🥀Chapter 1

Ishika Arora

The soft glow of the moonlight filters through the curtains, casting a gentle light over the room , Siddhartha Roy Kapoor, the college heartthrob , harbores a luxury bedroom which is surprisingly cozy.

A space that felt like it belongs to him—art on the walls, music playing softly from a speaker in the corner, and the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air.

I , Ishika Arora, Siddhartha's girlfriend  , sit on the edge of the bed, nervously fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. We both are actually of same age . Both young 22 years old last year college students . It's been only over 6 months of us dating.

I've been often coming to Siddhartha's place , since the day he confessed to me , how he has fallen deep for me , just like I , for him . Our whole college campus knows about us . He said , after our final exam , he'll tell his  parents about me . He wants to meet my parents too.

Honestly, I never thought, I would fall for someone. I always thought, I will have arranged marriage by the time I'll turn 28 . Haha. But turns out my boring life was not so boring for a certain someone.

A chuckle leaves my mouth . Then I look ahead and get blessed  with Siddhartha's heavely silhouette leaning against the doorframe, watching me with  a soft smile, his dark hair slightly tousled . Suddenly I feel cautious.

The comfortable silence between us breaks only by the quiet hum of the music. But something was changing in the air,  a tension that neither of them can ignore.

He slowly walkes towards me, his footsteps quiet but deliberate. His eyes never leaves mine as he kneels down in front of me, close enough that I could feel the heat of his body radiating towards me.

" You okay? " he asks me . His voice low, softer than usual, almost like he's trying to make sure he isn't intruding on something delicate.

I nod, trying to maintain composure, but there was something about the  way he was looking at me that made me heart race.

" Yeah, just... a little nervous, " I say while feeling my cheeks getting warmer.

Siddhartha's expression softens . He reachs up to gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing your skin with a touch that sent a shiver down my spine. The intensity of his gaze never wavered,  and for a moment, it felt like everything around us has disappeared. It is just the two of us.

" There's no need to be nervous, After all it's just me , your Sid . " he whispers, his breath brushing against my cheek.

My pulse quickened as the distance between us closes . His hand moved to cup my face, his thumb tracing the curve of my jaw.

"  I know, but you know . it's my first time so , I'm bound to get nervous. " I say while leaning against his touch, feeling his gentle warmth .

" You do know right, Tesoro , that even if we do not do this , It's completely okay with me . I don't need to feel you under my skin to know your heart is already wrapped around mine . I can wait for you Tesoro , be it now ,  weeks or months. we have our whole life to do this. "

I look up and gaze at him . Oh , how ethereal he's looking while saying this . I lean towards him and take his lips in mine .

" I want this . I don't want us to wait " I say this as effortlessly as the wind whispers through the trees.

And then, without another word, his lips captures mine in a kiss that is soft at first—tentative, as if testing the waters. But soon, the kiss deepens, the warmth between  us  building until I can't tell where one of us ended and the other began.

It is electric, like a spark has ignited between us, and all the tension that has been hanging in the air seems finally released. We had kissed before. But this time it feels different . more consuming.

When he pulles away just enough to rest his forehead against mine, we were both breathless, our hearts beating in unison. His eyes  still close, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

" I trust you Sid " nuzzling my nose with his I mumble .

" I'll take care of you Tesoro. " saying this he again takes my lips into his and intertwines our fingers .

🥀 chapter 2

Ishika Arora

I gradually wake from the embrace of sleep, my senses slowly coming to life. The gentle light of the morning pours through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the room. It dances across the surfaces, filling the space with a warmth that feels like a quiet, comforting hug. The room, bathed in the peaceful light, tells me everything I need to know: the darkness has gently retreated, and a new day has begun its journey.

Siddhartha is beside me, still asleep, his chest rising and falling in the calmest rhythm.

My body feels heavy but in a pleasant way, completely at ease. I glance  at him, his features relaxed and peaceful in the quiet of the morning.  His arm is draped over me, and I feel the comforting weight of it against my body.

For a moment, I just lie there, enjoying the stillness, the quiet connection  between us. I can't believe last night actually happened. My first time. I hadn't known it would be like this—so gentle, so full of care. I close  my eyes again, savoring the peace, the feeling of being close to him.

Siddhartha stirs next to me, his hand lightly brushing my hair from my face. I open my eyes to find him looking at me, a soft, sleepy smile playing on his lips.

" Good morning " he murmurs, his voice rough from sleep but still warm.

I smile back, feeling a little shy despite the comfort of the moment.

"morning." I murmur , my eyes looking at everywhere but his eyes.

He stretches a little, and I watch as the muscles in his arms flex.

"You doing okay? there isn't much pain right ? " he asks, his fingers gently grazing my cheek. It's a small gesture, but it feels significant, like he's making sure I'm still okay after everything . I nod, feeling safe, content.

"Yeah... I'm fine. " I reply.

Siddhartha smiles again, leaning in to press a kiss to my forehead. His lips linger there for a moment, soft and tender, and I can't help but close my eyes, soaking it in. Everything about this feels right.

After a beat, Siddhartha pulls away, getting out of bed with a groan.  says, his voice still husky with sleep. "  I'll make us breakfast, us . You just relax. I'll take care of you. "

If it was another day , I would've teased him about him making breakfast. As his breakfast skills are as much non-existent as mine. But I remain silent. I couldn't help but find my cheeks getting warmer .

I nodded my head while looking down . He leans towards me and pecks my forehead again . Then he leaves still wearing only his joggers . Behind his back , my nail marks grins at me making me shy .

Feeling a flutter in my chest , I can't believe how sweet he is, how kind. He makes me feel cared for in a way I never imagined I'd experience. I pull the blankets around me a little tighter.

But just as I start to drift back into the peaceful haze of morning, my phone buzzes on the nightstand. At first I try to ignore it . But t's repeatative ringing doesn't let me ignore the call. I picked up my phone and saw my best friend Nidhi , calling me . I mumble into the phone, still groggy.

" Bish , where are you ? I'm standing infront of your hostel "

" What ! you came back ? ain't you coming back tomorrow? and why even you calling me girl, you have a spare key , remember. "

"  I forgot the key at my home . "

" dump bish . Okay , wait . I'm coming. I'm at Siddhartha's place only. It won't take too much time. "

" Wooh , I think , I missed some tea . "

" Shut up bish , "

With that , I cut the call and run my hand over my face . " This girl, how can she be so careless."

Shaking my head I get out of the bed , wincing a little  due to a little  soreness  .  I grabbed my sweatshirt from the couch which Siddhartha had previously kept neatly . I smile while wearing this over my sleeveless dress.

.

~•~

.

I come to the living room and See Siddhartha coming towards the bedroom with 2 plates of pancake . In his hand.

" Why did come outside? I was bringing breakfast in bed . " He asks me then he adds " and Don't worry, these are edible. "

A laugh leaves my mouth hearing him. " I belive you , Mr caring Boyfriend . But I need to go.  Nidhi came back and she forgot her key home. "

" What ! But I planned to cuddle whole day with you . " He pouts which makes him look so adorable. I reach towards him and pecks his lips .

" I'll quickly come back. " I tell him .

" Quickly, I doubt , considering how you two talk . But I'm counting on " coming back". This peasant can only wait now. "

" such drama queem you are , man! "

" It's King , tesoro , don't change my gender. " He says while making adorable face . Who would belive this man's same as last night .

Shaking my head I was about to reply. But the doorbell rang . Siddhartha put the plates on center table and reaches the door .

Upon Opening , the door reveals Siddhartha's best friend, Abhishek  .

" You won't believe what I got--- " smiling widely he shows Siddhartha a  bag  . It seems heavy . But before he can finish his sentence, he sees me . Then looks at Siddhartha.

"  Oh- Ishi-Ishika is here . " with wide eyes he says this to Siddhartha.

" YeS , ABhiShEk . IsHiaKa  iS heRe ." Siddhartha tells him while oddly stressing on one after syllable .

Upon drowning in realization,Abhishek greets me .

"Hello!"

Awkwardly smiling he scratches his neck . My presence here seems very unexpected of him. Suddenly I felt shy . True this is not the first time I'm here at Siddhartha's apartment. But sure this is the fisrt time , I'm here this early morning.

My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I try to hide it, but I can't help the rush of pink coloring my face.

"Hey, Abhishek , " I say, smiling sheepishly, my eyes darting away from him. I know he  must be able to tell I just woke up here, that I wasn't exactly planning on leaving. My mind races, my pulse quickening with the awareness  of the situation.

" I'm coming later then , Siddhartha---"

" No , no, I'm leaving actually... you guys carry on. " before Abhishek could complete his sentence I say .

"You're leaving already? You sure you don't need a little more time here? " Abhishek  asks then looks at Siddhartha, his face adoring with a teasing grin.

I feel myself turning even pinker, but I manage a small laugh. too busy to notice Siddhartha expression.

" I've got to go. Nidhi needs me. " Saying this I quickly ran away from there . Still in disbelief  how come a person like me become this shy .

" Nidhi will freak out once I tell her what just happened."

~•~

I am halfway through the apartment gate, When My phone rang again . Knowing it was Nina , I ignore It . Bish will yell at me if I pick it up . I tugged my hairs behind my ears . and that time.  I realized, My ears were empty.

My earrings. I left them in Siddhartha's room. Sighing I turn back and go towards Siddhartha's apartment as it's only a minute away.  Plus that earring is my favorite one . has a blue crystal on it.

~•~

Upon reaching Siddhartha apartment door ,  I was about to knock on the door , But I find it already opened. So I pushed the door aside. I open my mouth to call Siddhartha. But .

But I hear a clear loud voice of Abhishek  which makes my brows knitted .

"So you finally won the bet, huh? "

" Bet ?." I frawn hearing Abhishek 's words . But his next words make me freeze. I feel as if someone terribly snatched air from my lungs.

" Ishika  was finally in your bed."

🥀 chapter 3

6 years later

Ishika Arora

Sunday . Sunday's are so much blessing for a corporate slave like me . I try to sleep like an orange cat on an average afternoon, So that  I can be charged for the coming week .

Key word try . Because --

" Mamma!!"

Suddenly the door opens and a little 5 years old munchkin comes inside while screaming

Yeah , My 5 years old son , Ishaan,  comes inside my room , breaking my dream of having a lazy Sunday morning. I try to ignore his voice. But he screams louder .

" wake up mamma !! "

" Aan !! go to grandma , let mamma sleep !!!! " I whine dipping my face more into my soft pillow

" No mamma , wake up . It's morning!! everyone will buy new Chikorita plushie . Wake up. " He screams and this time he climbs up the bed and sits on top of me.

This boy and his obsession with Pokémon especially with Chikorita plushie. Every child in his age gets obsessed with Pikachu. But Ishaan , He seems to find another Pokémon cuter than Pikachu . Just - Just like--

" Mamma !!! " He whines while keeping his head over mine .

Huff . This boy's very stubborn. I wonder why's he like that. I turn around and face the dressing table mirror.

" Okay , okay , I'm up . You climp down , We'll go after I freshen up. "

as soon as I say those words I hear his loud cheerful happy scream . He immediately gets down . He jumps happily.

I sit up on the bed and a smile forms on my face seeing his happy face . My boy has been silent since last two weeks, As I was busy . But now he'll not back off , as today's my day off .

" Oh, Ishika . It's good you wake up . "

I look at the source of the voice and find my Mom standing at the doorway. Ishaan goes to her immediately.

" My pancakes are ready . Come quickly. Aan is too excited today . " Affectionately hugging Ishaan with her one hand she said to me .

Ah , this seems the reason behind my Son's stubborn nature . His over pampering grandma . I wonder where my strict mom went .

" Yeah , yeah Mom . I'll take your grandson out today. " Running my fingers through my braided hairs I say .

Mom rolls her eyes and takes Ishaan in her arms . Then talking to him sweetly she takes him to kitchen to feed him .

I stretch my limbs and let out a yawn. Seems like, I need to postpone my becoming an orange cat plan . My boy needs my time.

I take a deep breath and finally push myself out of the cozy comfort of my bed. The smell of pancakes and jasmine tea fills the air, and I feel my exhaustion slipping away, just a little. Ishaan’s excitement is contagious, and even though I’m not fully awake, there’s something about seeing him so happy that  stirs a bit of energy inside me.           

I head to the bathroom, splash my face with cold water, and quickly change into something comfortable .

When I step out of my room,  I find my dad sitting on the couch, flipping through the newspaper with a neutral expression.

" Morning, Dad, " I say, my voice a little softer than I mean it to be. His gaze flicks up. Only for mere a second .

" Morning. " He replies then focuses back into his newspaper.

Did I expect him to speak to me more affectionately.

Yes .

But do I deserve it ?

According to him . No .

According to me ....

I - I should go towards kitchen. Aan and Mom is waiting for me .

I step toward the kitchen, but Ray is already darting out to meet me, a big smile on his face.  Mom , washing dishes . I quickly have my breakfast. then Ray and I head out to buy Ishaan’s plushie.

Sometimes later

Ishaan happily walks beside me as I stroll through the grocery section with my cart, half full with necessary items. I’m trying to keep it quick, knowing we still need to make our way to local fruit store. But Ishaan doesn’t seem to mind. He’s holding his new Chikorita plushie tightly in his hands, occasionally glancing down at it as if he’s afraid it’ll disappear. His joy is contagious, and I can’t help but chuckle every time he looks at me with his sparkling eyes.

“See, Mamma? Chikorita is so beautiful!” Ishaan says, his voice practically bursting with happiness.

I chuckle hearing his happy voice. “Yes, sweetie, it really is beautiful. I’m glad you like it.”

We now reach the dairy section of the store, and I stop for a moment to check the prices. As I grab a carton of milk, I catch sight of a young mother a few aisles over. She’s standing by the baby formula section, her eyes scanning the prices with a worried expression on her face. I notice the discomfort on her newborn’s face—her baby keeps crying softly in her arms. It’s clear the little one is upset, and the mother looks overwhelmed. Her clothes are worn out, and the exhaustion in her eyes is undeniable.

My heart clenches as I watch her, and I feel a sense of solidarity with her. The look in her eyes tells me that she’s probably struggling. I can only guess how hard it must be for her to try and figure out the best option for her baby when money is clearly tight.

I take a breath, trying to steady myself. I know what it’s like to be stretched thin. But I also know the power of a little help, the difference it can make when someone offers a hand, even in small ways. I glance over at Ray, still holding his plushie and smiling, completely unaware of the situation unfolding just a few feet away.

“Aan , baby, stay here near the cart, okay?” I say gently, crouching down to his level. “I’m coming after talking to that aunty. Be a good boy, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”

Ishaan nods obediently, his face lighting up as he responds, “Okay, Mamma!”

I ruffle his hair affectionately before I make my way toward the young mother. I try to make my approach as nonintrusive as possible, not wanting to startle her but also wanting to offer help.

“Excuse me,” I say, my voice soft but clear. “I couldn’t help but notice... I know it can be really difficult sometimes to balance everything. If you need any help, I’d be happy to assist you.”

The young mother looks up at me, her tired eyes wary at first, but as she takes in my expression, something shifts. There’s hesitation, yes, but also a flicker of relief. She looks down at her baby, whose cries have quieted but not stopped.

“Are you sure?” she asks, her voice laced with doubt. “I don’t want to impose…”

“No, no, you’re not imposing,” I assure her gently. “I’ve been there before, and I know how hard it can get sometimes. We all need help every now and then. I'm a mother myself who needed formula milk because my breast milk wasn't sufficient. If it’s okay with you, I can cover the cost of whatever you need. It’s not much, but I hope it’ll help.”

The young mother’s eyes begin to well up with tears, and she quickly wipes them away, embarrassed. “Thank you… thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

I smile softly, feeling a warmth in my chest. “It’s nothing at all. You’re doing your best, and that’s all that matters.”

As she begins to pick out the formula she needs, I step back for a moment, letting her focus. My heart still aches for her, but knowing I’ve made a small difference in her day helps ease the tightness in my chest.

With a small smile pestI turn around . I started to walk towards the place where I left Ishaan standing. I'm sure he would be bore af right now and would be talking to his plushie , complaining about me . I chuckle imagining his pouty face .

But as I go closer I noticed a figure standing near Ishaan. My eyes widen and I froze at my place . The first thing that came to my mind was

" Ishaan--- my Ishaan!!! "

🥀 chapter 4  

Ishaan stands beside the grocery cart, his small hands tightly gripping his brand-new Chikorita plushie, his face lit up with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. He is lost in thought as he gazes across the aisles, watching the other shoppers go by. The gentle hum of the store and the rustling of grocery bags seem to fade into the background. His mother has asked him to wait just a moment while she helps someone else, and though Ishaan doesn’t mind, the time seems to stretch on forever. He squeezes his plushie a little tighter, its soft fabric providing him a sense of comfort as he waits.

The store is quiet, almost too quiet. The occasional footsteps of other shoppers create a rhythmic pattern, and Ishaan’s eyes wander over the neatly stocked shelves, taking in the brightly colored boxes and cans. His plushie, though new, feels like an old friend already. He has wanted a Chikorita for as long as he can remember, and now, with this plushie in his arms, it feels like the most precious thing in the world.

Suddenly, Ishaan is jolted out of his thoughts. A man bumps into him from behind, sending him stumbling slightly. His Chikorita plushie is almost knocked from his hands. Ishaan instinctively holds on tighter to it, his small body jerking back as he tries to keep his balance.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! You’re okay, right, buddy?” A warm, apologetic voice comes from behind him. The man immediately steps back, his eyes wide with concern. It is clear the bump hasn’t been intentional. It’s an unavoidable mistake, but the man seems genuinely worried.

Ishaan blinks in surprise. The man who bumped into him is tall, with messy dark hair and a soft, genuine smile that immediately puts Ishaan at ease. He is wearing a simple hoodie and jeans, and his easy-going demeanor makes Ishaan relax a little. But what really catches his attention is something else. The man is holding a plushie of his own—another Chikorita!

Ishaan’s eyes go wide with amazement as he takes in the sight of the plushie. It is identical to his own, but the man’s version seems just a little bigger. The realization makes Ishaan’s heart race with excitement.

“Whoa! You got Chikorita too?” Ishaan asks, his voice filled with awe. He glances down at his own plushie, then back at the man’s. His hands, still clutching the plushie, shake slightly from the excitement.

The man’s smile grows even wider, sensing Ishaan’s enthusiasm. He crouches down to the boy’s level, carefully holding up his plushie as if showing it off.

“Yeah! I just bought it too. Seems like we have the same taste in Pokémon, huh?” The man says, his voice light and friendly.

Ishaan nods vigorously, his grin matching the man’s.

“It’s the best one! Chikorita’s the best, right?” Ishaan exclaims, his face glowing with excitement.

The man chuckles, clearly amused by the boy’s passion for his favorite Pokémon.

“You’re absolutely right. Chikorita is awesome,” he agrees, nodding.

Ishaan’s grin widens even further, and for a moment, the world outside of their little conversation seems to fade away.

“Yeah, see! Chikorita’s the cutest!” Ishaan adds, holding up his plushie to emphasize his point.

The man’s laughter is light and genuine as he looks down at Ishaan, clearly entertained by the boy’s enthusiasm.

" But you know, My mom said Chikorita is cute , and she likes Pikachu more .She thinks Pikachu is the cutest one.  I don't know why she thinks like this ?Chikorita is the cutest. "

He laughs . The way Ishaan  says this , is so adorable.

"Pikachu is cute too " he says with a smile on his face .

" But no one can beat chikorita. " both him and Ishaan said in union and bursts into laughter.  the sound light and carefree, filling the aisle with the warmth of shared joy.

That man , his smile still wide, looks at Ishaan with a sense of camaraderie. “Oh, finally found someone who thinks like me,” he says, clearly delighted.

Ishaan giggles, still holding his plushie tightly in his hands.

" My name is Siddhartha Roy Kapoor, nice meeting you buddy " Smiling he tells Ishaan. Ishaan smiles back at him too . During this short period of time , he really started liking this man . Not only he looks good but they also shares the same interests in Pokémon.

“Me too, Uncle  . I'm  Ishaan ” Ishaan says, his voice filled with a sense of pride and excitement.

“Uncle?” Siddhartha raises an eyebrow, surprised by the title, but the boy’s innocence and excitement are contagious. He can’t help but chuckle. “Well, alright, Ishaan, I’ll take it."

" It's good that I bumped into you ., then But buddy , why you're standing alone here ? are you lost ? where's your mo---

Before Siddhartha can speak more, the sound of a high-pitched, sharp voice cuts through the air.

“Ishaan! How many times do I have to tell you not to talk to strangers?”

The tone is stern, filled with an edge of worry and anger. Ishaan looks up, startled, and sees a woman storming toward him. Her face is a picture of fury as she marches over to him.

She is petite , her features sharp, and her expression full of concern. Her eyes are blazing with rage as she approaches the two of them. She is clearly angry . Ishaan doesn’t understand why, though. He has been talking to someone nice.

" Miss , I didn't mean any harm--" He tries to voice out but couldn't .

In an instant, the woman snatches Ishaan from Siddhartha’s side, her grip firm but not harsh. She looks over at Siddhartha, and the moment their eyes meet, Siddhartha can see the recognition in her gaze. His stomach drops as he realizes who this woman is.

She is Ishika. Ishika Arora . His Ex-girlfriend from college.

Siddhartha stands there, frozen, as Ishaan’s mother, Ishika, scolds him sharply.

“What do you think you’re doing, talking to a stranger like that?” Ishika scolds, her voice filled with a protective edge. Her words are sharp, each syllable cutting through the air.

Ishaan’s face drops, his excitement turning to confusion. His eyes fill with tears as he looks up at his mother, not understanding why she is so angry.

“But, Mamma, he’s nice! He has a Chikorita too!” Ishaan protests, his voice wavering as he tries to defend Siddhartha.

Ishika’s eyes narrow, and she doesn’t soften. Instead, she glares at Siddhartha with a fierce intensity.

“I don’t care if he has a Chikorita. You don’t talk to strangers like that,” Ishika snaps, her voice filled with authority.

She doesn’t give Siddhartha a chance to respond, her attention shifting entirely to Ishaan. She clutches her cart in one hand, pulling Ishaan closer with the other. Her grip tightens as she looks down at him.

“How dare you talk to my son? Stay away from him,” she says firmly, her voice like ice.

Ishaan, his small hands still clutching his plushie, looks up at his mother in shock. Her harsh words sting, and his heart aches. He wants to explain, to show her that Siddhartha isn’t dangerous, but his mother is already turning away, dragging him along with her.

Ishaan’s feet shuffle as he tries to keep up with her, his plushie still gripped tightly in his arms. He doesn’t want to leave Siddhartha behind. He doesn’t want this to end so abruptly.

Siddhartha stands there loosely gripping onto his own plushie. He wanted to say , to explain to her . That he meant no harm . He didn't have any ill intentions towards that little boy .

But Only one thought crosses his mind that time

" Mamma! "

" so , she has a child ! "