Siddharth was waiting for Shehnaaz in his car outside the office complex. It was way past the office hours, and Siddharth's patience was running thin. He glanced at his wristwatch, a frown marred his face. It was seven thirty in the evening, twenty minutes past her usual time of leaving the office. The whole staff had left the building, with the exception of the girl that he had been waiting for, for what could easily have been half of an eternity to him. She walked out of the building, just as he was about to call her to inquire what was taking her so long. Siddharth shook his head, his annoyance was long gone and was replaced with a warm feeling in his chest. He smiled.

This was her affect on him, she could literally change his mood with her mere presence. 

Shehnaaz got into the front seat of the car, "I'm sorry!" 

"Twenty whole minutes Shehnaaz! What were you even doing in there all alone?" He asked, frowning at her. 

Shehnaaz sighed. "I know Siddharth, I'm sorry." She pouted cutely, trying to pacify him. Siddharth smiled, taking her hand in his own. "You're the hardest person to be angry with, you know that?" 

Shehnaaz chuckled. "I'm aware, I have a pretty irresistible puppy face." She said mischievously.

Siddharth agreed, stepping on the accelerator. "Hungry?" He asked. Shehnaaz nodded. "Famished." 

Siddharth smirked, driving away from the office complex. "There's a pretty decent restaurant just down the lane. They have amazing Indian food." 

Shehnaaz nodded, "I've heard of it too." She said. "I have always wanted to go there but I hate going to restaurants alone. It feels weird." 

Siddharth blinked, acknowledging her answer. "Well you could've said something before today, I'd have gladly accompanied you to wherever you wanted to go." Siddharth told her. Shehnaaz allowed a small smile on her face. "You're taking me there and I didn't even have to ask you to." 

"Well.." The man started, his gaze fixed at the road in front of him, one hand entwined with Shehnaaz on the gearshift, the other securing the steering wheel. "That's not the same thing. It was a coincidence." 

Shehnaaz bit her upper lip, smiling sheepishly at him. "It is for me." She shrugged. 

Siddharth clicked his tongue. He parked his car in the restaurant's parking area, got out of the car and went to the other side of the car, offering his hand to her. 

They entered the restaurant, hand in hand and were led to their table by a waiter. He arranged a beautiful bouquet of flowers in the vase on the table. "Have a great evening Ma'am and Sir." He bowed slightly at them and left after taking their order. 

Siddharth plucked a white rose from the vase and presented it to her. "A little someone told me that dates usually start with a rose."

Shehnaaz took the rose from him, "A little someone told me that you have an obsession with roses." She said eyeing him teasingly. "Why's that?" 

Siddharth chuckled, "I love roses. I have a terrace garden back at my parents' home. It's full of flowers, white, yellow and red roses, lilies, hibiscus flowers etcetera etcetera.." He told shenaaz.

"You'll have to take me someday." Shehnaaz demanded, excitement palpable in the way her eyes had begun to shine. Siddharth couldn't help but smile at the way her eyes had brightened up. "Well, if you'd so insist." 

Shehnaaz's smile suddenly dropped, "I.. no I'm not asking you to.. if you don't want to.. you don't have to." She spoke quietly. The panic that Siddharth saw in her eyes at his unintentional quip made his heart stop just for a tiny second. He frowned, not knowing exactly what had warranted such an out of place reaction from her side. He replayed his words in his mind, trying to figure out what exactly had triggered her in that manner, but groaned internally on not finding anything. He reached for her hand across the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Hey.." He spoke comfortingly "Of course I'd want to take you home baby. I have to show you so many things, my garden, my balcony- Oh and my terrace space. It has this beautiful corner I turn into a fort kind of thing full of pillows and blankets. The place is my personal heaven for times when I'm not in the mood for my sisters' madness, the view is almost always so beautiful, but especially on a full moon. The whole terrace is bathed in a silvery light on a full-moon." He explained each little detail with a twinkle in his eyes. 

Shehnaaz listened intently, hanging on his words. Maybe he wasn't much of a talker, his silence was what defined him to many but to her, this was her favorite Siddharth. The Siddharth who could talk like there was no tomorrow, who could rant on and on about the things that he loved, the people he valued. It was extremely rare, but her favorite nonetheless, so she listened. She listened as he spoke, carefully, attentively and with a smile on her face. 

Siddharth looked at Shehnaaz, her eyes were fixed on him. He smiled, a blush creeping into his face. "I'm done." Shehnaaz giggled, watching his face heating up in a blush. Siddharth looked away, embarrassed. Shehnaaz giggled again.

Siddharth blushing was both rare and endearing. 

Just as Shehnaaz was about to say something, their order arrived, reminding them how absolutely famished they both were. They served themselves, and dug. They both stole glances of each other throughout the rest of the evening, knowing that the other person was doing the exact same thing to them. 

***

Hey guys. I got a little late. I was supposed to update ages ago but.. family things happen at the most unexpected times.

Hope you like the story thus far.

SophieArshian can I ask for a shoutout for this story pretty please 🥺🥺

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