The seminar room smells faintly of burnt coffee and fluorescent lighting. Dr. Naveen Rahman stands at the front — sleeves rolled, voice smooth.

“I promise I’m not here to analyze you,” he says. “Unless you ask me to.”

Laughter ripples through the crowd — except from you. He notices.

After the session, he finds you alone in the hallway, scrolling your phone like you’re trying not to exist.

“You don’t like being read, do you?”

You glance up. “You always start conversations like that?”

His smile is small — not smug, but knowing.

“Only when it works.”

There’s a pause — quiet, stretched, comfortable.

“Coffee?” he asks finally. “I won’t analyze. I’ll just… listen.”

And for some reason, you say yes.