Aisha woke up to the inviting aroma of her favorite food wafting through the air. Blinking groggily, she pushed aside the blanket and sat up, her body still feeling the exhaustion from the previous night. She ran a hand through her hair and sighed before stepping out of bed.
As she made her way downstairs, the rich scent of spices and butter grew stronger. When she reached the kitchen, the sight before her left her momentarily stunned.
Rishi stood by the stove, dressed in a casual t-shirt and sweatpants, expertly flipping something on the pan. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing his toned arms as he worked with practiced ease. He seemed completely in his element, humming softly as he cooked.
"You're up early," he said, glancing over his shoulder with a teasing smirk. "Or should I say, Sleeping Beauty finally awakens. Took you long enough. I was beginning to think I'd have to carry breakfast up to your royal chambers"
Aisha crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I wasn't planning to sleep forever, you know."
"Could've fooled me," Rishi quipped, plating up the food. "You looked pretty comfortable drooling on the pillow."
"I do not drool!" she shot back, narrowing her eyes.
Rishi chuckled, setting the plate down on the counter. "Keep telling yourself that."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the warmth spreading in her chest. It was strange....after everything that had happened, here he was, effortlessly pulling her out of the darkness with his usual playfulness. She hadn't realized how much she needed this normalcy.
Just as she was about to sit down, her phone vibrated on the counter. She frowned, picking it up to see a message from Ranvir.
Ranvir:Baby, something urgent came up, and I won't be able to make it to the gala. You know how it is....things just pile up. But we'll meet soon, okay? Miss you.
Aisha stared at the screen, her fingers tightening around the device. The audacity of him....making excuses, as if his absence was just another scheduling issue, as if she didn't know what he had really been doing the night before.
Rishi, noticing the change in her expression, raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
She quickly locked her phone and shook her head. "No, nothing important."
Rishi didn't look convinced, but he didn't push. Instead, he placed a plate in front of her. "Eat. You'll need energy for whatever you're planning."
Aisha exhaled, pushing the thoughts of Ranvir aside for now. She picked up her fork and took a bite. The familiar taste melted on her tongue, and despite everything, she felt a little bit better.
For now.
Rishi leaned against the counter, watching her. "So… what's this gala about?"
Aisha set her fork down and sighed. "It's a corporate charity event. All the big business names are attending. It's important for networking, brand image, and, well… Ranvir was supposed to go with me."
Rishi tilted his head. "And now?"
"Now I'll go alone."
He let out a mock gasp. "Alone? Aisha Oberoi without an escort at such a grand event? Scandalous."
She gave him a flat look. "I don't need an escort."
Rishi smirked. "Maybe not, but you do need company."
Aisha frowned, trying to understand where he was going with this. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," he said, stealing a piece of toast from her plate, "I'll go with you."
She blinked. "You? Why?"
"Because one, I have a reputation to maintain as your childhood best friend," he said, wagging a finger. "Two, I'd rather not have you deal with annoying reporters on your own. Three…" He leaned in slightly. "I was invited too."
Aisha's brows lifted in surprise. "You were?"
Rishi smirked. "Of course. I'm not just a pretty face, you know. Oberois aren't the only big business name in town."
She scoffed. "Fine, but don't embarrass me."
Rishi placed a hand on his chest dramatically. "Me? Embarrass you? Have some faith, woman."
She shook her head, but the feeling in her chest was lighter. For the first time in a while, she didn't completely dread the evening ahead.
Rishi leaned closer, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Oh, and by the way, since I'm going with you, you should probably pick out something extra stunning. Wouldn't want to be overshadowed by me."
Aisha scoffed. "Oh, please. If anything, you should be worried about keeping up with me."
He smirked. "We'll see about that, Oberoi."
As much as she hated to admit it, for the first time in a long while, she was actually looking forward to something.
Aisha crossed her arms, too drained to argue but still managing to give him a look. "Why are you cooking? And making a mess out of my kitchen?"
He feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Mess? This, Aisha, is called the art of fine cooking. You wouldn't understand."
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Rishi…"
He grinned, flipping another paratha onto a plate. "Relax, princess. I figured you'd wake up feeling like crap, so I thought I'd cook your favorite. And look at that! Perfectly golden and crispy."
Aisha looked at the plate he held out. The food did smell good. She hesitated before softly saying, "You didn't have to."
"I know," he said, his voice lighter but carrying something deeper. "But I wanted to."
She exhaled, looking away, unsure of what to do with the warmth creeping into her chest. She was too exhausted to process anything, too drained to fight the emotions swirling inside her.
Rishi, however, was in no mood for solemnity. He pulled out a chair for her dramatically. "Come, madam, have a seat. Let the master chef impress you with his divine skills."
She shook her head, but a tiny, reluctant smile tugged at her lips. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet, here I am, making sure you don't pass out from hunger. So maybe, just maybe, you should be a little nicer to me?"
She rolled her eyes but took the seat, accepting the plate. Rishi watched her closely as she picked up a piece and took a bite. Her eyes fluttered shut for a second, and he knew she wouldn't admit it, but she liked it.
"Not bad," she mumbled.
"Not bad?" He gasped dramatically. "That's the best compliment I've received in years!"
Aisha shook her head again, letting out a small breath, almost like a laugh. It was the first time in a while she had felt anything other than pain. And though she wasn't ready to acknowledge it yet, Rishi had a way of making her forget....just for a moment.