LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 21: no ( Q )!
Vol 3 - Exam Time!
No (Q)!
One quiet evening at Shyam's cake shop, the atmosphere was different. Instead of customers enjoying pastries or tea, the shop was hosting an unusual study session. Shyam and Raitha sat at one of the tables, surrounded by books and notes. To Shyam's surprise—and slight bewilderment—Ritika had joined them too.
The reason was simple: exams were near, and Ritika had discovered where Shyam lived during their earlier chat at the library. Naturally, she showed up, ready to make the most of the study group.
Shyam's dad had left earlier to run errands, leaving the shop to the trio. They studied diligently in silence until Ritika, unable to contain herself, slammed her book shut and stood up dramatically.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the pages as she declared,
"Enough! There's NO STOP to studying at all. We've been at it for three hours, and I've learned as much as an ant. My food bar is running low, and if I don't refill it, I'm going to faint!"
Her face remained a blank slate—no hesitation, no shame, just pure honesty.
Shyam, startled by her sudden outburst, responded carefully,
"Uh... all the cakes here are for sale, so we'd have to make one from scratch if you want one to eat."
His comment, meant to address Ritika's hunger, took an unexpected turn. As soon as he said the word cake, both Raitha and Ritika turned their eyes toward him. Their gazes sharpened, silently demanding he get to work. The intensity in their eyes was enough to make Shyam feel like his life was on the line.
"Alright, alright! I'll make one," he stammered, quickly escaping to the bakery area.
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(Let's skip the cake-making process, because, honestly, I know nothing about cakes. Just assume Shyam did his best. Thanks for your understanding!)
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When Shyam returned, he carried three plates with freshly made cakes. The cakes were simple yet elegant—dark chocolate bases adorned with swirls of white chocolate. The aroma was heavenly, and the cakes looked so soft they seemed like they could melt in your mouth.
Raitha and Ritika stared at the cakes, their mouths watering in anticipation. Without wasting a moment, they each grabbed a plate and took a bite.
The moment the cake touched Raitha's tongue, it melted. Creamy, soft, and perfectly sweet. Both girls devoured their cakes, savoring every bite, while Shyam watched nervously, unsure of how it would taste to them.
As soon as they finished, he hesitantly asked,
"So... how was it?"
Their reactions surprised him. Both girls lit up with excitement, showering him with compliments about how delicious it was. Shyam, though flustered, modestly credited the quality of the chocolate rather than his baking skills.
After their impromptu cake break, they returned to studying for about half an hour before calling it a day. Each of them packed up and headed home.
Later that evening, Shyam's dad returned. Not wanting to hide anything, Shyam confessed to using the shop's ingredients to make cakes for his friends. He braced himself, expecting a scolding or at least a stern remark.
Instead, his dad smiled, almost as if amused. He murmured to himself,
"So, it's going as planned, isn't it?"
He didn't say another word to Shyam and walked away. The odd reaction left Shyam puzzled, but he was just relieved to avoid any trouble.
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NO STOP!