The air inside the third-floor lecture hall buzzed—not with anxiety, for once, but with curiosity. Mid-semester lull had set in, and the class welcomed any distraction from the looming finals.
Professor Murthy stood near the projector screen, tapping her marker lightly against the whiteboard.
"Before we wrap for today, I have an assignment. Group-based. Real-world. No textbook answers."
A few students perked up. Anaya straightened slightly in her seat. She liked the sound of that.
"The theme is simple: Local Business Models in a Changing Economy. You'll pick a small business—preferably run by someone you can directly talk to. You'll conduct interviews, observe operations, and explore how they're surviving, adapting, or struggling in today's economy. Real analysis. Real people."
She clicked the remote and the slide changed.
"Groups of three. And no, you don't get to pick your own. You'll find your names posted in the shared folder by evening. Presentations in two weeks."
A soft groan moved across the room, quickly followed by whispers. Some students loved fieldwork. Others dreaded it. But no one could deny it was better than another research paper.
As the class ended, students filed out with buzzing chatter. Anaya walked beside Nisha, both trying to guess who they'd be grouped with.
"I just hope we're together," Nisha said, hugging her notebook. "Group projects are basically friendship tests."
Anaya chuckled. "Or patience exams. Either way, we'll survive."
By evening, the group list arrived. Anaya scrolled quickly, heart skipping when she found her name.
Group 4: Anaya K., Nisha R., Amit S.
"Oh! Amit's in our group," she said aloud.
Nisha grinned. "At least we know he's serious about work."
Next Day – Around the City
What started as an exciting assignment quickly turned into a frustrating wild goose chase.
Anaya, Nisha, and Amit spent the whole day walking around local markets, peeking into bakeries, stationery shops, and mini service centers, trying to find someone willing—and suitable—for an in-depth interview. Either the owners weren't around, or the businesses were too large, too corporate for their assignment's theme.
"I swear, we've been around the city twice already," Anaya muttered, wiping the sweat from her forehead as they paused at a fruit stall. "I thought small businesses were supposed to be everywhere."
Nisha sighed, glancing down at her phone. "It's not just about finding them; it's finding someone who's willing to share real details. I mean, a lot of these owners just want to sell their stuff, not talk about their struggles."
Amit pushed his glasses up and ran his hand through his hair. "I get it. But, you know, it's not that easy. A lot of people don't want to share how tough things are, especially if it affects their business."
Anaya and Nisha exchanged a glance. They'd been running around all day, and the clock was ticking.
"We'll figure it out," Nisha said with a reassuring smile, but even she didn't sound too convinced.
The Next Day – Amit's Suggestion
The whole day had been a blur of interviews, awkward moments, and the looming weight of deadlines. Anaya, Nisha, and Amit were exhausted from running around the city and striking out at every corner. The pressure was starting to creep in. It felt like time was slipping through their fingers, and all they had to show for it were vague answers from indifferent business owners who weren't willing to give anything of value for their project.
Sitting in the university library, their minds swirled with the panic of failure. They needed someone, anyone, who would take the time to talk to them seriously.
"Alright," Amit said, looking up from his phone after a few moments of silence. "We've tried everything, right? The usual spots, the usual faces. But we're still missing something. So... I've got a plan."
Nisha and Anaya looked at each other, eyes full of exhaustion but with a hint of hope, as they both leaned forward.
"What's the plan?" Nisha asked, sounding almost relieved that Amit had something new to offer.
Amit hesitated slightly but then gave them a small, knowing smile. "I asked my brother to come by tomorrow. He's got experience in running a business, and I think his advice would be invaluable for this project. He'll give us some perspective on the overall industry—what works, what doesn't. And after that, we'll interview his friend—the one who owns the café down the street. He agreed to talk to us about his journey, so we'll finally get that part of the project rolling."
Anaya's stomach clenched at the mention of the café. She knew where this was going. Satiya's friend owned that café, and now Amit was pulling him into their project without even asking about her feelings.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her notebook, but she didn't want to say anything just yet. She didn't want to cause tension in the group. Not when things had already gotten so complicated.
But Nisha, always quick to sense any shift in Anaya's mood, noticed the tension immediately. "Amit, you should've told us sooner," she said, though her voice was more amused than upset. "Why are we only hearing about this now?"
Amit, looking a little sheepish, scratched his head. "I found out from my brother that his friend—the café guy—was out of town for a bit. That's why we couldn't schedule the interview earlier. But he's back now, so I thought it'd be the perfect time to bring my brother in and—" he gestured casually—"finally get things moving."
"Yeah, well, you could've let us know before we ran all over the city searching for anyone willing to talk to us," Nisha teased, rolling her eyes playfully.
Anaya stayed quiet, but her thoughts were racing. Her mind was flooded with images of the café, of Satiya's friend, and of how she really felt about the whole situation. There was something about Satiya's involvement that unsettled her. She didn't want to depend on him, not even for something as simple as an interview. But deep down, she knew this was their last shot.
"I'll handle it," Anaya muttered finally, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Let's just... make sure we make the most of this."
Later That Afternoon – The Café Near the University
The trio had decided to meet again, this time to discuss the project in a more relaxed setting. They needed to plan their next steps—starting with the advice Amit's cousin (whom he fondly called "brother") would provide. Amit had already texted them about a nearby café that was quiet enough for brainstorming, yet still had the cozy vibe they needed to get into the zone.
When they arrived, they found a quiet corner by the window, where the warm sunlight bathed the wooden tables and the low hum of conversation in the background created a peaceful ambiance. The café had an artistic feel, with eclectic artwork hanging on the walls and cozy booths that made it easy for them to spread out their materials.
"So," Nisha started, placing the stack of notes and printouts on the table, "let's get down to it. We need to finalize our approach and get some clarity before we go on with the interview tomorrow. What's the game plan?"
Anaya opened her notebook, ready to dive into the conversation, but Amit was already speaking before she could start.
"I'll call my brother to join us in a few," he said, glancing at his phone. "Once he's here, we'll go over what he can offer in terms of advice. After that, I'll reach out to my friend about the interview. He should be good to go tomorrow."
Anaya nodded, trying her best to focus. The fact that they were meeting at a café made her feel somewhat better about the situation. It was familiar, comfortable. Still, the thought of involving Satiya's friend—someone she had no desire to reconnect with—kept her mind racing.
"We have to make sure we stay focused," Anaya said quietly, hoping her voice didn't betray the knot in her stomach. "I don't want this to turn into something more complicated than it already is."
Nisha, sensing Anaya's discomfort, gave her a reassuring smile. "You're overthinking it, Anaya. This is a project. Just focus on the facts, and you'll be fine."
Before Anaya could respond, Amit's phone buzzed, and he stood up, walking toward the door to take the call. A few minutes passed, and just as the last sliver of sunlight dipped below the horizon, Amit returned—with someone beside him.
"Alright, here he is," Amit said with a grin, gesturing toward the guy next to him.
She was still processing the idea of the interview at the café tomorrow, still hesitant to deal with the situation involving Satiya's friend. Her thoughts began to spiral—what if it wasn't just awkward? What if it reopened something she wasn't ready to face?
And then—
The sound of footsteps behind her.
She turned instinctively.
And then she saw him.
---
To be continued...