It had been a few days since the ice cream date, and Khushi was feeling more at ease with the way things were progressing between her and Shubman. Everything at the café seemed to be falling into place—until her parents decided to hire their family friend's daughter, Simran, to help out at the counter.

Simran was sweet, polite, and always greeted everyone with a warm smile. But there was something about her that rubbed Khushi the wrong way. At first, she couldn't quite put her finger on it—she seemed so nice and eager to fit in. Yet, every time Khushi wasn't looking, Simran would give her a sharp, almost calculating glance, as if she didn't quite like her presence in the café. Khushi chalked it up to her own insecurities, but the nagging feeling didn't go away.

One afternoon, as the café bustled with customers, Shubman walked in, his usual casual swagger taking over the room. He looked around for Khushi, as he always did when he came by, but didn't see her at the counter. His eyes naturally fell to Simran, who was standing behind it with a bright smile.

"Hi, I'm looking for Khushi," Shubman said, his voice calm but with a hint of concern.

Simran's smile widened as she leaned on the counter, her eyes twinkling with too much enthusiasm. "Oh, Khushi?" she said, her voice sweet but with an underlying edge. "She's in the back, but don't worry—let me take care of you." She straightened up, adjusting her uniform and running a hand through her hair, almost as if she were trying to get his attention. "What would you like today?" she asked, her tone flirtatious.

Shubman frowned, caught off guard by her sudden change in demeanor. He had always been comfortable with Khushi's straightforwardness, so this felt... off. "Uh, I'm good. I'll wait for Khushi," he said, not entirely sure why he didn't want to engage with Simran.

But before Simran could press further, Khushi appeared from the back, her phone in hand, oblivious to the tense moment. As she made her way to the counter, chatting away with someone on the phone, she was suddenly interrupted when someone snatched the phone out of her hand playfully.

"Gotcha!" Shubman's voice rang out, and she immediately stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Hey!" Khushi laughed, trying to grab the phone back, but Shubman held it just out of reach, a teasing grin on his face.

"Just making sure you're not too busy," he said, looking at her with a playful twinkle in his eyes. "I figured it was time for us to talk."

Khushi rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face was impossible to hide. "Give it back!" she giggled, leaning forward to try and grab her phone, but he was just out of reach.

Meanwhile, Simran, who had been watching the interaction closely, shifted uncomfortably behind the counter. She didn't like seeing the two of them so comfortable together, especially with how easily they seemed to be enjoying each other's company. She quickly forced a smile, trying to hide her irritation as she watched them.

After a few moments, Shubman handed the phone back, his fingers brushing against hers. "There," he said, as if he were granting a favor. "All yours."

Khushi, trying to stay composed, took the phone with a grin. "Thanks," she said, her voice warm. "I didn't even know I was being hijacked."

Shubman smiled, glancing at Simran, who was now standing uncomfortably behind the counter, clearly annoyed. "So, what's up?" he asked, looking at Khushi with a calm, steady gaze.

Khushi turned back to him, still holding her phone, and caught a glimpse of Simran, who was now fixing her hair with exaggerated care. It was clear to Khushi that Simran wasn't exactly thrilled with her presence.

"I've got some time," Khushi said to Shubman, her voice still light. "What brings you in today?"

As the two of them continued their conversation, Simran's gaze lingered on them, her smile tight. She didn't like how comfortable Khushi seemed with Shubman. It irritated her—no one else at the café had ever caught Shubman's attention like this. As much as she tried to mask her feelings, they were obvious.

"Everything alright, Simran?" Khushi asked casually, noticing how tense the atmosphere had become.

Simran straightened up, forcing a smile. "Of course," she said, her tone a little too sweet for Khushi's liking. "Just making sure you two are all set."

Khushi raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, her attention now fully on Shubman. "I'll be free in a bit," she said, giving him a playful look. "Want to wait for me?"

Shubman smiled. "I think I can manage."

As Khushi turned to get back to work, she noticed Simran watching her closely, eyes narrowed in a way that made Khushi feel uneasy. Something was definitely off with her. But for now, Khushi decided to focus on the present—her moment with Shubman, her friends, and the café that had always felt like home.

Little did she know, Simran's presence would soon stir up more trouble than anyone expected.

As the days passed, Anjali and Kunal couldn't shake off the unease they felt about Simran. Both had noticed her subtle but deliberate attempts to get closer to Shubman, and they didn't like it one bit. Anjali, especially, had a sharp eye for people who weren't genuine, and Simran's behavior had already set off alarms in her head.

"Have you noticed her, Kunal?" Anjali asked one evening, leaning in close as they both sat at their usual table in the café, watching Simran chat with a customer across the room. "She's definitely got some weird energy. Something's off about her."

Kunal nodded, glancing up at Simran, who was smiling a little too widely as she handed a drink to a customer. "I don't know, man. She's always trying to make small talk with Shubman. It's like she's trying too hard." He frowned. "And don't even get me started on how she looks at Khushi. It's like she's... jealous or something."

Anjali sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. "Exactly. I've never seen her this way before. It's like she's trying to mess with Khushi. I don't like it."

Kunal nodded, his expression serious. "We've got to make sure she doesn't cause any trouble. Khushi's too kind-hearted to see through it all. And Shubman... well, he might not realize what's going on either."

Anjali chewed on her lip for a moment before looking at Kunal. "You know what? I think it's time we do something about it. We can't just sit back and let this play out."

Kunal raised an eyebrow. "What are you thinking?"

"Leave it to me," Anjali said with a grin, already plotting her next move. "I've got an idea."

Later that week, Khushi was working her shift when Simran's behavior became even more apparent. She could feel the tension rising between them, especially when Simran started hovering around Shubman more often than usual. Khushi tried to focus on the orders, but every time she looked up, Simran was either talking to Shubman or glaring at her from behind the counter.

The final straw came when Simran tried to engage Shubman in conversation while Khushi was busy with another customer. Khushi glanced over, noticing how Simran was leaning in just a bit too close, laughing a little too loudly at something Shubman had said.

Shubman, as usual, didn't seem to pick up on her signals. He was polite, even amused by Simran's antics, but Khushi couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in her stomach. She didn't want to be the jealous girlfriend—especially when she hadn't even had the chance to fully admit her feelings yet—but it was hard to ignore the tension that Simran was creating between them.

Anjali and Kunal watched the situation unfold from their usual spot at the corner table, their eyes narrowed. It was clear that they had the same concerns about Simran, but they hadn't yet figured out how to confront the issue without making it obvious.

When Khushi went to the back to take a short break, Anjali leaned toward Kunal. "We need to do something. She's pushing too hard, and Khushi doesn't even realize it."

Kunal leaned back in his chair, his eyes following Khushi as she disappeared behind the kitchen door. "What do you want to do?"

"I'm going to have a little chat with her," Anjali said with a determined look. "I don't want her anywhere near Shubman or Khushi. She's not fooling anyone."

An hour later, after Khushi had come back out from the back, she was chatting with Shubman when Anjali walked up, purposefully placing herself between the two.

"Hey, Khushi, can we talk for a sec?" Anjali asked, her voice calm but firm.

Khushi looked at her, a little puzzled but nodded. "Sure, what's up?"

Anjali glanced at Simran, who was now at the counter with her arms crossed, watching them. "Just something quick." She then led Khushi to the side of the café, away from Simran's line of sight.

"I don't like how she's acting around Shubman," Anjali said bluntly, her voice low. "Simran's not as innocent as she seems. You need to be careful around her."

Khushi blinked, surprised by the seriousness in Anjali's tone. "What do you mean? She's just... nice, right?"

Anjali shook her head. "She's playing a game, Khushi. She's been hitting on Shubman and making it clear she doesn't like you. I don't trust her. Neither does Kunal."

Khushi's heart sank. She hadn't noticed the signs, too caught up in her own feelings for Shubman and the joy he brought to the café. "But why would she...?" Khushi started, but Anjali cut her off.

"Jealousy, maybe. She doesn't like that you and Shubman are close. But I can tell, she's trouble. And I'm not the only one who's noticed."

As the conversation ended, Khushi's mind was racing. She didn't want to believe it, but now that she thought about it, there were things she had missed—Simran's lingering looks, her attempts to engage Shubman in conversation, and the way she'd always acted a little too sweet around Khushi.

Khushi took a deep breath, determined not to let Simran ruin the bond she had with Shubman. She'd confront her if she had to. But right now, she had to focus on what was really important: her connection with Shubman.

Later that day, as Khushi handed Shubman his drink, she exchanged a quiet glance with Simran, who had been watching them from the counter. The tension was palpable, but Khushi wasn't going to let it show.

She knew Shubman cared for her—he always had, even if neither of them had fully admitted it yet. And that was what mattered.