Naina leaned casually against the cool pillar in the parking lot, the soft light of the evening washing over her. She was engrossed in her phone, the faint glow illuminating her face. The quiet hum of the city blended with the sharp click of her heels against the pavement, a slow beat against the stillness of the night. She checked the time, and then her eyes flicked up, catching a figure emerging from the car.

Shubman stepped out, his movements fluid, but when his eyes found her in that saree, everything seemed to still. His breath caught, a tight knot of unexpected desire and frustration twisting in his chest. What the hell is going on?

He made his way toward her, the path feeling longer than it should. Trying to force himself to speak, he cleared his throat, his voice coming out smoother than he expected. "You clean up nice."

Naina's lips curved into a smirk as she slipped her phone into her bag, the motion fluid, like she knew exactly what effect she had on him. Pushing off the pillar with a lazy grace, she met his eyes, the playful challenge in hers unmistakable. "Can't resist the compliments, can you?"

Shubman fought back a grin, his jaw clenching just enough to mask the rush of warmth that flooded his cheeks. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it get to your head, baby."

The slip was obvious, and Naina's smile deepened, her gaze sharp as she tilted her head, studying him. "Oh? Baby? That's new."

His stomach lurched — his usual confidence slipping for a brief second. He cleared his throat, the awkwardness creeping up on him. "Yeah, well... don't get used to it. It was practice. For the event."

She snickered, the sound light and teasing, as she patted his chest with a playful flick of her fingers. "Cute."

Shubman rolled his eyes, but there was a flicker of something softer behind the usual deflection. He turned away, moving to open the car door, but not before tossing a glance over his shoulder. "Just... shut up."

Naina didn't move. The words were a spark, and she was already fanning the flames. She spun on her heel, turning to face him with that mischievous glint in her eyes, her lips curving in a slow, deliberate smile. "What did you just say?"

Shubman was caught off guard, the air between them thick with something dangerously close to tension. He raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool. "Shut up. Stop talking."

Naina's eyes flashed, the challenge in her gaze undeniable. She stepped closer, leaning in, the words a whisper that felt like a dare. "...Make me."

"Aww, scared?"

Shubman froze, his breath hitching at the audacity in her voice, and for a split second, he couldn't think. Couldn't move. All he could focus on was the way she stood there, so close, her scent intoxicating, her eyes daring him to react. The weight of the moment pressed down on him. "Not in the slightest." he finally growled, his voice low and controlled.

Her grin widened, satisfaction curling at the edges. She closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself up as if to test his resolve. "Well then, let's see what you got."

The world seemed to narrow in on the space between them. Shubman's pulse thundered in his ears as he felt her body press against his. His hands instinctively settled on her waist, pulling her flush against him. The instant she was in his arms, every thought, every hesitation, every little bit of resistance seemed to vanish. "Oh trust me, baby. You have no idea."

Her lips hovered just inches from his, her breath mingling with his as she teased him. "Then, how about I find out?"

The challenge in her voice stirred something darker within him, something primal that urged him to close the distance, but before he could, the shrill ring of his phone shattered the fragile tension. He pulled away abruptly, cursing under his breath as the magic of the moment dissolved. His phone screen lit up, flashing Ishan's name.

He groaned, stepping back and checking the caller ID. "What do you want?" His voice came out more strained than he'd intended, and he shot Naina a glare, still trying to shake off the effect of her closeness.

"Woah... why so grumpy, Sita? Did I interrupt something important?" Ishan's voice came through the speaker, laced with amusement.

Shubman clenched his jaw, irritation rising again as he shot a look at Naina, who was still suppressing her giggles. "None of your damn business. I'm busy."

"Hurry up and get here, man. Everyone's waiting, especially to meet Naina." Ishan's teasing only made Shubman's scowl deepen.

"Alright, alright. We'll be there soon." Shubman snapped, ending the call abruptly. He tossed the phone in his lap as he turned to Naina, who was still fighting to keep a straight face. "You're having way too much fun at my expense."

"Oh, a lot of fun. You should've seen your face." She was practically glowing with mischief.

Shubman let out a low sigh, settling back in his seat. "Just... shut it."

A while later, Shubman found himself looking up from his glass, his gaze instinctively searching for Naina in the sea of people. It was as if he couldn't help himself, the pull too strong to ignore.

When he finally spotted her, a small breath caught in his chest. She stood bathed in the warm, golden light, her presence glowing like she was the only person in the room. There was something almost hypnotic about the way the light framed her, her laughter mingling with the sound of the crowd. It was like time had momentarily slowed just for her. But, of course, he'd never admit that.

He snapped out of his trance as soon as he noticed his friends watching him, their knowing looks making his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Look at him, can't take his eyes off his girlfriend." Rohit teased, his voice carrying across the table, and the group erupted in snickers. "How sweet."

Shubman shot a playful glare at Rohit, trying to hide the flush spreading across his face behind a mask of annoyance. "Shut up." he muttered, his voice rougher than usual.

"Oh, come on, Shubman." Virat chimed in, his grin wide. "We were all like that once, especially when we first started dating our wives. And look at Ishan — it's been two years, and he still stares shamelessly at Aditi."

The laughter intensified, the teasing aimed at Ishan drawing out more chuckles, even as he protested, his face turning a shade of red.

Shubman leaned back into his seat, unable to stop himself from stealing another glance at Naina. She was effortlessly blending in with the team, chatting and laughing with them like she'd been a part of their circle forever. The way she made everyone feel at ease, how easily she connected with them, it brought an involuntary smile to his lips.

tea with t:

Hi Everyone!!

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Kind of a filler chapter. I know the update is after long but life was a lot recently. 😭

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