Desi Dilwale: When His Heart Found Her

Chapter 9

Vihaan's POV:

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Anchal and I sat across from each other. She had actually found the cookie cutters in the back. They were alphabet-shaped cookie cutters. As Anchal and I began rolling out the dough, it was clear we were no culinary experts, but our laughter filled the gaps in our amateurish efforts. The cafe's warm atmosphere enveloped us as we playfully bickered over whose cookie was the most perfectly shaped. Then, Anchal's phone chimed with an incoming call, interrupting our baking escapade. "It's probably Adi Di or Yash Jij," she said "Can you check who it is?"

I picked up her phone and saw an unfamiliar name: JuJu. I couldn't help but wonder who this JuJu was. Anchal, her doe eyes filled with anticipation, implored me to answer and put it on speaker. Nodding in agreement, I swiped to accept the call, and a familiar voice crackled through the tiny speaker.

"Hello?" she greeted.

The voice on the other end was not who we expected. It was Jay, Anchal's cousin.

"Anchal, where are you?" Jay's voice was urgent, and there was an underlying tension in his tone.

"At Coffix. Why?" she said.

"Oh My God Tan She is actually at Coffix. Yeh din dekhna baki reh gaya tha. Hume bina bataye she is dating someone. Kya kami kiya hai humne? Kabhi pressure nai kiya hai date karne ka. Whenever she said mujhe date nai karna hum kuch nai bole. Aaj hume hi nahi bol rahi hai ki date pe hai. I thought she told me everything." Jay started ranting to Tanish.

My heart sank at his words, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. I really liked Anchal and wanted to ask her out, and the thought of her dating someone else shattered my hopes.

Anchal's eyes widened in disbelief, "Shut up!" she yells into the phone. "Who told you that nonsense?"

"Krishna Uncle called Tanish and said you were at Coffix with a guy. So we thought you were dating someone because the only people you hang out with outside the office are us and we are home, so are Dhruv and Kriti." Jay replied.

"Okay, you guys are stupid. Let me clear some things up. One I'm not dating anyone. If I ever do you guys will be the first ones to know. Two I'm at Coffix with Vihaan. Di and Jij have gone for a drive and we are waiting for them here. Three, You guys are idiots." She says.

I could feel the weight lifting from my chest as Anchal denied the rumors. I hadn't realized how much I cared until that moment.

"Oh God, I am so sorry. I cannot believe we did this. Anyway, see you back at home. Bye!" Jay says.

"Sorry about that. They don't function well late at night" Anchal chuckles.

"It's fine," I reply.

"Let's put these cookies in the oven" Anchal says as she goes into the back kitchen.

I stood there, engrossed in conversation with Anchal, my heart raced with every passing moment. Anchal had this magnetic aura that drew me in, and I couldn't help but want to get to know her better. The desire to ask for her number was like a persistent drumbeat in my mind, but the words seemed to elude me. I couldn't figure out how to broach the subject without coming across as awkward or forward.

Inwardly, I began to strategize. Maybe I could pretend to have left my phone in the car and ask her to call it so I could retrieve it, a classic move from the rom-com playbook. But then I realized how contrived that sounded, and I didn't want to start things off with a lie. Anchal seemed genuine, and I wanted our connection to be built on honesty.

(Picture of the cookies)

As I sat at the counter my heart skipped a beat as Anchal emerged from the back kitchen, her warm smile illuminating the room. In her hands, she held a tray of alphabet cookies, a whimsical touch that matched her delightful personality perfectly. We dove into the cookies, savoring the playful letters as we exchanged stories and laughter. It was at that moment, amidst the sweetness of the cookies and the warmth of her company, that I knew I couldn't let this connection slip through my fingers.

Summoning all the courage I had, I took a deep breath and said, "Anchal, I was wondering if I could have your number. Not just because I'd love to talk to you more, but also because I think it might come in handy for future wedding preparations and bachelor party stuff." I offered a sheepish smile, hoping my attempt at humor would break the ice.

Anchal's eyes twinkled with amusement, and she replied, "Vihaan, you read my mind. Here's my number." She recited the digits, and I scrambled to save it in my phone, making sure not to fumble the keys in my excitement. With her number safely stored, I didn't waste any time and dialed her number. My heart raced as it rang. She saved my number in her phone, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and anticipation. The simple act of exchanging numbers and rings held the promise of something beautiful, something that would connect our worlds in a way that seemed meant to be.

As Anchal and I talked, time seemed to lose its grip on us. We delved into conversations about our dreams, aspirations, and the little quirks that made us who we were. Laughter flowed freely, and it felt as if we had known each other for ages, not just a few hours.

But then, the door chimed, and our reverie was interrupted by the entrance of Aadhya Bhabhi and Yash Bhai, who had come to find us. Their arrival was a reminder of the world outside our bubble of enchanting conversation.

Reluctantly, Anchal and I bid each other goodbye, though the smiles on our faces suggested that this parting was merely temporary. Anchal and Aadhya Bhabhi headed off in Anchal's car, and Yash Bhai and I climbed into my car to head home.

As I drove away from the cafe, the night was alive with a sense of happiness and peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. The conversations with Anchal had stirred something within me, something hopeful and full of promise. I glanced over at Yash Bhai, who was in his own world wearing a smile, and I couldn't help but think that this was the start of a beautiful journey.

Anchal and I might have gone our separate ways that night, but our connection felt stronger than ever. The road ahead was uncertain, but as I navigated the dimly lit streets, I couldn't shake the feeling that something magical had just begun. And with a heart brimming with newfound happiness, I looked forward to the adventures that awaited us, eager to see where this unexpected encounter would lead.

Hey guys! Another update. I'm sorry for I haven't been consistent with the updates. I just attended my first ever hackathon and it was amazing. Our team actually won the competition. I'm so happy! Anyways I'll try to be more consistent with the updates.

QOTD: Who is your favorite music artist?

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Love,

ARAK xoxo