"सितारों से भरी हुई रातें पसंद है,
दूर से उनको देखना पसंद है।"
✿✿✿✿
Kiara and her group were walking toward their dorm.
"Yarr agar Jana hi ek month baad hai, toh pehle hi kyu bata diya teachers ne? Now I won't be able to focus on studying because of the excitement," Kiara complained, making a disappointed face.
"You never really topped the class anyway," Yuvan retorted with a laugh.
"Shut up!" she shot back.
"Okay, okay, guys, let's go to the library for study," Vani exclaimed.
"Good idea! We won't be able to concentrate if we stay in the dorm anyway," Yuvan agreed.
"Hmm, I need to make some notes too. Let's go," Trisha added.
"At least take some rest! I'm exhausted," Kiara said, leaning on Trisha.
"Don't you want to top the exams? Come on," Vani teased, and she and Yuvan dragged Kiara toward the library.
As they walked, Trisha handed Kiara her book and gave her bag to Vani to hold before heading to the washroom. Vani hugged Trisha's bag while carrying her own on her back, walking ahead with Yuvan as they chatted. Kiara followed behind, lost in her own thoughts, unaware that Aarav and his group were also walking toward the library behind her.
Neither she nor Aarav noticed each other-he was engrossed in a conversation with Vedant, while she was absorbed in her own world. But Neil noticed her, and an idea sparked in his mind. As Aarav reached beside Kiara, still focused on Vedant, Neil suddenly stepped between them, causing Aarav to stumble and bump into Kiara. Her book fell to the ground, and a few raindrops splattered onto its pages.
Neil exchanged a knowing look with the rest of the group and walked ahead, leaving Aarav and Kiara behind.
"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't do it intentionally. I have no idea how that happened," Aarav apologized repeatedly, concern evident on his face.
"No... no, it's okay," Kiara replied softly, though she was a little confused about how he had suddenly appeared beside her. She hadn't expected to see him here.
"Are you okay?" he asked, still looking concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine," she reassured him and bent down to pick up her book. "It's just a little wet," she added absentmindedly.
"What?" Aarav asked, frowning.
Her eyes widened as she realized how that sounded. She quickly corrected herself. "I-I mean my book... yeah, my book got a little wet from the rain," she said, holding it up for him to see.
He simply nodded in response.
"Trisha is waiting for me. I should go," she said hurriedly before dashing off, feeling utterly embarrassed.
"Idiot, fool, why do you say such nonsense? What will he think of you now?" she muttered to herself as she walked away.
What she didn't realize was that Aarav was behind her and heard every word. Amused, he smiled to himself as he walked a short distance behind her.
Inside the library, the golden glow of the lights illuminated the freshly polished wooden furniture. The scent of books filled the air, their spines neatly aligned on shelves. Only a handful of students were present-some deeply engrossed in their studies, while others whispered quietly among themselves.
Everyone settled into their respective spots, diving into their books. Yuvan was helping Kiara with a question, but even he didn't know the answer. Frustrated, he got up and walked over to Aarav, who was sitting with Neil and the others.
"Bhai, can you explain this question to me?" Yuvan asked, showing him the page.
Aarav, always ready to help when it came to studies, smiled and nodded.
"Kiara, come here," Yuvan called her over to join them.
But she refused. "I can see from here," she insisted.
Meanwhile, Aarav focused on solving the problem, scribbling in the notebook. Yuvan, eager to understand, leaned in attentively.
For a brief second, Aarav flickered his gaze toward Kiara, hoping she was paying attention to the question. But instead, she was staring at him.
Smirking slightly, he looked back at the notebook and, with a teasing tone, said, "Exam me main nahi, ye questions aayenge."
He then lifted his eyes to look at her again.
Kiara blinked twice, snapped out of her daze, and quickly looked away. But it was too late-her cheeks had already turned a faint shade of pink. Their friends, who had been watching from nearby, chuckled at the scene. Kiara's face burned even more. She mentally cursed herself for embarrassing herself again.
Meanwhile, Vani was near a bookshelf, searching for a book to take notes for the exams. She was alone in that section, as the other students were seated on the opposite side of the library. Suddenly, she felt someone's presence behind her.
A soft breath brushed against her ear, making her shiver. She clutched the book tightly, already knowing who it was.
Neil stepped closer, his hands in his pockets, and bent slightly, resting his chin on her shoulder from behind, maintaining good distance between them. His warm breath grazed the skin below her ear, sending another shiver down her spine.
"N-Neil, w..what are you doing? Someone might see us," she whispered with difficulty, her heart racing.
"Let them see. Main konsa kisi ki behan chhed Raha hu," he replied with a shrug.
Just then, another voice cut through the air.
"Kisi ki nahi, lekin meri behan chhed Raha hai Bhai tu."
They both froze, eyes wide.
Straightening up instantly, they turned to see Vedant standing there with Rihan.
Vedant shot Neil a death glare.
Rihan, never missing a chance to tease, smirked. "Why do you look so pale, Neil?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Shut up, Rihan," Neil muttered, slightly annoyed.
"Oh, I see...Sale sahab ko dekh ke, okay samjh gaya," Rihan continued teasing.
Vani turned as red as a tomato.
"Rihan, I swear, I'll break your face," Neil threatened before turning to Vedant. "Aur main teri behan nahi chhed raha. I was just spending a few moments of love with my girlfriend," he stated casually, running a hand through his hair.
Vani wanted nothing more than to disappear. How could he say that so casually in front of her brother?
"Stay away from my sister. You're always glued to her. Stay within your limits," Vedant warned.
"I know my limits. And don't be jealous just because you don't have a girlfriend," Neil shot back with a mock-hurt expression.
Vani silently slipped away, not daring to glance at them, too flustered by the situation.
"You ruined my moment," Neil muttered, glaring at Vedant before walking off to follow Vani.
Vedant shook his head. "Kya hai ye?" he sighed.
"Your future jija ji." Rihan teased.
"Who knows what will happen in the future? Maybe he just has a crush on her," Vedant said, voicing his concern. If it was just a passing attraction for Neil, then Vani would end up hurt.
"You really think he waited four years for her just because of a crush? Have you ever seen him do anything that made her uncomfortable or that seemed wrong? No, right? His efforts to make her smile. He really loves her," Rihan said with a knowing smile.
Vedant let out a deep breath, nodding slowly. Rihan was right. Neil truly loved her. He had waited patiently for years, never pressuring her for an answer. Her comfort had always been his priority.
"Tujhe bada pata hai ye pyaar-mohabbat ke baare mein," Vedant said, placing his hand on Rihan's shoulder.
Rihan didn't say anything-just smiled lightly. Not a true or genuine smile, but one that held something only a person who truly wanted to read him, to listen to him, to understand his unspoken words, could decipher.
Vedant spoke with sincerity. "I really wish you find someone who stands by your side, through your highs and lows. Someone who loves you the way you deserve."
He knew Rihan well. He could be mischievous at times, but beyond that, he had built a shell around himself-one he rarely let anyone see through. He never wanted others to notice his sorrows, yet for everyone else, he was always there, no matter the situation.
"Bas bas, ab rulayega kya?" Rihan teased, wiping away fake tears before reaching for Vedant's tie to playfully wipe his nose on it.
"Hatt!" Vedant immediately jerked back, straightening his tie. "Badtameez."
Rihan chuckled, and the two walked away together.
Trisha sat beside Yuvan, who hadn't looked at her even once. His eyes remained glued to his book. She wanted to apologize for what had happened in the morning.
She poked his shoulder with her index finger. No reaction.
She shifted closer and poked him again. Still no response.
She poked him once, twice, thrice-until finally, he lifted his eyes and raised an eyebrow in question.
"Sorry," Trisha said, pouting slightly, her eyes big and pleading.
For a moment, Yuvan forgot why he was even angry with her. His lips twitched in the faintest smile as he took in her face-the soft doe eyes, her ponytail, and a few loose strands framing her face. For the first time, he noticed a tiny, light mole on her jaw. He found it beautiful. He realized that, for the first time, he was really looking at her this closely.
"Khoobsurat hoon na?" Trisha asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she met his gaze.
"Bohot," Yuvan murmured absentmindedly.
For a second, Trisha's playful expression faltered. "Kya?" she asked.
Yuvan blinked twice, cleared his throat, and quickly looked away. "Kuch nahi. Baat nahi karta main tumse," he muttered, refocusing on his book. His ears turned slightly red.
"Kaan kyu laal hai tumhare?"
"A...aise hi." He stammered for the first time in front of her.
"Sach me baat nahi karoge?" She asked and he shook his head.
"Maine sorry bola na? Please. Aur tumne bhi toh mujhe 'kutti' bola tha," Trisha reminded him, a hint of hurt in her voice.
He sighed and turned to face her. "Okay, I'm sorry too... kutti kehne ke liye," he admitted, still staring at his book. "Mujhe tumhe wo nahi bolna chahiye tha." He regretted it. He had warned her not to provoke him into saying something he'd later wish he hadn't.
"It's okay! Dono ne galti ki, dono ne sorry bol diya," Trisha said cheerfully, leaning forward.
Yuvan hummed in agreement.
"Bhai, chalo, mujhe bhookh lagi hai," Kiara called out.
And with that, they made their way toward the school mess.
✿✿✿✿
On the other side, Disha sat with her so-called friends-people who stayed with her only for their own benefit. After all, she was the daughter of the school principal. They followed her every word blindly, like puppets. Seated at a distance from the group, they ate their food, but their minds were elsewhere.
"Disha, we have to do something. I saw them together yesterday. He was smiling at her," one of her friends spoke, making Disha shift her gaze toward the group-completely unaware that someone was plotting to break their bond.
"Aren't they getting too close? How can anyone become so familiar with each other in such a short time?" another friend added.
"Hmm... you're right. Aarav and the others never laughed and talked like that with you the way they do with her," another voice chimed in, fueling the growing resentment.
It was true. In just a few months, Kiara and the others had formed a strong bond, as if they had known each other for years. But someone was jealous-of their friendship or, perhaps, just of Kiara.
"I know girls like her," Disha sneered, pointing at Kiara. "She knows exactly how to get a boy's attention," she added, her tone laced with sheer anger. "Just wait and watch. I'm waiting for the right time."
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing much. Just keep watching," she said with a smirk.
As the group made their way toward the dormitories, Kiara's eyes suddenly caught a tiny creature scuttling near Yuvan's feet.
"A cockroach!" she exclaimed, though she wasn't afraid. "Move back, or you'll step on it!" She pushed Yuvan, making him stumble.
"You could've just told me instead of shoving me," Yuvan said, regaining his balance. He glanced at the cockroach. "Oh, Trisha, what are you doing here?" he teased, crouching down.
Before he could react, Trisha, standing behind him, playfully kicked him, making him fall to the ground.
"Laat kyu Marti ho yar?" he groaned, rubbing his knee.
"Chidhate zaroori hai humesha?" she shot back, hands on her waist.
"Yes."
"Then every time you tease me, I'll kick, punch, and even break your face if needed," she declared.
"Shut up, guys. Let's go. Jab dekho ladte rehte ho," Vedant scolded them and walked ahead with the others. Yuvan got up, dusting himself off, and glared at Trisha before heading toward the dorm.
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As the night deepened, inside the boys' dormitory, Aarav sat at his study table, lost in his books. An idea flickered in his mind. Without hesitation, he pulled out a scrapbook from his bag, tore a red page, and began folding it. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get it right. Frustrated, he sighed and tossed the crumpled paper into the bin.
His gaze drifted to the window, where the night sky stretched endlessly, glimmering with stars after the rain. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he thought of Kiara-especially the way she cursed herself whenever she embarrassed herself.
An invisible thread had already tied them together, and now, he felt its pull.
Resting his chin on his palm, he let the cool night breeze brush against his face, ruffling the strands of hair resting on his forehead. He stood up, walked to the window, and stared at the moon.
And in a whisper, he spoke to the moon.
"Usse kaho ki tumhari tarah na dikha kare, dil bewajah dhadakne lagta hai."
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How was the chapter?
I don't think I will be able to update now. Because I have exams from 1st April to 7th April. The update will come only after the 7th. I hope you will understand. Ily🌷
Don't forget to vote and comment.
Sorry for the mistakes.
Bye.🎀 Take care of yourself.
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