Phewwww!! 🙆🏻‍♀️🌷

Happy reading 🎀💗

(Actually I wrote this chapter while making biology notes so my focus was divided perhaps if there is any mistakes so please lemme know and I'll correct them. I'm sorry but I'll edit it as soon as I'll be free)

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(See pupilss your author is dead exhausted so please thode comments kar dete toh mujhe pata chal jata that whether I'm on the right track or not 🙆🏻‍♀️😭😗)



I sat in front of the mirror, combing my waist-length hair and dividing them into two equal sections to make my usual braids. My notes were scattered on the bed, open and unread, and I mentally cursed myself. Why on earth did I promise Abeer that I'll top this time? Stupid, stupid me.

I tried to focus, flipping a page and scanning the words, but my mind had other plans. Because today… today was different.

Today, I could finally say it.

ABEER. WAS. MY. BOYFRIEND.

YEAHHHHHHHHH!

A shriek of excitement bubbled up in my throat, and before I knew it, I was on my feet, twirling and dancing like a maniac in the middle of my room. My hair, which I hadn't even finished braiding, flew around as I hopped on my bed like a hyperactive kid.

Holy crap, I have a boyfriend.

ME.

SAMIKSHA.

What timeline was this?!

I spun around, imagining an overly dramatic Bollywood scene where Abeer and I ran towards each other in slow motion. Then I imagined him twirling me around, a romantic song playing in the background. Then—hold up. FOCUS, YOU IDIOT!

I slapped my forehead, forcing myself to sit back down. Study, Samiksha. Study. You promised him, remember?

I hurriedly stuffed my books into my bag, still grinning like a fool. Just then, Avya didi's voice rang from downstairs, snapping me out of my daze.

"Samiksha! Jaldi neeche aao, breakfast ready hai!"

With one last glance at my reflection—where I saw a very love-struck, very excited, and slightly sleep-deprived girl—I grabbed my bag and rushed downstairs.

The breakfast table was as lively as ever. My mother, as usual, was eyeing me with a look that screamed exam wale din bhi chill mode on hai iska.

"Toh? Hogyi exam ki tayaari" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded confidently. "Bilkul!"

Vidyut snorted, barely looking up from his plate. "Haan, haan, padhai kam aur reels zyada chala rahi hogi."

I shot him a glare. "Bas tu reh gaya tha na taang kheechne ke liye?"

Vidyut smirked. "Main toh bas sach bol raha hoon. Tujhe dekh ke lagta nahi hai ki tu paper dene jaa rahi hai."

Avya giggled. "To be fair, she's glowing more than usual today."

I coughed, looking away. Damn it, control your expressions, Samiksha!

Shoving a piece of toast in my mouth to avoid further questioning, I quickly finished my breakfast. Then, before heading out, I went to the small temple in the living room, folded my hands, and closed my eyes.

Hey Bhagwan, bas meri izzat rakh lena. Aur agar possible ho, toh mujhe top karwa dena, warna Abeer ki aankhon ka disappointment main nahi jhel paungi.

With that, I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and walked out the door—ready to face the day, and more importantly, ready to make Abeer proud.

Abeer’s POV

The engine of my bike roared to life as I sped down the road towards school, Aarohi sitting behind me. It was early morning, the cool breeze hitting my face, but my mind was occupied elsewhere.

Samiksha.

My girlfriend.

Damn, that sounded unreal.

I had to remind myself a hundred times since last night that this wasn’t some dream that I’d wake up from. She was mine—finally. And today, she had an exam. She had promised me she’d top, and knowing her, she’d probably been cursing herself for making that promise.

Aarohi’s voice snapped me back to reality.

"Bhaiya, zara dheere chalao, mujhe lagta hai meri chemistry ki saari reactions ulat-palat ho rahi hain."

I smirked, taking full advantage of her nervousness. "Achha? Toh bata, balancing of equations samajh aa gaya?"

She groaned loudly. "Bhai, mat pucho, please!"

Ignoring her plea, I fired a question at her. "Thik hai, ek easy sawaal. What is the chemical formula of washing soda?"

Aarohi clutched my shoulder. "Bhai! Abhi exam ke pehle tension mat badha!"

I chuckled, but I wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily. "Arey, tension kam kar raha hoon. Bata na."

She sighed dramatically before answering, "Na₂CO₃."

"Good." I nodded. "Ab bata, what is the pH value of a neutral solution?"

"Seven," she answered instantly.

"Acid ka?"

"Less than seven."

"And base ka?"

"More than seven."

"Waah, waah," I teased, "itni preparation toh lagta hai Samiksha ne bhi nahi ki hogi."

Aarohi scoffed. "Haan, haan, ab toh bas uska naam lene ka mauka chahiye aapko!"

I smiled, but didn’t say anything. She wasn’t exactly wrong. Samiksha had been on my mind the entire time.

As the school gates came into view, I slowed down the bike and finally let Aarohi breathe.

"Bas itna yaad rakh," I said, stopping in front of the entrance. "Exam ke time calm rehna, aur agar koi reaction yaad na aaye toh bas mujhe yaad kar lena."

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "Matlab aap ab mere dimag mein bhi basne wala hai?"

I grinned. "Chalo ab jao, all the best."

She groaned, hopping off the bike. "Ehehe. Samiksha ka wait karne ka bahana mat banao, class mein jao, head boy ke naam pe kalank aadmi. "

I watched her walk off, shaking my head.

Little did she know, I wasn’t waiting for Samiksha as an excuse. I just wanted to see her.

As I stood outside the school gate, my eyes involuntarily scanned the crowd, searching for her. And then, there she was.

Samiksha.

Walking in with Vidyut, looking effortlessly beautiful, her long braids swaying as she talked animatedly with him. A strange warmth spread through me, and before I could even process it, a small smile tugged at my lips. No reason, no logic—just the sight of her, and suddenly, my morning felt a whole lot better.

But then, Vidyut.

I forced myself to rein in my expression, schooling my face into nonchalance. I couldn’t let him notice anything off. Instead, I caught her gaze and subtly mouthed, All the best.

She noticed instantly, her lips curling into a soft smile as she responded with a quiet thank you.

And then, something unspoken passed between us.

I tilted my head slightly, raising an eyebrow in question—Are you prepared?

She blinked once, then twice, before her eyes gleamed with certainty as she nodded back—Yes.

It was such a simple exchange, yet it felt like an entire conversation, one that only we could understand. I didn’t need to hear her voice to know that she meant it, that she was confident. And she didn’t need to hear mine to know that I believed in her.

But of course, the moment had to be interrupted.

"Bro, tu yaha kyun khada hai?" Vidyut’s voice snapped me back to reality as he approached me.

I turned to him with an exaggerated sigh. "Soch raha hoon, andar jaun ya yahi pe ek naya school khol lun."

Vidyut rolled his eyes at my sarcasm. "Waah bhaii kya socha hai!"

Author's pov

As Samiksha sat there, her exam paper long completed, she absentmindedly flipped to the last page of her question paper. The invigilator paced the room, occasionally glancing in her direction, perhaps wondering why she had finished so early.

But Samiksha had other things on her mind.

She tapped the pen against her chin, then, as if possessed by an unshakable feeling, she began to write in the empty space beneath the last question.

"For me, love is you.

Because of you, my heart beats.

Because of you, I breathe.

Because of your thoughts, I lie awake at night, restless, unable to close my eyes.

And if love is surrender, then take all of me.

My hands, my words, my dreams, my life—it's yours. It has always been yours............"

Her handwriting was soft, flowing across the page like whispered confessions.

She stared at the words, heart pounding. This is ridiculous, she thought, but she didn’t tear it away. Instead, she gently pressed her hand over the ink as if trying to absorb the emotions into her skin.

A slow sigh escaped her lips.

More than anything, she just wanted this school day to end—so she could see him again..

As soon as the final bell rang, Aarohi wasted no time and sprinted towards Samiksha, her face a mix of relief and exhaustion. Together, they made their way outside to collect their bags. The corridor buzzed with students discussing their answers, some groaning about the tricky questions while others excitedly compared their responses.

Samiksha, calmly stuffing her books into her bag, turned to Aarohi and asked, “Kaisa gaya?”

Aarohi let out a dramatic sigh, throwing both hands on her head in frustration. “Chala gaya,” she grumbled, shaking her head as if the weight of the exam had physically drained her.

Samiksha chuckled at her misery, zipping up her bag, but she didn’t miss the way Aarohi was now staring at her—eyes narrowed, lips slightly pursed, suspicion evident.

Aarohi crossed her arms. “Something happened?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Samiksha immediately shook her head, a little too quickly. “Nahi bas… paper acha chala gaya.” She hoped her voice sounded casual enough, but the glow on her face was giving her away.

Aarohi raised a brow, not buying it one bit. “Haan haan, bohot acha chala gaya.” She stretched out the words, giving Samiksha a knowing smirk.

Samiksha rolled her eyes and adjusted the strap of her bag. “Chal, nikalte hain,” she said, steering the conversation away.

As they stepped out of the school gates, their discussion shifted to cursing the exam. Aarohi was passionately ranting about the unfair questions, while Samiksha occasionally nodded, throwing in a few comments here and there. But in reality, her mind wasn’t on the exam at all.

Her eyes were scanning the area, searching for someone.

For him.

The usual excitement of seeing him, the way her heart would race when their eyes met—it was something she had been looking forward to since the moment she had put down her pen in the exam hall.

But he wasn’t there.

A strange restlessness settled in her chest. She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, her eyes darting from one side of the road to the other. Where is he?

Just then, Aarohi’s face lit up, her tiredness forgotten in an instant. “Vidyut!” she beamed, running towards him without a second thought.

Samiksha, however, barely registered her best friend’s excitement. She stood still, distracted, her heart sinking slightly.

Vidyut greeted Aarohi with a smirk. “Kaisa gaya paper?”

Aarohi groaned dramatically, flailing her hands in frustration. “Bakwas! Matlab, maine padha tha! Fir bhi paper ajeeb tha! Koi logic hi nahi tha kuch questions ka!”

Vidyut chuckled, amused. He reached out, tapping her shoulder lightly. “Chill, ho jayega.”

Samiksha stood next to them, smiling at their playful exchange, but her mind was elsewhere. Her feet shifted slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag, her thoughts completely occupied.

Her eyes kept searching, hoping—waiting.

Aarohi, being the best friend she was, had already noticed Samiksha’s restlessness. She knew Sam wouldn’t ask about Abeer in front of Vidyut, so she casually took the initiative.

"Vidyut btao bhaiya kahaan hai?" Aarohi asked, her tone light and casual, but her eyes flickered toward Samiksha knowingly.

Samiksha, who had been standing there trying to act unbothered, immediately tuned into the conversation, her fingers still fidgeting with the strap of her bag.

Vidyut, completely oblivious to the reason behind Aarohi’s question, shrugged. "Abeer kothoda aur time lagega. Head boy hai na, kuch kaam hai uska school mein."

Samiksha’s heart sank a little. She had been waiting to see him, expecting him to be there the moment she stepped out of school, but now she realized he wouldn’t be coming.

It’s okay, she told herself quickly, forcing a small smile. He has responsibilities. He can’t be available for me all the time. That’s totally okay.

She nodded as if convincing herself, pushing aside the disappointment creeping in.

Just then, a girl from school approached her. "Samiksha, can I see your question paper for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure," Samiksha said, pulling out the paper from her bag and handing it over.

The girl quickly skimmed through it before returning it with a small smile. "Thanks."

Samiksha took the paper back, distracted, and absentmindedly tried to slide it into the bottle holder pocket of her bag with one hand. The second pocket of her bag was open, but she didn’t notice.

Meanwhile, Vidyut, Aarohi, and Samiksha were getting ready to leave. They had to triple-seat on Vidyut’s bike, something they had done many times before. Aarohi, as usual, took the middle seat, and Samiksha sat at the back.

What she didn’t realize, however, was that as she got on the bike, the question paper she had just kept in her bag slipped out and fell onto the road, unnoticed.

.........................................

The warm hues of the evening sun painted the sky in gold and amber as Abeer stepped out of the school, the crisp air brushing against his face. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair, finally free from the responsibilities of the day. With long strides, he made his way towards his bike, pulling out his keys and preparing to leave.

Just as he was about to swing his leg over, a fluttering piece of paper caught his attention. It drifted near his feet, landing softly on the ground.

Frowning, he bent down and picked it up. A question paper?

His eyes scanned the top. Chemistry – Class 10 A.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. Samiksha and aarohi's class.

Turning it over absentmindedly, he noticed something scribbled on the back. The handwriting—slightly slanted, neat yet hurried—was unmistakably hers.

Curiosity piqued, he leaned against his bike and started reading.

A hush fell over his thoughts as his gaze moved over the inked words. It wasn’t just a few random scribbles—it was poetry.

"He is all I need…

Because of him, my heart beats.

Because of him, I breathe.

Because of his thoughts, I can’t sleep.

My life rests in his hands…"

Abeer blinked. His breath hitched slightly.

Damn.

His fingers tightened around the paper as warmth spread through his chest. The words—raw, unfiltered, achingly beautiful—made something stir deep within him.

Did she… write this about him?

Of course idiot!

His lips curled into a small, dazed smile, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. He had always known Samiksha was talented, but this—this was something else. It was vulnerable, intense, and so her.

He gently folded the paper, tucking it into his pocket like a secret only he was allowed to keep. With his heart pounding just a little faster, he finally got onto his bike, started the engine, and rode home—her words still lingering in his mind like a melody he never wanted to forget.

**************************

The office was bathed in the soft glow of evening lights, most employees having left for the day. The only sounds filling the space were the clicking of keyboards and the faint hum of the air conditioner. Avya sat at her desk, her head resting on her hand as she scrolled through an endless spreadsheet, barely paying attention.

Her phone vibrated.

Ekansh: "Still working, Miss Maaheshwari?"

She glanced up through the glass walls of her cabin, her eyes immediately landing on Ekansh, her boss—or rather, her boyfriend. He was leaning against the doorway of his office, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding his phone. A knowing smirk played on his lips as he watched her reaction.

She sighed dramatically and texted back.

Avya: "Trying to. But SOMEONE is distracting me."

Ekansh’s eyes twinkled as he read her reply. Instead of texting again, he walked straight into her office, closing the door behind him.

"You’re distracting yourself," he teased, sitting on the edge of her desk. "Also, your screen is off. What exactly are you working on?"

Avya blinked, then looked at her very black screen. Busted.

She groaned, pushing her chair back. "Fine. I was pretending to work because I’m tired. And also, I was waiting for you to be done so we could leave together."

Ekansh smirked, reaching forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "You could’ve just come to my cabin instead of sulking here."

Avya crossed her arms. "Yeah, because it looks very professional when the boss’s girlfriend barges into his office for attention."

His smirk deepened. "Oh? You need attention?"

Before she could react, he leaned in, his fingers grazing her wrist before intertwining with hers. His touch was warm, familiar, dangerous. Her breath hitched as he brought her hand up to his lips, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her knuckles.

Avya’s eyes darted to the glass walls, paranoia creeping in. "Ekansh, someone could see—"

"So?" He tilted his head, his gaze locked onto hers. "They all know we’re together. Besides, we’re the last ones here."

She swallowed. "Still… you’re being reckless."

He chuckled, standing up. "You love it when I’m reckless."

Avya rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Whatever, Mr. CEO."

Ekansh walked behind her chair, resting his hands on her shoulders. He leaned down, his lips grazing her ear. "How about this? You shut down your system, and we leave now."

She turned her head slightly, their faces inches apart. "And if I don’t?"

He smirked. "Then I’ll have to personally make sure you’re not tired anymore."

A shiver ran down her spine at his tone. With zero hesitation, she shut her laptop and stood up. "Let’s go."

Ekansh laughed, lacing their fingers together as they walked out of the office, completely unbothered about keeping their relationship a secret. Because at the end of the day, he was hers, and she was his.

********************

The park was alive with laughter, children playing, and couples strolling under the golden hues of the setting sun. But, of course, peace was never an option when it came to Vidyut and Aarohi.

Hand in hand, they walked along the paved path, Aarohi occasionally swinging their joined hands playfully, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

— "You know, if you weren’t this annoying, I’d actually enjoy these dates," Aarohi teased.

Vidyut smirked. "If you weren’t this dramatic, I might believe that."

Aarohi huffed, nudging him lightly. And then—her body went rigid.

Her grip on Vidyut’s hand tightened like a blood pressure machine.

Vidyut frowned. "What’s wrong—"

Aarohi snapped her head towards him, eyes wide with pure, unfiltered terror.

— "DON’T TURN AROUND. DON’T LOOK. DON’T EVEN BREATHE LOUDLY."

Vidyut immediately tensed. "What the hell—who is it? A serial killer?"

— "WORSE. IT’S MRS. CHOPRA."

Vidyut blinked. "Mrs. Chopra…?" Then it clicked. THE Mrs. Chopra. The nosy neighborhood aunty who could single-handedly run an entire news agency based on gossip alone.

If she saw them together, Aarohi’s parents would know before they even got home. Possibly even before she reached the main gate.

Vidyut sighed. "You’re exaggerating. She’s just an old lady—"

Aarohi grabbed his shoulders with brute force. "Vidyut. If she sees me with you, she will tell my mom. If my mom finds out, my dad finds out. And if my dad finds out, I WILL BE MISSING FROM EARTH TOMORROW."

Vidyut snorted. "Bit dramatic, don’t you think?"

— "VIDYUT, I AM NOT JOKING."

And before he could react—she SHOVED him.

HARD.

Vidyut stumbled straight into a bush.

— "OW—AAROHI, WHAT THE—"

— "SHHHHH!"

Just as Vidyut disappeared into the greenery, Mrs. Chopra arrived.

— "Aarohi beta! What are you doing here all alone?"

Aarohi grinned nervously. "Oh! Just… you know… enjoying nature! Oxygen is important."

Mrs. Chopra raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You seem nervous."

— "Nervous? Who’s nervous? Not me! I LOVE PARKS. So… leafy, na?"

And then—

A sneeze.

A LOUD, unmistakably male sneeze.

Mrs. Chopra’s eyebrows shot up. Her gaze snapped to the bush.

"Who is there?"

Aarohi panicked.

— "Uh—UH—A GHOST?"

Mrs. Chopra blinked. "A ghost?"

Aarohi nodded aggressively. "Yes, yes! This park is HAUNTED. Tragic story—very sad! A Canadian man DIED HERE, and now he sneezes whenever an aunty gets too close."

Mrs. Chopra stared at her like she had grown two heads.

And then—

Another sneeze.

Mrs. Chopra narrowed her eyes. "That is NOT a ghost."

Aarohi gulped.

— "WAIT AUNTY NO—"

But Mrs. Chopra was already storming towards the bush.

Vidyut, realizing his cover was blown, BOLTED.

Leaves flew everywhere as he sprinted like he was escaping a murder scene.

And then—

Tragedy struck.

In his mad dash, Vidyut accidentally KICKED a tiny toy car.

The toy soared through the air…

…and landed right in front of a small toddler.

The toddler stared. His little face twisted.

And then—

— "MAMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

A woman turned to see her precious baby SOBBING over a fallen toy.

Her rage was instant.

— "WHO DID THIS TO MY CHILD?!"

Vidyut froze.

Mrs. Chopra pointed at him like a courtroom witness. "THAT BOY!"

The mother’s eyes blazed with fury. "YOU MONSTER! YOU MADE MY BABY CRY!"

Vidyut held up his hands. "IT WAS AN ACCIDENT—"

— "SAY SORRY TO MY SON!"

— "I—WHAT?!"

— "SAY SORRY TO THE BABY!"

Vidyut turned to the sobbing child.

— "I—I am so sorry, little dude."

The toddler sniffled. But before he could forgive Vidyut—

Mrs. Chopra tried to grab him again.

That was it.

Vidyut SPRINTED.

— "SECURITY! STOP THAT BOY!"

A whistle blew. Park guards turned their heads. Vidyut ran faster.

He weaved through crowds, dodged flying frisbees, leaped over a picnic blanket, and even swerved past a yoga group mid-meditation.

Finally, he BURST through the park’s exit like an action movie hero.

Panting, exhausted, and utterly traumatized, he collapsed against his bike.

And then—

Aarohi strolled out, cool as a cucumber.

She grinned. "Nice workout?"

Vidyut shot her a glare. "I HATE YOU."

Aarohi smirked, stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his waist.

— "No, you love me."

Vidyut groaned, resting his forehead on her shoulder. "Remind me why?"

Aarohi patted his back. "Because I make your life… entertaining."

And with that, they drove off, leaving behind a park full of chaos, crying toddlers, furious mothers, and one very confused Mrs. Chopra.

***********************

Samiksha was curled up in her blanket, her laptop resting on her lap as her fingers danced across the keyboard. A soft breeze slipped through the slightly open window, making the curtains sway gently. The night was silent except for the faint rustling of leaves. Her phone vibrated beside her, and when she glanced at the screen, a soft smile tugged at her lips.

"Abeer calling..."

Just the sight of his name made her heart flutter. She didn't know when she had become this girl—someone who smiled at her phone like an idiot, who blushed just by seeing his caller ID. Shaking her head at herself, she picked up the call.

"Hello?"

The moment she answered, Abeer started his rambling. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I couldn't meet you at school today. I swear it was not intentional. I got caught up with work, and by the time I was done, you were already gone. It’s my fault, I should’ve managed my time better—"

She chuckled, interrupting his monologue. "Abeer, calm down! It’s fine, really. I understand."

"Still," he insisted, "I hate that I couldn't see you all day."

Her heart melted a little at that. She shook her head, trying to focus. "Anyway, how was your day?" he asked, his voice softer now.

That was all the encouragement she needed. She began recounting everything—how her morning started, the struggle of revising before the exam, how Aarohi nearly lost her mind over a tricky question, how she finished her paper early, and even the stupid jokes Vidyut cracked on the way back home.

And Abeer? He listened to it all. Every single word. He paid attention like she was narrating the most interesting story in the world, responding with hums and occasional laughter.

But then, after a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Is it always this cold outside your house at night?"

She frowned, confused. "Yeah, I guess? But why are you asking—"

And then it hit her.

Her breath hitched as realization dawned. Oh. My. God.

Throwing off her blanket, she rushed to her balcony, still wearing Vidyut’s oversized t-shirt and her shorts. As she reached the railing, her eyes widened at the sight below.

There he was.

Abeer stood leaning against his bike, one hand casually shoved in his pocket while the other held his phone to his ear. His head tilted slightly as he watched her, a small smile playing on his lips. And then, with a slow wave, he murmured, "Hey."

She crossed her arms, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Aap pagal ho kya? Itni raat ko yahan?"

He grinned. "Kyun? Main yaha nahi aa sakta?"

"Aasakte ho, but seriously, Abeer, it's one in the morning! Kal tumhe jaldi uthna hai! And I am not that important that you need to give me an attendance check at this hour."

His expression softened as he locked eyes with her. "Excuse me, madam. Pehli baat, aap bohot important hain." His voice dropped a little, turning gentler. "Aur waise bhi, mujhe neend nahi aati..." He paused, holding her gaze. "...agar abhi tumhe nahi dekhta."

Her face heated instantly. Stupid boy. Stupid, charming, annoyingly sweet boy.

She cleared her throat, trying to act stern. " Please ghar jao,You'll catch a cold."

"I don't mind."

"Abeer!"

"Bas do minute aur, please?" he pleaded, tilting his head like a puppy.

She sighed, knowing she was losing this battle. Biting back a smile, she gave in. "Fine. Two minutes."

But as she stood there, watching him from above, something tugged at her heart.

Without another word, she turned back into her room, grabbed a hoodie from her chair, and silently sneaked out of the house.

If he wasn’t going to take care of himself, she would.

Samiksha carefully stepped out of the house, holding her breath as she closed the door behind her. The night air was crisp, sending a slight shiver down her spine as she clutched the oversized hoodie in her hands. She wasn’t sure if sneaking out in the middle of the night was a smart idea, but when it came to him, logic always took a backseat.

Abeer was right where she expected him to be—leaning against his bike, one hand lazily tucked into his pocket while the other held his phone to his ear. The moment he saw her, a slow, knowing smile spread across his face, and just like that, her heart skipped a beat.

"You really came," he murmured, his voice softer than the wind that rustled through the trees.

She walked up to him, shoving the hoodie against his chest. "Wear this before you catch a cold."

He took it from her but didn’t put it on right away. Instead, he just looked at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

"You sneaked out of your house in the middle of the night just for me," he said, his voice laced with something warm, something deep. "That’s gotta mean something, right?"

She exhaled, rolling her eyes. "It means I don’t want you freezing to death."

His lips twitched. "Or maybe it means you care more than you admit."

She looked away, feeling the heat creep up her neck. "Abeer—"

He took a step closer, closing the distance between them. "You do, don’t you?" His voice was soft, gentle. Not teasing. Just asking.

She swallowed, her fingers curling into her sleeves. "Of course, I do."

His smile grew, something softer this time. "Good. Because I care too. A lot."

She forced herself to look up at him, meeting his gaze. "Then do me a favor and wear the hoodie."

Abeer chuckled but finally slipped it over his head. It was oversized for her, but for him, it fit just right. He tugged at the sleeves, looking at her with a lazy grin. "So, how do I look?"

She pretended to examine him. "Warm."

"That’s it?" He raised an eyebrow. "Not even a little bit handsome?"

Samiksha sighed dramatically. "Fine. You look… decent."

His hand came up to his chest. "Ouch. That was painful."

She bit back a smile, shaking her head.

Abeer, however, wasn’t done. He tilted his head slightly, watching her with an amused yet thoughtful expression. "You know, I was thinking."

"That’s dangerous," she quipped.

He chuckled. "What if we go on a date? After your exams."

She blinked. "A date?"

"Yeah," he said simply. "You, me, somewhere nice. No stress, no distractions. Just us."

Something about the way he said just us made her heart stumble.

She hesitated. "You’re serious?"

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "Always."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Okay."

His own smile deepened, like he had just won something. "That’s my girl."

And just like that, something inside her melted. It was ridiculous, how two simple words could make her feel so much.

She glanced at the time. "You should go home now."

"One more minute," he murmured, his voice low, like he wanted to make this moment last.

She sighed but didn’t argue.

And then, just as casually as breathing, he said it.

"I love you."

Her breath caught.

She looked at him, her heart slamming against her ribs. He wasn’t teasing. He wasn’t playing around. He meant it.

He loved her.

She wanted to say it back, but the words tangled on her tongue.

So instead, she stepped a little closer, tugged at the sleeves of his hoodie, and smiled.

"Goodnight, Abeer."

His lips twitched, as if he already knew what she wasn’t saying.

"I’ll take that for now," he whispered.

She turned to go, but not before she saw it—the way he watched her like she was the only thing in the world worth looking at.

And maybe, just maybe, she was.

_____________________________________________________

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