Chapter 3: Coffee Without Sugar
Ananya woke up before her alarm rang.
For a few seconds, she lay in bed, looking at the ceiling. Then she remembered.
Her interview was today.
She quickly got out of bed and checked the time.
"Six thirty. Good," she whispered.
She had enough time to get ready.
After taking a bath, she stood in front of her cupboard and looked at her clothes. She wanted to look professional, but she didn't want to spend money on anything new.
Finally, she chose a simple light blue kurta, black trousers, and a pair of comfortable sandals.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
"Please, God. Let this day go well," she whispered.
Then she smiled at her own reflection.
"At least try to look confident, Ananya."
She picked up her resume and placed it inside her bag.
When she entered the kitchen, her mother was preparing breakfast.
"You're getting ready early today," her mother said.
"I have an interview, Amma."
Her mother stopped working and looked at her.
"Oh, yes. That interview."
Ananya waited for her to say something more.
"Did you prepare everything?" her mother asked.
"Yes."
"Then eat your breakfast before you leave."
Ananya sat at the table.
She had hoped her mother would wish her good luck. But she knew her mother had many worries of her own.
Perhaps she had forgotten how important this interview was to Ananya.
Or perhaps she didn't know what to say.
Either way, Ananya ate her breakfast quietly.
Before leaving, she went to her father's room.
"Nanna, I'm leaving for my interview."
He looked up from his newspaper.
"Today?"
"Yes."
He folded the newspaper and looked at her properly.
"All the best, Ananya."
She was surprised.
"Thank you, Nanna."
"Don't be nervous. Just answer their questions honestly."
Ananya smiled.
"I'll try."
"And call me when you finish."
"I will."
Those few words gave her more comfort than he realised.
She touched his feet, took his blessings, and left the house.
The company office was in a busy part of Bengaluru.
Ananya reached the building twenty minutes early. She checked her appearance in the glass door and took a deep breath before entering.
The receptionist asked her name and showed her where to wait.
There were three other candidates sitting in the waiting area.
Ananya took a seat and held her resume tightly.
She had prepared for this interview, but now that she was there, every answer seemed to disappear from her mind.
What if she couldn't answer a question?
What if they asked about something she didn't know?
What if she wasn't good enough?
Her phone vibrated.
It was a message from Meera.
Meera: Good luck! Remember, you deserve this opportunity. Don't let your fear speak louder than you.
Ananya smiled.
Ananya: Thank you. I'm trying not to panic.
Meera: Good. And after the interview, treat yourself to something nice. Even if it's just a cup of coffee.
Ananya laughed quietly.
Ananya: Fine. Coffee it is.
A few minutes later, a woman came out of the interview room.
"Ananya Rao?"
Ananya stood up immediately.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Please come in."
She followed the woman into the room.
The interview began with simple questions about her education, interests, and writing skills.
At first, Ananya was nervous. But as the conversation continued, she slowly became comfortable.
The interviewer asked her why she wanted the job.
Ananya paused for a moment.
"I want to learn and build my career," she replied. "I enjoy writing, and I want to become better at it. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work hard."
The interviewer nodded.
"That's good. We are looking for someone who is willing to learn."
By the end of the interview, Ananya felt lighter.
She didn't know whether she would get the job, but she had answered honestly and done her best.
When she came outside, she checked her phone.
There was a message from her father.
Nanna: How did it go?
She replied.
Ananya: It went well, Nanna. I'll tell you everything when I come home.
Then she remembered Meera's suggestion.
Coffee.
For once, she decided not to rush home immediately.
There was a small café a short walk from the office. She had passed it on her way to the interview.
She walked inside and found a table near the window.
The café was quiet, with soft music playing in the background. The smell of fresh coffee filled the room.
A waiter came to her table.
"What would you like, ma'am?"
"One coffee, please."
"With sugar?"
Ananya thought for a moment.
"Yes. Two spoons."
The waiter smiled and left.
She took out her phone and opened her notes app. She wanted to write down some thoughts about the interview before she forgot them.
She had just started typing when someone pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Is this seat taken?"
Ananya looked up.
For a moment, she couldn't believe her eyes.
It was the man from the rain.
Arjun.
She stared at him.
"Are you following me?"
He raised his eyebrows.
"Good morning to you, too."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. I came here for coffee. I didn't know you would be here."
Ananya looked around the café.
"Of all the cafés in Bengaluru?"
"Would you like me to show you my bill as proof?"
She tried to look annoyed, but his expression made it difficult.
"Fine. Sit down."
Arjun sat opposite her.
"Thank you for your permission."
"Don't make fun of me."
"I'm not. Not yet."
Ananya shook her head.
"You're always like this?"
"Like what?"
"Annoying."
He laughed.
"And you're always this friendly?"
"Only with strangers who ask too many questions."
"Then I suppose we're even."
The waiter returned with Ananya's coffee.
Arjun glanced at her cup.
"Two spoons of sugar?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Nothing. I thought people who look that serious would drink their coffee without sugar."
Ananya stared at him.
"What does my face have to do with my coffee?"
"Absolutely nothing. I was just guessing."
"Then your guessing skills need improvement."
Arjun laughed again.
For some reason, his laughter made her want to laugh, too.
She quickly took a sip of coffee to hide her smile.
"So," he said, "what brings you here?"
"I had an interview."
"How did it go?"
"Good, I think."
"You think?"
"I don't know whether I'll get the job."
"That's different from saying it went badly."
Ananya looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You can do your best and still not get the result you want. That doesn't mean you failed."
She was quiet for a moment.
It was a simple thing to say, but she needed to hear it.
"You're right," she said.
Arjun leaned back in his chair.
"Of course I am."
She rolled her eyes.
"There goes the nice moment."
He smiled.
"Sorry. I couldn't help myself."
Ananya looked at him more carefully.
He seemed like someone who enjoyed making jokes. But there was something calm about him, too. He didn't rush to fill every silence.
She found that unusual.
Most people asked questions because they wanted to give advice or talk about their own lives.
Arjun seemed willing to let a conversation happen naturally.
"What do you do?" she asked.
"I'm an architect."
"Really?"
"Why do you sound surprised?"
"You don't look like an architect."
He looked at his shirt.
"What does an architect look like?"
"I don't know. Maybe someone carrying drawings everywhere?"
"I left my building plans at home today. I'll try to look more professional tomorrow."
Ananya laughed.
"Sorry."
"No need. What about you? What kind of job did you interview for?"
"Junior content writer."
"That's interesting."
"You think so?"
"Yes. You write?"
"A little."
"What do you write about?"
Ananya hesitated.
She had written small stories and emotional quotes in her notebook for years. Sometimes, she wrote about things she couldn't say aloud.
But she had never felt confident enough to show them to anyone.
"Just random things," she replied.
Arjun noticed her hesitation but didn't push her.
"Maybe one day you'll show me something."
"Maybe."
He nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
Ananya looked at his cup.
"No sugar?"
"None."
She made a face.
"How do you drink that?"
"Very easily."
"That's not coffee. That's punishment."
Arjun laughed so loudly that a woman at the next table looked towards them.
"You're judging my coffee now?"
"Someone has to."
"Fine. I'll remember that the next time I need an expert opinion."
They continued talking for a while.
They spoke about Bengaluru traffic, crowded buses, difficult mornings, and the strange ways people behaved when they were in a hurry.
For the first time in several days, Ananya forgot to worry about the bills at home.
She forgot to wonder whether her father was disappointed in her.
She forgot to ask herself whether she was doing enough for everyone.
She was simply sitting in a café, drinking coffee and laughing with someone she had met only yesterday.
And it felt good.
A little too good.
She glanced at the time and suddenly sat up.
"Oh, no. I have to go."
"Something urgent?"
"My mother will be waiting for me. And I have work at home."
Arjun nodded.
"Then you should go."
Ananya picked up her bag and stood.
"Thank you for the coffee conversation."
"You're welcome. But you paid for your own coffee."
"I know."
"So technically, I did nothing."
"You were annoying for free. That's something."
He laughed.
Ananya started walking towards the door.
"Ananya?"
She turned around.
"Yes?"
"Whatever happens with your interview, I hope you get the chance you want."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"Thank you, Arjun."
This time, her smile was genuine.
She left the café and stepped onto the busy street.
The sun was shining, and the rain from the previous day seemed like a distant memory.
She didn't know why, but she felt a little happier than she had that morning.
Perhaps it was because the interview had gone well.
Perhaps it was because she had finally taken some time for herself.
Or perhaps it was because a stranger had made an ordinary day feel special.
She didn't want to think too much about it.
He was just a stranger.
A stranger who drank coffee without sugar and seemed to enjoy irritating her.
Nothing more.
At least, that was what Ananya told herself as she walked home.
That evening, Ananya was helping her mother fold clothes when her phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
She answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hello, am I speaking to Ananya Rao?"
"Yes, speaking."
"This is Priya calling from the company where you attended the interview today."
Ananya's heart started beating faster.
"Yes, ma'am."
"We would like to move forward with your application. Can you attend a second interview later this week?"
For a moment, Ananya couldn't speak.
Then she smiled.
"Yes, ma'am. Of course. Thank you so much."
After the call ended, she stood still, holding her phone.
Her mother looked at her.
"What happened?"
Ananya turned towards her, her eyes bright.
"Amma, they called me. They want me to attend another interview!"
Her mother smiled.
"That's good, Ananya. Let's see what happens."
Ananya nodded, trying not to show how excited she was.
She wanted to tell someone everything.
She wanted to share the nervousness, the happiness, and the small hope growing inside her.
Without thinking too much, she opened her messages and searched for Meera's name.
Then she paused.
For some strange reason, she remembered Arjun.
His smile.
His silly jokes.
And the way he had told her that not getting the result she wanted wouldn't mean she had failed.
She shook her head.
"Why am I thinking about him?"
She put her phone down and returned to folding clothes.
She had more important things to think about.
Or so she believed.
Because sometimes, people enter our lives without making any promises.
They don't ask us to trust them.
They don't tell us they will change our world.
They simply appear, share a small moment with us, and leave us feeling a little less alone.
And without even knowing it, they become someone we look forward to meeting again.
End of Chapter Three
