Happy Readingđź“– đź’•
Author's POV
The sun filtered in through the sheer curtains, casting a warm golden glow over the living room where everyone had collapsed post-breakfast. Half the group lay sprawled on the couch, while others sat on the carpet with cushions hugged close.
"Okay," Dhruv clapped once, breaking the slow lull in conversation. "Enough lazing around. Let's lock this. Paris. One week from now."
Cheers and half-sleepy high-fives erupted.
"I am so ready to forget this work-stressed life," Aviyansh groaned, stretching out with a yawn. "Emails? Responsibilities? Deadlines? Paris is the only word I care about."
"I second that," Ishika added, flipping her messy bun. "Also, I'm cutting my hair before we leave. Like—short. New country, new look."
"Ooooh yes, we need a makeover day before the trip," Prisha said excitedly. "We'll glam up and show Paris what real drama looks like."
" Yehh, we had to do shopping also. " Ishika said no no she didn't said she literally shout for shopping.
Everyone laughed—until Isha, who had been sitting cross-legged beside Shivansh, suddenly blinked.
"Wait—we are ready. But have any of you asked your parents?" she asked, raising a brow. "I have to ask mummy and papa… and well, Maa sa and baba sa from Jaipur, too."
"Mine are fine," prisha replied coolly. "They already think I need a 'mental refresh'."
Aarav nodded. "my parents also postponed their visit for Delhi cause. I already told them we're planning something, so I'll take the lead there."
"Rebel," Isha teased, bumping his shoulder.
Aviyansh who was now scrolling through places options on his phone, mumbled, "Mine would not care, as long as they know I am with them."
Isha sighed and looked at Shivansh. "Okay, I'll talk to my family tonight. Let me know when you talk to maa sa, so, i will join you. Okay? "
He gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. You're going, even if I have to convince all four of our parents myself."
"And if they say no?" Isha challenged, half-joking.
"Then," he leaned in closer with a grin, "I'll fly us to Paris privately. No one says no to me twice."
Everyone groaned. "Royal drama incoming."
"You are impossible sometimes," Isha said with a playful eye-roll.
"But still yours," he winked.
But Isha, as usual, had ten tabs open in her mind.
"I also have to sort out the office," she said dramatically. "I can't just vanish. Prisha's coming with me, and someone has to look after things when we're gone."
At that point, the group collectively sighed because... she was right.
So the planning expanded:
Ask parents.
Manage the office.
Assign someone (or Google "reliable temp CAs near me") to take care of the work.
Then shopping.
Because of course, shopping couldn't wait. How else would they survive Paris without the "just one more pair of heels" emergency?
And just like that, the fun of planning spiraled into project mode.
Somewhere between laughing at nothing and pretending they had it all together, they agreed:
"Let's just try. We'll do our work. Ask permission. Sort things out. Then we fly."
And maybe—just maybe—everything will work out.
Right?
Now, if you thought planning a trip with two people was hard, try planning one with ten emotionally unstable, slightly chaotic, totally ambitious people who all have jobs, offices, firm, business or secret empires to run.
So, when Isha and Arjun sat their parents down to say "We're going to Paris", they expected drama. But their parents, being the absolute legends they are, were like,
"Okay."
Just like that. No filmy dialogues. No "sanskaar ka kya?" lectures. Just a nod. Like they were lowkey expecting it.
Even isha and shivansh together inform shivansh mother and father, informed that they are going Paris together with everyone.
Shivansh made a quick call to his mother while sitting in isha room and isha asked shivansh mother to call shivansh father, and they said have fun to isha and for shivansh said don't irritate isha.
But getting permission was the easy part. What came next was the real grind.
They all knew this wasn't a two-day weekend getaway. It was Paris. The land of wine, croissants, aesthetic Instagram stories—and overpriced souvenirs. So before the fun, came the hustle.
Ranveer, Ritwik, Aviyansh , Arav, and even Dhruv—they all had pending deadlines, meetings, and projects. It wasn't just a group of rich mens vanishing into the wind. They had responsibilities. And as annoying as adulting is, it had to be done.
Even Isha, being the responsible boss lady she was, immediately started listing out things in her mind.
"Okay, I'll assign someone temporary to handle the firm… maybe I'll still monitor on CCTV... Prisha can help... But I will make this work."
So the first two days after permission went into sorting out their work lives. Laptops were open 24/7. Coffee flowed like water. Phone calls became their background music. Even Aviyansh—who usually managed to avoid most stress—was suddenly serious, planning shoots and shifting meetings.
There was chaos, sure. But it was productive chaos.
Everyone was just... trying. Trying to wrap up what they had to, trying to convince their teams to survive without them for a while. Even Ranveer and Ritwik, the quiet one of the group, had an entire event to reschedule before he could breathe.
So yeah—between work emails and packing checklists, the Paris dream didn't feel dreamy just yet.
Finally, after two days of hustle and adulting, Dhruv dropped a message in the group chat.
"Shivansh and my Penthouse. Tonight. Final shopping plan. Don't be late."
And just like that, the gang had a plan: meet at Shivansh's and dhruv penthouse, and decide where to shop, what to buy, and maybe scream at each other for taking too long.
Because let's be honest… shopping with this group?
That's a story in itself.
The plan was set.
The location: Shivansh's and dhruv penthouse.
The agenda: final shopping plan for Paris.
But of course, like every plan ever made by this group—nothing went according to schedule.
Isha arrived late. Classic Isha. Dressed like she wasn't late at all, pretending like the world was just running ten minutes early.
She casually stepped in, looked around, and noticed the awkward silence.
"Where's the rest?" she asked, like she wasn't part of the 'rest.'
Abhiyansh and Ishika were nowhere to be seen.
Now, whether they were lost in some hopelessly cute love-riddle moment or just off somewhere being annoyingly in love—no one really knew. But honestly? No one questioned it. They just accepted it with an eye-roll and a muttered, "Of course they're missing."
Prisha and Aarav were running late too. They had gone to pick up Arjun, and Prisha had just arrived straight from her firm. So obviously, there was a mini detour, a stop for coffee, and at least five unnecessary songs played in the car. Delays were inevitable.
So, who was actually on time?
Shivansh, Ranveer, Dhruv, and surprisingly, Ritwik.
The four of them looked around at the semi-empty penthouse and came to one shared, silent conclusion:
"Let's just eat first."
Because let's face it, discussing shopping on an empty stomach? That's a disaster waiting to happen. One hanger-triggered argument and the trip would be cancelled before it even started.
So dinner came first.
Everyone rolled up their sleeves.
Shivansh got busy in the kitchen like he didn't run an empire by day.
Ranveer was surprisingly decent at chopping.
Dhruv had no clue what he was doing but looked very confident doing it.
Ritwik silently nailed the seasoning.
Dhruv somehow burned one roti but saved it with chutney, so all was forgiven.
And Isha?
Well, Isha did what she did best—recorded the whole thing.
She stood with her phone, giggling, making Instagram stories of the boys pretending to be MasterChefs. Occasionally she'd offer advice like, "I think that's too much salt" even though she had no idea what the original amount was.
"This is why I don't cook," she shrugged. "I supervise."
Despite being royalty, business owners, and full-time drama magnets—these people could cook. Like, really cook. Not the two-minute noodles and pretend-it's-gourmet type, but actual homemade, perfectly spiced, melt-in-your-mouth food.
So when Shivansh, Ritwik, Ranveer, and Dhruv took over the kitchen, they weren't just playing chefs.
They were chefs.
Roti, rice, sabji, paneer curry, dry aloo-gobhi sabji, and even paneer tikka—every dish came out sizzling, aromatic, and mouthwateringly good. And because they weren't done flexing yet—they even made fish, perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy inside.
The apartment filled with the warm smell of masalas, ghee, and roasted paneer. It felt like home.
Just as the last roti puffed up on the tawa and the curry was given its final stir, everyone else began arriving—Arjun, Ishika, Aviyansh, Prisha, and Aarav.
Each one entered with the same reaction:
"Woah… smells amazing in here!"
By the time they all made it to the dinner table, the food was steaming hot and the chairs were full—one giant family table of chaos, chatter, and comfort.
Ishika flopped onto the seat with a dramatic sigh.
"What time is it? I'm starving! Thank god you all cooked or else I would've eaten cereal for dinner."
Plates were passed around, food was served generously, and laughter echoed through the space.
Between bites of paneer tikka and spoonfuls of rice, came the teasing:
Dhruv accidentally dropped a piece of roti on the floor, and Ritwik declared it a national disaster.
Dhruv teased all of them for arriving late, only to be hit with a spoonful of sabji on his shirt by isha.
Aviyansh gave Ishika the biggest piece of paneer without saying a word—earning a collective "Oooooooh" from everyone.
And Shivansh? He casually kept refilling Isha's plate like it was second nature, pretending not to notice her smug smile every time he did.
Dinner wasn't just a meal—it was a memory being made.
They ate, they joked, they teased like siblings and lovers and friends all in one.
No one looked at the time. No one cared.
They were full—in stomach and in heart.
And the trip hadn't even begun yet.
The living area had turned into a soft bubble of warmth—plush cushions, dim lights, and the scent of freshly baked cake still floating through the air. Laughter rolled between walls and hearts like a wave that just wouldn't stop crashing.
Plates of chocolate truffle, rasmalai, and gulab jamuns circled between the group as they lounged around—legs over legs, heads resting on each other's shoulders, and hearts entirely unbothered by the outside world.
Dhruv took the first dramatic bite of the cake and closed his eyes.
"If this cake had a face, I'd marry it."
Ritwik snorted. "If your future wife hears this, she's leaving you for a pastry chef."
Arjun, already three bites in, pointed his fork at Isha.
"Tell me one thing—how do you manage to eat all this and still stay that tiny?"
Isha gave him a look. "It's called stress and metabolism, Arjun. You should try overthinking sometime."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Ishika, her spoon halfway to her mouth, gasped dramatically. "Guys! Should we just cancel the trip and open a bakery instead?"
Aviyansh, without missing a beat, replied, "Only if you're the mascot. You in a chef's hat? Iconic."
Prisha giggled from the couch, snuggling into the blanket. "Why does this feel like a sleepover from college? All that's missing is horror movies and late-night secrets."
Ranveer raised an eyebrow. "No horror movies. I'm not letting Isha cling to Shivansh again like last time."
Isha threw a cushion at him. "Shut up! That was a scary movie, okay?"
Shivansh chuckled lowly and passed her a rasmalai. "You can cling to me again. I don't mind."
"Ughhh," groaned Aarav, "can we get a room for these two?"
Aviyansh, biting into his gulab jamun, mumbled, "We're in the room, unfortunately."
Amid the teasing and sugar rush, Dhruv sitting with one leg propped on the center table, finally brought up what everyone had in mind.
"Okay, listen. Before we drown in diabetes—tomorrow's the big prep day, right?"
Prisha nodded, wiping her hands. "Yup. Step one: Shopping. Girls first, obviously."
Ishika clapped her hands. "We're going to destroy every mall. Paris needs to see us in fresh outfits, okay?"
Dhruv groaned. "As if you don't have 108 outfits already."
Ishika flipped her hair dramatically. "And I'll still say I have nothing to wear. Be quiet."
Isha added, "It's not about need. It's about vibe. You get that, right, Prisha?"
Prisha winked. "Completely. The Paris vibe demands new shoes, at the very least."
Shivansh, who'd been quietly feeding Isha a bite of cake off his own fork (to many exaggerated eye-rolls from the group), finally added,
"Fine. You all go crazy tomorrow. We'll chill until it's our turn."
Arjun smirked. "Or suffer in silence while carrying their shopping bags."
Ritwik pointed at him. "Speak for yourself. I'm staying in the food court."
Everyone laughed again, the kind of laughter that felt like home, safe and unfiltered.
Eventually, someone yawned, and someone else threw a blanket over their legs.
And slowly, between the teasing, the chocolatey spoons, and the faint hum of music in the background, they all knew one thing:
Tomorrow was going to be chaos.
Delicious, expensive, fashionable chaos.
But for now?
They were full—of food, of fun, and of the kind of love that didn't need to be said out loud.
After dessert, laughter, and more sugar than anyone needed, it was finally time to decide one of the most controversial topics of the night—room arrangements.
"Okay, okay," said Shivansh, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "Let's be civilized. Two people in one room. That's it. No chaos."
Dhruv raised an eyebrow. "You really thought this group could ever be civilized?"
Ritwik nodded dramatically. "Bro, we fight over snacks. Room partners? Prepare for war."
Shivansh, already halfway toward the guest rooms, casually announced, "I'm with Isha."
Isha, who had just sat down with her water bottle, blinked. "Excuse me?"
Shivansh turned, smirking. "What? You trust me the most. Let's not waste time."
Arjun, Dhruv, and Ritwik immediately jumped in.
"Oyeeeeee! Not fair!"
"Why do you get to sleep with her?"
"Sharam karo uske bhai yahi khade hai. "
Shivansh just held up his hand like a bodyguard and said, "Talk to the wall. Isha, come on."
Isha, rolling her eyes but smiling, followed him. "Fine, I need peace anyway."
Behind them, Aviyansh quickly tried to slide beside Ishika. "I call dibs on her."
Ishika raised her brows. "You call what? Dibs? Are we bags of chips now?"
Dhruv laughed. "Nah bro, she's sleeping alone tonight. Respect the queen's boundaries."
Prisha, throwing a pillow at Aviyansh, joined the chaos. "Move over. Maybe I'll sleep next to Ishika."
Ishika peeked out of the room. "Try that and I'll throw you out the window."
Everyone cracked up as Ishika and prisha high-fived and announced, "Girls' night it is! We're sleeping together."
Arjun and Arav, left standing with matching expressions of disappointment, looked at each other and sighed.
"Wanna cry together?"
"Might as well sleep together while we're at it."
They headed to one of the rooms like dejected besties.
Meanwhile, Dhruv nudged Aviyansh. "You and me, huh?"
Aviyansh sighed dramatically. "From flirting to snoring. What a downgrade."
Ritwik, carrying two water bottles, patted Ranveer's shoulder. "Come on, partner. Let's snore in sync."
Ranveer smirked. "Only if you don't talk in your sleep like last time."
The room allocations were finally set:
Prisha and Ishika
Shivansh in his own room with isha (grinning with satisfaction)
Arjun and Arav
Dhruv and Aviyansh
Ritwik and Ranveer
With doors shutting, lights dimming, and the occasional muffled giggle or teasing still drifting through the hallway, it felt like one of those nights that would live in memory long after the trip ended.
But little did they know, tomorrow's shopping day was going to be even more chaotic.
Because when this group decides to shop… the city better be ready.
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the half-closed curtains, painting golden patterns on the floor of Shivansh's and dhruv penthouse. The city outside buzzed gently, but inside… it was a different story.
The boys were already up.
Arav, always the early riser, stepped out first, yawning and stretching. "Where's my protein shake? This body isn't going to maintain itself."
Dhruv, shuffling out in socks, grunted, "I swear, if you start flexing in the mirror again, I'll pour coffee on your head."
Ranveer , shivansh and Ritwik already chopping vegetables in the kitchen, replied casually, "Too early for threats, bro."
Aviyansh, walking in with messy hair, scratched his head. "Are the girls up?"
Arjun, tossing a pillow onto the couch, smirked. "It's a holiday. They'll wake up in 2045."
Everyone chuckled.
Arav, rubbing sleep from his eyes, added, "Let them sleep. It's safer for all of us."
Ritwik, the calmest of the bunch, stirred the pan. "Let's make breakfast before they rise and turn into divas."
The kitchen buzzed with life. Vegetables sandwich popped, paneer bhurji sizzled, with paratha and chai brewed. There was occasional chaos too.
Dhruv shouted, "Who poured sugar instead of salt?!"
Ritwik, innocently biting an apple, replied, "Plot twist. It's sweet breakfast today."
Finally, a door creaked open.
Isha, wrapped in a shrug walked out. "What's burning?"
Shivansh, smirking as he leaned against the fridge, said, "My heart. You just woke up, and the temperature rose."
Isha rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed. "Lame. But I'll allow it."
Ishika and Prisha followed behind, dressed and glowing.
Ishika, hands on her hips: "I hope that smell is food and not another one of Dhruv's 'experiments'."
Prisha, stealing a piece of toast: "I could eat a cow. Vegetarian version."
Soon, the whole gang sat around the large dining table, digging into their breakfast like warriors about to go to war.
Aviyansh grinned at Ishika. "Sleep well, princess?"
Ishika teased, "Better than you will tonight if you keep calling me that."
Ritwik clapped. "Burn."
Shivansh, leaning toward Isha: "You've got crumbs here." He brushed her cheek gently.
Isha, slightly surprised, narrowed her eyes. "Smooth. You just wanted to touch my face."
"Guilty," he winked.
After breakfast, the real chaos began.
Dhruv announced, "To the mall!"
Arjun groaned. "Why do I feel like we're going into battle?"
The mall shimmered under the sunlight, bustling not with random shoppers today, but with a well-coordinated kind of chaos. Shivansh's had done it again—booked the entire mall for a private shopping day.
A subtle buzz echoed as people whispered around, phones discreetly held up to click pictures. The security guards kept media and fans at bay, forming a soft perimeter. But that didn't stop the occasional excited gasps but they are taking from back side secretly.
Yet inside the mall, the energy was anything but formal.
Dhruv, eyeing a burger stand, joked, "So, His Highness booked the mall, but couldn't book me food first?"
Ritwik, snickering, "Let the man rule fashion before fries."
The group entered the mall like a gang in a movie. Sunglasses, confidence, and too much noise.
Ishika, removing her purse, declared, "Okay, girls first. Boys, carry our bags."
Ritwik deadpanned, "Why am I suddenly a mule?"
Prisha, looping arms with Aarav: "Because we deserve a day off, and you all owe us."
Aviyansh whispered to Ishika, "You owe me a kiss if I carry your bags."
Ishika, without missing a beat, leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Now carry."
The boys exploded.
Arav:"Dude! At least let us look away first!"
Ritwik: stay away from her or I will make you.
Isha, flipping through dresses, said, "This pink one or the wine red?"
Shivansh, stepping close, lowered his voice, "You'd look beautiful in anything. But if you ask me…" he picked the wine red, "this one's trouble."
Isha, eyes meeting his: "And you like trouble?"
Shivansh, brushing her hand, smiled slowly: "Especially when you wears red."
Prisha and Aarav were in their own world too. She held up a saree against herself.
Aarav, softly, "I'm imagining this on our wedding night."
Prisha, stunned, turned red. "Shut up, idiot."
Aarav, smugly: "You blushed. That's a yes."
Meanwhile, the guys stood in a corner… arms full of bags.
Arjun: "Why am I holding bags?"
Dhruv: "I don't even know whose this is!"
Ritwik: "You've officially entered 'simp territory.'"
Ranveer: "They've been shopping for two hours. I miss sunlight."
Suddenly, Isha turned with three dresses in hand. "Shivansh! Come here. I need you."
He came.
Behind a curtain of trial room, she whispered, "Come inside for a second."
Shivansh, confused, stepped in—and before he could ask anything, she grabbed his collar and kissed him.
Soft. Deep. Unexpected.
When she pulled back, her lips curved. "Now carry my bags."
Outside, Prisha and Ishika cheered. "Queen behavior!"
Isha slipped her arm into Shivansh's, tilting her head, "Let's go this way. I saw a store that screamed my name."
Shivansh, lowering his voice, "Then let's get the whole store. I want to see you in everything... and then take it off you."
Isha, heat rising in her cheeks, elbowed him, "Shut up."
They wandered into a boutique, soft jazz playing in the background. The lights dimmed as she stepped into the trial room. Minutes later, she stepped out in a soft pastel lehenga, shimmering ever so slightly.
Shivansh didn't blink. "That's not a dress. That's a warning. You'll cause heart attacks."
She twirled slowly. "So I'm approved?"
He stepped closer, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You were approved the day I saw you. This is just extra."
They didn't need grand kisses here. The way their eyes lingered, the way his fingers brushed hers as she handed over the dress—that was enough to set the air on fire.
Meanwhile, Prisha had pulled Aarav into an Indo-western fusion store.
She pointed at a white sherwani with golden thread work. "You'd look amazing in this."
Aarav raised a brow. "For what? Your dream wedding?"
She smirked. "Exactly. Mine."
His grin faded into a softer smile. "Then I'll buy it. Even if you're joking, I'm not."
For a moment, everything paused. She reached up, cupped his cheek, and whispered, "Don't fall too fast, Aarav."
He leaned in, lips brushing her forehead. "I already did."
Elsewhere, Aviyansh had finally convinced Ishika to enter a sneaker shop with him.
She sat cross-legged on the bench, trying on shoes, when aviyansh came and kiss her on her lips but her brother, ritwik, walked by.
Ritwik: "What the—Aviyansh?"
Ishika, quickly standing up, stammered, "Bhai! You're here?"
Aviyansh waved awkwardly. "Hey, ritwik bro…"
Ritwik, raising a brow, glanced at the shoes and then back at them. "So this is how shoes lead to love?"
Ishika, embarrassed: "It's not like that—"
Aviyansh, confidently slipping an arm around her, said, "It's exactly like that. And I'd like to talk to you properly… about us."
Ritwik, after a pause, grinned. "Well, at least he's not scared to admit it."
He sat down beside them. "Fine. If she's happy, I'm okay. But I'll still interrogate you later."
Ishika, smiling wide, whispered to Aviyansh, "I think he likes you."
Aviyansh, smug: "Told you. I'm irresistible."
She kissed his cheek, surprising him.
Everyone gathered downstairs, their hands full of bags, faces glowing with excitement and secrets.
Ritwik "Who knew shopping could be a workout?"
Arjun, "My wallet just cried in four languages."
Dhruv, dramatically: "I have no girlfriend, no bags, and still I'm exhausted."
Ranveer, sipping his coffee: "You're just emotionally bankrupt."
Isha, clapping her hands: "Alright! Off to Ranveer's rooftop! I'm starving."
Ritwik, teasing: "You're always starving. For food or for Shivansh?"
Shivansh, smirking: "Both are hers to devour."
Everyone groaned.
They exited the mall with their entourage. Their was media don't how they got to know about shopping. The media try to click picture but cound not because of their guards.
But none of them cared.
They were heading toward Ranveer's rooftop restaurant, where lunch, laughter, and maybe more little kisses awaited…
As the glass elevator rose smoothly, they all watched the skyline stretch further into cotton-candy hues. The sun hovered low, casting gold on everything it touched—the buildings, the railing, the glint in someone's eyes. When the doors opened with a soft ding, it felt like walking into a dream.
Ranveer's rooftop restaurant was more than just a place to eat. It was elegance redefined.
Canopies of white curtains danced in the soft breeze. Tables were carved from polished wood, rimmed with gold. Hanging lights hovered like glowing stars. In one corner, a live violinist played soft, romantic melodies. The scent of roses and fresh basil floated in the air. The skyline stretched far and wide, like they had the whole world beneath their feet.
A waiter in a white tux bowed slightly. "Your table is ready, your highness."
Shivansh, amused: "He still calls me that."
Isha, eyes wide: "You like it, don't you?"
Shivansh, smugly: "I am royal, baby. Let me enjoy it."
Avyansh, sliding past: "Royal pain in the—"
Shivansh raised a brow.
Aviyansh, quickly: "—heart. For Isha bhabhi. So romantic."
Everyone laughed.
The long L-shaped table overlooked the whole city. Couples naturally drifted to sit together.
Shivansh & Isha
Aarav & Prisha
Aviyansh & Ishika
The rest—Dhruv, Arjun, Ritwik, and Ranveer—gathered on the side, already calling dibs on mocktails.
The waiters placed menus, poured sparkling water, and handed out fresh bread baskets. But no one was really focused on the food just yet.
Shivansh leaned toward Isha, voice low, eyes dark. "If you keep looking at me like that, we won't stay here long."
She raised a brow, teasing, "You're not that irresistible."
He took her hand under the table, tracing circles on her palm. "No, but you are. And I'm weak."
Their gazes locked, and the city disappeared around them.
Across the table, Prisha giggled, trying to feed Aarav a bite of bruschetta.
Aarav, pretending to be annoyed: "I can eat on my own."
Prisha leaned in, her lips brushing his ear: "But it's more fun when I feed you."
Aarav gulped, the tip of his ears turning red. "Woman, you're dangerous."
Meanwhile, Aviyansh watched Ishika with that quiet admiration.
"Why do you keep looking at me like I'm dessert?" she asked.
He smirked. "Because you're the only sweet I want today."
She blushed. "Cheesy."
He leaned closer, brushing a kiss against her cheek. "And yet, you're still smiling."
Dhruv groaned, "Can someone pass me a girlfriend? Or at least the bread?"
Ritwik, grinning, "Bread's more loyal, bro. Trust me."
Dhruv, raising a glass: "To being single and third-wheeling like pros."
Arjun, chuckling: "Fourth-wheeling, actually."
Ritwik added, "Let's make it a hexagon of heartbreak."
They all laughed, clinking their glasses.
Ritwik, observing Avyansh and Ishika: "If you hurt my sister, I'll feed you to Jaipur's royal horses."
Aviyansh, calm as ever: "I'll pet them first. I'm good with royalty."
Shivansh, sipping his juice: "Hmm. That's debatable."
Dishes started arriving—wood-fired pizzas, creamy pasta, risottos, grilled chicken, and dessert trays straight out of a Michelin dream. The laughter grew louder, the plates kept switching, and the night shimmered with a golden warmth.
Isha, taking a bite of her tiramisu, moaned softly. "This... is a spiritual experience."
Shivansh, watching her mouth, whispered, "Say that again."
Isha, eyes flicking to his, "Why? So you can imagine doing worse things with that mouth?"
He didn't answer. Just smirked.
Dhruv, loudly: "Ugh! Can y'all keep it PG for the peasants at the table?"
Shivansh, raising a glass: "Then eat fast and leave."
Everyone burst into laughter again.
The sky turned deeper blue, the stars twinkling above. A slow song played, and some couples began dancing near the glass railing.
Aarav offered his hand to Prisha, spinning her once and pulling her close. She laughed against his chest.
Ishika dragged Aviyansh reluctantly. "You're dancing."
"But—"
"Nope. Romantic rules."
Even Shivansh rose, pulling Isha into his arms. "Come on, my queen."
She looked up at him, heart thudding.
He whispered, "It's always been you. Even before I knew it."
Their bodies swayed to the music. Their fingers locked.
A soft kiss landed on her forehead, then nose, and then finally, her lips. Warm, unhurried, full of promises.
This wasn't just dinner.
It was a memory in the making.
And tomorrow? That was a new chapter.
The sun had long disappeared behind the horizon, leaving behind a velvet sky sprinkled with sleepy stars. One by one, the cars lined up outside the rooftop restaurant, waiting to take everyone back to their homes. Laughter still echoed faintly from the elevators, but it was slowly replaced with sleepy sighs and quiet conversations.
It was time to go back. For now.
Isha and dhruv, after hugging each other tightly, joking all the way. They were the loudest ones in the group, making dramatic fake cries as if they were parting forever.
"isha! Don't forget me when you become rich!"
"Bhaiyu, come back with chocolates!"
The others rolled their eyes, but couldn't help smiling.
Isha instead of going to her own house, decided to leave with shivansh, mostly because dhruv had subtly suggested it. Shivansh didn't object—in fact, he smirked the entire ride back.
"You know you're staying because you missed me," he teased.
"I'm staying because I forgot my charger at your place."
"Sure, that's why."
Ishika and ritwik headed straight toward their home—a cozy space filled with soft lights, with aviyansh who also tag along with ishika like always, melted when he saw her toss her bag and immediately curl up on the sofa like he owned the place.
Aarav, on the other hand, first dropped prisha safely at her home, promising to call once he reached. His hand lingered a little longer on hers before letting go. Then he drove back toward his house, the silence of the car contrasting with the loudness of his heart.
Dhruv, and Ranveer, went back to shivansh and dhruv penthouse which is close from ranveer restaurant.
Once at the palace, they unloaded everything—luggage, shopping bags, gadgets, and even a few coffee cups they forgot to throw. Isha help them with every thing and everyone admire Isha like their cut little sister.
Then she and Arjun also went back to their house after Isha take her charger from his penthouse and shivansh was sulking for this.
That night, none of them plannedanything wild. They were too full, too tired, and frankly, too content. Each of them settled wherever they were, quietly unpacking or simply lying back, scrolling through photos and smiling at the memories.
Shivansh posted a photo of Isha on his private story with the caption: "Can we freeze this moment?"
Aarav opened a voice note from Prisha: "I hope you're home safe. Today was perfect."
Avyansh texted Ishika: "Sleep tight, woman. Don't drool on my pillow next time." from ritwik room because ritwik didn't let aviyansh sleep next to ishika.
The next day arrived with the kind of excitement that can only be compared to pre-birthday jitters.
Makeover Day.
The group chat was blowing up before 9 AM.
Prisha: "I'm bringing glitter for nails. No arguments."
Ishika: "We're not turning into disco balls, Prish."
Arav, "Why am I here. I'm going to work."
Isha, "Because you're our unpaid photographer. Be ready."
Sunlight poured through the curtains, gentle and warm.
Girls group buzzed first on the group chat:
"Today's the day!"
"Makeover, haircut, salon, nails—EVERYTHING!"
"I'm dying these grays I swear!"
They decided to meet at 11 AM, dressed in their comfiest clothes, hair tied up, and faces clean—ready for chaos, gossip, and the glow-up day.
By 10 AM, the girls started showing up at Isha house, the cozy, warm, lavender-scented space where all pre-event planning and panic always happened. It was their little comfort zone, filled with mirrors, lights, blankets, and the smell of coffee.
The girls were already there, seated in a circle, sipping lattes and munching on cookies.
"You all look like you're prepping for the Oscars," one of them teased, watching the chaos.
"Not Oscars, darling," Prisha said, flipping her hair. "We're going to Paris tomorrow. We need to glow like we own it."
"Glow or blind the Eiffel Tower?" someone mumbled, and everyone burst out laughing.
Soon, they all piled into the salon—arms linked, playlists blasting in the car, sunglasses on like celebrities hiding from paparazzi.
Manicures.
Pedicures.
Hair spas.
Face masks.
Eyebrow threading followed by yelling.
Haircuts (some tragic, some fabulous).
A lot of screaming over "how short is short?"
There was gossip, giggles, and someone even tried on a green hair streak just for fun.
Prisha fell asleep during her hair spa.
Ishika started crying mid-manicure because her nails "looked like power."
Isha, meanwhile, just sat back and enjoyed the chaos—this was her tribe. Her people. Her calm before the storm.
They didn't even realize when morning slipped into evening—all they knew was that the parlor ladies were politely hinting at the clock.
Everyone hugged tight before parting ways, exhaustion plastered on their glowing faces.
"See you tomorrow. Airport, 6 AM. No delays."
"If anyone oversleeps, we're dragging you in pajamas."
One by one, they left—bags in hand, hearts light, and nails painted in every shade from cherry red to milky nude.
Meanwhile, the boys had other plans.
Aviyansh, fixing his tie: "Office calls, people. The kingdom won't run itself."
Dhruv, already checking emails: "We'll catch up by evening."
Ranveer, buttoning his shirt with a sigh: "Why are we like this?"
Aviyansh, from the doorway: "Because we're hot and responsible."
That night, after the calls, meetings, facials, haircuts, and a lot of chaotic shopping for shampoo and scrunchies, everyone met one last time..
Isha returned home, her body aching in the best way. She changed into her softest pajamas, ate dinner with her mom, and after a few sleepy conversations, headed to bed.
She didn't even realize when her eyes closed.
But somewhere in the middle of the night, a strange motion stirred her.
She turned slightly in her sleep.
The bed shifted.
Someone was there.
But sleep was stronger than suspicion.
She didn't wake.
She just turned and—out of instinct—curled up against the warmth.
By the time her mom peeked into the room in the early hours of the morning, a soft smile touched her face.
There was Isha, fast asleep.
Clutching someone tightly in her arms.
Murmuring softly, lips slightly parted.
She thought it must be her teddy.
But morning sunlight had other plans.
Isha woke up with a sleepy stretch and yawn, arms still wrapped around someone. She buried her face lazily against the familiar scent—
Wait.
Wait.
That's not...teddy?
Her eyes blinked open in panic.
There he was.
Shivansh.
Lying peacefully beside her.
One arm under his head.
The other holding her like she belonged there.
His eyes were still closed, but the smirk was definitely there.
"Good morning, jaana," he whispered, eyes still shut.
Isha froze.
Mouth open.
Heart racing.
"You—how—What are you doing here?!"
He slowly opened one eye, leaned closer, and whispered—
"You're the one who held me like a teddy bear all night, love. Don't blame me now."
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