The Googly of Fate||ICT IMAGINE||

Financial Forecast: Love

For-Lisa_2893

~~~~~

Mahi kicked off her sensible pumps and sighed loudly. Rain lashed against her window, mirroring the storm inside her. Those sensible pumps, usually a source of quiet pride, felt like a joke tonight. Today had been a disaster.

Mahi wasn't just any financial advisor. She was the best, the one who could sniff out a bad deal a mile away. But today, her instincts had failed her. A deal she'd spent weeks on fell through at the last minute. It left a giant hole in the company's plans and a big dent in Mahi's confidence.

Back in her apartment, the silence pressed in on her. It was a silence she'd grown used to since Rohan, the charming marketing director with a smile that could sell ice to penguins, had broken up with her. Their fights used to be passionate affairs, fueled by different ideas. Now, they were just cold silences and short conversations. It all ended with a sad goodbye that still echoed in the empty apartment. Another short relationship was followed by which Mahi didn't want to remember.

In the kitchen, Mahi rummaged through a drawer for instant noodles, the only company her fridge offered. Just as she was about to fill the kettle, a message from her college best friend, Ananya, popped up on her phone. "Landing in Delhi tomorrow evening! Can't wait to see you!" An involuntary smile spread across Mahi's face. Ananya, with her laugh that could fill a room and her courage the size of a shoebox, was sunshine to Mahi's ever-practical moon. Their friendship had survived years and distance. Maybe, Mahi thought, a blast from the past was just what she needed to chase away the storm clouds.

~~~~~

The Delhi airport was a mess of organized chaos. Mahi scanned the arrivals hall, searching for Ananya's bright smile. A loud screech cut through the noise, and a whirlwind of laughter and a colourful scarf launched itself into her arms.

"Mahi! You look like a drowned rat, but hey, at least you're here!" Ananya said, taking a step back to look at her friend.

Mahi laughed, wiping a raindrop from her cheek. "Thanks, that's a lovely welcome home for the financial whiz who just lost a client the size of a small country."

Over steaming cups of tea at a nearby cafe, the hours flew by as they caught up. The conversation eventually turned to her ex. Mahi, still hurt from the recent break-up, kept it vague, referring to him only as "the ex."

Ananya, always the perceptive one, didn't push for details. Instead, she went on a long talk about how important it was to move on. "Look, Mahi," she said, her eyes sparkling, "you're smart, beautiful, and single in a city full of interesting guys! It's time to get back out there!"

Mahi grimaced. Dating apps were a no-go, and the thought of forced small talk over expensive drinks made her want to crawl under a rock. Sensing her reluctance, Ananya narrowed her eyes.

"Don't worry, I have a plan," she announced triumphantly. "My cousin just came back from New Zealand! He's smart, funny, and single!"

Mahi choked on her tea. The last thing she needed was a blind date set up by her best friend. "Ananya, absolutely not! No blind dates."

Ananya, however, was unstoppable. She weaved stories of her cousin's achievements, his funny personality, and conveniently left out the fact that he was Mahi's best friend's cousin. By the end of the week, worn down by Ananya's enthusiasm and a deep desire to prove she was moving on, Mahi found herself agreeing to a blind date.

~~~~~

The chosen place was a cute Italian restaurant, filled with the awkwardness of first dates. Mahi fidgeted in her seat, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. As the minutes ticked by, she started to convince herself that Ananya had stood her up.