The clock ticked toward five in the evening as I finished dressing for my shift at the café. I slipped into my denim jeans and white tank top, layering it with a loose shirt for a casual yet polished look. My hair was pulled into a top bun, and I completed the outfit with silver studs and my trusty Converse. Not bad, Avantika, I thought, glancing in the mirror. At least I look somewhat put together. I packed my café uniform into a tote bag and headed downstairs.

My mother was in the kitchen, tidying up. "Heading out?" she asked, glancing up from her work.

"Yeah, just got to make it to the café," I said, grabbing my bike keys from the hook by the door. It feels like I'm always rushing off somewhere.

"Be safe, Avantika," she said with a smile. "Your father should be home soon."

I waved goodbye, feeling a pang of warmth at her care. Why is it that no matter how old I get, I still crave that little bit of reassurance? I cycled out into the crisp, early evening air. The sky was a brilliant shade of orange, the sun dipping toward the horizon and casting long shadows on the ground. The weather was a bit chilly, yet the warmth of the setting sun made it pleasant. The faint hum of city life mixed with the chirping of evening birds as I pedaled my way down the road to the café.

Work was steady, with the usual rush of customers. At around seven, the café started to quiet down, and I took a moment to catch my breath at the counter. Just a few more hours, I reminded myself, trying to push away the exhaustion creeping in. That's when a group entered—three people, including a guy who caught my attention right away. He approached the till with a friendly smile.

"Hi there. What can I get for you?" I asked, trying to stay focused, though my heart fluttered a bit. Keep it professional, Avantika. 

He glanced up, his gaze lingering a bit too long. "I'll have a cappuccino, please."

"Sure," I said, starting to prepare his order. "And for the others?"

The girl with him ordered a latte, and the guy with them asked for an espresso. As I worked on the drinks, I noticed he kept glancing at me, a slight smile on his lips. What's with him? Is there something on my face?

"Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to keep the tone professional, but curiosity gnawed at me.

"Yeah, just... you have a really great smile," he said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm Aarav, by the way."

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback. "Thanks, I guess. I'm Avantika. Here's your cappuccino." Why does this feel so different?

He took the cup, his fingers brushing mine briefly. Did I just imagine that spark? "So, what's your favorite thing on the menu?"

"I'm more of a fan of our pastries," I said with a shrug. "But I guess everyone's tastes are different." What am I doing? Just answer his question!

Aarav chuckled, a genuine sound that made his eyes sparkle. "Well, I'll have to try those next time."

"You should," I said, glancing at the line of waiting customers. "I'm sure they'd make a good impression." I hope I'm not coming off as awkward...

He nodded, giving me a lingering look before he and his friends took a seat. The encounter left me feeling a bit flustered, a mix of excitement and embarrassment swirling inside me. What was that all about? But I quickly turned my attention back to the counter, determined to keep my focus on work.

An hour later, my shift ended, and I cycled back home. The sky was now a deep navy blue, dotted with stars. Tonight feels different, I thought, a sense of anticipation bubbling inside me. I decided to make a quick detour to the library. Maybe tonight was the night I could finally get that book.

When I arrived at the library, I spotted Abhimanyu chatting with the librarian at the counter. His tone was casual, and he was smiling as she handed him the very book I had been desperate to get. A wave of frustration washed over me, and I felt my blood boil slightly as I marched up to the counter.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel a hint of irritation creeping in. Why does this always happen to me? "I was looking for that book earlier today."

Abhimanyu turned, his eyes widening as he recognized me. "Oh, hey, Avantika. Didn't expect to see you here." There was that infuriating smile again, like he found this whole situation amusing.

"Yeah, well, I didn't expect you to get the book I wanted," I said, trying to hide my irritation, though my tone betrayed me. "I've been looking for it all day."

He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his lips. "Well, I guess I just got lucky. The librarian was kind enough to let me borrow it." Lucky? More like he just happened to be here first, as usual.

The librarian looked between us, clearly uncomfortable with the rising tension. "I'm sorry, but I've already lent it out." Her voice was polite, but I could see she was caught in the middle of our little standoff.

Abhimanyu's smirk widened as he took the book. "Looks like I beat you to it. Better luck next time." Ugh, how annoying!

I shot him a skeptical look and grabbed a few other books from the shelves, my frustration simmering just below the surface. "Thanks for the advice," I muttered, unable to mask my annoyance.

He shrugged, his casual demeanor only heightening my irritation. "No problem. See you around." Great, just what I needed: another encounter with Mr. Lucky.

As he left, I shot the librarian a pointed look, hoping for some sympathy. Instead, she met my gaze with a hint of annoyance before turning back to her paperwork. Guess I'm not the only one having a rough day, I thought as I walked out of the library, disappointment and anger swirling inside me. It felt like the day's events had only added to my mounting stress, a reminder that sometimes, life just doesn't go your way.

Back home, I opened the door to find Abhimanyu's parents and him sitting with mine in the living room. I froze. "What is he doing here?" My inner monologue got the better of me, and the words slipped out before I could stop them.

My mother looked up, her eyes narrowing. "This is not the way to talk to our guests. We invited Abhimanyu's family for dinner."

Of course they did, I thought, feeling a mix of annoyance and disbelief. Just my luck to walk into a family gathering with him in the middle of it.

My father smiled warmly. "Avantika, why don't you show Abhimanyu to your room? Just like you used to when you were kids."

"Oh, they're still so young at heart," my mother added with a nostalgic smile, her eyes reflecting pride. "I can't help but remember how little Vani and Manyu used to play around this house."

I groaned inwardly, but didn't protest. Mom's warning look made it clear I had no choice. Great, just what I need—more awkward memories flooding back. I led Abhimanyu upstairs, my mood souring further with each step.

When we reached my room, he took a quick scan of the space. "Nice room. I see you've kept the same cozy vibe."

I shot him a skeptical glance. "Thanks, I guess." As if you care, I thought, crossing my arms. Just another reminder of our childhood games that I'm trying to forget.

His eyes landed on the childhood photos pinned to my corkboard. "Is that us?"

"Yes," I replied, feeling a twinge of nostalgia. "We really were quite the duo back then, weren't we?"

I glanced at the photo of Abhimanyu laughing at me, hands on his hips, as I stood behind him, tears streaming down my cheeks. How dramatic I looked, holding my hands up in defeat after he'd beaten me in that race.

Our playful banter resumed. Abhimanyu leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "Even this time, I'm going to beat you and top the entrance exam, bunny."

I raised an eyebrow, matching his playful tone. "Oh, really? Don't be too sure of yourself. I'm not the one who's been buried in books for months. I've got my own tricks." Tricks that might just give me an edge.

His grin widened, and he tilted his head, looking at me with a mix of amusement and challenge. "Tricks, huh? Well, I've got my own strategies. And if your confidence is anything to go by, I might actually have to worry."

Oh, the nerve of him! I thought, a smile creeping onto my face despite my annoyance. This playful competition was starting to feel a lot more personal.

I felt my cheeks warm as he closed the distance between us. He stood close enough that I could see the amused glint in his eyes, and I couldn't help but notice how much taller he seemed now, his presence looming over me like a tower compared to our childhood days. Why do I suddenly feel so small? "Confidence is key," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves. "You might want to keep up."

Abhimanyu's gaze remained fixed on mine, his playful smirk never fading. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be right there with you. But I wouldn't be surprised if you were trying to play it cool while secretly freaking out." Of course he would think that. Why does he always have to get under my skin?

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't suppress a smile. "And I wouldn't be surprised if you were doing the same. It's all part of the game, right?" This is just like old times—competitive and infuriating. Why does it feel so different now?

His expression softened slightly, and he let out a chuckle. "Exactly. The game never changes, but the stakes sure do." How is he saying something which makes actual sense?

As he leaned in closer, I felt my cheeks warm. He was so close that I could feel the warmth of his breath and the sheer presence of him—taller and more imposing than I remembered. Focus, Avantika! You can't let him see how flustered you are. I could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips, and I tried to maintain my composure, though the closeness made it harder. His proximity made my stomach flutter with a sudden surge of heat, leaving me feeling both unsettled and shy. Why does he have to stand so close? It's just a conversation!

To break the growing tension, I reached for a nearby cushion and, with a determined effort, tossed it towards him. If I can't win this round, I can at least distract him. Even though I was trying to throw it from a lower position, Abhimanyu, towering over me, reacted with impressive speed. As the cushion sailed through the air, he stretched out his arm and grabbed it with a swift, fluid motion. Of course he catches it effortlessly. Why am I not surprised? His fingers closed around the cushion with a firm but gentle grip, and he held it up as if it were a prized trophy. His grin widened, clearly pleased with his effortless catch. Ugh, why does he have to be so good at everything?

"Isn't it funny how things change but stay the same? We used to bicker over silly stuff like this, and here we are again, still at it," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I didn't respond. Instead, I simply stared at him, my silence betraying the mix of emotions swirling inside me. Why does it feel like we've stepped right back into our childhood?

"Dinner's ready!" my mother called from downstairs, her voice slicing through the charged atmosphere.

Abhimanyu's grin remained, making me feel a wave of shyness. Great, just what I need—more embarrassment. My face turned bright red, and I quickly looked away, trying to conceal my flustered reaction. As we headed down the stairs, I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was going to be more interesting than I had anticipated, with my heart still racing from our playful exchange. What am I even doing? This is just dinner... right?

***

A u t h o r's   N o t e

How is it going, my lovely blueberries?

What did you think of Aarav's introduction? Is he here to spice things up for Avantika, or just making a dramatic entrance? And what about Abhimanyu's "game-on" attitude—are you sensing some serious tension or is it just me? 😏

Drop a comment and let me know! Press the (☆) button to vote—because apparently, my entire self-worth hinges on those stars. Your feedback is like the cherry on top of my authorly ice-cream, so don't leave me hanging!

Kindly please, VOMMENT ❤️

Happy reading! 📖

xoxo

***

P.S. A Little Something to Know:

In case you're wondering, "Vani" is a nickname for Avantika, and "Manyu" is what Abhimanyu's close ones call him. Just a little touch of their world to share with you. 😊

And Abhimanyu calls her bunny cuz, well it does sounds similar to Vani  ;)

♡♡♡

I know you skipped the previous part. But if you didn't, well, here's a virtual slice of pizza and a handful of blueberries just for you! 🍕🫐 (I only share my pizza with the loveliest blueberries, after all.)

♡ ♡ ♡

I M P O R T A N T   N O T I C E 

Attention, dearest readers! This is your official warning: skipping chapters might lead to extreme confusion, missing out on crucial plot twists, and a healthy dose of literary karma.

So unless you're into playing hide-and-seek with plot details, I highly recommend sticking with it. 😏📚

Consider yourself warned—dive in or risk the wrath of an author who's fond of cliffhangers!

Mwahahahahaha *cue the evil laugh*

xoxo, ❤️