Advika's POV

Shravan bought two cups of ice cream and gave one to me. We were enjoying it when my eyes caught sight of something.

A tiny puppy.

Its leg awkwardly stuck between the bars of a gate. He was crying for help out of pain but no one was listening to him.

"Hold this," I said hurriedly, thrusting my ice cream into Shravan's hands before rushing to the puppy.

"Wait-" Shravan called out, but I was already kneeling in front of the little creature.

As a child, I'd cried for help countless times, but no one had come. That feeling of abandonment shaped me, and now, ignoring anyone or anything in need was simply impossible for me.

I worked carefully, trying not to hurt the puppy further, but it wasn't easy. The poor thing squirmed, whimpering in pain, and I shushed it softly, stroking its tiny head to comfort it.

"You're okay, little one," I whispered. "We'll get you out of here."

Shravan stared at me intently when I freed the leg of the puppy. I could feel all the heat rushing to my cheeks. His eyes on me made it hard for me to concentrate on my work.

"What?" I asked, my voice coming out softer than I intended.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he slowly crouched down, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Right now," he began, his voice quieter than I'd ever heard it, "you remind me of my mother."

My hands froze mid-motion, and I looked up at him, completely taken aback.

What?

He got offended when I compared him with Garvit and now he is calling me his mother?

He blinked, seeming to realize how that sounded.

"I mean... my mother has this habit too. She can't see anyone in pain. She always stops to help."

I felt a small smile tug at my lips. Shravan, with all his aloofness and sarcasm, had just compared me to the woman he clearly held in the highest regard.

I turned back to the puppy, focusing on freeing its leg. It was stuck at an awkward angle, and I twisted it gently, trying to minimize its pain.

"You know," Shravan said after a long pause, "I always wanted a woman like my mom, caring, sympathetic, and loving, but I never got one like her... Until now"

He said the last word in his mouth, but I heard it clearly because of how close we were, but I decided to ignore it. Once the leg of the puppy was free, I stroked his back and let him go.

"It's nearly impossible to find a lady like your mother," I said while dusting off my hands.

Walking to the nearby tap, I watched my hands thoroughly.

He didn't respond immediately, but when I walked to a nearby tap to wash my hands, I heard him murmur under his breath, "I used to think the same."

Turning around I still found him staring at me like a dumb man. His intense and flattering gaze was now getting on my nerves.

"My ice cream!" I demanded, snapping him out of whatever deep thoughts he was lost in.

He blinked as if waking from a trance and handed me the cup in his left hand. I took it, but something felt off.

"I think that one is mine," I said, narrowing my eyes and pointing at the cup in his right hand.

I clearly remember having more ice cream than him. He looked down, between both the ice cream cups.

"No, the one you're holding is yours." He frowned.

"Shravan!" I huffed "I had more ice cream than you. That one is mine!"

"Are you accusing me of stealing your ice cream? I would never." He said, pretending to be offended.

"If you think you can fool me then you are wrong! You know that's mine. And you never have ort..."

Before I could finish my sentence, Shravan dipped his spoon into the cup he was holding and took a deliberate, slow bite.

"Shravan!" I gasped, scandalized. "That's my ice cream!"

He savored the bite slowly and with closed eyes as if it was the tastiest bite he ever had. He then opened his eyes,

"This one's actually tastier. I think I'll keep it."

I know I was getting more ice cream but suddenly I felt the urge to snatch my ice cream back. He made it look tempting.

I groaned and stepped closer, holding out my hand.

"Shravan, give me my ice cream. Now."

He leaned back slightly, holding the cup just out of my reach. "What's the magic word?"

"Mr. Shravan Singhania, I swear..."

Before I could finish, he took another bite with a shameless expression plastered on his sinfully handsome face.

"Fine!" I snapped, grabbing the cup he'd given me earlier and taking a large, dramatic spoonful. "This one's better anyway."

"Liar. That's not even half as good as this one." He said holding his cup high.

"Then enjoy it!" I shot back, sticking my tongue out at him.

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're such a sore loser."

"And you're a thief!"

"A handsome thief!" He winked as he took another bite.

My heart leaped in my throat at the wink and my ears turned red. I immediately looked down before those butterflies could once again dominate my stomach.

"What kind of man do you want?" Shravan asked all of a sudden which made me look at him in confusion

"For life partner, of course!" He clarified

A teasing smile tugged at my lips. Oh, this was going to be fun.

"Well," I began with a smirk playing across my lips. "First and foremost, looks and money..."

I turned to face him when he became excited listening to my words.

"... doesn't matter to me"

His shoulders slumped and I chuckled internally.

"He has to be a good listener, unlike you, who cut me off mid-sentence at least five times a day."

"Only when you're wrong," he shot back defensively.

I showed him my tongue.

"He should be patient" He opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off by emphasising "Very, very patient"

"I am also a patient... But of blood pressure," he chuckled, but I didn't find it funny. "What else?"

"Hmm..." I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "He should be romantic. You know, the kind of guy who'd surprise me with flowers for no reason, write me little notes, and..."

"Okay, stop right there," Shravan interrupted, holding up a hand. "Flowers die, and notes get thrown away. What's the point of all this?"

I gasped dramatically, holding my heart.

"The point is effort, Shravan! But clearly, romance is not your strong suit." I dismissed him with a wave of hand.

"And he should be fun-loving, someone who doesn't take himself too seriously," I told him.

"You want a joker for yourself?"

I blinked up at him repeatedly. I am already with a joker.

"Anything else your dream man should have?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

I pretended to think.

"Yes, I forgot the most important thing"

He immediately turned around giving me his whole attention as if I am telling something important that he has to follow.

"I want him to understand what I want without me asking for it"

He stared at me for a second. Out of all the qualities, this is what I actually wanted in my partner. I don't want to tell him everything, he should read my eyes.

"Forget about it" he shook his head and looked away.

We then sat on a side bench as we were tired of walking. I was looking around the crowd when my eyes caught the sight of a brightly decorated photo booth not far from where we sat.

My lips curved into an involuntary smile as I imagined the silly photos people must have taken there.

"Let's go!" Shravan said standing up.

Rising to my feet I moved my gaze away from the booth. There is no point in asking Shravan for it.

He led my way, and I followed him. Suddenly he stopped in front of the booth and paid at the ticket counter.

"Wh- what?" I asked in complete surprise

I thought we were going back home.

"You've been staring at that booth like it's made of gold. Come on." He stood, holding out his hand.

All the heat rushed to my cheeks. Am I this easy for him to read?

"You know your eyes betray you."

I bite my lips as I look up at him. His eyes flicked down to my lips before he forced them to look up.

"Now, get up before someone else takes it."

I sniffle a giggle that was about to pass my lips. I could feel my heart flushing and butterflies flying in my stomach, but I didn't want him to know what effect his move had on me.

I can't believe that he understood what I wanted and, in fact, went outside his comfort zone to do it for me.

When we got there, we noticed a small sign: "One seat only - cozy up!"

I paused, looking between the single cushioned seat and Shravan.

"Uh... maybe we should..."

"Sit," he said, cutting me off and gesturing to the chair.

"Where will you sit?" I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

"Why can't you just do as I say in one time?"

I reluctantly sat down, and before I could question him further, Shravan plopped down onto the seat and tugged me onto his lap.

"Shravan!" I yelped, squirming as my cheeks turned crimson.

"What? There's only one seat," he said innocently, though the mischievous glint in his eyes gave him away.

I glared at him, but before I could say anything else, he grabbed the remote to start the photo sequence.

The first shot was simple ... a soft smile from me and his usual stoic expression.

"Smile, Shravan," I whispered, nudging him.

"Fine," he muttered, giving a half-hearted grin.

The second shot was better. I grabbed a pair of oversized glasses from the prop box and shoved a fake mustache onto his face, making us both laugh.

For the third, I knew he would scold me but I couldn't resist myself. I made the universal 'horny sign' - two fingers sticking up behind his head. In doing so, I had to shift on his lap, which ground my butt with his thighs.

"Careful, you might awaken the devil."

I froze, my fingers still in the air, as heat rushed to my cheeks. I slapped myself mentally for thinking it in the wrong way.

"Speechless, are we?" he teased, his smirk widening.

I quickly recovered, grabbing a feather boa and draping it dramatically around my shoulders. "At least I know how to have fun," I shot back.

Shravan grabbed a top hat and placed it on his head.

"Funny, enough?"

I let out a hearty laugh looking at the way the top hat looked at him.

The timer went off for the final shot, catching both of us mid-banter: me gaping at him and him grinning like he had won a battle, but what truly caught my attention was his arms, circled around my waist possessively, as if I belonged there.

As we left the booth, we got the strips of photos. A smile made its way to my lips when I saw how ridiculous yet perfect the pictures were.

I was still staring at the pictures when suddenly Shravan said, "Wait a minute!" and disappeared somewhere.

He came back more quickly than I anticipated. He ran his hands through his hair, looking nervous for some reason.

What?

"Shall we?" I asked.

He nodded briskly, avoiding eye contact, which only fueled my curiosity.

We had barely taken two steps when I felt him place something behind my ear. My hand instinctively reached up, brushing against the soft petals of a flower.

A gasp escaped my lips as I pulled the delicate rose from behind my ear. My eyes widened as realization hit me, and my head snapped toward Shravan.

His body stiffened, his ears turning a faint shade of red. Though he knew I was looking at him, he didn't spare me a single glance.

For once, Shravan Singhania looked ... Shy?

I had to bite my lips to stop myself from blushing too hard.

Suddenly I could hear a song from behind which only deepened my blush,

Teri tasveer hai nigahon mai

Door tak roshni hai rahon mai

Yeh gila hai aapki nigahon se

Phool bhi ho darmiyaan to faasle hue

Dekha ek khwaab to yeh silsile hue

Door tak nigahon mein hain gul khile hue

~~~~~~~

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