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hank you cuties for 100+ Reads.🌷✨

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"आंखों से आंखें ऐसे मिली की कुछ बस में ना था,
एक को सब महसूस हो रहा था, और दूसरा बिलकुल अनजान था।"

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The classroom buzzed with quiet murmurs and the occasional giggle as students settled into their seats. It was the first day of the new session for the 'PCMB 11th B' batch. Excitement lingered in the air as the old students, relaxed and comfortable, greeted one another with familiarity. Meanwhile, the new ones fidgeted nervously, apprehensive about their teachers-wondering if they'd be strict or approachable.

Kiara and Trisha were comfortably perched on the last bench, sharing whispers and laughs. Yuvaan sat on the second-last bench and turned towards them with a mix of mild curiosity and boredom. Trisha leaned in closer, her eyes widening as she listened intently to Kiara, who animatedly spoke about her newfound feelings.

"You won't believe it," Kiara began, her honey-brown eyes glowing with excitement. "I first saw him in one of Yuvaan's Instagram posts. Bas tab se kuch alag sa lagne laga..." She placed her hand on her stomach dramatically.

Trisha gasped softly, clasping her hands. "Acha?! Pehli nazar ka chakkar lagta hai!"

Kiara chuckled, brushed her hair behind her ear, and lowered her voice further. "Aur kal... kal main sapne mein bhi usse dekhi thi."

Hearing this, Yuvaan scrunched his nose in annoyance. "Tum dono yeh ladkiyon wale talks kahin aur le jao," he muttered, shaking his head.

Before the girls could retort, someone tapped Yuvaan's shoulder. He looked up to find a cheerful girl smiling at him. "Hey, Yuvaan!" she said brightly.

"Oh, hey Vaani," Yuvaan replied, smiling back.

The girls immediately exchanged knowing glances, raising their eyebrows suggestively. Yuvaan noticed and rolled his eyes. "Cousin hai meri!" he clarified with an exasperated tone.

Trisha's and Kiara's lips formed an exaggerated 'O' shape. "Ohhh!"

"Vaani, ye Kiara hai aur ye Trisha," Yuvaan introduced.

"Hi, I'm Vaani Rajput," she said, extending her hand to both girls. Kiara and Trisha shook her hand politely, suppressing giggles.

"Can I sit here?" Vaani asked, pointing to the seat beside Yuvaan.

"Yeah, sure," he said, sliding his bag aside to make space.

The chatter came to an abrupt halt as the teacher entered the room with a tall, confident boy in tow. Her presence commanded attention. "Good morning, class. I am Shreya Mishra, your new class in charge," she announced with authority.

Kiara froze the moment her eyes landed on the boy standing beside Ms Mishra. Trisha, sensing her reaction, nudged her teasingly, whispering, "Hmnn hmnn."

The teacher continued, "This year, the school will select a new Head Girl and Head Boy from this session. If anyone is interested, give your names to the senior and head boy , who is assisting us today." She gestured toward the boy with ocean-blue eyes-Aarav. He held a notebook and pen, scanning the room for volunteers.

Kiara's heart raced uncontrollably as Aarav's gaze swept the room. He finally spotted Yuvaan and smirked knowingly, raising his eyebrows. Yuvaan huffed, already understanding what his brother had done. "Mera naam toh likh hi diya hoga," he muttered under his breath.

Trisha leaned toward Kiara. "Tu bhi apna naam likhwa de na!" she whispered excitedly.

Kiara quickly shook her head, her nervousness evident. "Pagal hai kya? Mujhse nahi hoga."

Trisha grinned mischievously. "Arre, soch! Agar select ho gayi toh school mein tera naam hoga. Aur kya pata Aarav bhaiya tujhe notice bhi karne lage!"

Kiara bit her lip, unsure. Her mind whirled with thoughts of being noticed by Aarav, of proving something to herself. She hesitated for a long moment before finally raising her hand.

Aarav's piercing blue eyes locked onto hers, and in that instant, her breath hitched. Her surroundings blurred, the noise of the classroom faded, and all she could hear was the wild thumping of her heart.

As he approached, the sunlight streaming in through the window highlighted his sharp features, making him look almost ethereal. Kiara couldn't help but admire him-he was even more handsome than the picture she had seen on Instagram.

Trisha nudged her again. "Saans lele, varna behosh ho jayegi."

But Kiara barely registered her friend's teasing. She was captivated, unable to look away from the boy who had unknowingly become the centre of her universe.

As he stood beside her desk, Kiara's heart raced wildly, as if she had just finished a marathon. Her breaths came in uneven, shallow bursts, and her palms turned clammy. She tried to steady herself, but nothing seemed to help.

Yuvaan noticed her condition and frowned. This was the first time he'd seen her like this-nervous or something else.

He crossed his arms and leaned slightly closer, his frowned expression replaced with concern.
"What's wrong with her? She's never behaved like this," he thought to himself.

And then, another thought hit him like a jolt. "I know my brother is her crush. What if Aarav doesn't acknowledge her feelings? What if her heart breaks? No, no. I teased her about him sometimes, but I never thought... Is this more than just a crush? Does she actually-"

Yuvaan's thoughts came to an abrupt halt as Aarav's calm yet commanding voice broke the silence.

"Name?" Aarav asked, placing a notebook on Kiara's desk. He bent slightly, pen poised, waiting for her response.

Kiara's breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, utterly lost in those deep blue eyes that glimmered like the ocean under sunlight. The way his lashes framed his eyes only added to the magnetism. Aarav, noticing her silence, raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to respond.

Her friends, Trisha and Yuvaan, exchanged knowing looks. Yuvaan, cleared his throat.

That sound brought Kiara crashing back to reality. Flustered, her cheeks turned crimson as if a thousand thoughts were burning through her. She quickly lowered her gaze and cleared her throat, trying to regain composure.

"K-Kiara," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aarav, unfazed, tilted his head slightly and nodded. With his perfect handwriting, he wrote her name in the notebook. His calm demeanour sent another ripple through Kiara's already chaotic mind.

'अभी तो उसने तेरा नाम सिर्फ कोरे कागज़ पर लिखा है, तभी तेरा ये हाल है।
तो सोच जब दिल पर लिख लेगा, तो तेरी क्या हालत होगी?'

After noting her name, Aarav glanced at the others. "And you two?" he asked Trisha and Vani.

"No, Bhaiya," they replied in unison, shaking their heads.

Aarav gave a brief nod, straightened up, and left the classroom, without a second glance.

As soon as he exited, the teacher resumed her lecture, but Kiara heard none of it. Her mind replayed every second of the brief interaction. The way he looked at her, the way her name rolled off his pen-it was too much to process. She rested her head in her hands, her thoughts a mess.

Trisha leaned closer and whispered with a teasing grin,

"So, Kiara, are you going to tell him, or do I need to spell it out for you?"

"Trisha!" she hissed, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.

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During the free period, the library was filled with the quiet hum of activity. Trisha, Kiara, and Vani sat together at a corner table, while Yuvaan, surrounded by his group of friends, was busy laughing and cracking jokes across the room.

"Kiara, just do it already. How long will you keep hiding it?" Trisha leaned closer, her voice firm yet encouraging.

Vani, who had just been let in on Kiara's secret, looked stunned. "Wait, are you serious? Aarav Bhaiya? And nobody thought to tell me this sooner?"

For Vani, Aarav wasn't just a senior; he was practically family. She considered both Aarav and Yuvaan her brothers, just like Vedant. The idea that someone secretly harboured feelings for her "brother" left her momentarily speechless.

"Bas behan, wo bas like krti hai. Shaadi nahi rakh di hai". Trisha said to Vani.

"Come on, Kiara," Trisha pressed on. "Tell him before it's too late. What if someone else catches his attention?"

But Kiara only shook her head, nervousness evident in her eyes. "I want to... I really do, but... how?"

'In person? No way. I'd freeze on the spot. Maybe... maybe through a letter?' she thought.

Her thoughts spiralled as she rested her head on the table, trying to calm the storm in her mind. The bell rang, announcing the start of lunch break, and the three girls headed toward the mess, Yuvaan joining them midway.

As they passed the basketball court, Kiara's steps faltered. There he was-Aarav. He was playing with his friends, his blazer discarded, his shirt slightly untucked, revealing his carefree side. Kiara's gaze locked onto him, her heart pounding.

Kiara froze, unable to tear her gaze away. She admired the way he moved with ease, the faint smile playing on his lips as he called out instructions to his teammates. Her heart raced as her thoughts turned chaotic.

'Does he even notice me?'

'What if he already likes someone else?'

The last thought struck her like a knife. Would she be able to watch him with someone else?

The answer frightened her. But no matter the outcome, she knew she had to tell him.

For her, love wasn't something you forced on someone. If he didn't feel the same, she would respect his decision and let him go, even if it broke her heart.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice someone walking toward her. A presence loomed closer until a sharp tap on her shoulder pulled her back to reality. Startled, she turned, as did her friends.

Standing before them was a girl, her piercing gaze cutting right through Kiara. Her narrowed eyes held a mix of suspicion and authority.

Kiara blinked, confused. "Yes?" she asked cautiously.

The girl crossed her arms, her voice dripping with accusation. "Why were you staring at him?" She gestured toward Aarav, who was still on the court, oblivious to the scene unfolding.

Before Kiara could respond, Yuvaan stepped forward, his protective instincts flaring. "And who are you to ask?" he shot back, his tone challenging.

"I'm his girlfriend. Disha."

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