"उसे भी कुछ महसूस हुआ, कुछ अच्छा,
वो भी मेरी तरह उलझनों में पड़ा, एक प्यारी उलझन में,
कहीं ये किसी हसीन लम्हों की शुरुआत तो नहीं?"

✿✿✿⁠✿

As Aarav read the letter, a faint smile unknowingly formed on his lips. He glanced at the origami crane in his hand, gently running his thumb over its folds. Confusion flickered in his eyes.

Who could have sent this?

This crane... Disha would never send something like this. She wasn't thoughtful enough for such a gesture. Then who? His gaze kept shifting between the letter and the delicate paper bird.

The words haunted him.

I've never come across someone who feels this way for me-except Disha. But I know whatever she has for me isn't love, just infatuation. When I first learned about her feelings, I tried to make her understand that I didn't feel the same way and never would. Her reaction... God, I'll never forget that.

Whoever this mystery person was, she had known him for a long time. But why was this the first time he was receiving a letter?

Then, a sudden thought struck him.

Could she be from the new batch?

Before he could dwell on it further, Neil's voice broke through his thoughts.

"She's definitely not Disha. She wouldn't be able to write something like this."

Aarav nodded in agreement.

Rihaan leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Then who is behind this?"

Neil, standing beside Aarav, suddenly widened his eyes. Vani?

But he shook his head almost instantly.

Dumbo! She's Aarav's sister. How could it be her? He mentally smacked himself for even considering it. But then another realization hit him.

What if she knows who it is? She definitely does.

"We'll find out soon enough," Neil assured them, patting Aarav's shoulder.

"Whoever she is... she's pretty romantic," Neil added with a teasing grin.

Aarav shot him a sharp glare.

Taking a deep breath, he folded the letter and tucked it into his bag.

✿✿✿✿

In the principal's office, Kiara and Yuvaan stood side by side, their names freshly declared as the new Head Girl and Head Boy of the school.

Kiara, still in shock, struggled to process what had just happened.

How did I even get selected?

She was happy, of course, but utterly bewildered. She made a mental note to tell her parents when they visited over the weekend.

'Par Maine to har question me tuke mare the.' She thought to herself.

['But I answered most of those questions randomly.']

Yuvaan, on the other hand, had a different kind of dilemma. While he was pleased with the achievement, he knew what this meant-more responsibilities.

And that was the complete opposite of his personality.

'Maine to Puri koshish ki ki har question ka galt answer du, par ye kya ho gaya?'

['How am I supposed to handle all this? I tried so hard to mess up the interview... How did this even happen?']

Their class teacher and the principal informed them that a ceremony would be held in two days to introduce them to the entire school as the new leaders.

As they stepped out of the office, Kiara turned to Yuvaan with a knowing look.

"You're not happy, are you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm happy... but dude, there's going to be so much work. Our fun days are over," Yuvaan groaned.

Kiara clapped her hands excitedly. "Come on, we'll be different! We won't be like those strict Head Boys and Girls. We'll balance it-half serious, half fun!"

"Ye pura school saalon Tak yaad rakhega hum dono ko. Ki ek Kiara aur Yuvan bhi hua krte the. Kya mast leader the wo dono. Dekhna tu."

Yuvaan couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm and nodded.

✿✿✿✿

The school hallway buzzed with chatter and laughter as students made their way to the dining hall for lunch.

Outside the mess hall, Kiara and her friends stood together, still chatting about the results.

Trisha and Vani, having just learned about Kiara and Yuvaan's selection, congratulated them excitedly.

After their little celebration, they hurried inside, taking their usual seats at the corner bench.

The dining hall was filled with murmurs of students talking and joking despite the school's rule of having meals in silence. But rules were meant to be broken-especially by students.

Kiara's eyes sparkled as she looked at her plate. "Rajma rice today! Maza ayega aj toh."

"Right, Kal karele ne meri bhook hi maar di thi," Trisha groaned, stuffing a spoonful of rice into her mouth.

Vani was about to add something when a familiar voice interrupted.

She looked up, and there he was-Neil-walking towards them with three other boys.

Neil grinned. "Mind if we join you?"

Yuvaan shook his head. "Of course not, bhaiya."

Kiara muttered under her breath "Pehle hi baith gaye to mind kya hoga."

Neil listened and shot her an angry glare, but she gave him a sweet, sly smile and rolled her eyes.

As Aarav, Vedant, and Rihaan took the empty seats, Kiara's eyes widened when she realized Aarav was sitting directly across from her.

In a swift motion, she picked up half of her rice and dumped it onto Vani's plate. Then, she grabbed Vani's salad instead.

Vani scowled at her. "What the hell?"

Kiara flashed her sweetest smile and whispered, "If he sees my full plate, sochega ki kya bhookad hai."

Vani narrowed her eyes but didn't argue. It was pointless to fight Kiara-especially when Neil was around.

Neil suddenly turned to Vani. "Didn't you say you had something to discuss with Vedant?"

Vani froze mid-bite, glaring at Neil. He smirked, flashing all his teeth at her.

'One day, I swear, I'm going to break all his teeth.' Vani thought murderously.

Vedant, her older brother, looked at her curiously. "What was it, Vani?"

"Uhh... nothing! I just meant that I'm excited to see Mom and Dad this weekend," she stammered nervously.

Vedant gave her a sceptical look but nodded.

Yuvaan suddenly realized something. "Oh! I haven't introduced you guys properly."

Pointing at Kiara, he said, "This is Kiara-my childhood friend."

At her name, Aarav's gaze shifted towards her.

Kiara, who had been silently eating and playing with a spoon, not looking at him.

Aarav raised his eyebrows. "I think the spoon is more interesting than me?"

The others chuckled, but Kiara snapped her head up, her face slightly red, and suddenly coughed. She forced a nervous smile.

Aarav's eyes caught something-her dimples, and her eyes.

'Uske labon pe muskan Aane se pehle, uski aankhein muskurai.'

Her rosy cheeks and her silky hair tied in a ponytail with baby hairs resting on her forehead.

Something in his chest tightened.

What... is this feeling?

He had seen her before, but never this closely, never this attentively.

Her big, brown doe eyes sparkled as she bit her lip nervously.

Was she anxious? Because of me?

No, that couldn't be it. Why would she be?

Aarav pushed the thought aside.

"H-Hey," Kiara mumbled, rubbing her clammy hands against her skirt.

"Hey," Aarav replied with a small nod.

Yuvaan continued the introductions, and Kiara, now composed, curiously asked, "Are you four cousins?"

Yuvaan nodded. "Yeah."

Kiara grinned. "Wow! Puri family yahi hai. Ghar par koi reh toh nahi gaya?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she bit her tongue.

The four cousins immediately turned to her with raised eyebrows.

Neil, Trisha, and Rihaan barely held back their laughter.

Kiara gulped. Oh God, what did I just say!

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

If there are any mistakes, then pardon me.

And please don't forget to vote.

Take care of yourself.