KABIR'S POV :

The moment I pulled up outside Shanaya's college, I spotted her immediately. Even in a crowd, she stood out. Her hair was flowing with the evening breeze, her expression unreadable until she saw me. Then, like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky, a smile spread across her face.

I smirked, rolling down the window. "Need a ride, Princess?"

She rolled her eyes but got in, adjusting her bag on her lap. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

She raised a brow but didn't argue. I knew she trusted me, even if she didn't say it outright.

The drive was peaceful, the kind where words weren't necessary. But as we neared our destination, I saw the curiosity in her eyes grow stronger.

When I finally pulled up outside McDonald's, she gasped, turning to look at me with an expression that made my chest tighten.

"You remembered?" Her voice was soft, almost in disbelief.

"Of course, I did. You once said McDonald's was your comfort food, and I figured after everything, you deserved a night of comfort."

For a second, she just stared at me, and I wasn't sure if she was about to laugh or cry. Instead, she simply whispered, "Thank you, Kabir."

She ordered with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store—her usual meal, exactly the way she liked it. I let her do all the talking at the counter, just watching the way her face lit up.

With our food in hand, I drove us to my favorite place in the city—a quiet viewpoint overlooking the entire skyline. It wasn't extravagant, just peaceful. The kind of place where you could just sit and let the world slow down for a while.

We ate in silence, letting the night air wrap around us. Every so often, I caught her sneaking glances at me, as if she couldn't quite believe we were here, together, sharing something as simple as fast food and a city view. But to me, it wasn't simple. It was everything.

When she finished the last of her fries, I finally broke the silence. "There's a party tomorrow night. I need to attend, and I want you to come with me."

She turned to face me, her expression unreadable. "A Ball?"

I nodded. "Yeah. A formal one. Friends, business associates... even our families will be there."

I saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes, followed by something softer—maybe realization. That this wasn't just an invitation to a party. It was something more.

"You want me to be your plus one?"

"More than that, Shanaya," I admitted. "I want you there with me, standing by my side."

She swallowed, playing with the sleeve of her sweater. Then, after a long pause, she nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

Something settled inside me at her words. A quiet certainty that she was slowly, unknowingly, becoming an irreplaceable part of my life.

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SHANAYA'S POV :

I had no idea what to expect when Kabir picked me up from college. But McDonald's? That was the last thing I imagined.

Yet, as I stepped out of the car, staring at the bright golden arches, something warm settled in my chest. It wasn't the fancy candlelit dinners or luxurious outings that mattered—it was this. The fact that he listened. That he remembered.

"You remembered?" I asked, feeling the lump in my throat grow.

His smirk softened. "I remember everything you say, Shanaya."

God, how was I supposed to handle this man?

We sat in his car with our food, driving to a place that was so breathtakingly peaceful it made my heart ache. There was no pressure to talk, no need to fill the silence. Just the sound of the wind, the distant hum of the city, and him.

As I finished the last of my fries, he finally spoke.

"There's a ball tomorrow night. I need to be there, and I want you to come with me."

I blinked at him. A party? With his friends? His family? That was a lot.

"You want me to be your plus one?" I asked slowly, trying to read between the lines.

He turned his head to me, his expression completely open. "More than that, Shanaya. I want you there with me."

Something in my heart stuttered. I looked away, processing. This wasn't just about a party. It was about what it meant.

After a moment, I nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

And with that, I knew—I was stepping into something deeper than I ever anticipated. And strangely, I wasn't afraid. Not when it was him.

-------------------

The meal passed in a comfortable silence, the two of them simply enjoying the moment. Shanaya couldn't stop stealing glances at Kabir, watching the way he looked so at ease, yet completely focused on her. It was like she was the only thing in the world that mattered to him at that moment, and that thought alone made her heart race.

After finishing their food, Kabir glanced at her with a smirk. "Ready to go, Miss Mystery?" he asked, his voice smooth and teasing.

Shanaya rolled her eyes playfully. "You just love calling me that, don't you?"

"I do," he admitted with a grin, standing up and offering her his hand. "Come on, let's get you home."

As they walked to his car, the cool night breeze sent a slight shiver down Shanaya's spine. Instantly, Kabir noticed and placed his jacket over her shoulders without a word. It was small gestures like these that made her heart melt. She looked up at him, eyes shining with something she couldn't quite put into words.

The car ride was filled with soft music playing in the background, an occasional glance exchanged between them, and an underlying anticipation that neither of them acknowledged out loud.

As he pulled up in front of her house, he turned toward her, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek. "I had a great time tonight," he murmured, his voice low and full of meaning.

Shanaya felt her breath hitch, her heart hammering against her chest. "Me too," she whispered, barely able to process the way he was looking at her.

Without giving her another second to think, he leaned in, capturing her lips in another slow, lingering kiss. It was different from the first—deeper, more intimate, as if he was silently conveying everything he felt for her. She melted into it, fingers gripping onto his jacket, not wanting the moment to end.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against hers, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Goodnight, Ms.Singh."

She let out a soft laugh, her cheeks still flushed. "Goodnight, Mr.Singhania."

With one last lingering look, he drove off, leaving her standing at the door, completely dazed and ridiculously happy.

The moment she stepped inside, she couldn't contain her excitement. Practically squealing, she rushed to her room, grabbed her phone, and immediately dialed Isha's number. It rang only once before her best friend picked up.

"What happened?! You sound like you're about to explode!" Isha's amused voice rang through the phone.

Shanaya flopped onto her bed, grinning like an idiot. "I kissed him again. Actually, he kissed me again! Isha, it was perfect. The whole night was perfect!"

Isha gasped dramatically. "No way! Tell me everything. Right now!"

And so, Shanaya recounted every single detail—how he had remembered her love for McDonald's, how he took her to his favorite place in the city, how effortlessly they fit together, and, of course, the breathtaking kiss.

"Girl, you are so in love already!" Isha teased, laughing. "And I love that for you."

Shanaya groaned. "I am not in love! It's just... I don't know, Isha. He makes me feel different."

"That's exactly what love sounds like," Isha said smugly. "Oh! By the way, he invited me to the party too! Which means... we need to go shopping for our dresses tomorrow."

Shanaya grinned. "Yes! We can gossip in person, and you can help me find something stunning."

"I'm already excited. I can't wait to see what you wear. And to see Kabir's face when he sees you in it!"

They giggled like schoolgirls, talking for a while longer before finally saying goodnight. As Shanaya curled up in bed, her heart still raced with excitement. 

For the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely, unbelievably happy.

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END OF THE CHAPTER