लफ़्ज़ों में छुपा लेते हैं दिल का हाल,
कभी ख़ामोशी तो कभी बयान करते सवाल।
कलम से लिखते हैं वो जो जुबां से कहना हो जाए मुहाल।

✿✿✿✿

As the girl finished her words, Kiara, who had been standing in confusion, widened her eyes. The words hit her like a ton of bricks. She felt something shift within her-a feeling she couldn't fully comprehend, or perhaps one she had always known but was too afraid to acknowledge. She shifted her gaze from Disha to Aarav, who was now sitting on the ground with his friends, drinking water from his bottle.

Yuvaan, who couldn't bear to see Kiara in any sort of pain, stepped forward. He knew she never shared her hurt or struggles with anyone, not even her family. Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, he looked at her with genuine concern.

"Kiara?" he asked softly.

Kiara blinked twice, trying to compose herself. She didn't know why she felt the way she did. She simply hummed in response and forced a smile as she turned to him. Disha, observing everything with a knowing look, walked away with a satisfied smile.

But all this didn't go unnoticed. Neil, who was sitting nearby with Aarav, Vedant, and Rihaan, nudged Aarav and motioned toward the scene.

"Aarav, look. Disha just said something to them before leaving," Neil said, tilting his head in their direction.

Aarav glanced over and saw Yuvaan saying something to Kiara, his hand resting on her shoulder, while Disha walked away. Trisha and Vani, standing nearby, exchanged irritated looks before glancing at Aarav.

Aarav frowned. "Isn't she Yuvaan's childhood friend?" Vedant asked Aarav, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know," Aarav replied, shaking his head. "Never seen her before-just heard about her."

"Chal , dekhte hai," Neil said, standing up.

As the four of them approached, Kiara noticed them from over Yuvaan's shoulder. Without a word, she stepped back and quickly left, leaving Yuvaan confused. Trisha and Vani followed her, glaring at Aarav.

"Yuvaan."

Hearing his brother's voice, Yuvaan turned around, confused. Aarav was standing there with his friends.

"What just happened? Why did they leave like that?" Aarav asked, frowning.

"And what was Disha doing here?" Vedant added, crossing his arms.

Yuvaan glanced between Aarav and Vedant, debating whether to ask the question on his mind.

He didn't care if Aarav had a girlfriend or not-it was his brother's life-but Kiara's reaction had planted doubt in his mind.

"Bhai, don't take this the wrong way, but..." Yuvaan hesitated. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Aarav frowned, clearly confused. "Why? Did Disha say something to you?"

Yuvaan nodded. Aarav sighed, his suspicion confirmed. "She told you something, didn't she?" Aarav asked, his tone sharp.

"That....bi.." Neil started to speak but quickly shut his mouth after receiving a glare from Aarav.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend. Not..... yet," Aarav clarified.

"But she says" Yuvaan pressed.

"She's our Principal's daughter. She's just like that-a psycho," Vedant said, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Obsessed with your brother for no reason. Pata ni kya smjhti jati hai khud ko".

"Why don't you say anything to her?" Yuvaan asked, concerned that Aarav might be dealing with someone so obsessive.

"What's the point? Saying something won't change anything. Bhais ke aage been bjane se kya fayda" Rihaan finally spoke up, his hands in his pockets.

Unlike Neil's energetic and mischievous nature or Vedant's mood-based seriousness, Rihaan was the quiet and thoughtful one, only speaking when necessary.

Yuvaan sighed. "Still, this needs to stop," he muttered.

✿✿✿✿

Kiara sat alone in the quiet classroom, her head resting on the desk, her gaze fixed outside the window as the cool breeze swayed the trees. Her thoughts were heavy, swirling like a storm in her mind. The sound of approaching footsteps broke her trance. Trisha and Vani entered the room, their faces a mixture of concern and determination.

Trisha sat down beside Kiara, while Vani took the seat at the desk in front, turning to face her friend. Kiara, sensing their presence, quickly straightened up, brushing her hair back and trying to appear composed, though the cloud of unease still lingered in her eyes.

"Kiara," Trisha began softly, her voice filled with warmth, "you don't need to worry so much. Maybe she's lying."

Vani chimed in, her tone firm yet reassuring. "Yeah, it's possible she made it up. I mean, we've never even seen her with Aarav before, right?"

Kiara's lips curved into a faint smile, but the weight of her thoughts kept her from responding. Instead, she just nodded, her heart too heavy to find the right words.

After a moment of silence, Kiara's voice broke through, quiet and hesitant. "But... I thought I'd confess my feelings to him."

"Then do it now," Trisha urged, leaning forward with a spark of excitement.

Kiara shook her head, doubt flickering in her eyes. "What If what she was saying is true? What if he already likes someone else?"

Vani crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "I don't think that's true, Kiara. You've liked him for so long, and you'd regret not saying anything. It's better to try than to let fear hold you back."

Trisha nodded in agreement, her voice turning playful to lighten the mood. "But how are you going to tell him? Just walk up to him and say, 'Hey, Aarav, I love you'? Or are you planning something dramatic?"

Kiara smiled faintly, her cheeks flushing as she shook her head. "I... I can't just tell him. I'm too scared." She hesitated for a moment, then looked at her friends with newfound determination. "But... the letter will."

Vani raised an eyebrow. "The letter?"

Kiara nodded a small spark of hope lighting up her face. "I'll write him a letter. That way, he'll know someone loves him... admires him from afar. But he won't know it's me. I just... I don't want to face him if he doesn't feel the same way."

Trisha sighed, placing a comforting hand on Kiara's shoulder. "Kiara, you're overthinking. Agr wo bhi same feel krta ho tere liye? You'll never know unless you take the chance."

Kiara looked down at her hands, fidgeting nervously. Her friends' encouragement tugged at her heart, but the fear of rejection loomed larger. After a moment, she whispered, "But what if he doesn't like me? What if I lose everything?"

Vani leaned closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Kiara, love is always a risk. But isn't it better to take the risk than spend the rest of your life wondering? You don't have to give him the letter in person. We'll help you."

Kiara's eyes softened as she looked at her friends. Their unwavering support gave her strength, though the fear still lingered.

✿✿✿✿

Kiara sat by the window in her small shared room, the pale light of the moon spilling over her as if it were her only companion. The world around her felt distant, almost silent, except for the hushed murmurs of Trisha and Vani behind her. The two of them were lying on the bed, engrossed in their conversation, careful not to disturb Kiara. And for now, they chose to give her space.

Her eyes fixed on the moon, Kiara struggled to find the right words. The blank sheet of paper on her lap seemed to taunt her, daring her to pour out the emotions she'd kept locked away for so long. Her pen hovered over the page as she thought, her heart whispering louder than her thoughts. After what felt like an eternity, the words finally began to flow.

Her hand moved gracefully across the paper, the pen weaving her feelings into sentences. The faintest smile curved her lips as her heart poured itself out, and her eyes glimmered with the hopes and dreams she dared not say aloud.

Maybe he, too, feels the same? She wondered. Maybe not now... but someday?

The cool breeze wafting in from the window played with her loose strands of hair, and she let out a soft sigh as she wrote. For that moment, it was just her, her thoughts, and the fragile hope she was putting into words. The ink on the paper felt alive, carrying the weight of emotions she had never shared with anyone.

Minutes passed. Kiara finally stopped writing and gazed at the letter in her hands. This was her first love letter-a confession of her heart-and nervousness gripped her. Her fingers trembled slightly as she folded the paper. Her thoughts raced.

How will he react?

Will he smile?

Will he be surprised?

Closing her eyes, she took a long, deep breath, trying to calm the storm within her.

Behind her, Trisha and Vani exchanged knowing glances. They had been watching her for some time now. The moment Kiara sealed the envelope, they jumped off the bed and marched toward her.

Kiara folded the letter carefully and slipped it into an envelope. Her hands trembled as she wrote Aarav's name on it.

Trisha and Vani appeared by her side as if on cue. "It's ready?" Trisha asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

Kiara nodded hesitantly. "Now what?"

"We'll make sure he gets it," Vani said confidently, taking the envelope from her.

"Kholna mat", Kiara requested.

"Itni to akal hai hum me, aur Hume dekhna bhi nahi hai tune kya likha hai. Cringe hi hoga", Vani said, making faces.

"Shut up, tu cringe", Kiara said angrily.

"Arey, bas. So jao abhi kal ye mission pura krna hai", Trisha points at the envelope in Vani's hand.

Kiara's heart raced as her friends reassured her. Deep down, she knew this letter would change things, for better or worse. But for now, all she could do was hope.

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

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