"Now it depends on you, Ms. Ishika. Get the suit or just let the interview go away," I said, my gaze lingering on her face before dropping to her hands, which was still wrapped around my arm.

Her accidental touches would be the death of me one day. One day, I'll die.

Cause of death: Heart attack. Reason: Ishika Kohli's touches.

She let go of my arm-sadly. God, I wish she would've held my hand forever and never let me go.

"You can't say no to the interview, or else I will make sure my channel sue you a big amount." She tries to sound angry, folding her arms across her chest. How cute.

Did I mention, how gorgeous she looks today? She was wearing a pink short kurta paired with dark blue jeans, and jhumkas dangling on her ears. Is it really my fault that she looks that pretty and I can't stop staring at her?

"Sure, go ahead, Ms. Ishika. Let your channel sue me, my lawyer would take care of it well," I said with a smirk.

"Please Mr. Sarthak, try to understand, I can't take this suit. It's too expensive."

She tried to reason, but well, I'm too damn stubborn to listen.

If she likes a dress, it's mine to get her. That's not my generosity, it's my responsibility. I want my woman to have everything she desires. No amount of money can stop me from giving her what she wants.

I know what I feel for her is one-sided, and that I should stop myself from falling deeper, but I don't know how to.

Whatever has happened to me, there's no backspace for it. No undo. Just this relentless ache that keeps pulling me in.

"Ok, answer this. Who is your guest on your debut interview?" I asked, sliding my hands into my pants pocket.

"You."

"Then who should get you that suit?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Not you. Ok hear me out, Mr. Sarthak, let's do this-for now, you fulfill your wish and buy me this suit," she said, and my mind lit up at that, until she added.

"But I would pay you the money in installments every month from my salary. How is that deal with you?"

There she goes again. Why is my woman so damn stubborn? Even my own stubbornness melts in front of her fire.

"Ok. Deal." I didn't really have another option, she was way too damn determined on her words.

Then she smiled slightly, and that smile? It knocked the breath right out of my chest.

Finally, the saleswoman returned with more options, but I cut in before she could speak."We like this one. Please proceed with the billing."

"Oh, nice choice, Madam and Sir. Please come this way for billing," she said politely.

We followed her to the counter while she packed the suit neatly into a carry bag and handed it to Ishika.

I pulled out my wallet, took out my black card, and passed it to the cashier.

I glanced at Ishika, her eyes widened for a split second before she looked away.

What's going on in that pretty little head of hers?

Once the payment was done and they handed back my card, I waved for Ishika to walk ahead.

"Please do visit again," the saleswoman said with a practiced smile. Ishika nodded politely, and we stepped out of the store together.

As we stepped out of the store, Ishika glanced around and asked, "Where's Adya?"

"She said she needed to take a call, but then never came back. Wait, let me call her." I pulled out my phone and dialed her number and she picked up almost immediately.

"Adya, where are you? Ishika and I are standing outside the store but we can't find you." I speak through the phone.

"Oh, my bhai and bhabhi are waiting for me? How sweet is that." She giggled before continuing,

"But bhai, I can't third wheel you two anymore. I wanted you both to meet, and I think I did a good job as your love guru. So from here, Ishika's your responsibility now. So you better don't fuck it up."

"At least tell me where you are," I asked, a little more firmly.

"I already called Agastya bhai to pick me up. We're on the way to his new apartment. Gonna have a movie marathon with my brother." She paused. "Actually... I think he wants to say something." She switched the phone into speaker.

"Well hello, mate. Don't worry about Adya. We're going to have so much fun together like always. But let me remind you, don't you dare raise your voice at that sweet, kind soul again. Or I swear, I'll kick your ass this time." I rolled my eyes with a sigh. That happened once, and he's still not over it.

"Alright. Drive safe and just head home." I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pants pocket.

"Agastya had an emergency at her new apartment, so Adya left with him. Come on, I'll drop you home," I said as Ishika kept glancing everywhere but at me.

"Let's go," she finally said, and we walked toward the lift. I pressed the button, and soon enough, the doors slid open, leaving the two of us alone inside.

"Adya must be close to Agastya and you, since you've both been childhood friends," Ishika said as the doors closed, leaving both of us alone in the lift.

"Yeah, Bhatt and I were raised together. And together, we raised Adya," I said with a small smile under my mask.

"She's lucky to have both of you." She speaks.

"Well, she's been unlucky in a lot of things...at least she had us."

To be honest, I'd say I'm the lucky one to have Adya. She's always been the cheerleader of my life, and was there to support me when our parents did what they thought would be good for themselves.

As we stepped into the parking lot, I pulled out my keys and clicked the unlock button, and my red Ferrari chirped in response.

I walked towards the passenger side and opened the door for her before she could reach for the handle. "Take a seat."

She looked at me, then slipped into the passenger seat like my passenger princess. She's been the only woman I've ever wanted sitting next to me while I drive.

Haye Bhagwan, aaj mujhse koi accident ho jaaye toh mujhe maaf karna.

[God, if I end up in an accident today, please forgive me.]

I prayed under my breath as I jogged to the other side, slid into the driver's seat, removed my face mask, and brought the car to life. Within minutes, the mall was behind us as I drove towards her apartment.

Ishika stared out the window, the silence sitting heavy between us. I hated it. That awkward stillness that made my hands itch on the steering wheel.

Why the hell is it so hard to talk to her? How do guys even start conversations with girls? I swear, I suck at even the smallest talk.

While I was busy in my own thoughts, the sound of a stomach growl broke the silence.

It came from none other than Ishika. I glanced at her, and her widened, embarrassed eyes instantly met mine. So she lied about having lunch, and said she was full huh. If that growl meant anything, she probably hadn't eaten all day.

"Seems like someone is hungry," I said, a gentle smile tugging at my lips as I turned my eyes back to the road.

"Who is hungry? Are you hungry? Well I am not." she asked, clearly trying to shift the topic.

"Yes, I am hungry. That's why my stomach is making noises," I said, my voice light as I slowed the car and pulled it over to the side of the road.

"Why did you stop the car?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.

"You wait here, I'll be back in a minute."

Before she could ask anything more, I stepped out of the car.

I glanced around, pulling my face mask back on before crossing the road toward the row of momo stalls I spotted earlier.

"Bhaiya, do plate veg momo laga do," I said to the stall owner, who quickly handed over two steaming plates stacked with momos, served with red chutney and mayonnaise.

[Two plate veg momo please.]

"Ye lo ji, aapke ho gaye 120 rupye," the stall owner said.

[Here you go, it's Rs 120 for you.]

I handed over the cash, grabbed the two plates of momo, and crossed the road back to the car.

Just as I opened the door, Ishika looked all set to interview me about where I'd disappeared to, until the rich aroma of momos filled the car and hit her nostrils, her mouth snapped shut mid-question.

"I know you're not hungry at all because you had lunch late, and you're almost full-but I was hungry, so I got both of us momo. Here." I passed her the plate of momo, but she didn't take it. She just stared at me, eyes soft but unreadable.

"What's wrong?" I asked, pausing as I removed my face mask and grabbed a wet wipe from the glovebox, something I always kept in the car for hygiene.

"Are you cricketers allowed to have fast foods?" she asked, her gaze flicking from the plate of momo to my face.

I chuckled. "Who told you we're not allowed to?" Without waiting for a reply, I picked up a piece of momo, dipped it into the mayonnaise, and popped it into my mouth."Hmm, it tastes heavenly."

Tempted by my reaction, she finally reached for a momo, dipped it in the red chutney, and took a bite.

"Well, I've heard that cricketers are very cautious about their diet," she said while chewing.

"You've heard it all wrong. Our whole Indian team's a bunch of foodies," I replied with a grin, grabbing another piece.

"Really? They don't look like the foodie type... because they look so fit," she said as she kept eating, clearly enjoying every bite.

"We eat. We exercise. We play. So generally, we don't gain that much," I replied casually.

"I heard you have your next T20 series with South Africa?" she asked.

"Yes, next week," I nodded.

"Are you prepared?" she asked, her eyes meeting mine, and just like that, I was lost in those brown eyes, like gravity had shifted and pulled me straight into her.

"More than prepared," I said, letting a small smile tug at my lips. "It's not my overconfidence, it's my experience. And that experience says we'll win."

I looked away before I stared too long.

"I just wish you do. My good wishes are always with you," she said gently.

I turned to look at her again, my heart already thudding a little too fast in my chest.

"I mean-my good wishes are always with the team," she added quickly, trying to correct herself.

But I didn't care what she meant. I'd already accepted the first.

We chatted about the upcoming matches, and that awkward silence from earlier? Gone. It felt easier to talk now.

"Well, Mr. Sarthak," she said, looking at me with that little spark in her eyes, "this is one of the best momo I've had in my life." She smiled, wide and genuine.

I smiled back, because damn it, I couldn't help it. For the first time, she didn't seem hesitant. She wasn't guarded. She was just her. Open. Warm. Talking to me the same way she did with Adya. And it felt good to be on that side of her.

"I think you got some chutney over here," I said, pointing near her upper lip.

"Oh." She quickly grabbed a tissue and started rubbing her cheek.

"Is it clean now?" she asked.

"No, it's here," I said, gesturing near my own upper lip to guide her, but she still missed it.

"Can I?" I asked softly.

She nodded, silently handing me the tissue.

I took it from her and leaned in, just a little closer, gently dabbing the spot where the chutney clung to her skin. But the second my eyes landed on her natural pink lips that accidental kiss flashed in my mind again-clear, vivid, and far too distracting.

I pulled myself back, forcing the thought out of my head before it could take root.

"Shall we move ahead?" I asked, turning my gaze away, trying my damn best not to look at her lips again.

"Ya sure," she replied quietly, wiping her hands with a tissue while I started driving toward her apartment.

"Mr. Sarthak, can I ask you something?" Ishika's voice came out a little hesitant, and her words careful.

"Ya sure," I said, keeping my eyes on the road.

"Why did you agree to this interview when you were clearly against it in the beginning?" she asked, her eyes now fixed on me.

"I declined the interview, and I'm actually very sorry for the way I talked to you that day," I said.

After a pause, I continued, "When I went home, I realised I needed a public appearance. There's been a lot of humour around me—stuff I usually don't care about. But reporters keep dragging my teammates into it. Agastya gets asked about me in his interviews. Even Adya's comment section is full of that crap. It's high time I step up and clear things myself."

She nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "But… there's something else I'm trying to ask," she added, her voice softer, and unsure.

"Don't hesitate," I said, keeping my tone gentle. "Just ask whatever you've got in that mind of yours."

"That day, when we both got stuck between the reporters…" she began, and my heart immediately kicked into high gear. Is she talking about the kiss?

"That time, I saw you… you looked really tense and anxious," she said.

"Well, cameras make me anxious sometimes," I replied evenly, keeping my cool. "I'm not very used to them."

"Oh… okay," she said, nodding faintly before turning her face away.

Bas keh nahi paya. Keh nahi paya ki kuch yaadein aisi hoti hain jo insaan bhoolna chahta hai, lekin un camera flashes ke baad, saari purani yaadein meri aankhon ke saamne zinda ho gayi.

[I just couldn't say it. Couldn't say that some memories are the kind a person wants to forget, but after those damn camera flashes, all those old memories came alive right in front of my eyes.]

I stopped the car in front of her apartment. Seems like good moments really do have an expiry date.

"Thanks for the ride," she said softly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she reached for her seatbelt.

"I gave some documents to Mr. Jhunjhunwala. Please sign them by tomorrow and ask him to send them back to me the same day," she added

"Sure," I replied, and despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips.

"Bye then," she said, stepping out with her sling bag over one shoulder and a shopping bag in hand. The car door shut behind her with a soft thud.

I sighed, watching her disappear inside her building. And just like that, the seat beside me felt heavier with her absence.

Another sigh left my chest as I turned away from the window and reached to start the car, when something shiny caught my eye on the passenger seat.

I picked it up. It was her earring. The same one she wore tonight. She must've dropped it by mistake.

A smile slowly crept onto my face as I stared at it. Well, I already miss you, Sohneyo, and I seriously can't wait to see you again on interview day.

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