Ridrakshika sat on her bed, legs crossed, scrolling aimlessly through her phone when suddenly the screen lit up.

“Adyansh calling…”

Her brows pulled together instantly.

“Yeh narcissist mujhe kyun call kar raha hai ab?” she muttered, eyeing the screen like it owed her an explanation.

After a two-second mental debate, curiosity won. She swiped to answer.

“Kya hai? Bakwas karne ka mann hai toh apne dost ko call karo. Mujhe kyun tang kar rahe ho?” she shot without greeting.

But on the other end came that annoyingly lazy, smooth voice—

“Hey... Thunder!”

Her eyes instinctively rolled to the ceiling.

“Stop rolling your eyes, Thunder. I can literally feel it through the phone.”

Ridrakshika froze.

“Tumhe kaise pata main eyes roll kar rahi thi?” she snapped.

A soft chuckle from his side.

“Because that’s what you always do jab main tumhe Thunder bolta hoon. Predictable ho gayi ho, Miss Verma.”

She groaned. “Why the hell are you calling, Adyansh? Tumhari life itni boring ho gayi kya ke mujhe pareshan karna pad raha hai?”

He grinned, biting back another laugh.

“Actually… tumhe café le jaane ka mann kar raha hai. Chalogi?”

She squinted suspiciously.

“Café? Aur tumhare saath? Kya chal raha hai tumhare dimaag mein?”

“Arey relax yaar... Sanskaar aur Esha wahan date pe gaye hain. Socha hum bhi dekh lein kaunsi cheesy lines maar raha hai Sanskaar... entertainment free ka.”

His smirk practically dripped through the speaker.

“Tum bilkul psycho ho. Date pe spying karoge?” she scoffed.

“Spying nahi... concerned friendship monitoring. Plus tum bhi toh jaana chahti ho... sach sach bolo. Curiosity is killing you, right?”

She sighed dramatically. “Why are you like this?”

He laughed softly, the sound surprisingly warm in her ear.

“Because tum jaise drama queen ki life mein excitement dalna mera farz hai.”

“Tumhare bina bhi meri life mein kaafi acchi hai, Narcissist!” she shot back.

“Acha? Phir itne minutes se call pe kyu ho? Cut kyun nahi kiya ab tak?”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. Damn him.

“…Fine. Main chalungi. But café tak hi. Aur koi drama nahi, samjhe?”

“Drama toh tum le aati ho, Thunder…” he teased. “Get ready. 15 minutes. Aur haan… koi pink dress mat pehen lena. Lagta hai Barbie ki cousin aa gayi hai.”

Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me? Tum kya stalker ho? Tumhe kaise pata kya pehenti hoon main?”

He laughed again, low and shameless. “Bas aapke andaaz samajh gaye hain mujhe... ab hurry up!”

Before she could yell back, he cut the call.

Ridrakshika stared at her phone, a half-annoyed, half-amused smile curving on her lips.

“Yeh ladka… ek din mujhe pagal kar dega.”

----------

They were walking side by side on the quiet lane towards the café. The sky was soft orange, and the air smelled of wet soil from the afternoon drizzle.

Ridrakshika shot him a look from the corner of her eye.

“Tumhe chalna aata bhi hai ya bas attitude bikherne ke liye paida hue ho?”

Adyansh smirked. “Kya karoon… attitude toh mera birth right hai, Thunder.”

She sighed dramatically. “Kahin se thoda normal insaan vali personality le aao… tumse toh baat karna bhi punishment hai.”

He chuckled softly, sliding his hands in his pockets. “Punishment toh tum ho, mere dimaag ke liye... constant noise pollution.”

Ridrakshika glared, about to reply when—

Screeech.

A black car suddenly raced around the corner, dangerously fast. Her body froze.

“Thunder!” Adyansh’s voice snapped sharply. Before she could even move, he grabbed her arm hard and pulled her straight into him—his chest firm against her frame as the car whooshed past them, barely missing.

Her heart pounded wildly.

“Are you crazy?!” Adyansh growled, not letting go. “Kahan khoyi hui thi? Agar main nahi dekhta toh… tum—”

She blinked, stunned. “Ch-chhodoge mujhe?” she whispered, realizing how close they were.

He loosened his grip slowly but didn’t step back. His eyes still scanned her face, checking if she was really okay.

“Tumhara dhyaan hamesha wander mode pe kyun hota hai?Road hai… Paris ka footpath nahi!”

She snapped out of it, shoving his chest gently. “Road pe car ki jagah jet  chalne lage hain toh Main kya karti?”

He chuckled darkly. “Tum karti kuch nahi… tab tak ud chuki hoti. Luckily main hoon... tumhara personal safety net.”

Ridrakshika huffed, crossing her arms. “Hero banne ka itna shauk hai na tumhe? Ek din cape leke aana school!”

Adyansh leaned closer, voice low, teasing.

“Main hi toh hoon... tumhari life ka accidental saviour. Admit it, Thunder. Impressed toh ho na?”

She felt her heart skip for a second but masked it fast.

“Impressed? In your dreams. Chalo café… warna ab koi spaceship aayegi toh tum usse bhi rokoge!”

Adyansh laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Spaceship nahi... aliens bhi aa gaye na toh main sambhaal lunga. Tum tension mat lo.”

Ridrakshika shook her head but smiled softly, unable to hide it this time.

They walked ahead — pretending they weren’t thinking about the accidental closeness they just shared.

-------

As Adyansh and Ridrakshika entered the cozy little café, their eyes instantly landed on Esha and Sanskaar sitting awkwardly in a corner booth. Both were staring so hard at the menu as if it held the secrets to the universe.

Ridrakshika smirked. "Agar hum na aate na, toh ye dono menu dekhte dekhte hi puri shaam nikal dete," she whispered, rolling her eyes.

Adyansh chuckled softly. "Bilkul. Let's crash their 'date'."

They casually strolled to the table, standing right in front of Esha and Sanskaar.

The moment Esha noticed them, her jaw dropped. "Tum dono?! Yahan?!"

Sanskaar blinked, surprised. "Bhai... what the hell are you doing here?"

Adyansh gave him a crooked smile. "Teri help karne aaye hain, genius. Warna teri kismat konsa Popatlal se kam  hai!"

Esha burst out laughing, covering her mouth. "Oh my God, Popatlal!! Perfect comparison!!"

Sanskaar forgot everything — the menu, the coffee — and just stared at her, completely lost in her laughter, a soft smile curling his lips.

Ridrakshika waved her hand in front of him. "Aye daydreamer, zameen pe aa ja!" she teased with a playful snap of her fingers.

Sanskaar snapped out of his trance, looking around awkwardly. Esha blushed, biting her lower lip, avoiding his gaze.

Adyansh leaned on the table, grinning. "Wah Sanskaar... kya scene hai! Jiske sath date pe aaya hai uske samne hi sapne dekh raha tha tu!"

Sanskaar shook his head, laughing. "Chup kar, idiot."

Esha giggled. "Honestly, tum log nahi aate toh hum dono yahan chup chap baithe reh jaate. Kya awkward situation thi..."

Ridrakshika smirked. "Haan haan... tum dono toh intro session ke mood me hi lag rahe the. ‘Hi Esha, kaunsi coffee pasand hai? Bas?’” She mimicked Sanskaar's awkward expression, making everyone laugh.

Sanskaar held up his hand. "Okay fine... par kuch bhi bolo, humari squad kitni cool hai na? Hum chaaro ki dosti ekdum dynamic hai!"

Esha gave a sly smile and teased, "Dosti? Adyansh aur Ridrakshika dost? Since when?"

Sanskaar grinned and leaned forward, looking at Adyansh. "Haan bhai... bata, Ridrakshika teri dost hai kya?"

The café suddenly felt a little quieter as all eyes turned to Adyansh. He gave his classic, mischievous smirk, looking sideways at Ridrakshika, who raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"Kaun jaane," Adyansh said lazily, his voice low and teasing. "Dushman hai… dost hai… ya usse bhi kuch zyada…"

Ridrakshika rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the slight smile tugging at her lips. Esha’s eyes widened in surprise while Sanskaar whistled dramatically.

"Ohooo... baat badh rahi hai boss..." Sanskaar teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

Before anyone could respond, the waiter arrived with their coffee — breaking the tension but not the grins they all shared.

"Squad goals!" Esha giggled, raising her cup.

"Dynamic squad goals," Sanskaar added proudly.

Ridrakshika smirked. "Especially when the narcissist and storm are in the same frame."

Adyansh leaned closer, whispering just for her to hear, "Stop rolling your eyes, Thunder. Coffee thandi ho jayegi."

And for a fleeting second... everything just felt perfect.

------

After finishing their coffee and endless teasing inside the café, the squad stepped out into the street. The weather was perfect — soft breeze, cloudy sky, that slight smell of wet earth — it felt like the universe itself wanted them to roam a little longer.

"Guys, let’s not go home yet," Sanskaar suggested, stretching his arms lazily. "Aise mausam me ghumna banta hai!"

"Exactly!" Esha beamed. "Let’s just walk around!"

Just as they started walking down the lane, Ridrakshika froze in excitement, her eyes wide like a kid spotting a secret treasure.

"Golgappe!!" she squealed, pointing towards the roadside stall across the street. "Guys, chalo chalo golgappe khate hain!!"

Adyansh frowned dramatically, folding his arms. "Kya? Yaha se? Seriously Thunder? Kitna unhygienic hai yeh sab… no way."

Ridrakshika turned to him, hands on her hips, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Tum chup raho! Tumhe kya hi pata street food ke asli maza ka? Health minister mat bano ab!!"

Before Adyansh could argue more, she grabbed Esha’s hand. "Esha, tu chal mere saath! In boring logon ko rehne de!"

Esha laughed, letting herself be dragged along as both girls rushed to the stall, already arguing about who’ll have more spicy ones.

Sanskaar and Adyansh stood behind, watching the scene like helpless guardians.

Adyansh sighed, glancing at Sanskaar. "In dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta..."

Sanskaar chuckled, shaking his head. "Bilkul. Certified cases hain dono!"

Meanwhile, Ridrakshika happily popped a golgappa into her mouth, eyes closing in bliss. "Uff... heaven!" she moaned dramatically.

But as she reached for another one, her loose strands of hair fell over her face, covering her eyes. Annoyed, she lifted her hand — the same hand smeared with spicy masala — to brush them away.

"Aahhh!" she suddenly gasped, jerking back, clutching her eye. "Mirchi! Mirchi lag gayi aankh me!"

Esha panicked. "Ridu! Are you okay??"

Before anyone else could react, Adyansh was already beside her in seconds.

"Move," he said firmly, gently taking her hand away from her eye. He quickly grabbed a water bottle from the stall, unscrewed the cap and poured it carefully over her burning eye.

"Keep it open... just a little..." he murmured softly, holding her face gently, washing away the masala.

Ridrakshika winced, blinking rapidly. He took out his clean handkerchief, dabbing her eye lightly — careful, gentle, unlike his usual arrogant self. Then he leaned a little, softly blowing air over her eye to ease the sting.

"Are you okay now?" His voice was low, concerned, for once free from sarcasm.

Ridrakshika blinked a few times, the burning slowly fading. "Yeah... I think so..." she whispered, surprised at his sudden gentleness.

A few feet away, Esha and Sanskaar stood watching the whole scene, smirking at each other.

Sanskaar whispered, "Ye ladka toh gaya..."

Esha grinned. "Bura phansa hai humara Narcissist King...apni thunder ki lapet me aa gaya finally."

Back near the stall, Adyansh gave her a final check. "Sure? No more drama, Thunder?" he teased softly, a smirk creeping back on his face.

Ridrakshika glared, but her lips twitched. "Drama king toh tum ho, Mr. Clean Freak. Golgappe se bhi darr lagta hai tumhe!"

"At least main masala apni aankhon mein nahi daalta," he shot back, chuckling.

The four friends burst into laughter, the air around them light and warm again, the awkwardness gone, replaced by a strange new comfort.

Above them, clouds rumbled softly, as if hinting — something new was brewing.

__________________________________ Stay tuned for further updates 🎀

~shanshya🧿