chapter 24

The next day, Pragya and Ishan were gliding across the icy surface of the famous mall in Canada. Pragya's expertise on the ice was evident, while Ishan struggled and eventually took a tumble. As they stepped off the rink, Pragya's laughter echoed through the corridor, her joy infectious.

"Will you stop?" Ishan grumbled, shooting her a playful glare.

"Noooo," Pragya responded between giggles, unable to contain her amusement.

"Then I will make you stop laughing," Ishan declared, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he rose to the challenge.

"Then make me," Pragya retorted, her playful defiance matching his own.Without warning, Ishan leaned in and planted a kiss on Pragya's lips, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"What happened, Mrs. Pragya Ishan Malhotra?" Ishan teased, his eyes dancing with amusement as Pragya's cheeks flushed crimson, resembling a ripe tomato.

"Let's see who wins," Pragya declared, regaining her composure and playfully poking her tongue out at Ishan. With renewed determination, she glided across the ice, fully intent on emerging victorious in their impromptu challenge, confident in her skating abilities.

"It's cheating!" Ishan protested with mock indignation, his playful whine echoing like that of a child as he pushed off, his movements a mix of determination and enthusiasm as he attempted to catch up and surpass Pragya, eager to prove himself despite his earlier mishaps.

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Anika meticulously prepared herself for the outing, slipping into an ankle-length blue dress that accentuated her graceful figure. She chose to leave her hair cascading freely down her shoulders, framing her face with soft waves.

As she put the finishing touches on her appearance, Anika's thoughts drifted to Advik. She pondered how to convey to him that it wasn't his actions that made her uncomfortable, but rather her own feelings of shyness.

Moments later, Advik emerged from the washroom, clad in a crisp white t-shirt paired with blue jeans, his charismatic presence filling the room.

"Where are we headed today?" Anika inquired, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"I was thinking a movie," Advik replied casually.

"Let's go see 'Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir,'" Anika suggested with a smile, her choice reflecting her playful spirit and love for animated adventures.

"Your wish is my command," Advik chuckled, his tone light with amusement as Anika's suggestion tickled him.

Grinning, Anika pointed out, "Hey, we're twinning," noticing the similar shades of blue in their outfits.

Advik replied casually, "Oh, yeah," though secretly he had seen Anika picking out her blue dress earlier and decided to match her, wanting to share in the fun of twinning with her.

After 40 minutes, Anika and Advik arrived at the theatre. Advik made his way to the ticket counter while Anika lingered a little way off, her eyes drawn to the colourful movie posters adorning the walls. She could feel the excitement building in the air as people bustled around, their voices blending into a lively chatter that filled the bustling

Advik Observed a boy approaching Anika, Advik grew curious and approached them. "What's the matter?" he inquired, shooting a stern glance at the boy.

The boy hesitated for a moment before explaining, "She is my favourite author. I saw her books on the shelf and bought one because I really want her signature on it."

Advik nodded understandingly, impressed by the boy's admiration for Anika's work. Anika smiled warmly and graciously signed the book for him, appreciating his support and enthusiasm.

They stepped inside, and as the movie began, Anika immersed herself in the vibrant world unfolding on the screen, munching on popcorn with gusto. Meanwhile, Advik stole glances at her, noticing how her eyes sparkled with childlike delight at every scene. Amidst the animated characters dancing across the screen, he couldn't help but be captivated by the genuine joy radiating from her.

"Seriously, a cartoon movie," he mused silently, his gaze drifting from the screen to Anika's radiant face, her laughter contagious and her smile illuminating the dim theatre.

"Forget the screen," he thought to himself, "my wife is worth watching." In that moment, he realised that while Anika may have been engrossed in the movie, for him, she was the true masterpiece, a sight to behold.As the credits rolled and the lights brightened, they emerged from the theatre hand in hand, Anika's fingers intertwining with Advik's.