Aishwarya's POV
The restaurant was buzzing with chatter, laughter, and the occasional cheer. It was a farewell dinner—one of my closest friends was flying abroad to chase her dreams. Bittersweet moments like these always carried a strange weight in my chest. Pride, nostalgia, and the ache of an ending all swirling together.
My quiet thoughts were interrupted when Shivani called out my name.
"Aishwarya! Come on, it's your turn!"
I blinked, brought back to the present, and realized we were at the karaoke section of the lounge. Oh, right. Karaoke. Before I could overthink it, I stood up and walked to the mic. Tarun—Shiv bhai's senior, and Shivani's elder brother—was already there, nodding toward me with a knowing smile.
The screen lit up, and the soft intro of Lover by Taylor Swift started playing. The world dimmed around me as the melody took over.
Me:
We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January This is our place, we make the rules…
I could feel eyes on us, phones discreetly lifted to record, but I wasn't singing for them.
Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever?
Tarun:
We could light a bunch of candles And dance around the kitchen, baby…
His voice was calm, unhurried—almost like he meant every word. And for a moment, I let myself wonder.
We sang in perfect harmony, and something about it felt oddly familiar. Natural. Like slipping into a version of something that had always been there but never spoken out loud.
Because the truth was, I'd liked Tarun since school. He was the quiet guy with kind eyes, who'd once helped me carry an entire stack of books when I was late for class. We never moved past a few casual greetings. I thought he never noticed me that way.
But as we sang, and his eyes met mine during the chorus, something clicked.
Later, when the last note faded and the crowd cheered, I smiled to myself. He wasn't just being polite. There was something in that look.
Just then, chaos returned in the form of Shinchan Shinchan Pyara Pyara blasting through the speakers. I laughed, shaking my head, and then my phone buzzed. No doubt it was Puchi or my twin.
Me: "Haa bol."
Puchi: "Tuktuki, when are you coming home?"
Me: "Bas abhi nikal ke aayi."
Puchi: "Hmm, bye."
Me: "Bye."
I turned back to the group. "Sorry guys, I've got to go. Anokhi's calling."
Looking at Shiv bhai, I added, "You're staying over tonight?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Some work to finish. You go. Be safe."
Tarun stood, already holding his keys. "Let's go. I'll drop you. Not safe this late."
He turned to Shiv and added with a smirk, "You go collect the papers from Devansh. That guy neither sleeps nor lets anyone else sleep."
Shiv groaned. "God! Please just give him a girlfriend. He needs someone to pull him out of his planning."
Everyone burst out laughing, throwing him mock glares.
Shiv raised his hands in surrender. "What? We all know girls can fix even the wildest of men!"
I shook my head, amused, and hugged Shivani. "Take care. And don't forget me."
"I'll miss you," she whispered, eyes slightly glossy.
"I'll miss you more."
Outside, the air was cool. Tarun opened the car door like a perfect gentleman. I got in. He slid into the driver's seat and turned to me.
"Seatbelt," he said.
I tried. It got stuck. Of course.
He leaned over, fingers brushing mine as he clicked it in. Our faces were close—too close. My heart gave a small, traitorous skip.
Once the car started, silence settled. Then, casually:
"You have a beautiful voice."
I smiled. "Thank you. You too."
He glanced at me. "Aishwarya, right?"
I nodded.
"You're Shiv's younger sister?"
Another nod.
"Tell me more about you."
I tilted my head. "What do you want to know?"
He chuckled. "Smart move."
A pause.
"Favorite cuisine?"
"Chinese."
"Favorite color?"
"Pink."
Then, all in one breath: "Willyougoonadatewithme."
I blinked. "Huh? Speak like a normal human, please."
He slowed the car slightly, suddenly serious. "Will you go on a date with me? Not asking you to be my girlfriend—at least not yet. Just one date. If you don't feel anything after that, fair. But… just one chance? "
He was rambling.
I cut in, smiling. "Yes."
His head jerked slightly. "Wait—yes? Like… actually yes?"
"Yes," I repeated, laughing. "I said yes."
The smile that spread across his face could've lit up a city.
"You won't regret it," he said quietly.
"Thanks for the ride," I said, stepping out.
"Anytime."
As I walked to the door, my heart beat a little faster. Not because of the karaoke. Not even because of the farewell.
But because something I'd quietly wished for, since school days, had finally taken its first small, beautiful step.