As Mallika was busy making pizza, Sumedh watched her quietly

Sumedh: Mallika, tumhe cooking kab se pasand hai?

Mallika, sprinkling cheese over the pizza base, paused for a moment

Mallika: Pasand toh hamesha se thi, lekin zyada seekhi nahi. Bas jab mood hota hai, tab kuch banati hoon.

Sumedh nodded

Once the pizza was ready, Mallika placed it on the table and cut a slice for Sumedh.

Mallika: yeh lo, tumhara pizza. Tumhare reaction se pata chalega ki mein achhi cook hoon ya nahi.

Sumedh took a bite, his eyes lighting up

Sumedh: wow, yeh toh amazing hai! Mujhe nahi lagta tha ki ghar ka bana pizza itna tasty ho sakta hai.

Mallika laughed, feeling a warm glow of happiness.

Mallika: thanks! Ab tum mujhe officially 'Pizza Queen' bula sakte ho.

They both laughed, their bond growing stronger with every passing moment

Suddenly, Sumedh's phone rang. It was Anupam

Sumedh: haan, Anuri?

Anupama (on call): Beta, Mallika ke saath ho na? Hum late aayenge, tum log dinner kar lena.

Sumedh: theek hai, Anuri.

After the call, Sumedh turned to Mallika

Sumedh: Anuri aur Anuj buddy late aayenge. Tumhe aur kuch banana hai?

Mallika shook her head.

Mallika: Nahi, pizza kaafi hai.

They sat together, sharing stories and laughs. Mallika noticed how sumedh could make her smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely happy

Later that Night

Mallika was in her room, scrolling through some files on her laptop, but her mind kept wandering to Sumedh. His innocent smile, the way he looked at her, and his gentle nature were all-consuming. She sighed, closing her laptop and deciding to take a walk.

She found Sumedh sitting on the balcony, gazing at the stars, his face glowing under the moonlight.

Mallika: tum yaha kya kar rahe ho?

Sumedh turned to her and smiled.

Sumedh: bas tare ginte hue soch raha tha... kitne sundar hote hain na yeh tare.

Mallika walked over and sat beside him

Mallika: aur tum bhi.

Sumedh blinked, confused

Sumedh: Main? Main sundar kaise ho sakta hoon? Main toh...

Mallika placed a finger on his lips, silencing him.

Mallika:- tum nahi samjhoge

Sumedh looked at her, his hazel eyes wide with innocence. Mallika's heart skipped a beat as she realized how close they were sitting

Mallika: sumedh, tum kabhi kisi ladki ke saath close hue ho?

Sumedh tilted his head, thinking

Sumedh: Close? Matlab dosti?

Mallika chuckled softly, shaking her head

Mallika: nahi. Close matlab... kisi ko touch karna, hug karna, ya... kiss karna

Sumedh's cheeks turned a light shade of pink as he looked away

Sumedh: nahi, maine kabhi nahi kiya. Mujhe toh yeh sab kaise karte hain, yeh bhi nahi pata.

Mallika smirked, leaning slightly closer

Mallika: tumhe seekhne ka mann hai?

Sumedh looked at her nervously

Sumedh: Seekhna? Woh kaise?

Mallika: relax, main tumhe sab samjhaungi

She leaned even closer, her lips just inches from his. Sumedh's breath hitched as he felt her warm presence. She kissed on his right cheek, he close his eyes feeling her lips on his right cheek

Sumedh: Mallika... yeh kya tha?

Mallika smiled, brushing his hair away from his forehead

Mallika: yeh ek kiss thi. Jab tum kisi se apna pyaar ya care dikhana chahte ho, tab log aise karte hain.

Sumedh: Lekin...

Mallika chuckled, finding his innocence adorable

Mallika: Samajhne ki zarurat nahi hai, Sumedh. Bas feel karo. Tumhe kaisa laga?

Sumedh hesitated, then softly said, "Accha."

Mallika smiled, her heart racing. She placed her hand on his, intertwining their fingers.

Mallika: tum unique ho, Sumedh. Tumhari innocence mujhe bohot special lagti hai.

Sumedh looked at their intertwined hands, his heart beating faster. Though he didn't fully understand what was happening, he felt a strange sense of happiness and warmth in her presence

Next Day

Mallika walked into the garden, she froze

There, near the gate, was Sumedh—smiling and talking to a girl. Mallika clenched her fists as she noticed how comfortable Sumedh seemed around her.

Before she could call out, the girl leaned forward and kissed Sumedh on the cheek. Mallika’s eyes widened, and her blood boiled. She turned on her and come back into the house, her heart racing with anger and jealousy.

Anuj who was arranging some papers. He spot mallika who comes inside

Anuj:- Good morning

Mallika ignore him make him confused, she get inside her room and anuj follows her

He knock the door but find the door open so he enter, but a pillow directly land on his face

He get shocked

Anuj: mallika tum theek ho

Mallika:- aapko kya hai

Anuj:- tum gussa mein kyun ho? Mena kuch kiya kya?

Mallika:- nahi

Anuj:- toh phir..

Mallika glared at him, and he takes his steps back

Anuj:- sorry

Anuj leave the room not understanding why she is angry?

Mallika's Room

Mallika paced back and forth in her room, muttering to herself

Mallika: who does she think she is? Kissing him like that! And Sumedh how could he just stand there smiling?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door

Sumedh: Mallika, andar aaun?

Mallika: (gritting her teeth) Aa jao

Sumedh entered

Sumedh: tumne breakfast kiya?

Mallika folded her arms, glaring at him.

Mallika: breakfast? Tumhe meri chinta karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Tum apni... friend ke saath busy ho na?

Sumedh tilted his head, confused.

Sumedh: Friend? Kaun?

Mallika: wahi, jo tumhe garden mein kiss kar rahi thi.

Sumedh's eyes widened in realization, and he smiled sheepishly

Sumedh:- wo meri friend thi Nisha naam tha uska

Mallika:- mena naam nahi pucha uskaa.. kuch jada hi close nahi thi wo

Sumedh:- nahi friends toh aisa hi hota haina

Mallika:- accha friends aisa kiss karta hai ek dusra ko

Sumedh:- tumne bhi toh kiya tha

Mallika get speechless.. sumedh look at her with confusion

Mallika:- Don't talk to me..

Sumedh:- lekin

Mallika:- mujhe abhi tumse koi baat nahi karni hai sumedh..

Mallika is ready to leave

Sumedh:- tum kaha ja rahi ho

Mallika:- office koi kaam hai

Mallika leave from there angrily..

Sumedh:- isse kya hua?

Sumedh shrugged his shoulder

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