I accepted the video call, expecting his face and maybe a soft "happy birthday" in that sleepy raspy voice of his.
But there he was—wearing a white US Polo tee and shorts, hair all messy, sitting on the couch like he owned the universe and my heart in equal parts.
"Finally," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "You disappeared today."
He chuckled, "Only so I could make tonight unforgettable, meri jaan."
I rolled my eyes. "You say that like you're proposing marriage or something."
"Soon," he said with a wink.
My breath hitched a little.
"Okay now," he continued, pretending to be all serious. "Go to the side drawer of your bed. Left side. Middle one."
"What? Why?"
"Jaan," he warned. "Don't make me come there and open it for you."
I pouted but got up, the phone still on FaceTime, facing my carpet half the time while I walked across the room.
Opened the drawer.
And there it was—
A black box tied with a silk ribbon.
My eyes widened, and I screamed, "ISHAAN?!"
His smirk on the screen was criminal.
"I knew it," he said smugly. "Knew you'd love it."
I tore open the box and gasped.
It was the dress.
"No freaking way," I whispered, tracing the delicate midnight-blue fabric, the butterfly embroidery, the side slit that I thought would look too daring on me but he had said looked "designed just for your body."
"I showed you this two weeks ago..."
"When you were lying on my chest. Cuddled up in your stupid strawberry pajamas," he said, grinning. "You showed me a screenshot and said, 'This is hot, right? But too bold for me.'"
I blushed hard. "You remember that?"
"I remember everything you say when you're in my arms," he said softly.
That shut me up.
"I—" I started, but he cut in.
"Wear it. Tonight. 11:50. Car's picking you up."
"Where are we going?"
He raised a brow. "Did I say you get to ask questions?"
I narrowed my eyes. "I hate you."
"I love you more," he replied instantly.
"Also," he added. "Change while I'm still on the call. Don't cut."
"Ishaan!" I whined, hiding my face with one hand. "I'm not changing in front of you on FaceTime!"
He burst out laughing.
"Fine, fine. I'm hanging up. But I swear, if you're not looking like a freaking dream when I see you..."
"You'll what?" I teased.
"I'll rip the dress off in the car and we won't make it to the venue."
I squeaked and cut the call.
"You menace."
I was smiling like an idiot.
✦
After admiring the dress like it was a sculpture sculpted out of moonlight, I tied my hair up in a loose bun, picked my playlist, and got to my favourite part of pre-glam ritual—