The morning air was crisp as Aarav and Hamza walked to the jewellery store, with golden sunlight casting long shadows along the pavement. Aarav, despite his excitement, was overthinking every detail of his upcoming proposal.
Meanwhile, Hamza, who had agreed to accompany him, was already regretting his decision.
Aarav asked, for the fifth time as they entered the store, "So, what do you think? Should I choose a silver ring or a white gold one? Silver is more budget-friendly, but white gold has that extra shine. Do you think Akansha likes extra shine?"
Hamza sighed, rubbing his temples. "Bro, just pick the one that feels right. You're not selecting a house, it's a ring. It's supposed to be simple."
Aarav ignored him, instead turning to the saleswoman and bombarding her with a dozen questions about durability, metal purity, and maintenance. The woman, trained in customer service, kept her polite smile intact, but Hamza could see the barely concealed exhaustion in her eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, Aarav finally selected a sleek silver ring with a delicate heart-shaped diamond in the centre. It wasn't extravagant, but it was elegant, just like Akansha. "Alright, I'm set," he declared proudly, handing the ring over for packaging.
Hamza, relieved, was about to drag him out of the store when something caught his eye.
It was a necklace—a delicate platinum chain with a single teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant, set in an intricate swirl of diamonds. Hamza's breath hitched for a moment. He could already picture it resting against Shumaila's collarbone, sparkling in the light.
"Sir, would you like to see it up close?" the salesman asked, noticing Hamza's lingering gaze.
"Yeah. Pack it," Hamza said immediately, without even checking the price.
Aarav, who had just finished paying for his ring, turned around just in time to witness the exchange. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—what is this? Since when have you been shopping for jewellery?"
Hamza smirked as he picked up the packaged necklace from the counter. "What can I say? I'm hopelessly in love."
Aarav snickered. "Damn, bro. Shumaila's got you wrapped around her little finger."
"And I'm more than happy to be there," Hamza replied smugly, walking out of the store with a satisfied grin.
...
Back at the dorms, Akansha had just delivered some unexpected news.
"I have a date with Aarav today," she said casually.
The girls immediately froze, and then the dorm erupted into chaos.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Sneha shrieked, grabbing Akansha's shoulders.
"OH MY GOD!" Komal clapped excitedly. "Wait, wait, wait—where are you going? What's the plan? What are you wearing?!"
Shumaila sat back, watching the drama unfold with amusement. "I swear, you guys act more like her parents than her actual parents do."
Akansha groaned. "Guys, it's just a date. And I don't even know where he's taking me."
"A MYSTERY DATE?!?" Komal gasped dramatically, then turned to Shumaila and Sneha. "Girls, we need full-on prep mode. Hair, nails, makeup—THE WORKS."
"No, we don't!" Akansha protested.
"Yes, we do," Komal countered, dragging her towards her wardrobe. "Also, I'm skipping class today, and so are you."
"Wait, what?!" Akansha gaped.
Komal ignored her and whipped out her phone. "Siddarth, babe, I'm skipping class."
Siddarth's voice came through the speaker. "And you called me because...?"
"Because you're skipping too."
Siddarth sighed. "Of course I am. Where are we going?"
"To the mall. Akansha has a date, and we need to get her ready."
Siddarth groaned. "So I'm a shopping assistant now?"
"No, you're the emotional support boyfriend."
"Right, right. I'll be there in ten."
Shumaila and Sneha watched Komal's perfect acting with mused looks.
...
Afternoon, at the mall…
Akansha sat in the salon chair, letting out a resigned sigh as Komal fussed over her hair. "I can't believe you're making me do this," she said.
"Girl, your man is taking you on a date! You need to look fabulous," Komal replied, gesturing dramatically. "We're talking hair styled to perfection, nails looking great, and makeup—"
"Minimal," Akansha warned.
"Fine. Minimal but flawless," Komal corrected.
After two hours of preparation, Akansha finally stood before the mirror, gazing at her reflection. She wore a sleek navy satin dress that hugged her figure perfectly, paired with white heels and soft curls framing her face.
"Wow," she muttered. "I look good."
Komal grinned and replied, "Exactly! Now let's go!"
Outside the mall, a black car pulled up.
Akansha blinked. "Did Aarav seriously book a car for me?"
Before she could register it, the driver stepped out.
"Get in, ma'am. There's no time to waste," the deep voice urged. It was none other than Sneha, disguised as a driver, who came to pick up Akansha.
Akansha frowned; something about this voice sounded very familiar. However, before she could think too much about it, Komal and Siddarth quickly ushered her into the car. "Don't keep Aarav waiting!" Komal chirped excitedly.
Once Akansha was inside, the driver adjusted his cap and sunglasses before sliding into the front seat and starting the engine. "Buckle up, ma'am. Safety first," he instructed.
Akansha raised an eyebrow but complied. As the car began to move, she glanced at the rearview mirror and squinted. "You sound oddly familiar..."
Sneha in the back seat coughed softly. "Um, I get that a lot."
Now suspicious, Akansha narrowed her eyes. "Wait a second—"
Just as she was about to finish her sentence, the driver turned up the music, drowning out her words.
Meanwhile, back at the mall, Komal and Siddarth exchanged knowing smirks.
Komal crossed her arms and asked, "Do you think everything will go well?"
Siddarth wrapped an arm around her shoulders and replied, "If it doesn't, we'll just meddle a bit more."
Komal grinned and said, "Damn right!"