UNWILLINGLY HIS

Shifting moments

**Samaira's pov**

The evening had settled over the city, casting a soft golden hue through the windows as the sun began its slow descent. The house was quiet, save for the occasional rustling of the leaves outside and the soft hum of the air conditioning. I sat on the couch, the excitement of the day still humming inside me, but as the evening unfolded, I felt a quiet need for simplicity.

“Advait,” I broke the silence, glancing up at him as he was sorting through some papers at the dining table. “I think I’d like to celebrate this... with an ice cream treat. Just like we used to, back in the old days.”

Advait raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Ice cream? That’s how you want to celebrate topping your college?” He smiled, a little teasing, but his eyes sparkled with affection.

I shrugged, smiling back at him. “Yeah. It doesn’t need to be anything big, just... simple. Just us, enjoying something small and familiar.” I bit my lip, my mind wandering to the many times we had shared a simple ice cream in the past. Late-night runs, laughter filling the air, our easy, carefree moments. I wanted to recapture that feeling.

Advait’s smile softened as he walked over to me, sitting beside me on the couch. “I like that idea. It’s perfect.”

His warm gaze was all I needed to feel like everything was right, even in the chaos that had surrounded us in recent months. “You always had the best ideas,” he added, his tone tender.

I chuckled, feeling the familiar flutter in my chest. “Well, you never disagreed before, did you?”

We both laughed lightly, but then, as if a stray thought had entered my mind, I spoke without thinking. “How different could our lives have been today if you hadn’t done what you did?” I froze as soon as the words left my mouth, immediately regretting them.

Advait went still beside me, his eyes meeting mine with a look that was both searching and understanding. The silence stretched for a moment, and I could see the weight of my words settling between us.

“Samaira...” He started, but then paused, seeming to choose his words carefully. “Let’s not go there, okay? This is a moment to celebrate. Let’s not bring up the past again.”

I quickly nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t mean it like that. Let’s just... let’s just enjoy this, okay?” I gave him a small smile, hoping to smooth over the awkwardness I had created.

Advait’s expression softened. “Okay,” he said, pulling me into a gentle hug. "Let’s enjoy tonight. Ice cream and all."

I didn't resist it, I just wanted to forget whatever happened in the past, though it was not possible but this night can be an exception. We both can just celebrate and then get back to our normal routine and anyways I was too tired to argue.I just held onto him a moment longer, appreciating the warmth of his embrace, before finally pulling away with a smile. "So, ready for some ice cream?"

With that, Advait stood up and offered me a hand, and we made our way out of the house. The soft evening air greeted us as we climbed into his car, the world outside painted in soft oranges and pinks. It was one of those evenings where the world felt a little slower, more peaceful.

We made our way to the ice cream parlor, and I couldn’t help but smile at the familiar sights. The neon sign, the sound of the bell above the door as we walked in—everything felt like a comforting reminder of a simpler time. Advait ordered our usual mix of flavors, and we sat down by the window, watching the city slowly come to life under the evening sky.

I was savoring my ice cream when Advait’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking the moment. He glanced at it, his expression changing almost immediately. There was a slight tension in his posture, a shift I couldn’t ignore.

“I have to take this,” he muttered, his voice quieter than usual.

I watched him step outside, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the now cold ice cream on my lap. The quiet buzz of the parlor didn’t match the growing unease I felt in my chest. Something was off, but I couldn’t pinpoint what.

When Advait returned, his face was harder, the lightness that had been there earlier gone. He glanced at me, his voice calm but urgent. “Samaira, we need to go. I have to get somewhere. It’s important.”

I blinked in surprise, not quite understanding the sudden change. “But... my ice cream?” I asked, half-joking, half-confused, looking at my bowl.

“You can finish it in the car,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He reached for his jacket, pulling it on quickly as he motioned for me to follow him.

A strange knot tightened in my stomach as I stood and followed him out to the car. I hadn’t missed the shift in his demeanor, the sudden sense of urgency that had replaced the easy atmosphere from just moments before.

Once we were in the car, Advait’s attention was on his phone, and he didn’t seem to notice me studying him. The road stretched out in front of us, but the comfortable silence had disappeared. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his fingers typing quickly as he worked.

“There’s no time to drop you home first,” he said after a moment, glancing at me briefly. “I’ll finish this and drop you afterward. Is that okay?”

I nodded, still not fully understanding what was going on. “Yeah... That’s fine.” I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy as the car moved through the quiet streets. The tension in the air was palpable now, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was happening that I wasn’t fully a part of.

The ice cream, once the focal point of my celebration, now sat forgotten in the car beside me. I looked out the window, wondering what was really going on, but I didn’t ask. Advait’s focus had shifted entirely, and I was left with nothing but the hum of the car and the growing mystery in my chest.
I just couldn't't shake the feeling that something unexpected was about to happen, maybe not for him but surely for me.