The morning buzz of Jaipur city slowly blended into the lively atmosphere of the college campus. The golden sunlight fell softly across the pathways, creating a warm glow as students entered in groups—laughing, chatting, and sharing endless gossip. The air was filled with excitement, chaos, and youthful energy.
Near the canteen area, Aaditya, Rudraksh, and Nikhil were standing together, deeply engaged in their usual banter. Their conversation was light, filled with teasing and laughter, as if nothing in the world could disturb their peace.
A little distance away, Aarohi, Yuvraj, and Ishika were busy in their own world. Aarohi was laughing.
uncontrollably at something Ishika had just said, while Yuvraj added his own dramatic expressions, making the situation even funnier.
Their carefree laughter echoed around, instantly drawing attention.
Just then, the Rathore siblings entered the campus.
Their presence, as always, carried a certain aura—confidence, calmness, and a silent authority. Reyansh walked ahead with his usual composed expression, while the others followed.
As soon as Yuvraj noticed Tanvi among them, his face lit up instantly.
“Hi, cutie pie!” he said cheerfully, waving at her.
Tanvi looked slightly surprised but smiled softly in response.
Reyansh’s gaze immediately shifted towards Yuvraj. His eyes darkened slightly, a subtle but noticeable change—but he chose to remain silent.
“Cutie pie?” Aaditya raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
“Yes, bhaiya! I gave Tanu this nickname. It’s sweet, right? Kyu, Reyansh bhaiya?”
(Why, Reyansh bhaiya?) Yuvraj said with a grin, looking directly at Reyansh.
Reyansh simply nodded. “Hmm.”
Aaditya leaned slightly towards Rudraksh and muttered under his breath,
“Tera bhai Reyansh se pitega.”
(Your brother is definitely going to get beaten up by Reyansh.)
Rudraksh smirked, whispering back,
“Mujhe bhi yahi lag raha hai. Iski harkate hi aisi hai… dekh Reyansh kaise ghoor raha hai, jaise abhi jaan le lega.”
(I feel the same. His actions are asking for it… just look at Reyansh, the way he’s staring—like he could kill him right now.)
Meanwhile, completely unaware—or maybe just ignoring it—Yuvraj casually placed his hand on Tanvi’s shoulder.
“Cutie pie, you know… the whole yesterday I was thinking about you,” he said, his tone suddenly a bit softer but still playful.
“Yaar, kaash kal us time main class mein hota. I would’ve killed Ravi. How dare he touch my cutie pie?”
(I wish I was in class at that time yesterday. I would’ve killed Ravi. How dare he touch my cutie pie?)
Tanvi didn’t seem uncomfortable. Instead, she smiled lightly, responding to his jokes. Yuvraj kept talking, trying to make her laugh, and slowly, her expressions softened.
But not everyone was as relaxed.
Reyansh stood there, silent… his jaw slightly clenched. His eyes flickered towards Yuvraj’s hand resting on Tanvi’s shoulder. He didn’t like it. Not even a bit.
Yet… he said nothing.
Because Tanvi was comfortable.
Aaditya, noticing everything, muttered again under his breath,
“Bhai, yeh Yuvraj peetna ka kaam kar raha hai.”
(Bro, Yuvraj is literally inviting a beating.)
Then he leaned closer to Reyansh and whispered teasingly,
“Reyansh, I think tujhe tera jija mil gaya, saale.”
(Reyansh, I think you just found your future brother-in-law.)
Reyansh shot him a sharp look.
“Aisa kuch nahi hai, Aadi. They are just friends.”
(It’s nothing like that, Aadi. They are just friends.)
Aaditya raised his hands in surrender, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Ho sakta hai…”
(Maybe…)
On the other side, Aarohi, Ishika, and Yuvraj were still trying to keep Tanvi engaged—cracking jokes, pulling her into conversations, making sure she felt normal again after yesterday’s incident.
And slowly… it worked.
After a while, the bell rang, breaking the moment.
One by one, they all started moving towards their respective classes—some still laughing, some lost in thoughts.
But a few emotions… remained unspoken.
And a few glances… said more than words ever could.
The classroom was filled with the usual morning chaos, a mixture of voices blending into one continuous hum. Students were scattered across the room—some leaning over desks discussing studies seriously, some laughing over random gossip, while a few quietly focused on their work.
The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow inside, yet despite all the noise and life around… Tanvi sat silently in her place, lost in her own thoughts, her fingers resting on her notebook while her eyes aimlessly observed everything and nothing at the same time.
Tanvi’s POV
I was sitting quietly in the classroom, watching everyone around me. Some students were talking about studies, flipping pages and discussing topics seriously, while others were busy gossiping, laughing as if nothing in the world could ever bother them.
A few were just doing their own work, completely lost in themselves. Yuvraj was standing with a group of boys, talking and probably cracking jokes like always, while Ishika and Aarohi had already decided to leave the classroom and roam around the campus.
After yesterday’s incident… I still wasn’t fully comfortable.
There was still a strange uneasiness inside me, something that hadn’t completely faded yet.
But despite that… I was really glad.
Glad that I had people like them in my life.
Friends like Ishika, Aarohi, and Yuvraj… who actually cared about me, who stood up for me without even thinking twice. Because in my school life… I never really had good friends. People were mean, selfish, and I was always the one left alone, the one no one chose.
But now… things felt different.
Now I had them.
And not just friends… I had a family.
Reyansh bhaiya… Kiara di… Dadda…
A small, genuine smile formed on my lips as I thought about them.
I was happy.
Something I had never truly felt before.
“God… please bless them,” I whispered softly, my voice barely audible even to myself, because in my previous life… I never received this kind of love.
Even my own parents… they never treated me like I was their child. It always felt like I was a burden to them, someone they were forced to keep. My younger brother, on the other hand, got everything—love, attention, care, time… everything he ever wanted. And I… I was always the one standing at the corner, watching, waiting for something that was never meant for me.
I always felt alone.
Unwanted.
“And then… everything ended,” I thought, my chest tightening slightly.
They didn’t deserve death.
No one deserves that.
And I didn’t even want to remember that phase of my life because after their death… it felt like I had no life left in me either. I didn’t know what I was doing, where I was going, or what was going to happen next. Everything was blank, empty… meaningless.
But then…
Dadda came into my life.
He gave me a home, a family, a reason to live again. He gave me love, care, protection… everything I had ever wished for. He treated me like his own child, never making me feel like I didn’t belong.
And slowly… I started breathing again.
A slight frown appeared on my face as another thought crossed my mind.
“I don’t know why… but Reyansh bhaiya and Dadda are so possessive about me,” I thought, a little confused but not complaining.
Yes, they didn’t allow me to go anywhere freely, didn’t give me complete independence…
But I never questioned them.
Because somewhere deep down… I knew—
If they were doing something, it was always for my better.
“Tanu babyyy!”
I suddenly heard Ishika’s loud voice from the classroom door, breaking my chain of thoughts.
I looked up and saw her standing there with Aarohi beside her, both of them looking at me with wide smiles.
“Kya wahan akeli baithi ho? Chalo humare saath bahar chalte hain, thoda ghoomte hain, fresh feel hoga!”
(Why are you sitting there alone? Come with us outside, let’s roam around a bit, you’ll feel fresh!)
Ishika said in one breath, her excitement clearly visible.
“Mera mann nahi hai… tum log jao, I don’t want to come,” I replied softly, not really in the mood to move.
Before I could even react properly, Aarohi walked straight towards me without saying anything, grabbed my hand firmly, and pulled me up from my seat.
“Bas, bahut ho gaya. No more excuses. Tu chal rahi hai humare saath, samjhi?”
(That’s enough. No more excuses. You’re coming with us, understood?) she said, dragging me towards the door.
“Ajeeb zabardasti hai…” I muttered under my breath, slightly annoyed but not resisting.
(This is such weird forcefulness…)
A few minutes later, we were sitting in the garden area on a bench. The environment there felt completely different—calm, fresh, and open. The cool breeze brushed softly against my face while students walked around, laughing, talking, living freely.
I quietly observed everything around me… and then suddenly, my eyes stopped at a particular direction.
Rudraksh was walking there… accompanied by a boy.
I don’t know why, but the moment I saw him…
Something felt strange.
A sudden uneasiness spread through my body, a weird sensation that I couldn’t explain. My heartbeat slightly increased, and I felt… different.
And then—
His eyes met mine.
Dark brown.
Deep… intense… almost pulling me in.
For a moment… everything around me faded.
And all I could feel was that strange, unfamiliar emotion inside my heart.
“Cutie pie, kya soch rahi ho itni der se?” Yuvraj’s voice broke my thoughts as he tapped lightly on my shoulder, bringing me back to reality.
(What are you thinking about for so long?)
“I was just… lost in my own world…” I murmured softly, almost unintentionally.
“What?” he frowned slightly, not hearing properly.
“Oh—nothing, kuch nahi,” I said quickly, avoiding eye contact.
“Tum kab aaye?” I asked, trying to distract him.
(When did you come?)
“Jab tum apne khayalon mein puri tarah kho gayi thi,” he said with a teasing smirk.
(When you were completely lost in your thoughts.)
“Tanu baby, kya sochti rehti ho tum pura din? Itni serious rehti ho kabhi kabhi,” Ishika said, narrowing her eyes playfully.
(What do you keep thinking about all day? You become so serious sometimes.)
“Nahi… aisa kuch nahi hai,” I replied, shaking my head lightly.
Aarohi leaned slightly closer, her expression turning a bit serious now.
“Waise Tanu, ek baat puchu? Tumhe bura toh nahi lagega?”
(By the way, Tanu, can I ask you something? You won’t feel bad, right?)
“Hmm… pucho,” I nodded.
“Tumhe tumhare Dadda aur Reyansh bhaiya kahin bahar aane-jaane nahi dete kya? Us din… unka behaviour thoda strange tha,” she said carefully, observing my reaction.
“I don’t know… maine kabhi unse poocha nahi,” I replied honestly.
Ishika frowned slightly, clearly not convinced.
“But Tanu baby, tumhe nahi lagta yeh thoda weird hai? I mean, woh Kiara di ko allow karte hain… par tumhe nahi. That’s a bit strange, don’t you think?” she said, her tone filled with concern.
I stayed quiet for a moment, then spoke calmly,
“Ho sakta hai… par agar woh kuch kar rahe hain, toh uske peeche koi reason hoga.”
Yuvraj sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“But cutie pie, tumne kabhi socha nahi ki tumhe unse poochna chahiye? It’s your life. Tumhe right hai sab kuch jaanne ka, phir tum kyun nahi poochti?”
(Don’t you think you should ask them? It’s your life. You have the right to know everything, then why don’t you ask?)
I looked down at my hands, my voice calm but carrying hidden pain.
“Meri previous life mein… mere khud ke parents ne mujhe freedom nahi di. Unhone mujhe hamesha ek cage mein rakha…”
(In my previous life, my own parents never gave me freedom. They always kept me in a cage…)
I paused for a second, then continued softly,
“Aur ab… yeh usse better hai. At least mujhe freedom hai… chahe akeli nahi.”
There was silence for a moment.
Ishika gently held my hand, her voice firm yet warm,
“Okay Tanu baby, agar tum nahi poochna chahti, that’s your choice. Par ek baat yaad rakhna—kisi ko bhi tumhari life ke decisions lene ka haq nahi hai. Yeh tumhari life hai… aur ispar sirf tumhara right hai.”
(No one has the right to take decisions for your life. It’s your life, and only you have rights over it.)
I lifted my gaze, confidence slowly replacing the softness.
“Mujhe pata hai. Aur main itni capable hoon ki main khud decide kar sakun ki mujhe kya chahiye. Main kisi ko apni life ka fayda uthane nahi dungi…”
(I know. And I’m capable enough to decide what I want. I won’t let anyone take advantage of my life…)
A slight determined smile appeared on my lips.
“Yeh meri life hai… aur final decision hamesha mera hi hoga.”
(It’s my life… and the final decision will always be mine.)
For a moment, both Ishika and Aarohi looked at me with a mix of surprise and pride.
Then suddenly—
“Okay bas, enough of this serious discussion!” Yuvraj clapped loudly, breaking the intensity.
“Hum log students hain, koi bade log nahi jo life decisions pe debate kar rahe hain. It’s just the beginning of our college life… let’s enjoy it!”
We all looked at each other… and smiled.
“Chalo,” Aarohi said.
And together, we got up from the bench and started walking around the campus, letting go of heavy thoughts for a while.
Maybe…
Life was finally giving me a chance to live.
POV End
The semester 5 classroom carried a completely different aura—more focused, more intense, yet still filled with its own share of chaos.
Students were either deeply engaged in academic discussions or casually chatting, creating a balanced mix of seriousness and college life energy.
Reyansh and Rudraksh were seated in their usual place, slightly leaned towards each other, discussing something important in low voices.
Reyansh’s expression was calm yet sharp, his brows slightly furrowed as he explained something, while Rudraksh listened carefully, occasionally nodding or adding his own points. Their personalities reflected clearly—even in silence, they carried a strong presence.
On the other side of the classroom, a group of girls stood together, whispering, giggling, and occasionally glancing towards them.
“Guys, meet her—Samaira. She’s a new student in our college,” Sneha said, introducing the girl standing beside her.
Samaira smiled confidently as the girls around her instantly started complimenting her.
“Hi… you’re so beautiful! Boys literally won’t be able to take their eyes off you,” one of them said excitedly.
Samaira flipped her hair slightly, a smirk forming on her lips.
“Yeah, I know… because I’m Samaira,” she replied confidently.
Sneha chuckled, crossing her arms.
“Confidence toh hai… but kya fayda? College ke most handsome boys ne toh tumhe dekha hi nahi.”
(You’ve got confidence… but what’s the use? The most handsome boys in the college haven’t even looked at you.)
Samaira’s expression instantly changed, a hint of challenge appearing in her eyes.
“What the hell are you talking about? Koi ladka mujhe na dekhe—aisa possible hi nahi hai.”
(What are you even saying? It’s impossible that a guy wouldn’t look at me.)
Sneha smirked and slightly tilted her head towards Reyansh and Rudraksh.
“Acha? Toh phir unhe dekh lo,” she said.
(Oh really? Then look at them.)
“Most charming boys of our class… in fact, of the entire campus. Jaakar approach karo. Agar woh impress ho gaye na… tab maanungi.”
(Go and approach them. If they get impressed, then I’ll believe you.)
Samaira’s gaze shifted towards Reyansh and Rudraksh—and for a second, even she was taken aback.
“Oh… they are really handsome,” she murmured, slightly impressed. “Who are they?”
“They’re toppers,” Sneha replied casually. “And they’re never interested in any girl.”
Samaira smirked again, confidence returning stronger than before.
“Oh, that’s interesting… both are hot. Now I’m confused—kiske paas jaun?”
(Which one should I approach?)
Sneha laughed.
“Kisi ek ko impress karke dikha do… ya dono ko.”
(Try impressing at least one… or both.)
Samaira straightened her posture, her expression turning determined.
“Okay… now just wait and watch,” she said confidently.
And without wasting another second… she started walking towards them.
Reyansh and Rudraksh were still busy in their discussion when suddenly a voice interrupted them.
“Hi, I’m Samaira Khanna.”
Both of them looked up at the same time.
For a brief second, they exchanged a glance… then looked back at her.
“Hi,” they both replied, almost in sync, their tone neutral.
Samaira tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, trying to maintain her charm.
“Actually, I’m a new student… can you help me with the syllabus? Like, which topics are included and all?”
Reyansh and Rudraksh again looked at each other.
A silent conversation passed between them.
Then—
“Uh… I’m actually busy right now. Reyansh, can you help her?” Rudraksh said quickly, shifting the responsibility.
Reyansh immediately looked at him.
“What? I’m not— I mean, I can’t actually… mujhe ek important kaam hai. Rudraksh, you should help her,” he said, trying to pass it back.
Rudraksh frowned.
“Kya kaam hai tujhe? Abhi toh free tha. Help kar de na,” he said.
(What work do you even have? You were free just now. Just help her.)
“Tu bhi free hai… tu help kar de,” Reyansh replied instantly.
(You’re free too… you help her.)
Samaira stood there, watching them pass the responsibility like a game, her smile slowly fading.
Just then—
Aaditya walked towards them, having observed the entire situation from a distance. Without thinking twice, he stepped in.
“Main help karu?” he said casually.
(Should I help?)
Samaira looked at him and paused for a moment.
He was handsome too.
“Not a bad choice…” she thought to herself.
“Yes, of course,” she said with a small smile.
Aaditya nodded slightly, then said in a completely straight tone—
“University ki site kholo, search karo aur wahan check kar lo. Ya yahan tumne hume service pe rakha hai jo hum apna kaam chhod ke tumhari help karein?”
(Open the university website, search it, and check there. Or have you hired us here as your personal service that we should leave our work and help you?)
Samaira blinked, clearly not expecting that.
“What?” she said, confused.
Aaditya raised an eyebrow.
“Kaano mein problem hai kya? Sunai nahi diya?”
(Do you have a problem with your ears? Didn’t you hear me?)
There was an awkward silence.
Without saying another word, Samaira turned and walked away, her confidence slightly shaken.
As soon as she left, Aaditya turned towards Reyansh and Rudraksh, clearly annoyed.
“Tum dono seedha mana nahi kar sakte the kya? Passing the parcel kyu khel rahe the? Bache ho kya?”
(Couldn’t you both just refuse directly? Why were you playing passing the parcel? Are you kids?)
He continued, not giving them a chance to speak—
“Seedha bol nahi sakte the? Ek dusre pe baat daal rahe the jaise muh mein shabd atak gaye ho!”
(Couldn’t you just say no? You were pushing it onto each other like you forgot how to speak!)
Reyansh immediately pointed at Rudraksh.
“Isne start kiya tha…”
(He started it…)
Rudraksh frowned.
“Haan toh tu bhi mana kar sakta tha. Mujhe laga tu mana kar dega,” he said defensively.
(So? You could’ve refused too. I thought you would do it.)
Aaditya looked at both of them, completely done.
“Tum dono thode pagal ho kya? Ek ‘no’ nahi bol pa rahe the? Muh mein zubaan nahi hai?”
(Are you both crazy? You couldn’t even say one ‘no’? Don’t you have a tongue?)
Rudraksh sighed.
“Achha theek hai… aage se mana kar dunga,” he said.
(Fine… next time I’ll refuse.)
Reyansh silently nodded in agreement.
Aaditya shook his head dramatically.
“Pagal ho tum dono. Ladkiyon se zyada tumhe self-defense sikhne ki zarurat hai… warna koi aisi ladki aayegi jo tum dono ki izzat loot ke chali jayegi.”
(You both are crazy. More than girls, you need self-defense training… otherwise someday a girl will come and steal your dignity and leave.)
“What?! Kya bakwaas kar raha hai?” Rudraksh said, shocked.
Aaditya laughed.
“I was joking, seriously… kya ho tum log!”
(I was joking, seriously… what are you guys!)
The tension broke instantly.
And soon, the three of them went back to their casual conversation—talking, laughing, and eventually shifting back to discussing studies like nothing had happened.
But somewhere…
A small incident had already stirred something new in the story.
The soft golden hue of the evening sun spread across the campus garden, giving everything a calm yet lively glow. Classes had just ended, and students were scattered around—some relaxing, some laughing, some simply enjoying the breeze after a long day.
In one corner of the garden, Reyansh, Rudraksh, and Aaditya stood together, engaged in their usual conversation. Their discussion shifted between studies and random topics, their expressions calm yet occasionally breaking into small smiles.
A little distance away, Kiara and Nikhil were also talking among themselves, their tone light and comfortable.
On the other side, the freshers’ group was in their own chaos.
Yuvraj and Ishika were arguing over something completely pointless, their voices filled with mock anger, while Aarohi sat beside them, casually scrolling through her phone, occasionally reacting to their fight with a bored expression. Tanvi, however, sat quietly, her presence soft, her eyes observing everyone—comfortable in their company, yet silent in her own way.
Their bond was visible… effortless… real.
Suddenly—
“Rudraksh!”
A feminine voice broke through the air.
Everyone’s attention shifted.
A girl stood there, smiling brightly, her eyes fixed on Rudraksh as she slowly walked towards them.
“Aarohi…” a faint whisper escaped her lips, almost like a reaction she didn’t intend to show.
“Diksha,” Aarohi muttered under her breath, her expression instantly changing.
Yuvraj and Ishika stopped their argument mid-way. Kiara and Nikhil looked towards the girl with curiosity, while Aaditya and Reyansh exchanged confused glances.
Rudraksh, however, had already stepped forward.
“Diksha?” he said, surprised.
Before anyone could react further, Diksha walked up to him and hugged him warmly.
At that exact moment—
Tanvi’s expression changed.
Her face went still… blank.
Inside, something felt… uneasy.
A strange discomfort spread through her chest, her fingers slightly tightening as she looked at them. Her face turned a little pale, though she didn’t say a word.
“Kaise ho, Rudraksh?” Diksha said, pulling back slightly, her tone cheerful.
(How are you, Rudraksh?)
“I’m good… how are you?” Rudraksh replied with a small smile.
“I’m good! You know, I just got admission in this college… in BBA,” she said excitedly.
“Oh, that’s great,” Rudraksh nodded. “Aaru, Ishu, Yuvi—Diksha will also be joining your class.
Diksha turned towards them with a bright smile.
“Hi, Aaru… Yuvi… Ishu… kaise ho tum sab?”
(Hi, Aaru, Yuvi, Ishu… how are you all?)
“And hi, Nikhil,” she added.
“Hi…” they all replied, though their tone lacked warmth.
Rudraksh then gestured towards the others.
“Diksha, meet them—Reyansh and Aaditya, my classmates… Kiara, Reyansh’s sister… Nikhil’s classmate… and she is Tanvi, she’s also in your class.”
“Hi, everyone,” Diksha said politely.
“Hi,” Reyansh, Aaditya, and Kiara replied.
But Tanvi…
She remained silent.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. It was as if her voice got stuck somewhere in her throat.
Rudraksh continued casually,
“She’s Diksha… my childhood friend. She was in the same class as Yuvi, Ishu, and Aaru. She’s my best friend… actually, my first friend after Nikhil.”
As he spoke, Aarohi’s expression subtly changed—her face losing color slightly.
“Yeh yahan bhi aa gayi…” she muttered under her breath.
(She came here too…)
Yuvraj and Ishika exchanged looks. Clearly, they weren’t happy with her presence either.
Diksha, however, seemed completely unaware.
“Aaru! Kitne dino baad mil rahe hain… kaisi ho tum?”
(Aaru! After so many days… how are you?) she said, walking towards Aarohi and holding her hand.
“Haan… theek hoon,” Aarohi replied shortly.
“You know, my friends are also in this college and same course. Hum log kal se properly join karenge. Tum logon ka section kaunsa hai?”
(We’ll be joining from tomorrow. Which section are you guys in?)
“Section A,” Yuvraj replied.
“Oh wow! Mera bhi same section hai… that’s amazing, guys! We’ll be together. Maza aayega,” Diksha said excitedly.
“Yeah… of course,” Ishika replied, forcing a casual tone.
“Okay guys, I should leave now. Main form submit karwane aayi thi. Kal milte hain,” Diksha said with a smile and walked away.
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Something had shifted.
After some time, Aarohi was sitting alone on a garden bench, lost in her thoughts. Her phone lay forgotten in her hand, her expression distant.
Yuvraj, Ishika, and Tanvi walked towards her and sat beside her.
“Aaru, tere chehre ka rang kyu uda hua hai?” Ishika asked, concerned.
(Why does your face look so pale?)
Aarohi sighed heavily.
“Yaar… woh chudail yahan bhi aa gayi. KG se mere peeche padi hui hai. Maine socha tha college aake picha chhoot jayega… but yahan bhi aa gayi,” she said in frustration.
(That witch is here too. She’s been after me since KG. I thought I’d finally be free in college… but she followed me here too.)
Tanvi looked at her, confused.
“But problem kya hai? Why don’t you like her? Your brother seems to like her… she’s his best friend,” she said softly.
Yuvraj sighed.
“Cutie pie… tum nahi jaanti,” he said seriously.
(You don’t know.)
He leaned back slightly and continued in a long breath,
“Diksha Rudraksh bhaiya ki best friend hai, but she always behaved differently with Aaru. School time se hi… jab hum first time school gaye the, woh bhi humari classmate thi. Tab se hi woh Aaru ko target karti thi—usko ‘fat’ bolna, uska mazaak udana… aur apne friends ke saath
milke usse bully karna uski aadat thi.”
(Diksha is Rudraksh bhaiya’s best friend, but she always bullied Aarohi. Since school… she used to call her fat, make fun of her, and bully her with her group.)
He continued, his tone slightly serious now,
“Tumhe pata hai, Ishika aur Nikhil bhaiya hamare Ajmer wale village mein neighbours the. Jab hum fifth standard mein yahan shift hue, Ishika ne bhi same school join kiya. Tab se woh Aaru ke saath khadi rahi… aur Rudraksh bhaiya bhi usse protect karte the.”
(Ishika and Nikhil were our neighbors in Ajmer. When we shifted here, she joined our school and started protecting Aarohi along with Rudraksh bhaiya.)
Ishika added,
“Diksha bahar se hamesha sweet banne ki acting karti thi… but actually, she only wanted Rudraksh bhaiya’s attention. Uska circle bhi achha nahi tha.”
(She always acted sweet, but she only wanted Rudraksh’s attention. Even her friend circle wasn’t good.)
Aarohi hugged her knees slightly, her voice filled with worry,
“Mujhe toh dar lagta hai… kahin bhaiya aur us Diksha ke beech kuch ho gaya toh? I mean, bhaiya normally girls se door rehte hain… but uske saath unka bond alag hai. Even my family likes her… kahin woh meri bhabhi ban gayi toh?”
(I’m scared… what if something happens between bhaiya and Diksha? He stays away from girls, but with her it’s different… what if she becomes my sister-in-law?)
The moment those words left her mouth—
Tanvi’s heart skipped a beat.
A strange, sharp feeling rose inside her chest.
Her fingers tightened slightly… her face turning pale again.
Something about that thought… didn’t sit right with her.
“Aaru, don’t overthink. Bhaiya doesn’t like her that way,” Yuvraj said firmly.
“Yeah… but maybe in future he might,” Ishika added casually.
“Shut up, both of you!” Yuvraj snapped lightly.
“Main bhaiya ke liye apni pasand ki ladki launga. Diksha bilkul suit nahi karti unke saath… main apni cutie pie jaisi ladki dhoond ke launga.”
(I’ll find a girl for bhaiya myself. Diksha doesn’t suit him… I’ll find someone like my cutie pie.)
“Haaan! Mujhe bhi bilkul aisi cute, innocent, pyari si bhabhi chahiye,” Aarohi added, smiling slightly.
At that exact moment—
Tanvi froze.
Her expression went blank.
Her face slightly pale… her eyes confused.
A strange awkwardness settled inside her.
“Relax baby, hum teri shaadi nahi karwa rahe bhaiya se… jo itna tension le rahi hai,” Ishika teased.
(Relax, we’re not marrying you to bhaiya… why are you getting so tense?)
“Nahi… woh main…” Tanvi stammered, unable to complete her sentence.
“Arey cutie pie, I was joking… don’t feel uneasy,” Yuvraj said softly, noticing her discomfort.
Slowly, the tension melted.
Their conversation shifted again—jokes, teasing, laughter filling the air once more.
And just like that…
Another college day came to an end.
But beneath the laughter…
Some feelings had quietly begun to grow.
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