The Recipe of Love ??

After Two days, Dhanteras is coming, so Ishki had gone to help Jamna Maasi with the cleaning house and pooja preparations.

Devyansh was at home alone, feeling a bit bored, so he decided to take a walk around the village to pass the time.

Ishki was busy cleaning and decorating the small temple in the corner of the house when Jamna Maasi called out to her. "Ishki, could you bring flowers and vermilion from the temple on the outskirts of the village?"

She nodded, adjusting her dupatta, and stepped outside the house. She wore a red Anarkali dress, paired with a simple georgette dupatta. Her curly hair cascaded loosely down her shoulders, with only a part of it held back.

A matching bracelet adorned her wrist, and she wore kitten heels, making her appear graceful as ever. Small jhumkas dangled from her ears, completing her ensemble.

She decided to take a shortcut through the village to reach the temple. Upon arriving, she went to the garden at the back of the temple, where she plucked a beautiful, fully bloomed rose that caught her attention.

She smiled softly to herself as she held it gently in her hand, walking over to the priest to collect the vermilion. After a brief exchange, she took the box of vermilion and started heading back the same way.

In one hand, she held the bag of flowers and the box of vermilion, and in her other hand, she still held the rose she had plucked earlier.

She adjusted her dupatta, the delicate fabric fluttering in the soft breeze, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Suddenly, from the opposite direction, a guy on a bike was speeding down the narrow path. He couldn't help but glance at Ishki, her serene beauty catching his eye.

His focus shifted entirely to her, and as a result, he wasn't paying attention to the road ahead.

The bike hit a small pothole, and he lost control, veering off the path and heading straight toward Ishki. She was too busy adjusting her dupatta to notice the approaching danger.

At the last possible moment, the guy quickly jumped off the bike, grabbing her hand to pull her towards him, narrowly saving her from the oncoming bike.

The impact of her body against his chest was enough to leave her momentarily stunned. The bike crashed loudly behind her, and her eyes snapped shut in reflex, startled by the sudden noise.

For a brief moment, they stood there, very close to each other. Her eyes were still tightly shut, but she could feel the rapid beating of his heart against her own.

Her own heart raced, mirroring the effect he had on her. When she finally regained her composure, she quickly pulled away, her wide eyes searching for any signs of what had just happened.

She looked around, taking in the scene. Her gaze landed on the fallen bike, and then back to the guy who had saved her. She scanned him from top to bottom, trying to make sense of the situation.

He was tall.. at least 6'6" and built like someone who worked out regularly. He wore black cargo jeans and an olive green shirt, with deep, dark eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.

A black watch adorned his wrist, and his gym-defined veins gave him an added rugged appeal. His jet-black hair, although slightly tousled by the wind, somehow still looked effortlessly stylish.

Seeing how Ishki was checking him out from head to toe, the guy chuckled softly, lowering his gaze. His eyes lingered on her face, waiting for her to meet his eyes again.

When she finally did, he smoothly removed his sunglasses, hooking them onto the front button of his shirt. She met his gaze, and in an instant, he raised an eyebrow and winked at her in a playful, flirtatious manner.

Startled, the rose slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. The guy smiled gently, then, as if on cue, knelt down on one knee.. almost as if he was proposing to her. He picked up the rose, blew off the dust, and extended it toward her.

She was enchanted by the gesture, and before she even realized what was happening, her hand moved on its own, reaching out to take the rose from his. The guy stood up, still holding her gaze.

As the moment passed and Ishki snapped out of her daze, she suddenly realized what she had just done. Her wide smile faded, replaced by her usual serious, stern expression.

She looked around awkwardly, trying to escape the moment, but her eyes fell on a small infinity tattoo behind the guy's ear.

She froze for a moment, then glanced at her own right wrist where the same tattoo was inked.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a hidden smile returned to her lips, this time staying there firmly.

She looked straight into his eyes, the recognition obvious. "Buddy!" she exclaimed, a soft laugh escaping her.

The guy, who had been looking down, immediately looked up in surprise when he heard her call out. Ishki was smiling brightly at him, and his face lit up with the same warmth.

"Chiki?!" He asked in disbelief.

Ishki nodded enthusiastically, the corners of her mouth curling into a joyful smile.

"Oh my God, Chiki! You're here!" He exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Yeah, just for a few days." she replied, pulling away from him with a small, amused smile.

"Wow, great!" He said, lifting his bike, his face still lit up with excitement.

But as he walked toward the bike, her mind flashed back to the near-accident they had just had. She frowned lightly, a slight concern in her expression.

She walked up to him, gently hitting his shoulder with a playful scowl. "Who rides a bike like that?!" She scolded.

"Ouch.. Seems like you still haven't gotten rid of your habit of hitting me." He said, rubbing his shoulder.

Ignoring his comment, Ishki looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Where was your attention.. huh?" She asked.

"In you." He mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" Ishki asked, leaning in closer.

"Nothing." He said, clearing his throat.

"You were heading home, right?!" He asked, glancing at the bike's handlebar.

"Yeah." She answered.

"Well, then hope on." He said, kicking the bike lightly.

"You haven't changed at all, have you?" Ishki said with a smile, shaking her head.

"Come on, don't waste any more fuel. Hop on fast." He said with a smirk.

"How rude! Could've just asked nicely." She replied, sitting behind him on the bike.

Once she was settled, the guy revved the engine and drove them home. As they approached her house, Ishki got off the bike, just as Devyansh walked in from the opposite direction.

Seeing her with someone, He quickly made his way toward her, his curiosity piqued.

The guy parked the bike near the door, and just as Ishki was about to follow him, Devyansh grabbed her hand and turned her toward him.

Before she could even respond, He asked, "Who's this guy?!"

"My Buddy." She said calmly, pulling her hand from his and walking after the guy.

Devyansh mumbled to himself, "Buddy? Now who's this new guy?"

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To be continued..