𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙫'𝙨 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣

📍 Udaan Foundation NGO

The NGO was bustling with activity.

Shrishti was checking the decorations.

Priya was helping children arrange books.

Suddenly...

Someone grabbed Shrishti from behind.

Shrishti: "AHHHHH!"

Priya: "WHO IS IT?!"

Voice: "Missed me?"

Shrishti: 😳

Priya: 😳

They turned around.

Shrishti: "AARAV!"

Aarav: (opening his arms)

"The one and only."

Without thinking, Shrishti hugged him.

Shrishti: "You're finally back!"

Aarav: "Of course. America got tired of my greatness."

Priya: "No, they deported you."

Aarav: "Priya, why are you like this?"

Priya: "Because somebody has to keep you humble."

Aarav: "Drama Queen, your friend is rude."

Shrishti: "She's always rude."

Priya: "Excuse me?"

Aarav: "See? Rude."

The three laughed.

Aarav: "I missed you both."

Shrishti: "We missed you too."

Aarav: (placing an arm around her shoulder)

"I missed Drama Queen the most."

Shrishti: "Stop calling me that!"

Aarav: "Never."

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨

A black SUV stopped outside.

Workers started unloading boxes of books, toys, clothes, and school supplies.

Priya: 👀

Aarav: 👀

Shrishti: "Why are you both staring outside?"

Priya: "No reason."

Aarav: "Absolutely no reason."

The SUV door opened.

Kartik Malhotra.

Followed by Aryan.

Aryan: "Boss."

Kartik: "What?"

Aryan: "Try not to stare."

Kartik: "At whom?"

Aryan: "The NGO worker."

Kartik: "I don't stare."

Aryan: "You do."

Kartik: "I don't."

Aryan: "You literally found her in three seconds."

Kartik: 😐

His eyes landed on Shrishti.

Then...

On Aarav's arm around her shoulder.

Silence.

Kartik: "Who's he?"

Aryan: (smirking)

"Jealous already?"

Kartik: "Who. Is. He."

Aryan: "No idea."

Kartik: "Find out."

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩

A little girl approached Shrishti.

Little Girl: "Didi, can I get that book?"

Shrishti: "Of course."

She tried reaching for it.

Too high.

Aarav: "Short."

Shrishti: "I am not short."

Priya: "You are."

Aarav: "Tiny."

Shrishti: "I hate you both."

She stretched again.

Suddenly—

The book slipped.

Shrishti: "Oh no!"

Before it could hit her...

A hand caught it.

Kartik.

Kartik: "Looking for this?"

Their eyes met.

And stayed there.

For one second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Nobody spoke.

Priya: 👀

Aryan: 👀

Aarav: 👀

Little Girl: 👀

Immediately...

Priya and Aryan covered the little girl's eyes.

Little Girl: "Why can't I see?"

Priya: "Children shouldn't watch this."

Aryan: "Exactly."

Little Girl: "Watch what?"

Priya: "Nothing."

Aryan: "Absolutely nothing."

Meanwhile...

Kartik: (still holding the book)

"You know..."

Shrishti: "What?"

Kartik: "There are easier ways to get my attention."

Shrishti: 😳

Priya: "OH MY GOD."

Aryan: (looking at ceiling)

"I don't know this man."

Aarav: 😐

Shrishti: "I wasn't trying to get your attention."

Kartik: (smirking)

"Good."

Shrishti: "Why?"

Kartik: "Because you already have it."

Complete silence.

Priya: "I NEED WATER."

𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙮𝙖 𝙫𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙮𝙖𝙣

Priya: "Your boss is shameless."

Aryan: "Today's version? Yes."

Priya: "Does he flirt often?"

Aryan: "Never."

Priya: "Then what happened today?"

Aryan: "Your friend."

Priya: "Fair."

Aryan: "Very fair."

Both burst out laughing.

The Ladder Disaster

Shrishti climbed the ladder to check decorations.

Priya: "Please don't fall."

Aarav: "Actually, I give her five minutes."

Shrishti: "I am standing right here."

Aarav: "And yet my statement remains true."

Priya: "Same."

Shrishti: "Fake friends."

Suddenly...

The ladder shook.

Shrishti: 😳

Shrishti: "Wait..."

Priya: "Shrishti?"

Aarav: "Drama Queen?"

The ladder slipped.

Shrishti: "AAAAAHHHHH!"

Priya: "SHRISHTI!"

Aarav: "MOVE!"

The ladder crashed.

Before she hit the ground—

Kartik caught her.

One arm around her waist.

One hand on her back.

The entire hall fell silent.

Kartik: "Are you insane?"

Shrishti: 😳

Shrishti: "What?"

Kartik: "Why were you standing there alone?"

Shrishti: "I was fixing the decorations."

Kartik: "And if you got hurt?"

Shrishti: "I'm okay."

Kartik: "That's not the point."

Everyone stared.

Because Kartik wasn't angry.

He was worried.

Priya: (whispering)

"He likes her."

Aryan: "Very much."

Aarav: "Oh."

𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙫 𝘾𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚

Aarav finally understood.

Kartik liked Shrishti.

And suddenly...

An evil smile appeared.

Aarav: (to himself)

"This is going to be fun."

He walked toward Shrishti.

Aarav: "Drama Queen."

Shrishti: "What now?"

Aarav: "Come here."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Aarav: "Remember how you cried when I left for America?"

Shrishti: "I did not cry."

Aarav: "You absolutely cried."

Priya: "She did."

Shrishti: "PRIYA!"

Across the hall...

Aryan: "Boss."

Kartik: "What?"

Aryan: "The pen."

Kartik: "What about it?"

Aryan: "You broke it."

Kartik looked down.

The pen was actually broken.

Aryan: 😂

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤

The event ended successfully.

Children received books, clothes, and toys.

Everyone gathered for a photo.

Photographer: "Everyone closer!"

People moved.

Photographer: "Closer!"

People moved again.

Photographer: "Closer!"

Priya: "At this point, we should just sit on each other."

Aryan: "Please don't."

Suddenly...

Shrishti lost balance.

Shrishti: "Oh!"

She stumbled.

Straight into Kartik.

His arm instantly wrapped around her waist.

📸 CLICK!

The photo was taken.

Photographer: "Perfect!"

Priya: 😏

Aryan: 😏

Aarav: 😏

Shrishti: 😳

Kartik: 😳

Photographer: "Sir..."

Kartik: "Hmm?"

Photographer: "Photo is done."

Aryan: "Translation: Let go."

Everyone laughed.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤

That night...

Shrishti received the group photo.

She smiled.

Then zoomed in.

And froze.

Everyone was looking at the camera.

Except Kartik.

He was looking at her.

Meanwhile...

At Malhotra Mansion...

Aryan: "Boss."

Kartik: "What?"

Aryan: "Why are you smiling at a photo?"

Kartik: "Leave."

Aryan: "You zoomed in on her."

Kartik: "ARYAN."

Aryan: "Goodnight, future husband."

A pillow flew across the room.

🌸 𝙀𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 3

"The NGO event ended with happy children, successful donations, and one dangerous discovery... Kartik Malhotra had started looking at Shrishti Rathore like she was becoming his entire world." 🎀🌸🌼🌺✨