Aarav sat down beside her, still feeling embarrassed about the ice cream incident. Ishika, without hesitation, opened her little purse and pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief. She leaned closer, carefully dabbing at the stains on his shirt. Aarav sat frozen, not because of the mess, but because of how close she was. He could feel his heartbeat racing, echoing in his chest louder than ever.“There,” she said softly after a moment, her fingers brushing against the fabric one last time. “It’s okay now.”Aarav looked up at her. That smile — warm, gentle, and so full of care — made