CHAPTER 26
ISHIKA
The drive back feels…lighter. Not because anything has changed externally—the same road stretches ahead, the same traffic crawls in patches, the same city noise hums in the background—but something inside me has shifted just enough to make it all feel different.
I sit back in the passenger seat, my fingers loosely curled in my lap, aware of him beside me in a way I wasn’t before.
And he does exactly what I expect him to do. He doesn’t bring up the dhaba. He doesn’t bring up the tears. He doesn’t even look at me like something fragile has been placed between us.
He just…continues. “Biggest pet peeve?” he asks, glancing at me briefly before looking back at the road.
I exhale, relieved and oddly grateful. “People who chew loudly,” I say immediately. “And people who ask about my hair color like it’s their birthright.”
He hums thoughtfully. “So…people trying to be friendly?”
“Yes,” I say flatly. “Anyone who tries to act close to me.”
There’s a pause.
Then he clicks his tongue. “Oh. So I fall in that category.” I turn to him, raising an eyebrow. “I get the bullying now,” he adds, shaking his head dramatically.
I laugh. “I do not bully you.” He gives me a look. A full, exaggerated, are you serious right now look. I press my lips together, failing to hide the smile. “Fine. Maybe a little.”
“A little?” he repeats.
“It’s fun,” I shrug.
He scoffs softly but there’s a smile playing on his lips. “What’s the biggest lie you’ve told to get out of something?” he asks, wiggling his eyebrows. “Because I know you’ve done it.”
I lean back slightly, considering. And then I remember and I know it’s going to shock him. “I once said my parents died to get out of a college event,” I say casually.
There’s a beat of silence. Then I turn to him and find his mouth slightly open. I burst out laughing. “It’s not that weird,” I defend.
He lets out a breath. “Cool. Very cool. Dropping in dead parents to escape events. Not weird at all.”
I roll my eyes. “It technically wasn’t a lie.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“It got me out of the event.” He shakes his head, chuckling under his breath.
“What are three wishes you’d ask from a genie?” he asks next.
I smirk immediately. “First wish—I get a thousand more wishes.” I shrug proudly, “and then I will utilize them all and ask for another thousand wishes at the end.”
He glances at me, impressed. “Strategist,” he nods. “Great work, Ms. Vyas.”
I shrug like it’s obvious. “You?” I ask. “And don’t you dare copy my answer.”
He chuckles softly, thinking for a second. “One,” he says, “I’d like to meet my father again. Just for a day.” My chest tightens slightly. “With my family,” he adds, his voice softer.
I smile faintly. “Two—success of Evergreen.”
I roll my eyes immediately. “It’s already successful.”
He shrugs. “More success.”
“Of course,” I mutter.
“And third…” he pauses. I turn to look at him. He looks at me instead. “Third would be that Ms. Ishika Vyas finds happiness, success, and people who never leave her.”
My breath catches. The words hit harder than they should. I look away quickly, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “I think you’ve covered that already,” I say lightly, trying to deflect.
He grins. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want more people in your life.” I shake my head slightly. “No one can annoy you as much as me,” he adds confidently. “I promise to annoy you till I die.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the small smile that forms. “Any useless talent?” he asks.
“I can talk backwards,” I say.
His head snaps toward me. “Do it.”
I give him a tight-lipped smile. “Not happening.” He sighs dramatically but nods.
“Have you experienced true love?” he asks suddenly.
The question catches me off guard. I think.
Actually think. Krishna’s face pops in my mind because that’s the only romantic relationship I have ever had but I think I was looking for a solution for my loneliness, besides he vanished and I will consider him as a nightmare, because I don’t think I was ever so relaxed with that man.
And then I shake my head slowly. “No.” I pause. “I don’t even know what true love is,” I admit.
He nods once. “Same.” I glance at him. There’s no drama in his answer. Just honesty.
“Two more questions, Golden boy,” I say, leaning back. “Then your golden ticket ends.”
He gasps. “Don’t put pressure on me.”
I chuckle. “Unusual thing you’re obsessed with?” he asks.
“Astrology,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow. “I know,” I sigh. “It doesn’t match my personality.”
“You’re Sagittarius,” I continue. “I’m Aquarius.”
He beams instantly. “Good compatibility. I knew it.” I shake my head, smiling. Of course he knows.
“Last question,” he says. The car slows. And only then do I realize—We’re at my place. I didn’t even notice the drive ending. “Best thing about me?” he asks, turning toward me with a grin. “I know, it’s hard. I’m amazing.”
I chuckle softly. “Come on,” he groans. “It’s not that hard.” He smirks playfully and sits up straight, “I’m dashing, confident—”
“You are…” I cut him off. He stops and looks at me. I meet his gaze. “You’re kind,” I say slowly. “And very annoying.” I add quickly. He smiles faintly. “But you try,” I murmur. “And I’ve rarely seen people put effort without making a point of it.”
I shrug lightly. He looks…taken aback. “I’m touched, Sunshine,” he says softly.
I roll my eyes, but my voice softens. “Thank you. For everything.”
He hums. “You don’t have to.”
I open the door and step out. Then pause. Turn back. And ask the most stupid question I have ever asked in my life. “Do you want to come in?”
His eyes widen. So do mine. What did I just—“Never mind,” I start quickly.
“Yes,” he says immediately. Too fast. Too loud. I blink at him.
“Okay…” I say slowly. He parks the car properly and gets out, following me toward my building like this was always the plan.
And as we walk up the stairs, I can’t stop the question running through my head.
Why did I invite him?
I don’t do this. I don’t bring people into my space.
I don’t let them cross that line. But today—Today I didn’t want to be alone.
And that realization sits heavy and light at the same time.
Inside, the apartment feels the same as always.
Small. Quiet. Mine. He looks around casually, not judging, not commenting, just…
taking it in. We end up sitting on the couch, and I put on Stranger Things without thinking.
He watches it with me, but I can tell he’s not into it.
His reactions are slightly delayed. His posture—a little stiff.
At one point, he flinches. I notice. Of course I notice.
And for once—I don’t tease him. Because today, he didn’t tease me when I needed him not to.
And somehow…I find it a little cute. Just a little.
At some point, he gets up and wanders into the kitchen like he belongs there.
I watch him from the couch, confused and amused. “What are you doing?” I call out.
“Saving your life,” he replies. I frown. A few minutes later, the smell hits me. Fried rice.
Simple. No vegetables. Probably because I don’t have any. He walks out with two plates, placing one in front of me like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “You need fiber,” he says casually. “This is unacceptable.”
I stare at him. Then at the food. Then back at him. “You went through my kitchen,” I say.
“I survived,” he replies.
I shake my head, but I take a bite. And—It’s good. Of course it is. “You’re lucky this tastes decent,” I mutter.
“I’m always lucky.” I roll my eyes. But I keep eating. And somewhere between the food, the show playing in the background, and his presence filling the quiet spaces something settles. I don’t know when it happened. I don’t know how. But this—This wasn’t what I expected when I walked into Evergreen.
I didn’t expect to become friends with him. I didn’t expect to open up. I didn’t expect to let him in. And I definitely didn’t expect to…not hate it. That thought scares me. Because I know myself.
I know how this ends. People leave. They always do. And yet as I sit there, watching him complain about my eating habits while stealing food from my plate—I don’t push him away. Not today. Even if it terrifies me. Even if I know I shouldn’t get used to this.
Even if I know this is exactly how it begins.