After Khushi set Shubman's coffee down at his table with a warm smile, she quickly retreated to the counter, busying herself with cleaning and taking more orders. Shubman watched her for a moment, appreciating how effortlessly she managed the café, greeting every customer like they were family.

As the afternoon rolled into evening, Shubman and Arora finally left the café, Arora giving Khushi a quick hug before they stepped out.

Later that night, Shubman was back home, lounging on his couch with his phone in hand. His fingers hovered over Khushi's contact for a moment before he finally pressed call.

Khushi picked up after a couple of rings, her voice soft but amused. "Shubman Gill calling at—" she paused, checking the time, "—10:45 PM? This better not be about that coffee I recommended."

He chuckled, leaning back. "No, the coffee was perfect, as always. I just...wanted to talk. You free?"

"Let me guess, Arora's asleep, and you're bored," she teased.

"Arora's been asleep for hours," he admitted. "But I'm not bored. I just thought...you might be good company."

Her laughter was warm, and he could hear the soft clinking of dishes in the background. "Lucky for you, I just finished cleaning up. What's on your mind?"

They talked about everything and nothing—about Arora's antics, the quirks of running a café, and even Shubman's childhood. For once, he felt like he could just be himself, not the cricket star everyone expected him to be.

"You know," he said after a long pause, "it's nice talking to someone who doesn't bring up cricket every five seconds."

"Well," Khushi said, her tone light, "I figured you might appreciate being treated like a normal person for once. But don't get used to it—I've got a ton of Arora stories to bribe you with."

He laughed, a sound so genuine it made Khushi smile on the other end of the line.

As the hours slipped by, they found themselves diving into deeper conversations—dreams, fears, and little details about their lives that they hadn't shared with anyone else.

"I don't even know why I'm still on the phone," Khushi said softly at one point, her voice sleepy. "You're going to make me regret this tomorrow when I have to be up at six."

"I'll take the blame," Shubman replied, his voice just as soft. "But...I'm glad you didn't hang up."

There was a pause, filled with unspoken emotions neither of them was ready to confess.

"Goodnight, Khushi," Shubman finally said, his voice warm.

"Goodnight, Shubman," she whispered back, a small smile tugging at her lips as she ended the call.

For both of them, sleep didn't come easily that night, their thoughts lingering on the other. They loved each other—it was obvious in every word, every glance—but neither was ready to say it out loud just yet.  

The next day, Khushi found herself wandering through an art gallery with Anjali. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the colorful paintings and sculptures on display. Anjali, sketchpad in hand, was absorbed in observing every detail, her brows furrowed in concentration.

"I still don't know what I'm looking for," Anjali said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Khushi smiled, her hands tucked in her jacket pockets. "You don't have to know yet. Inspiration doesn't exactly knock on the door, you know? It sneaks in when you're least expecting it."

Anjali gave her a sidelong glance and smirked. "Look at you, all poetic. Spending too much time around artists?"

"Or maybe I've just been hanging around you too much," Khushi teased, nudging her friend gently.

After spending a couple of hours at the gallery, they decided to head back to the café. Khushi carried one of Anjali's bags filled with sketching supplies as they walked through the cobblestone streets, their conversation light and filled with laughter.

As they rounded a corner near the café, Khushi's steps faltered. Standing by the entrance, hands casually tucked in his pockets, was Shubman. He wasn't with Arora this time; it was just him.

Anjali spotted him too and gave Khushi a sly grin. "Well, would you look at that? I think I forgot something at the gallery."

"Anjali!" Khushi hissed, but her friend was already walking away, waving over her shoulder.

"Have fun!" Anjali called back, disappearing down the street.

Khushi sighed and turned her attention to Shubman, who had already noticed her. He smiled, the kind of easy, genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Hey," he said, stepping closer. "Didn't expect to see you out here."

"Same," she replied, adjusting the strap of Anjali's bag on her shoulder. "What brings you to this side of town?"

"Had a meeting nearby," he said, glancing at her with a touch of hesitation. "Thought I'd stop by the café...and maybe see you."

Khushi blinked, caught off guard by his honesty. She felt her cheeks warm but quickly recovered. "Well, you're in luck. I was just heading back."

"You and Anjali?" he asked, looking around.

"She, uh, just remembered she had something to do," Khushi said, unable to keep the amusement out of her voice.

Shubman chuckled. "Convenient timing."

They started walking toward the café together, the conversation flowing naturally. Shubman asked about the art gallery, and Khushi shared a few funny moments from their visit.

As they reached the café, Shubman paused outside, his expression softening. "I've been meaning to thank you."

"For what?" she asked, tilting her head.

"For...everything," he said, his voice sincere. "The way you treat Arora, how you're always so kind, even when I'm probably the most annoying customer in the world."

Khushi laughed, shaking her head. "You're not annoying. And Arora is a sweetheart—I love having her around."

"And me?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes searching hers.

Khushi's breath caught for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "You're okay, I guess."

Shubman grinned, the tension easing between them. "Fair enough. Can I at least buy you a coffee this time?"

"Let me think about it," Khushi said playfully, opening the door to the café. "Come on, I'll make sure you don't mess up your stamp card."

As they walked in together, Khushi couldn't help but feel like the lines between their friendship and something more were starting to blur. And for once, she didn't mind.

The day Shubman finally filled his stamp card arrived, and it was clear that he had been waiting for this moment. He sat at his usual table, Arora perched happily beside him, both of them eagerly awaiting Khushi's arrival. She came over with a bright smile, handing him his finished stamp card.

"Congratulations, you've finally earned your reward," she teased, holding up the card. "Ready for your croissant?"

Shubman grinned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I've been waiting for this day!"

Khushi led him to the back of the café, where the kitchen was. She unlocked the door and ushered him inside, where the warm, delicious smell of freshly baked goods filled the air. She began to pull a croissant from the basket, but as she placed it on the counter, something shifted between them.

Shubman, usually playful and teasing, stepped closer, his eyes locking with hers. "You know...this reward seems too easy," he murmured, his voice low and playful. "What if I wanted something more?"

Khushi's heart skipped a beat, and she took a small step back, but her eyes stayed on him. "This is a café, not a magic shop, Shubman," she said, her voice betraying the nerves she tried to hide.

He smiled, a slow, knowing smile. "I think I'll take my chances."

Before she could react, he reached out, gently pulling her closer. In that moment, it was as though everything else around them faded away. Their chemistry, the laughter, the teasing—it all led to this, a moment that felt like it was meant to happen. Slowly, his lips met hers.

The kiss was soft at first, testing the waters, but as the warmth between them grew, so did the intensity. Khushi's hands found their way to his chest, and his arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. The world outside seemed to disappear as they fell into the rhythm of each other, their connection undeniable and effortless.

Suddenly, the sound of the door rattling caught their attention. Khushi broke away from the kiss, her heart racing. She quickly shoved a croissant into his hand, attempting to act as though nothing had happened.

Before she could fully compose herself, the door opened, and her mom's voice called from the other side. "Khushi, I—" Her mom stopped mid-sentence, not noticing the moment that had just passed between them.

Shubman, ever the quick thinker, immediately straightened up and smiled at Khushi's mom. "Thanks for the croissant, Khushi!" he said brightly, waving the pastry in his hand.

Khushi's mom nodded, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. "Of course, Shubman, glad you like it." She looked at Khushi, who was still a bit flustered, but tried to cover it up.

"Uh, Mom, I think Shubman's about to head out," Khushi said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Right, right," her mom said, still unaware of the moment that had just unfolded. "Goodbye, Shubman. Take care!"

Shubman smiled at Khushi, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he gave her one last look. "See you around, Khushi," he said softly, his voice a little more intimate now.

As he walked out of the café, Khushi stood frozen for a moment, her heart still racing. She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the taste of his kiss lingering on her lips.

She smiled to herself, knowing deep down that things between them were never going to be the same again. And for once, she didn't mind.