Aarohi And Dev

CHAPTER 5

Aarohi POV

I saved his number as Advik bid goodbye and drifted off to sleep.

I arose in the morning, attended to my morning routine, and proceeded to prepare for my class ahead.

As expected, my Star was waiting outside. We took our seats in the car and drove towards college. As we arrived, I spotted Mayank waiting by the gate, sporting an adorable pout that clearly hinted he was upset with me.

"I assure you, I didn't mean to keep it from you. It happened unexpectedly, and I didn't have the opportunity to let you know" I confessed. "If you want my forgiveness, a Tapioca boba pearl treat would do the trick," he said playfully, with a smile.

"Absolutely, how about after the lecture today?" I said, trying to mollify him. With a resounding thumbs-up, he signaled his approval before we headed to class.

As we took our places, we were greeted by a note, a flower, and a chocolate laid out at Tara's spot. "Looks like our fashionista's stealing hearts! Who's the mystery blind charmer?" Mayank teased with a grin.

Tara playfully stuck out her tongue and flashed him a playful middle finger.

Reading the note, she exaggeratedly sighed, jokingly lamenting, "Ughh! Why do I keep winning the lottery of losers?"

Observing her flair for drama, I teased, "Alright, who's the mystery guest causing all this commotion?" "That jerk Karthik," she grumbled under her breath.

"Bro, main toh na sehta" exclaimed Mayank.
[ I wouldn't have put up with this ]

She discarded the rose and a note, insisting that one can't say no to chocolate she kept it. In a few moments, Rajveer joined us wearing a pout.

Post-class, we headed to the cafe as previously decided. Mayank somehow got Rajveer to agree to join us.

Holding his boba drink, Mayank did a little celebratory dance, indicating just how much he was enjoying the drink. Even Rajveer couldn't hold back a smile this time as he watched the endearing behaviour of this cute little monkey.

Amid our conversation, I received a text message from Advik.

Advik: Would you honour me with an evening date, sweetheart?

Setting aside his corny chatter, he's showing genuine sweetness and making an effort in the relationship.

Me: Sure
Advik: See you at 7, outside your house.

Agreeing to go on a date with Advik filled me with anxiety, realizing it would mark my first-ever date experience.

"Guys, can you please help me out? I have a date tonight, but I'm not very good at socializing. Also, I'm not sure what to wear." Anxiety swept over me as I voiced my concerns.

"Looks like someone's in for a spicy night," Mayank teased me with a wink and a grin.

Mayank's comment caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily flushed, but I quickly composed myself, hiding any trace of my reaction.

We completely ignored Mayank's teasing. Tara stepped in, offering her support and assuring me that she'd handle everything, putting my mind at ease.

Unexpectedly, Mayank questioned me, "Are you more of an introvert?"

"Why the sudden question?" I inquired, puzzled.

He teased gently, "You come off a bit shy and introverted around others. I'm just a tad concerned for you, especially since it's your first date."

"I guess you could say I'm an introvert around extroverts and an extrovert around introverts," I admitted.

Mayank came clean about being an introvert, Tara interrupted with "Oh, hush! You're a wildly extroverted pervert!"

We chuckled a little at her remark.

Before long, we went our separate ways, and Tara kindly walked me home to assist with my date preparations.

After finishing my preparations, I glanced at myself in the mirror and voiced my worry to Tara, saying, "I feel like I'm overdressed."

I've chosen to attire myself in a sleek black dress, its hemline gracefully ending just below my knees, exuding an air of elegance and sophistication. With a minimalist approach, I've adorned myself with subtle jewellery, allowing the timeless simplicity of my ensemble to speak volumes.

She interrupted me with a smile and reassured me, "Baby, you look amazing. The dress highlights your slim figure perfectly."

A smile spread across my face as I hugged her tightly.

A few minutes later, Tara remarked, "Who shows up late for their first date?"

"I'm thinking maybe he had some last-minute work issues," I speculated on his behalf.

"Ruhi, Advik is here",  mumma informed us.

I bid farewell, and Tara's words, "Just be yourself. You look amazing," boosted my spirits as we set off for our date.

As we arrived at our date location, my breath caught at the sight of the open-air setting, bathed in the warm glow of string lights. The ambience was enchanting, with two dining settings arranged elegantly under a starlit sky. The tables were adorned with delicate candles, casting a soft, romantic glow around us.

I couldn't resist asking him, "Did you arrange all of this?" He nodded and explained, "I prepared all this for you. I'm sorry I was late on our first date. I just wanted everything to be perfect for you."

My heart swelled with gratitude, and I couldn't help but give him my warmest smile, deeply moved by his thoughtful gesture. I silently mouthed a "thank you" to him, and then we comfortably settled into our chairs.

Amidst our delightful conversation and meal, his eyes caught sight of a scar on my hand. Intrigued, he asked, "How did you get this scar?"

I attempted to hide it and hesitated before replying, "It's from when I was young."

"You could have used foundation to hide it," he said casually. In that instant, I felt a sudden wave of insecurity and discomfort around him.

Just then, his phone rang, and he promptly excused himself to attend to the call.

Needing a break from the uneasiness, I slipped away to the restroom for a breather.

Recollections of how I acquired that scar flashed through my mind, but I gathered my composure and headed back. While walking, I heard someone speaking, which led me to find Advik engaged in a conversation on the phone.

"My dad has trapped me with a cheugy; she looks somewhat pretty but is very boring. How will I tolerate her for the rest of my life?"

His words pierced through me, crushing my final glimmer of hope for love. Why do I always end up feeling unworthy of affection? I wondered, my heart aching. Hastily, before his return, I retreated to our seats, consumed by heartbreak.

As he came back, I struggled to hide my feelings and told him, "I'm sorry, but I think I should leave. My friend may be in trouble and needs me."

He replied, "Not a problem at all. I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Allow me to give you a ride!" I declined, mentioning that it was nearby and I could walk there.

I walked, battling against the urge to break down when suddenly a vague memory rushed back to me.

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What are your thoughts on Advik? Do you think he's fully committed to this relationship?

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