After school, Aarav and Ishika were walking home together, their steps falling into an easy rhythm on the quiet street. The afternoon sun was mellow, casting long shadows on the ground. Aarav’s mind, however, was anything but calm. His heart thudded nervously in his chest, the words he had been rehearsing all day echoing inside his head.
Finally, gathering courage, he cleared his throat.
“Hey, Ishika.”
She glanced at him briefly, still focused on her phone. “Yes?”
Aarav hesitated, his palms suddenly clammy. “Actually… I want to ask you something.”
“Hmm? What is it?” Ishika asked casually, her eyes still glued to the screen.
Taking a deep breath, Aarav blurted it out. “I want to go on a date with you.”
The words hung in the air, heavier than he expected. Ishika’s head snapped up immediately, her eyes wide with surprise. For a second, she just stared at him. Then, a small smile curved her lips.
“Finally you said it,” she remarked.
“Huh?” Aarav blinked, startled. “Does that mean… you were waiting for me to tell you?”
“Of course, idiot,” she replied with a playful roll of her eyes.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” he asked, genuinely confused.
Ishika stopped walking for a moment and turned toward him, narrowing her eyes. “Seriously?”
“What?” Aarav asked, bewildered.
“Nothing,” she muttered, shaking her head with a tiny smirk before resuming her steps.
Aarav scratched the back of his head. Did I say something wrong? He had no idea what had just happened, only that Ishika’s reactions always left him guessing.
“So?” she asked after a pause, her tone suddenly lighter. “Where are you taking me?”
“Uh… actually, I don’t have any special plan,” Aarav admitted honestly, bracing himself for her disappointment.
But instead, Ishika only smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll meet you tomorrow at ten in the morning. Is that fine?”
Relief washed over him. “Yeah, yeah, it’s perfect.”
“Good,” she said, giving him a quick glance. “Okay then, see you tomorrow.”
And with that, she walked ahead, her ponytail swaying behind her, leaving Aarav standing there with his heart racing. Tomorrow was going to be their first real date — and he had no idea how to make it perfect, but he knew he had to try.
The next morning, Aarav reached the meeting spot a little earlier than planned. He was nervous but excited, his eyes constantly flicking to his watch as the minutes ticked by. His heart raced with every passing second.
Just then, a soft voice called his name.
“Aarav.”
He looked up, and for a moment, his breath caught in his throat. Ishika was standing a few steps away, wearing a white top paired with a blue skirt. Her hair was left open, swaying gently in the breeze. She looked effortlessly beautiful — more radiant than he had ever seen her before.
“Aarav?” she called again, noticing his stunned silence.
“Huh… oh! Yeah,” he stammered, snapping out of his daze.
“What happened?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.
“N… nothing,” he replied quickly, though his flushed face betrayed his thoughts.
A faint smile tugged at Ishika’s lips. “So… should we go?”
“Yes, yes,” Aarav nodded, eager yet awkward.
The two of them began walking side by side, the air between them filled with unspoken excitement. After a while, Ishika broke the silence.
“Have you decided where we’re going?”
Aarav hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “No… actually, I haven’t.”
Her eyes suddenly sparkled with mischief. “Then let’s go to the amusement park!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Aarav blinked, surprised at her sudden burst of energy. “Huh? What’s with this sudden excitement?”
“Umm… actually, Khushi gave me two tickets yesterday,” she admitted, her cheeks coloring slightly.
“Oh?” Aarav raised a brow.
“So… can we go, please?” she asked, her big, pleading eyes fixed on him.
Aarav couldn’t help but smile. Who could possibly say no to a face that adorable?
“Okay, let’s go.”
“Really? Thank you!” Ishika beamed, practically bouncing on her feet in joy. The sparkle in her eyes made Aarav’s heart skip a beat.
At that moment, he realized something — it didn’t matter where they went. As long as Ishika was with him, even the simplest places would feel special.
They finally reached the amusement park and strolled around together, surrounded by the buzz of laughter, music, and the aroma of cotton candy. Ishika’s eyes sparkled as she scanned the rides, her excitement almost childlike.
“Hey, let’s ride that!” she exclaimed, pointing toward something in the distance.
Aarav followed her gaze — and froze. It was a massive roller coaster, its tracks twisting into the sky before plunging down at terrifying speeds. Just the sight of it made his stomach churn. He had always been scared of heights, but telling Ishika that would be humiliating. He couldn’t let her see that side of him.
“Aarav?” Ishika’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Yeah?” he replied quickly, trying to act normal.
“What happened?” she asked, noticing the hesitation in his eyes.
“Nothing,” he lied, forcing a smile.
“Let’s go!” she said enthusiastically, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the ride.
By the time they were seated, Aarav’s palms were clammy with sweat. The moment the ride jerked forward, his heart thudded painfully against his chest. He tried his best to maintain a blank, expressionless face, but inside he was screaming. Every turn, every drop felt like the end of the world.
Meanwhile, Ishika was the complete opposite. Her hair flew wildly as she threw her hands up in the air, screaming not in fear but in pure exhilaration. Her laughter echoed louder than the roar of the ride itself. Aarav stole a glance at her — surprised that this gentle, soft-spoken girl had such a fearless, adventurous side.
After what felt like an eternity to him, the roller coaster finally screeched to a halt. Aarav staggered out of the seat, his legs weak and trembling, though he tried his hardest to hide it. Thankfully, Ishika didn’t seem to notice.
“That was really fun,” she said with a satisfied sigh, her cheeks glowing from excitement.
“Y-yeah,” Aarav muttered, forcing a weak smile. Fun? Really? he thought miserably. I thought I was going to die up there.
Just then, Ishika’s voice rang again, cheerful and demanding.
“Aarav!”
“Yes?”
“I want to have ice cream.” Her tone was playful, almost childlike.
“Oh… okay,” he said, grateful for an excuse to sit down and calm his racing heart.
They walked into the ice cream parlour and came out a few minutes later, each holding their favorite flavor. The evening breeze was cool, and the two of them sat side by side on a bench just outside, enjoying their little treat.
“You really like ice cream, huh?” Aarav asked, watching her take quick bites with visible delight.
“Like? I love ice cream!” Ishika declared, her eyes twinkling. “I can eat it every single day.”
“Oh, is it?” Aarav chuckled.
“Yeah, but father doesn’t let me. He says I’ll catch a cold and fall sick,” she pouted, clearly unhappy with the rule. Then, as if sharing a grand secret, she leaned closer and whispered, “But you know what? Mom sneaks me some once in a while. She never tells dad. It’s our little secret.”
Her childish honesty made Aarav smile unconsciously. She was eating with the innocence of a five-year-old — talking, laughing, and enjoying every bite, completely unbothered about how she looked.
“You’re really close to your mom, aren’t you?” Aarav asked softly.
“Of course,” Ishika said, her face lighting up. “She always supports me, no matter what.” A warm smile lingered on her lips as she took another spoonful.
Aarav found himself staring at her — the glow of happiness on her face, the way her eyes softened whenever she spoke of her mother. She looked so carefree, so beautiful in that moment that he forgot about his own ice cream entirely.
“Aarav! Your clothes!” Ishika suddenly exclaimed.
Startled, he looked down and realized that while he was busy admiring her, his ice cream had melted and dripped all over his shirt. Embarrassed, he quickly tossed the soggy cone aside and fumbled for tissues. Ishika, however, burst out laughing.
“Don’t laugh,” he muttered in a low, embarrassed voice, his ears turning red.
“You really are like a child, Aarav,” she said between fits of laughter, wiping her tears.
“No, I’m not,” he protested, his tone defensive but almost adorable in its helplessness.
“Okay, okay, fine,” Ishika said at last, calming herself down though the smile never left her face. She patted the empty space beside her and added gently, “Come here, sit. I’ll help you.”
