easy charm in his words made it impossible to say no.

“Just one coffee,” Sushant had said. “I promise I won’t make you lift a pen the way you lift dumbbells.”

Rahul had chuckled. “Fine. One coffee. But don’t expect me to order anything fancy.”

The café smelled of roasted beans and fresh croissants. Rahul arrived early, dressed simply in his dark shirt, his posture straight, eyes scanning the room like he was still inside a gym. He wasn’t used to this—the gentle clinking of cups, soft music, the lazy comfort of people sipping cappuccinos.

And then Sushant walked in.

Rahul froze for a second. It wasn’t the first time he was seeing him, but something about this moment felt different. Maybe it was the warm evening light falling on Sushant’s face, maybe it was the casual blue patterned shirt that suited him perfectly, or maybe it was simply the way his presence filled the café like a quiet melody.

Sushant spotted him and smiled, sliding into the seat across the table.

“You came early. I was afraid you’d cancel.”

Rahul shrugged. “I don’t like wasting time.”

“Good,” Sushant said, leaning forward. “Because I don’t like wasting conversations.”

For the first time in a long while, Rahul found himself… smiling. Not the polite nod he gave to clients, but a real, unguarded smile.

The coffee arrived. Rahul ordered black, strong, no sugar. Sushant, on the other hand, picked a caramel latte with extra cream.

“That explains everything about us,” Sushant teased. “You’re all about strength, discipline, no sweetness. I’m about… well, indulgence.”

Rahul smirked. “Too much sugar will ruin your health.”

“And too much discipline will ruin your soul,” Sushant replied quickly, his eyes glinting.

Rahul didn’t answer. But something in his chest shifted—like a weight being lifted.

They spoke for hours, though Rahul later wondered how time slipped away so easily. Sushant asked about his childhood, about what drew him to fitness, about why he never let anyone close. And Rahul, who never shared, found himself speaking. Not everything, but enough.

At one point, Sushant stopped writing in his notebook and just… looked at him.

“What?” Rahul asked, a little uncomfortable.

Sushant smiled softly. “Nothing. Just… you don’t realize how much your eyes say when your words don’t.”

Rahul looked away, heat rising to his face. For the first time, someone had noticed the silence he had carried for years.

And in that moment—over bitter black coffee and sweet caramel latte—Rahul realized that this wasn’t just an interview. This was the beginning of something he didn’t even know he was waiting for.

🔻 Conclusion of Chapter 2

When they finally stepped out of the café, the night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain. Rahul walked beside Sushant in silence, still unsure of what to make of the strange ease he felt around him.

Sushant broke the quiet. “So… was that as painful as lifting weights?” he teased, tapping his notebook.

Rahul smirked. “Worse. But maybe I’ll survive another round.”

Sushant laughed, the sound soft but full, and for the first time in years, Rahul felt something shift inside him. It wasn’t the discipline of the gym, nor the order of routine. It was something unexpected, dangerous even—something that made his heart lighter.

As they parted ways, Sushant looked back once, his smile lingering in the glow of the streetlight. Rahul stood still, watching until he disappeared around the corner, a thought echoing in his mind.