It was a rainy afternoon, and Khushi was busy behind the counter, watching the rain tap lightly against the windows. An idea had been brewing in her mind for the past few days, and today, she finally decided to put it into action.

As Shubman and Arora walked into the café, Khushi's eyes lit up. They were becoming regulars now, and she loved seeing them both together—especially the way Arora's infectious laughter seemed to brighten the entire café.

"Hey, Khushi!" Arora squealed as she rushed to the counter, her bright eyes wide with excitement. "Is there a new drink today?"

Khushi smiled, ruffling Arora's hair. "Actually, I've got something special planned for you both today."

Shubman raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on?"

Khushi pulled out a small, hand-crafted card from beneath the counter. The card was decorated with little doodles of stars, hearts, and coffee cups, and on the front was written in bold, playful letters: The Dreamy Brews Adventure Card.

Arora's eyes went wide. "What's that? Is it for me?"

"Yep, for you and Bhaiya," Khushi said, grinning. "It's simple. Every time you come in and order your drinks, I'll stamp your card."

Shubman chuckled. "Sounds like a loyalty program, but with a twist."

"Exactly!" Khushi nodded enthusiastically. "And once you fill up the card with 15 stamps, you get a special prize. Mostly for Arora, of course."

Arora jumped up and down. "A prize for me? I'm gonna fill it up fast!"

Khushi laughed. "That's the spirit! But don't worry, Bhaiya will get a little something, too."

Shubman grinned. "I'm happy as long as it's something sweet. I'm guessing Arora's the one who's really gonna enjoy this."

"Of course!" Khushi winked at the little girl. "She's got the sweetest tooth of all."

Shubman picked up the card, examining it. "So, what do I have to do to earn stamps?"

"It's easy," Khushi explained. "Every time you come in and order your drinks, you get a stamp. But to make it fun, I'll throw in some bonus challenges along the way. Like—helping Arora pick a new drink, or bringing a friend along for your next visit."

Arora gasped. "A new drink? I love trying new things!"

Shubman laughed. "Looks like we'll be making a lot of trips here, huh?"

"Absolutely!" Khushi grinned. "And just to make it more interesting, the prize will be a surprise, but trust me, Arora will love it."

Arora clutched the card tightly. "I'm gonna fill it up in no time!"

Khushi winked. "Well, then I'll start making that first stamp for today's order. Cappuccino for you, Shubman, and extra marshmallows for you, Arora."

As she handed them their drinks, she stamped the card with a bright, cheerful mark. Arora stared at it in awe, as if the stamp itself was magical.

"I'm gonna keep this forever," Arora said, her voice full of excitement.

"Better fill it up quickly then," Shubman teased, ruffling her hair again.

Khushi watched them settle into their usual spot by the window, Arora proudly clutching the card and looking over it like it was a treasure map.

As the days passed, Shubman and Arora returned often, and Khushi couldn't help but notice how happy the little moments made Arora. Every time they came in, Arora would excitedly ask for her card, already knowing her drink order and eagerly awaiting her next stamp.

After just a few visits, the card was already half full, and Khushi found herself looking forward to seeing how quickly they'd reach the 15 stamps. She already had a plan for the prize, something special that Arora would never forget.

One day, as they came in for their usual visit, Khushi noticed Arora holding up the card proudly—only one more stamp to go.

"I'm almost there!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. "One more, and I get my prize!"

Shubman chuckled. "I think you've earned it, princess."

Khushi smiled as she handed over their drinks and stamped the card one last time. "Congratulations, Arora. You've earned your prize."

Arora's eyes lit up. "What is it? What is it?"

Khushi leaned in with a grin. "It's a super-special cupcake, topped with chocolate, rainbow sprinkles, and a crown—just for you."

Arora gasped. "It's a princess cupcake!"

"Exactly," Khushi said, proud of her creation. "A cupcake worthy of a princess."

As Arora devoured her prize with a giggle, Shubman smiled at Khushi. "You've made her day. She's going to talk about this for ages."

Khushi smiled back. "I'm glad." 

And for Khushi, the little moments were what made her café feel just like home—a place where magic and love were brewed with every cup.

The bell above the door jingled as Shubman and Arora entered the cafe on yet another sunny afternoon. But something felt different today. There was an unfamiliar quietness in the air, and as Shubman looked around, he saw that the usual warm, cheerful presence behind the counter was missing. Instead, Khushi's parents were there, bustling about, serving drinks and chatting with customers.

Shubman raised an eyebrow. "Where's Khushi today?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity. He had grown accustomed to her smile, her laughter, and the way she always seemed to make his visits feel special.

Khushi's father, who was steaming milk behind the counter, looked up and smiled warmly. "Ah, Khushi is taking the day off today. She's at a workshop for some new coffee trends. You know how she loves staying on top of the latest creations," he explained, a twinkle of pride in his eyes.

Arora, who had been busy inspecting the bakery display, frowned a little. "I miss Khushi! I wanted to show her my card today!"

Shubman chuckled at Arora's dramatic pout. "I bet you do," he said, gently patting her head. He then turned back to Khushi's father. "She always seems to be here when we come in. How long will she be gone?"

"She should be back by tomorrow," Khushi's mother chimed in, setting a tray of cookies on the counter. "She's a workaholic, that one. But I'm sure she'll be happy to see you both when she's back. You've been regulars here for quite some time, after all."

Shubman smiled, but a small part of him felt disappointed. The café didn't feel quite the same without Khushi's bright energy. He was used to her teasing, the way she always knew exactly what he and Arora wanted before they even said it, and how she'd throw in little surprises here and there.

"So, what should I order today?" Shubman asked, trying to make the best of it.

Khushi's father raised an eyebrow. "Normally, you'd go for the cappuccino, right? How about something new today? Maybe one of those cold brews Khushi's been working on?"

Shubman smiled at the suggestion. "Sure, why not? Let's try that."

Arora tugged at Shubman's sleeve. "Can I have a double chocolate milkshake, please?" she asked sweetly.

"Of course, sweetheart," Khushi's mother responded with a smile, moving to prepare Arora's favorite drink.

As they waited for their drinks, Shubman couldn't help but feel that something was missing. There was a special kind of charm when Khushi was around—a warmth that made the café feel like home. It was clear her parents were doing their best to keep the atmosphere lively, but without Khushi, it wasn't quite the same.

A few minutes later, their drinks arrived. The cold brew had a deep, smooth flavor with just the right amount of sweetness, and Arora's milkshake was as indulgent as ever. Shubman took a sip, nodding in approval. "This is great," he said, raising his cup to Khushi's parents. "Tell Khushi I'll be back tomorrow for my usual."

"We will, don't worry," Khushi's father said with a wink. "She'll be happy to hear you're keeping up with the new drinks."

As they sat down to enjoy their drinks, Shubman couldn't shake the feeling that something was incomplete. He glanced over at Arora, who was happily slurping down her milkshake, her eyes occasionally flicking to the counter, almost like she was expecting Khushi to walk in at any moment.

"Don't worry," Shubman said to her softly. "She'll be back soon. And when she does, we'll make sure she knows how much we missed her."

Arora nodded seriously, clutching her Adventure Card like it was a treasure map. "I'll make her the biggest picture ever when she comes back! She'll love it."

Shubman chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I'm sure she will."

But in his heart, he knew that it wasn't just Arora who would be waiting eagerly for Khushi's return. He was, too.