"May all your vibes say : I've got this............................."

Days passed in a quiet rhythm, each one blending into the next as Vatsal and Shubhita settled into their routines. Vatsal continued to leave early in the morning, often before the sun rose, and would come home late at night, his exhaustion evident in the heavy way he moved. His work demanded much of his time, and when he did come home, it was usually to a dimly lit apartment and a tired, but always warm, plate of food waiting for him.

Shubhita, on the other hand, found herself busier than usual with the school exams that were fast approaching. Her days were spent reviewing test papers, preparing exam schedules, and managing the classroom chaos that inevitably came with the end-of-term energy. By the time she returned home, she was equally worn out, too tired to engage in any kind of teasing banter or light conversation.

It was a routine they both slipped into without much thought—quiet mornings, long workdays, and peaceful, albeit brief, evenings together. The small gestures of care, like her packing him food or him tidying up after dinner, spoke louder than words. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a quiet companionship that, while lacking in extravagance, was undeniably comforting.

But it wasn’t until that Sunday, when Ojas and Leher called, that the monotony was broken.

Vatsal had been lounging on the mattress, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone, when it rang. Seeing Ojas’ name flash on the screen, he answered it merrily, “Hey, what’s up, Buddy?”

On the other end, Ojas’ voice was lively as usual. “Man, it’s been ages! What have you been up to?”

“Usual. You say?”

“Nothing special. Leher and I were thinking—let’s all meet up tonight. You know, just to relax, hang out, reconnect. There’s this new restaurant we want to try.”

Vatsal, still in his relaxed Sunday mode, groaned internally. “Today? I was planning to just chill at home.”

“Here, we go again. No excuses, Vatsal!” Ojas laughed. “Come on, bring your lady love too. Leher’s insisting.”

Before Vatsal could protest further, there was a rustling on the other end of the line, and suddenly Leher’s voice came through, cheerful and insistent. “Vatsal, you’re good for nothing. I don’t even want to waste my Sunday requesting you. Give the phone to Shubhita. I need to talk to her.”

Vatsal raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. “Alright, alright. Hold on.” He got up and walked toward the kitchen, where Shubhita was putting away some dishes, lost in thought.

“Leher wants to talk to you,” he said, holding out the phone.

She wiped her hands on a towel, taking the phone from him with a questioning look. “Hello?” she greeted, her voice polite but unsure.

“Shubhita! Hi! It’s Leher. So listen, we’re planning to meet up tonight at this new restaurant. Please say you’ll come? I haven’t seen you in forever, and I really want us to hang out properly.”

“Take a breath, take a breath.” Shubhita hesitated for a moment, glancing at Vatsal, who was watching her with mild curiosity. “Oh, I don’t know… I mean, we’ve both been really busy lately.”

Leher wasn’t having any of it. “Busy, schmizzy! Come on, it’ll be fun. We’ll just relax, have some good food, catch up. Ojas and I are dying to see you guys. Please?”

Hearing Leher’s enthusiasm, and not wanting to seem rude, Shubhita smiled faintly. “Alright, fine. We’ll come.”

Leher squealed in delight. “Yes! I’ll text your husband the details. Can’t wait to see you!”

After hanging up, she handed the phone back to Vatsal, who was leaning against the counter with an amused expression. “Looks like we’re going out tonight,” she said with a small sigh.

He chuckled, pushing himself off the counter. “Looks like it. Good luck trying to say no to Leher.”

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That evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the apartment, Shubhita stood in front of her wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear. She wanted to wear something different, something that wasn’t her usual attire of comfortable, practical kurtis and palazzos. Finally, after some deliberation, she pulled out a navy blue and peach maxi dress. It was elegant but casual, the soft fabric flowing down to her ankles, and the colours complemented her skin tone beautifully.

She slipped into the dress, adjusting the waistline before turning to the mirror. She tied her hair up in a loose ponytail, letting a few strands fall free around her face. It was a simple look, but there was something about it that made her feel different—lighter.

As she stepped out of the inner room, Vatsal looked up from his phone, his gaze immediately drawn to her. His brows lifted slightly, a small, appreciative smile playing on his lips.

“Well, what have you wrapped? So flowy!,” he said, his tone teasing but genuine.

Shubhita rolled her eyes. “Thanks for not be appreciative. I’m not even surprised now. It’s just that I thought I’d try something different.”

He nodded, still watching her, his eyes flicking up to her ponytail. “Hmm, something’s missing though.”

She frowned, glancing down at her dress. “What? Is there something seriously wrong with the dress?”

Vatsal shook his head, stepping closer to her. “No, the dress is fine. It’s the hair.”

“My hair?” she asked, confused.

“Yeah,” he said, shrugging now. “You should wear it open.”

She gave him a dubious look, crossing her arms. “Why? What’s wrong with a ponytail?”

Vatsal shrugged, his tone casual. “Nothing’s wrong with it. I just think you would be comfortable with the helmet with your hair down.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to gauge whether he was being serious or just teasing her. “You want me to change my hairstyle? We’re just going to dinner, not a fashion show.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, it’s just a suggestion.”

For a moment, she stood there, debating whether to argue or just give in. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she reached up and tugged the elastic out of her hair, shaking her head slightly to let the strands fall free around her shoulders.

“Happy now?” she asked, her tone half-exasperated, half-amused.

Vatsal’s rolled his eyes, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Elated beyond limits, Crazy Woman.”

She gave him a playful shove, but there was a smile on her face. “You’re impossible, you know that, you Crazy Guy?”

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Soon, they were both ready to leave, and as usual, they would be riding on Vatsal’s bike. He handed her the helmet, and as she put it on, she glanced down at her dress, realizing with some dismay that the flowing fabric would make it difficult to sit ladylike on the bike.

“How am I supposed to sit on this thing in this dress, Vatsal?” she muttered more to herself, looking at him with an exasperated sigh.

Vatsal smirked, clearly enjoying her predicament. “You’ll figure it out since you’re the of course the smartest. And who am I? A mere crazy guy.”

She glared at him, her arms crossed. “FYI. You’re not helping.”

He chuckled and holding her hand to make her climb. “Come on, I’ll help you.”

With his guidance, she managed to awkwardly hoist the fabric of her dress, gathering it just enough so she could sit on the bike. It wasn’t the most graceful thing she’d ever done according to her, but with Vatsal’s steadying hand, she finally managed to swing over and sit, albeit somewhat uncomfortably.

“See? Not so bad,” he teased, glancing over his shoulder at her.

She gave him a mock glare. “Speak for yourself.”

He laughed as he revved the engine, and soon they were off, the cool evening air rushing past them as they made their way to the restaurant. Shubhita, still adjusting to her precarious seating arrangement, held on tightly to the sides of the bike, her knuckles white with tension.

Vatsal glanced back at her, smirking. “Relax, you’re not going to fall off.”

“I better not,” she muttered, still gripping the bike for dear life.

“Trust me a little. We live together,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’ve got you.”

Despite herself, Shubhita felt a small smile tug at her lips. There was something oddly reassuring about the way he said it—confident, yet gentle. With a deep breath, she loosened her grip slightly, leaning forward just enough to rest her hands lightly on his waist. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make the ride feel a little less daunting.

And as the city lights blurred past them, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, she was starting to trust him more than she realized.

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The restaurant was a cozy spot, tucked away from the hustle of the city, with soft lighting and a warm ambiance. As they parked the bike, Vatsal helped Shubhita off, his hand lingering on her waist just a little longer than necessary.

“You did amazingly well, given that you sat like that for the first time” he said, his voice teasingly low as she adjusted her dress.

“I did nothing,” she muttered, still irritated by how awkward the ride had been, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. “You just love making things difficult.”

“Hey, I was the one to help,” he said with a smirk, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “But you do look nice now when you’re annoyed, not when you asked, I have to admit.”

She glared at him. “Vatsal—”

But before she could finish, he reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture was simple, but the warmth of his fingers made her heart flutter in a way she wasn’t prepared for. She opened her mouth to scold him again, but no words came out. Instead, she gave him a small shove on the shoulder, trying to mask her embarrassment.

“Stop that!” she whispered fiercely, her cheeks flaming. “If you’re trying to do the same thing at which you have gained expertise recently, then I’m calling for a cab to go back.”

He chuckled, clearly enjoying how easily he could fluster her. “Alright, alright. I’ll spare you. For now.”

Still blushing, she turned away from him, hoping he didn’t notice just how deeply his teasing affected her. But judging by the smug look on his face, he definitely knew.

From afar, Leher and Ojas watched the pair approach, exchanging knowing smiles. Ojas, in particular, looked pleased, seeing how their once emotionally distant friend was finally allowing himself to be genuinely happy.

Ojas, who had been chatting animatedly with Leher, nudged her and grinned. “Look at them,” he whispered, his eyes twinkling.

Leher whispered, amusement dancing in her eyes. “It’s so cute how Vatsal’s finally let someone in.”

Ojas chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s about time. The man was allergic to commitment. Now look at him, acting like a lovesick puppy.”

Leher giggled. “He’s happy, though. You can tell. And so is she.”

By the time Vatsal and Shubhita reached their table, the playful banter between them hadn’t gone unnoticed. As they sat down, Leher wasted no time, leaning over the table with a wicked grin.

“Well, well, well,” she began, her tone dripping with mischief. “Look at you two! Late to the party because someone had to, what, ride here like a princess?”

Vatsal immediately caught on and smirked at Shubhita, who was now squirming in her seat. “She was practicing her ladylike posture,” he said, his tone innocent but his eyes gleaming.

Shubhita shot him a warning look, but it was too late. Ojas joined in, laughing heartily. “Oh, so that’s why you took so long! I thought maybe you had to carry her in your arms, Vatsal.”

Leher clapped her hands, delighted. “Ojas, please! Don’t give him ideas. Next thing you know, we’ll see him cradling her.” Her voice full of teasing warmth, “Must be love in the air, huh?” She winked playfully at Shubhita, who immediately felt her cheeks heat up.

Shubhita, who was now redder than the cushions on the chair, tried to protest, but the teasing only intensified. Vatsal, ever the composed one, tried to brush it off with a simple shake of head. “Can we take some time? Is this allowed by both of you?”

Ojas leaned in, his grin widening. “Taking your time, huh? That’s what they all say. But we all know what really happens when you ‘take your time.’” His eyebrows waggled suggestively, making Leher burst into laughter.

Vatsal and Shubhita, both exchanged an awkward glance before kind of smiling inwardly.