🎵 Song: Kaise Hua – Kabir Singh (Instrumental)

"The best gifts aren't expensive...

They're made with love."

Holding the neatly packed box of cupcakes in both hands...

Aarohi stood outside the Malhotra mansion.

For a moment...

She simply stared at the grand wooden door.

"Why am I feeling nervous?"

She was only delivering cupcakes.

Nothing more.

Taking a small breath...

She pressed the doorbell.

Ding Dong.

A few seconds later...

The door opened.

"Beta!"

Meera's warm smile instantly appeared.

"Aarohi!"

"Come inside."

Aarohi smiled politely.

"Hello, Aunty."

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all."

Meera gently held her hand and brought her inside.

"You don't need permission to come here."

"This house is always open for you."

Aarohi smiled shyly.

"Thank you."

The living room was peaceful.

Vikram was reading a business magazine.

Kabir was sitting on the carpet, trying to complete his math homework.

The moment he looked up...

"Aarohi Didi!"

He immediately ran towards her.

"You came!"

Aarohi smiled.

"Hi, Kabir."

Kabir looked at the box in her hands.

"What is that?"

Aarohi held it forward.

"I baked chocolate cupcakes today."

"Maa thought we should share them with all of you."

Kabir's eyes sparkled.

"You made them yourself?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"Wow!"

Meera happily accepted the box.

"Oh, beta..."

"You didn't have to do this."

Aarohi smiled softly.

"We wanted to."

"You invited us so warmly the other day."

"This is just a small thank you."

Meera's heart melted.

She gently cupped Aarohi's cheek.

"You're such a sweet girl."

"I already adore you."

Aarohi's cheeks turned pink.

"Thank you, Aunty."

Just then...

A familiar voice echoed from the staircase.

"Maa..."

"I'm hungry."

Reyansh lazily walked downstairs while looking at his phone.

He hadn't noticed the guest yet.

"What are we eating?"

He finally looked up.

And stopped.

"Aarohi?"

She looked at him.

"H-Hi."

A small smile appeared on Reyansh's face.

"So..."

"My Senior is here."

Kabir immediately grinned.

"Bhai!"

"Aarohi Didi made cupcakes!"

Reyansh looked at the box.

"You made them?"

Aarohi nodded.

"Yes."

He walked closer.

"So..."

He looked at the box dramatically.

"Am I allowed to eat one?"

She smiled politely.

"They're for everyone."

"Hmm."

"So I'm included."

"I suppose."

He couldn't help smiling.

Meera quickly opened the box.

The beautifully decorated cupcakes instantly caught everyone's attention.

"Oh my goodness..."

"They're beautiful."

Vikram looked over from the sofa.

"These look professionally made."

Kabir's mouth had already fallen open.

"They look so yummy."

Reyansh quietly observed the cupcakes.

Then looked at Aarohi.

"You decorated these?"

"Yes."

"You have patience."

She laughed softly.

"It took almost two hours."

"I could never."

"I know."

He looked offended.

"What does that mean?"

She smiled innocently.

"I don't think you'd sit quietly decorating cupcakes."

He pretended to think.

"...You're right."

Everyone laughed.

Kabir immediately picked up one.

"Maa?"

"Can I?"

Meera nodded.

"Go ahead."

Kabir took a bite.

Within seconds...

His eyes became huge.

"Oh wow!"

"Bhai!"

"You have to taste this!"

Reyansh picked up another cupcake.

He looked at Aarohi for a brief second before taking the first bite.

Silence.

Aarohi suddenly became nervous.

"What if he doesn't like them?"

Reyansh slowly finished chewing.

Then looked at her again.

"Hmm."

Aarohi swallowed.

"...How are they?"

He kept a completely serious face.

"They're..."

He paused just long enough to make her anxious.

"...dangerously good."

Aarohi blinked.

"What?"

He smiled.

"If you keep making cupcakes like these..."

"I might start visiting your house every day."

Kabir laughed loudly.

"I'll come too!"

Vikram chuckled.

"Looks like you've found a fan."

Meera smiled proudly.

"I knew they'd taste wonderful."

Aarohi couldn't hide her relieved smile.

"I'm glad you liked them."

As everyone enjoyed the cupcakes...

Kabir quietly walked toward Anaya's favorite one, which Aarohi had carefully placed in the center.

He looked at it.

Then at Aarohi.

Then at Reyansh.

A tiny smile appeared.

"Bhai picked the middle one..."

"The prettiest one."

He didn't say anything.

He simply remembered it.

Another tiny clue.

Another tiny observation.

After a few more minutes...

Aarohi looked at the time.

"I should go now."

Meera immediately stood.

"So soon?"

"Maa will be waiting."

"Alright."

"But next time..."

She smiled affectionately.

"No standing at the door."

"Come inside properly."

"And spend time with us."

Aarohi nodded with a gentle smile.

"I will, Aunty."

As she reached the main door...

Reyansh walked behind her.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Aarohi looked at him.

"At school."

He nodded.

"Obviously."

She smiled.

"...Bye."

He looked at her for a second.

Then, with his usual teasing smile, said,

"Bye..."

He glanced at the empty cupcake box in Kabir's hands before looking back at her.

"...Cupcake Queen."

Aarohi looked at him in disbelief.

"What kind of nickname is that?"

"The one I just invented."

She laughed despite herself.

"It's terrible."

"I think it's perfect."

She shook her head with a smile.

"You're impossible."

"I know."

With one last smile...

Aarohi walked back toward her house.

Reyansh stood at the doorway, watching until she safely entered the Sharma house across the street.

Only then did he quietly turn back inside.

None of them noticed...

Kabir, standing behind the curtain with folded arms, wearing the biggest grin.

Operation Cupid...

had just received another sweet memory.

End of Chapter 20 🧁💙