To Aarav, Riya wasn’t a full human—she was a delivered item. Now that she’d arrived, he began spotting defects. Defect one: emotional baggage. Defect two: low-energy vibe. Defect three: not aesthetic enough for a “hard launch” photo. “That sounds tough,” he said smoothly, voice practiced. Under the table he checked his Apple Watch. 8:12 PM. If I wrap this by 8:45, I can still hit the gym. Riya looked at him the way people look when they’re trying to find a door in a wall. “Have you ever lost anyone close?” The question landed heavy. It demanded intimacy—being present, not performing. Aarav felt irritation rise. Why is she bringing down the vibe? This was supposed to be a dopamine hit, not an emotional audit. His inner script whispered: skip this scene. “Not really,” he lied. “I keep things positive. Good vibes only. Dwelling on sad stuff kills momentum.” Riya blinked, then pulled back as if the air had turned cold. “Right. Momentum.”