KABIR'S POV : 

I don't do dates. At least , not the kind that actually means something. But tonight was different. Because she was different.

As i drove us through the city , shanaya kept stealing glances at me , curiosity burning in her eyes. She had no idea where i was taking her , and i wasn't planning to ruin the surprise either.

"Are you going tell me where we're going?" she finally asked , her voice carrying that mix of intrigue and impatience.

I smirked , gripping the steering wheel. "Patience, Miss Mystery , you'll see soon enough.

A soft huff left her lips, but she didn't push further. That was something I liked about her—she questioned everything but still knew when to let things play out.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived. A secluded rooftop, untouched by the city's chaos, transformed into something straight out of a dream. Fairy lights wrapped around the railings, a table set up for two with candles flickering softly, a telescope positioned near the edge for stargazing.

I don't believe in fairytales. But watching her step onto the rooftop , bathed in the glow of a thousand fairy lights , her eyes shimmering with wonder , i almost started to.

For a moment, she said nothing. I watched her take everything in - the elegantly set table , the telescope positioned near the railing , the soft music playing in the background. For once , she was speechless. 

Then, she turned to me. "Kabir... this is—"

"Perfect?" I finished, leaning casually against the wall, watching her reaction.

She swallowed, blinking a few times before shaking her head, a small, almost shy smile forming on her lips. "I was going to say unexpected, but... yeah, perfect works too."

A strange sense of satisfaction settled in my chest. I had pulled off billion-dollar deals, won negotiations against the toughest competitors, but nothing—not even success—felt as good as watching her light up like this.

I walked ahead, pulling out her chair like a damn gentleman. "Well, if you think this is impressive, just wait until dinner."

She rolled her eyes but took the seat, the smile never leaving her face.

Yeah. Tonight was going to be unforgettable.

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As dinner was served, we slipped into easy conversation. We talked about our childhoods, the things we wanted, the things we lost. She told me about her dream to do something meaningful, something that left a mark on the world. And for the first time in a long while, I found myself telling someone the truth—the kind of truth I usually kept locked away.

"I always thought success would fill the void," I admitted, swirling the wine in my glass. "But it turns out, it just makes the silence louder."

Shanaya looked at me then, really looked at me, like she could see straight through the walls I had built.

"Maybe you were just listening to the wrong things," she said softly.

And damn, if that didn't hit me harder than I expected.

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SHANAYA'S POV : 

Everything about tonight felt unreal. I don't know what i expected when kabir told me we were going on a date. But this ? This was beyond anything i could have imagined.

The city lights sparkled in the distance, the stars above us stretching endlessly, the air carrying the faintest scent of roses and something distinctly him.

And then there was Kabir.

Effortlessly confident, ridiculously charming, and yet... there was something more. Something deeper beneath that smooth exterior. I saw it in the way he listened, in the way he hesitated before sharing something personal.

This wasn't just a date. It was something far more intimate.

Halfway through dinner, I caught him watching me, his gaze lingering in a way that made my heart race. 

"What?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious.

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Just wondering how I got lucky enough to be sitting across from you tonight."

The way he said it—so effortlessly, like he truly meant it—sent a warmth spreading through my chest.

I looked away, trying to gather my thoughts, but then the softest melody filled the air.

A slow, romantic tune, drifting from the hidden speakers around us.

Kabir stood up, extending a hand toward me. "Dance with me."

I blinked. "Now?"

"Now." His voice was firm but gentle. A command wrapped in an invitation.

I hesitated for a second before placing my hand in his.

The moment he pulled me in, the world seemed to fade away.

His arm wrapped around my waist, his hand warm against my lower back, pulling me just close enough that I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

( LISTEN TO THIS SONG WHILE READING )

We swayed slowly, the city below us, the stars above, and only the sound of our breaths filling the space between us.

"You keep surprising me," I murmured, resting my head lightly against his chest.

"Good." His voice was lower now, softer. "I plan on doing that a lot."

Something about the way he said it made my pulse stutter.

Minutes passed, the song coming to an end, but neither of us moved.

I tilted my head up, and that was a mistake.

Because suddenly, we were too close.

His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, filled with something unspoken. His hand brushed my jaw, his thumb tracing the corner of my lips.

For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

But instead, he pulled back slightly, his lips curving into a knowing smirk.

"Not yet," he murmured.

Damn him.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of control. "You really think you're that irresistible, don't you?"

He chuckled, stepping away but not letting go of my hand. "I don't think, sweetheart. I know."

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KABIR'S POV :

As much as I enjoyed teasing her, I wasn't done for the night.

"Wait here," I told her, stepping away for a moment.

She frowned but didn't question it.

When I returned, I held a small box in my hand.

She eyed it suspiciously. "What's this?"

"A gift." I handed it to her. "Open it."

She hesitated before slowly untying the ribbon, lifting the lid.

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, with a tiny charm shaped like a star.

She stared at it, her fingers grazing over the charm like it was something fragile. "Kabir..."

"It reminded me of you," I said simply. "Bright. A little unpredictable. Impossible to ignore."

She exhaled, shaking her head with a soft laugh. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

I smirked, taking the bracelet from her and clasping it around her wrist myself.

"Now you can't forget tonight," I said, brushing my fingers lightly over her skin.

She looked up at me then, something unreadable in her gaze. "Like I ever could."

And just like that, I knew—I was in deeper than I had ever been before.

And for once, I didn't want to find a way out.

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SHANAYA'S POV :

The bracelet still felt warm against my wrist, like it carried the heat of his touch. I traced the tiny star absentmindedly, my heart still racing from his words.

Like I ever could.

The air between us felt heavier now, charged with something neither of us had fully addressed. He was standing too close, his fingers still grazing my skin, his eyes locked onto mine.

I swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of the way my body reacted to him—the rapid beat of my heart, the slight hitch in my breath, the way my pulse stuttered when his thumb brushed against my wrist.

I should step back.

I should say something.

But then he moved.

Just a fraction closer, his fingers tilting my chin up ever so slightly, his gaze flickering between my eyes and my lips.

"Shanaya," he murmured, his voice lower, softer—like he was giving me a chance to pull away.

I didn't.

And that was all the confirmation he needed.

His lips met mine in a kiss that wasn't hurried, wasn't rushed. It was slow, deliberate—like he wanted to memorize the feel of me, like he wanted to savor every second of it.

I melted into him without thinking, my hands gripping the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer. His fingers slid into my hair, angling my face just right, deepening the kiss until the world around us blurred.

The taste of wine lingered on his lips, the scent of his cologne mixed with the night air, and for a moment, nothing else existed.

And just when I thought I'd completely lose myself in him, he pulled back—just barely, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm against my lips.

"That," he murmured, his voice thick with something unspoken, "was worth the wait."

I exhaled a soft laugh, my hands still fisted in his shirt. "Cocky as ever."

He smirked, pressing one last lingering kiss to the corner of my mouth. "Only when I'm right."

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KABIR'S POV :

If I had kissed her any longer, I wouldn't have been able to stop.

I had kissed plenty of women before, but nothing—nothing—had ever felt like that.

Like I had been waiting for it without even realizing it.

Like she was meant to fit against me, to melt into my touch.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain some control. "Come on," I said, reaching for her hand. "The night isn't over yet."

She raised a brow but let me pull her toward the bed I had set up on the rooftop—a cozy little nest of pillows and blankets with a projector screen in front of it.

"A movie under the stars?" she mused, amusement flickering in her eyes.

I smirked. "Told you I'd keep surprising you."

She shook her head but sat down, letting me pull the blankets over both of us as the movie started playing.

At first, we sat side by side, keeping a polite distance.

But somewhere between the quiet dialogue and the soft glow of the screen, she shifted. Leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder.

And just like that, something in my chest tightened.

I let my arm slide around her, pulling her in closer. She sighed softly, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the fabric of my shirt, her breath steadying.

Minutes passed.

Then an hour.

The movie played on, but neither of us moved.

And at some point—somewhere between the soft lull of the night and the warmth of each other's presence—we both slipped into sleep.

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SHANAYA'S POV :

The first thing I registered was warmth.

A steady, comforting warmth that wrapped around me, making it impossible to move.

Then, a rhythmic sound—the rise and fall of steady breathing.

And then I realized—

I wasn't in my bed.

My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was him.

Kabir.

Fast asleep.

His arm was still draped over me, his chest rising and falling in a slow, even rhythm. I was tucked against him, my head resting on his shoulder, my fingers still lightly curled against his shirt.

Oh.

I blinked, trying to process the situation, but then he stirred.

A slow inhale. A small shift.

And then his voice, low and rough with sleep—

"Morning, Sunshine."

OH HELL....

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SO MY LOVELIES , DID YOU ALL LIKED THEIR FIRST DATE??

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN FURTHER!??

READ AND FIND OUT.

XOXO💋💋

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