Khushi couldn't keep the excitement to herself any longer. She'd barely processed what had happened when she walked straight to Anjali and Kunal at the counter, both of them deep in conversation as usual. But the moment they saw her, they knew something had changed.

"So, spill it," Anjali said with a grin, raising an eyebrow. "What happened? The croissant just that good?"

Khushi rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. "It wasn't the croissant," she said, leaning in conspiratorially.

Kunal leaned closer, eyes wide with anticipation. "Then what was it?"

Khushi threw her hands up dramatically. "Okay, fine. Shubman and I... kissed."

Anjali's jaw dropped. "You what?!"

Kunal just burst out laughing. "Wait, wait. You kissed Shubman Gill?!"

Khushi threw her hands up in mock frustration. "Yes! Yes, I kissed him! Happy now?" She sat down beside them, grinning like a fool.

Anjali couldn't hold in her laughter. "Girl, you've got style!" she said, giving Khushi a playful nudge.

Kunal, still laughing, shook his head. "And here I thought we were just teasing you about him being a customer... Next thing you know, you're locking the door and making out with him in the back!"

Khushi rolled her eyes again, but she was grinning. "It wasn't like that! It just... happened!"

Anjali leaned in, her voice lowering in mock seriousness. "So, tell us—how was it?"

Khushi snorted. "It was fine, alright? Good, great even. But I'm not thinking about it too much..."

"Not thinking about it?" Kunal raised an eyebrow. "You're blushing like a tomato, and you're telling me you're not thinking about it?"

Khushi crossed her arms. "Shut up. I'm not thinking about it, okay? We're just... figuring it out."

Anjali just gave her a knowing look. "Uh-huh. Sure, you're not. Keep telling yourself that."

Kunal winked at her. "Next time, don't lock the door. You might get caught."

Khushi buried her face in her hands, but she couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up. "Ugh, you guys are the worst," she muttered, but there was no hiding the happiness in her voice.

"Yeah, yeah," Anjali said, her smile wide. "You love it."

Khushi shook her head but couldn't stop the smile from spreading. "Whatever. Let's just not tell Arora about this, okay?"

"Oh, she's already plotting your wedding," Kunal teased, and the three of them burst into laughter.

The next day, as Khushi walked into the café, she couldn't shake the excitement from the night before. She had barely slept, thoughts of Shubman occupying her mind the entire time. But as she prepared for her shift, she knew she had to act normal, no matter how flustered she felt.

Shubman and Arora walked in, and Khushi immediately went to ring in their orders. "The usual?" she asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she looked at Shubman.

"Yeah, the usual," Shubman replied with a wink. "And, of course, Arora's special order." He ruffled the little girl's hair, causing her to giggle.

Khushi smiled at them, entering the orders into the system and preparing to head to the counter to grab their drinks. As she did, she felt a gentle touch on her hand, and before she knew it, Shubman's fingers were intertwined with hers. She froze for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest.

But Shubman didn't say anything. Neither did she. The simple gesture, the quiet connection, spoke louder than any words could. They sat there in silence for a few moments, just holding hands as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Khushi broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. "I'll see you guys later," she said, as she gently pulled her hand away. Her heart was still racing, but she forced herself to look calm. She turned toward the counter to get their drinks, her mind whirling with thoughts of the moment that had just passed.

She handed them their drinks, smiling at Arora and giving Shubman a quick glance before turning to head back to the café floor. The moment was brief but so full of meaning. She tried to focus on the rest of her shift, but the touch of his hand lingered in her mind.

As she walked away, she could feel her heart thudding in her chest, but there was a smile on her face that couldn't be wiped away.

Khushi had just settled next to Arora, ready to spill everything to her about the kiss and the whirlwind of emotions she had been feeling since. She was so close to telling the little girl everything—how her heart raced whenever she thought of Shubman, how his touch lingered in her mind—but before she could get the words out, she saw him walk over, talking to Kunal and Anjali at the counter.

Arora was sitting there, sipping her drink and twirling a straw in her cup, waiting expectantly. Khushi smiled at her, preparing to share the excitement. "So, Arora, about yesterday..." she began, but was cut off by a soft chuckle behind her.

Shubman slid into the seat next to her without missing a beat, his presence commanding yet calm. He leaned in, looking over at her with a teasing grin. "Just like your picture, we will be getting married in the future." His tone was playful, but his eyes held a warmth that made Khushi's breath catch in her throat.

Khushi froze for a moment, unsure how to react. Arora looked between them, her wide eyes full of curiosity. "What do you mean?" she asked innocently.

Shubman grinned, ruffling her hair as he turned to Khushi, his fingers brushing her arm lightly. "Well, you drew the picture, remember? It's only a matter of time."

Khushi's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to play it cool, glancing at Arora with a raised eyebrow. "What picture?" she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from the teasing. But Arora, ever the little matchmaker, didn't let her off the hook.

"The one where you both are getting married!" Arora exclaimed, her voice full of excitement. "I drew it last week, remember? Khushi, you were wearing a beautiful dress and Shubman had a suit on. It was so pretty!"

Khushi nearly choked on her own breath, trying to mask the blush creeping up her neck. "I...uh, I think we should maybe talk about that later," she stammered, trying to deflect the conversation. But Shubman just smiled wider, leaning back in his chair with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I think Arora's picture is a good idea," he said, his voice still light, but there was something deeper in it—a hint of something he wasn't saying. "Maybe we should start planning the wedding."

Khushi shot him a playful glare, but the spark in his eyes made her heart race again. "You're impossible," she muttered under her breath.

Shubman's grin only grew. "Maybe. But I think Arora might be onto something," he teased, his voice soft as he glanced at the little girl, who was looking back at him with a proud smile.

Khushi couldn't help but chuckle, her nerves finally starting to settle. Arora was happily sipping her drink, completely unaware of the tension that had momentarily filled the air. She was just happy to see her two favorite people getting along so well.

"Fine," Khushi said with a sigh, looking at Shubman. "You're ridiculous. But I'll play along for now."

Shubman's smile softened, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "I knew you'd come around," he said, his voice quieter now, as if there was something unspoken between them.

Khushi met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. They didn't need to say anything more. The unspoken connection, the shared moment of understanding, was all that mattered.

"I'll get back to work," Khushi said quickly, trying to shake off the butterflies that had appeared in her stomach. She looked at Arora with a smile. "Let's talk later, okay?"

Arora nodded enthusiastically, while Shubman gave her one last playful glance before leaning back in his seat. "I'll see you around," he said with a wink, and Khushi couldn't help but feel a little dizzy from the interaction.

As she turned to walk away, she tried to steady her breath, but deep down, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, Arora's picture wasn't as far-fetched as she once thought.

As Khushi started to walk away, feeling her heart still fluttering from the teasing and playful words shared between her and Shubman, she was suddenly stopped by his voice, smooth and calm.

"Hey, Khushi," Shubman called out, causing her to turn back around. He was looking at her with that familiar playful smile, the one that made her pulse race. "How about some ice cream later? My treat," he added, his eyes gleaming with that mischievous sparkle.

Khushi hesitated for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. Ice cream? With him? The idea sounded so simple, yet it felt like it meant so much more. She looked at him, seeing how easy and natural it felt for him to make such an offer. She smiled, trying to appear nonchalant despite the excitement bubbling up inside her.

"Okay," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I'll go. But only if you promise not to make any more marriage jokes."

Shubman grinned, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying the playful banter. "No promises," he teased. "But ice cream is still on, right?"

Khushi rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a smile. "You're impossible, you know that?" she laughed.

"I know," Shubman replied with a wink. "But I think you'll still enjoy it."

And with that, Khushi turned and headed back to the counter, her heart still racing, but a little lighter now. She couldn't help but feel that maybe this simple ice cream date could be the start of something more—something she wasn't quite ready to define yet, but that felt right all the same.