"Om… you heard what I said, right?"
Anshika's voice carried a mix of nervousness and impatience.
She had thought about this for days… gathered all her courage… and finally said it out loud.
She already knew one thing—
Om was never going to confess first.
So today… she had done it herself.
Now all that was left…
Was his answer.
On the other side—
Om stood frozen.
Still processing what had just happened.
A date?
With Anshika?
Out of nowhere?
His mind had gone completely blank.
"Anshika… d-date… suddenly… why… I mean… how?" he stammered, still trying to catch up.
Anshika rolled her eyes, though a shy smile played on her lips.
She stood near her window, absentmindedly tracing the curtain with her fingers.
"Leave the 'why' and 'how'…" she said, slightly pouting.
"Just tell me—are you coming or not?"
Straight to the point.
Om didn't think anymore.
"Okay… let's go. No problem."
The words slipped out.
But the moment they did—
His face turned red.
His heartbeat picked up.
And suddenly…
Reality hit him.
He just agreed to a date.
Meanwhile—
On the other side—
Anshika's face lit up instantly.
"Good!" she said, unable to hide her excitement.
"Then come properly dressed!"
Om blinked.
"Wait… what do you mean 'come'?"
Anshika smirked, enjoying this far too much.
"Oh wow, seriously? You don't even know this?"
She teased him, her tone playful.
"When a guy takes a girl on a date, he picks her up from her house… dressed properly."
A pause.
"So, Mr. Om… get ready and come pick me up at exactly 8 PM."
"And listen—"
Her tone turned mock-serious.
"Girls don't like waiting on dates. So be on time."
Om just stood there… stunned.
Processing everything.
But still—
He nodded.
"Okay… as you say."
"Good. Bye!"
The call ended.
On one side—
Anshika clutched her phone tightly… jumped in excitement… and rushed off to get ready.
On the other side—
Om slowly lowered his phone from his ear.
Still shocked.
Still confused.
"Bye…" he muttered.
Then shook his head.
"This girl… every time she gives me a new shock…"
He sighed dramatically.
"Now where am I supposed to get 'good clothes' from?"
Then suddenly—
A smile crept onto his face.
"Riya… Soumya… looks like today your brother needs a makeover."
And just like that—
Om started walking home… a strange excitement building inside him.
A Little While Later…
Om's car sped through the streets.
Inside—
Riya, Soumya, and Isha sat with him.
"Wow, Om brother…" Soumya teased, leaning forward.
"Why do you suddenly need new clothes today? You already have plenty."
Om kept his eyes on the road.
"Why? Can't I have a hobby of buying clothes?"
"Oh really?" Isha smirked.
"But why did you suddenly remember this in the afternoon… and why the urgency?"
Om smiled slightly.
Caught.
Before he could respond—
Riya jumped in, far more observant.
"Okay fine, Om brother… just tell us one thing…"
"What kind of clothes do you want?"
"Something I can wear to a party," Om replied instantly.
"Hmm…" Riya narrowed her eyes.
"So… going to someone's party?"
The trap was set.
And slowly…
Piece by piece…
The truth came out.
A few minutes later—
All three girls knew.
Om was going on a date.
And that's when it started—
The teasing.
Non-stop.
"Wowww, Om brother!" Soumya clapped dramatically.
"Our innocent brother is going on a date!"
"Who is she?" Isha added, grinning.
"Come on… tell us!"
Om tried to stay calm.
But his ears had already turned red.
In the past few days, Isha had grown close to everyone.
She blended in naturally.
Om knew she was a good girl—simple, grounded… nothing like her mother.
And slowly…
Their brother-sister bond had started to form.
But right now—
She was fully enjoying this moment.
"So tell us, brother…" Isha leaned forward again, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Who are you going on a date with?"
Silence.
Om tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
And for the first time—
He didn't deny it.
Something had changed.On the other side—
Anshika was in full preparation mode for her date with Om.
"Anshika… seriously… you actually said it to him on call? And he agreed?!"
Seema asked again, wide-eyed in disbelief.
She had already asked the same question at least three or four times in the past three hours.
And still—
It hadn't sunk in.
Anshika, sitting in front of the dressing table, paused and looked at her.
"Yes, he agreed immediately," she said, still a little surprised herself.
"He was quiet for a moment… but then he said yes."
Then she frowned slightly.
"But Seemu… what's wrong with you?"
"You've been asking me the same thing again and again for the last three hours."
"Why are you so shocked?"
Seema quickly looked away, focusing back on fixing Anshika's hair.
Her fingers moved fast… almost as if she was trying to avoid the topic.
"Nothing… it's just…" she said, a bit flustered.
"I've always seen you two fight like cats and dogs."
"So I was just wondering… how did that stubborn guy agree so easily?"
She smirked slightly.
"I thought he'd start one of his long lectures even for this."
Anshika smiled…
And her eyes softened.
"Yeah…" she whispered.
"Time passed so fast… we didn't even realize when we went from fighting like enemies… to becoming good friends…"
She paused.
"And from friends… to this."
Her voice grew warmer.
Almost dreamy.
"You know… the last few days with Om…"
She smiled to herself.
"…felt like I just wanted to stop time."
"Going out together… working together… breakfast, lunch, dinner… everything together…"
"Laughing, teasing…"
"I tried to understand him… really understand him."
"At first I thought maybe I was just attracted to his emotional side…"
"Or maybe… his cute and handsome looks."
She let out a soft laugh.
"But then… I realized something."
"That guy…"
"…is so pure from the inside…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"That anyone who spends time with him…"
"…will either like him… or fall in love with him."
A pause.
A deep breath.
"And I don't want someone else to come into his life tomorrow…"
"And take away the chance of him becoming mine."
Her eyes sparkled.
"So I thought… why wait?"
"Why not tell him how I feel… and claim this precious gem before it's too late?"
She looked at Seema with a hopeful smile.
"I did the right thing… didn't I?"
Seema…
Had gone silent.
Lost in her own thoughts.
"Seemu?"
Anshika called her again, snapping her out of it.
"Huh—yeah! Yes, Anshu… you did absolutely right!" Seema said quickly.
Then, almost under her breath—
"And now… I know what I have to do next…"
Anshika frowned slightly.
That sounded… strange.
But before she could think more—
Seema suddenly spread her hands wide and smiled brightly.
"There you go… my queen… you're ready!"
Anshika stood up slowly…
And turned toward the mirror.
It was almost 8 PM.
And for a moment—
Even she couldn't believe what she saw.
She looked… breathtaking.
In a blue one-piece party dress…
She looked like someone who didn't belong to this world.
Like the ocean itself had taken human form.
Her long hair—perfectly straightened by Seema—fell gracefully over her shoulders.
Her sharp features… glowing skin… and those expressive eyes—
Everything came together like a masterpiece.
She gently adjusted her hair… fixed her red lipstick…
And looked at Seema through the mirror.
"Seemu… tell me honestly…" she said softly.
"Do I look good?"
A pause.
"Will Om like me?"
Seema stepped closer… turned her around…
And smiled warmly.
"My Anshu…"
"Right now… you look like the moon itself decided to take human form and wear this dress."
She placed a hand on her cheek dramatically.
"Oh God… it feels like even the moon has fallen in love tonight."
Then she laughed lightly.
"Don't ask me too much… I might end up casting an evil eye on you."
Anshika giggled.
"Okay okay… don't praise me so much."
They both laughed together.
And then—
DING DONG.
The doorbell rang.
Both of them froze.
Anshika's heart skipped a beat.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh my God… Om's here!" she exclaimed.
Instant panic.
"Quick, Seemu! Give me my purse!"
She rushed around nervously.
"And tell me one last time—do I really look okay?"
"No mistakes, right?"
Her voice carried excitement… fear…
And something deeper.
Tonight wasn't just a date.
It was a turning point.