As I drove, the conversation about One Direction flowed easily, the kind of conversation that made me feel like we were on the same wavelength, despite how different we might have seemed at first. Her laughter was contagious, and I found myself smiling for no reason other than her excitement about something as simple as a song. I glanced over at her, and the way her dark hair framed her face, her eyes lit up as she spoke about the band—it made it hard to look away.

"Okay, now I feel like we need to go to a concert together," I said jokingly, glancing over at her again. She laughed. "I would love that, but I think I missed the last chance. I had a friend who went to their last concert, and she said it was amazing." "Well, if they ever get back together," I said with a wink, "we'll go."

The ride was smooth, with her relaxed in her seat, humming along to songs, and me stealing quick glances at her. I had never seen her like this before—so calm, so easy to talk to. There was no nervousness between us, no awkward pauses.

We arrived at the restaurant, a quaint little place tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It had the kind of vibe I wanted—dimly lit, candles on the tables, and the soft murmur of quiet conversation in the background. It was exactly what I was hoping for. I parked the car and turned off the engine, looking over at Adriti. “Here we are,” I said, opening my door and stepping out. She followed me out, the sound of her heels clicking on the pavement as she walked toward the entrance. I could feel her energy, how much she was enjoying herself, and it made me smile. This was turning out to be better than I had imagined.

As we sat down at our table, I noticed the way her eyes scanned the menu, her soft smile never quite leaving her lips. The waiter approached, and I ordered a bottle of wine, wanting to set the tone for a relaxed evening.

“So,” I started, taking a sip of water, “what else do you like to listen to besides One Direction? Any hidden gems I should know about?”She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Are you trying to get me to reveal all my musical secrets?”“Maybe,” I teased, “I’m just curious.”“Well, if you must know,” she said, leaning in a little, her voice soft but filled with excitement. “I love alternative rock. Bands like The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, and I recently got into The Neighbourhood.” “That’s a pretty cool mix,” I said, impressed. “I can totally see you rocking out to some Arctic Monkeys.”She laughed. “You know me so well.”

It felt easy, like the two of us had known each other for years. Every laugh, every shared look, every new piece of information about her made me feel more and more drawn to her. I wanted to learn everything about her—what made her smile, what made her tick, the little things that made her Adriti.

The night went on, and the conversation never stalled. We swapped stories about school, friends, and the dumb things we did as kids. There was a warmth between us, like we had been friends for a long time, even though this was only the beginning of something more.

At some point, the waiter brought our food—two perfectly cooked steaks, with sides that were just as impressive. As we dug in, the conversation shifted to something a little more serious.

“So, Ishaan,” she began, looking up from her plate, “what’s your dream? Like, what do you really want to do in life?”It was a question I hadn’t expected, but one I’d thought about a lot. I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts. “I don’t really have a set answer yet, but I think I want to do something that helps people. Something that makes a difference.” Adriti nodded thoughtfully. “I like that. A lot. You’re one of those people who just naturally makes others feel good.”The compliment took me by surprise, but I smiled, grateful for her words. “Well, it’s not all me,” I said, “You’ve got your own light, you know?”

She blushed, and I noticed the way her eyes softened. It felt like we were crossing into deeper territory now, past the surface, to something more meaningful.

We lingered over dinner, finishing the wine, laughing and talking, with no rush to leave. The world outside seemed to fade away as I found myself more and more absorbed in her presence, in the way she made every moment feel special.

As the night wound down, I paid the bill and we headed out. Walking back to the car, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the start of something amazing. It wasn’t just the date or the moments we shared—it was the connection we had. Something deeper than just a night out. “You had fun, right?” I asked, holding the door open for her.“More than I expected,” she said, with a wink as she slid into the car.

I smiled to myself as I started the engine and began driving. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew one thing for sure: this night would be one I’d never forget.