Invisible Strings

Chapter 1

"These are beautiful," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You didn't have to, Anamika. But you always do."

Kabir leaned over, dramatically sniffing the air. "Okay, I am not waiting any longer, c'mon hand me one."
Rhea chuckled and handed one to him while placing the rest of the box on the table in the centre of the room, which was beautifully covered with flowers and candles.

Rhea turned to the guest, "Alright, everyone! Anamika brought cupcakes, and feel free to grab one, trust me, you don't want to miss these."

As the room's attention shifted, a knot of nerves tightened in my chest. I fidgeted with my hands, unsure of where to look. Rhea gently nudged me. "Relax. They're going to love them-just like we always do."

One by one, people began reaching for the cupcakes, their faces lighting up after the first bite. The room filled with murmurs of delight and appreciative hums.
Kabir took a bite of his and gave me a thumbs-up, his mouth too full to say anything. His exaggerated approval made me laugh, easing my tension. Rhea leaned in, her smile full of warmth.

A wave of relief washed over me. As laughter and chatter resumed, I caught Rhea's gaze once more, and she mouthed a heartfelt "Thank you."
As I watched Rhea share my cupcakes with her friends, I felt something warm unfurl in my chest. This was why I loved baking-not just for the flavors, but for moments like this. Moments that brought people together. Moments that felt like home.

Kabir tapped me on the shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. "Anamika! I've been calling your name for a while," he said, grinning.

I blinked, shaking off my reverie. "Oh, sorry. Guess I zoned out."

Beside him stood a tall guy, probably around six feet, wearing a navy-blue shirt that fit too perfectly to be accidental. In one hand, he held a half-eaten cupcake.
Kabir gestured toward him. "Anamika, meet my childhood best friend Arjun. He just moved here from back home."

Arjun shifted his weight slightly, meeting my gaze with an easy smile that somehow made me more self-conscious than I'd like to admit. I extended a hand, trying to push down the sudden awareness creeping up my spine. "Hey! Nice to meet you."
While shaking my hand, he glanced down at the cupcake, then back at me with a thoughtful tilt of his head.

"Wait- are you the one who made these ?"
I hesitated, then nodded gently "Guilty". My cheeks likely matching the shade of the heart-shaped sprinkles on the icing.

A small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. " Well I have to say, they're really good"

Kabir laughed, nudging Arjun. "He's been going on about them since his first bite"

Arjun shot him a look before shaking his head. "Not true" He paused, then added. "Okay, maybe a little"
I let out a small laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Glad you liked them"

Arjun studied the cupcake for a second, then carefully peeled off the linear and took another bite. "So, do you always bake or was this a one-stroke of genius ?"
I raised an eyebrow. "I bake sometimes"

He nodded, considering this. "Good to know, I'll have to find an excuse to be around next time you do"

The way he said it-so casual yet deliberate-made something warm unfurl in my chest. I almost laughed at myself. It was just a cupcake. Just a casual conversation. But the way he looked at me, like he'd already decided something about me, made the party noise blur for just a second longer than it should have.

Then Kabir clapped a hand on Arjun's shoulder, snapping me out of it. "Alright, enough about the cupcakes. Let's get you a drink before you eat the whole tray."