The door slammed shut behind her as Vaani rushed into her room, her breath uneven, heart still racing from what had just happened.
She leaned against the door, eyes squeezed shut. Her fingers curled into fists as she tried to compose herself.
"What the hell was that?" she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair.
The entire scene replayed in her mind—Ekansh’s unwavering gaze, the way her pulse had spiked the moment their eyes met, and worst of all—her own ridiculous reaction.
The boy she had unknowingly ignored. The boy who had been sitting there silently, watching her the whole time. And the moment she realized it, she had run away. Like an idiot.
"Ughhh, Vaani! First day pe hi aisa kya kar diya tuney?" she groaned, pacing across the room.
She stopped in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her cheeks were still flushed. Her heart was still racing. Why, though?
Ekansh was just a boy. Just another student. So why was she acting like she had just embarrassed herself in front of the entire world?
She wasn’t someone who lost control like this. She had always been confident, always in charge of her own emotions. But the moment Ekansh’s eyes had locked onto hers, she had felt her carefully built walls shake.
Why?
Why was he affecting her like this?
She huffed and sat on the bed, resting her head in her hands. This is not me.
A long sigh left her lips. “I just need to forget about it. That’s all.”
"Get a grip, Vani!" she scolded herself. Taking a deep breath, she decided to shake it off.
She needed to reset.
And so, after a long shower, dressed in fresh clothes, she sat by the window, staring at the evening sky. The golden hues were slowly turning into deeper shades of orange and pink.
She inhaled deeply, feeling much calmer now.
By the time she stepped out, fresh and a little more composed, the house was quieter. She stood near the door, debating whether to go out or not.
"Sab padhai kar rahe honge... wapas jaake mujhse koi aur stupidity na ho jaaye," she mumbled, biting her lip.
But she couldn’t hide forever.
Taking a deep breath, she walked out.
What if they brought it up?
But then again, avoiding it wasn’t an option either.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out.
The study area was filled with the soft rustling of pages and the occasional murmurs of students discussing their notes.
Vihaan sat beside Ekansh, pretending to study, while Ayaan had already given up, leaning back in his chair with a bored expression. Ritvik, on the other hand, was focused, his brows furrowed as he went through his notes.
Ekansh was reading, but his mind was elsewhere.
The image of Vani, the way she had suddenly run off, kept flashing in his mind. It was unusual. She was unusual.
She looked hesitant, as if debating whether to come closer. But then, she squared her shoulders and walked towards them.
Vihaan smirked, resting his chin on his palm. “Well, look who decided to return.”
Vaani rolled her eyes but let out a small sigh. “I—uh—sorry for earlier. It was just…” she hesitated, then shrugged, “I don’t know, overwhelming, I guess.”
Vihaan’s smirk widened. “Overwhelming? Or someone made it overwhelming?”
Vaani shot him a glare. “Not everything is about that, Vihaan.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” He chuckled.
She huffed and sat down.
“So?” he nudged her playfully. “How was your first day? Apart from the running away part.”
At that, her mood lifted. "Oh my god, Vihaan, it was amazing! Tara introduced me to her friends—Kriti and Nirma, both are so dramatic, just like me! And the canteen still smells so good! And—"
She launched into an animated retelling of her day, completely immersed in her own world.
Vihaan grinned. “No punishments on the first day? Chamatkar!”
Vaani let out a small laugh. “Guess I got lucky.”
Ayaan stretched. “Okay, enough studying for one day. I’m done. Let’s go home.”
Vihaan groaned. “For once, I agree.”
They all started packing their things, getting ready to leave.
But just as they were about to step out, Vaani hesitated.
Something about the evening air, the way the sky darkened into soft purples and blues—it was too peaceful to ignore.
Without saying anything, she quietly slipped away and climbed up to the terrace.
The sky had turned into a deep shade of indigo, city lights twinkling like distant stars. The air was cooler now, carrying with it a faint scent of earth and evening flowers.
Vaani stood alone on the terrace, her arms wrapped around herself as she gazed at the view before her.
It had been a long day—too many new faces, too many emotions.
With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through her playlist. Music always had a way of grounding her, of making things clearer.
Her fingers hesitated for a moment before tapping on a song.
A soft strumming of guitar filled the air, blending perfectly with the quiet hum of the night.
Just as the song began, she looked down—and froze.
Ekansh was stepping out of the house.He looked up at that exact moment.
Their eyes met.
And the lyrics began.
"Unse mili nazar, ke mere hosh udd gaye,
Dil ko mili dagar, jo teri ore mud gaye..."
A soft breeze lifted strands of Vaani’s hair, making them dance around her face.
It was as if something invisible held them together, an unspoken connection pulling them closer even when they stood apart.
The way his gaze held hers—it wasn’t just a glance. It was something deeper. Something she couldn’t name.
Ekansh, too, felt something shift inside him. He had looked up absentmindedly, not expecting anything, and yet—there she was.
His heart pounded. He had never believed in moments—never believed in the cliché of time slowing down. But right now?
It felt real.
It was real.
"Humein kya pata tha, ke milenge aise…
Mere dil ke jahan ki, tu sabse haseen raah hai…"
The music swelled, echoing emotions too intense to ignore.
Vaani swallowed, her grip on her phone tightening. Why did it feel like the song was speaking for her?
"Jab wo mile mujhe pehli baar,
Unse ho gayi aankhein chaar..."
Vaani’s breath caught in her throat.
The music wrapped around them, as if the universe had planned this very moment.
The first time she had really seen him, in the corridor at school, flashed in her mind. The way he had looked at her, the way she had felt under his gaze—it all made sense now.
And Ekansh?
His heart pounded in his chest as he looked up at her. The girl who had stormed into his life like a whirlwind. The girl who had unknowingly shaken his entire world.
"Unki taraf dil khichne laga,
Badh ke kadam phir rukne laga..."
She wanted to go down. He wanted to move. But neither of them did.
They just... looked.
"Kanp gayi mai jaane kyun,
Apne aap dam ghoontne laga..."
Ekansh swallowed. This was dangerous. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He had never allowed himself to get distracted.
His life had always been about structure. Discipline.
He had promised himself he wouldn’t let anything come in the way.
Then why did this girl—this new girl—feel like the biggest exception to everything he had ever believed?
"Humein kya pata tha, ke milenge aise…
Mere dil ke jahan ki, tu sabse haseen raah hai…"
The music swelled, echoing emotions too intense to ignore.
Vaani swallowed,Why did it feel like the song was speaking for her?
Ekansh’s fingers twitched. A part of him wanted to take a step forward. Say something.
But he didn’t.
Because in this moment, no words were needed.
"Chhaaye wo iss kadar,
Chhaaye wo iss kadar,
Chhaaye wo iss kadar ke mere hosh udd gaye..."
Vaani didn’t know what was happening to her either.
Her entire life, she had never been the type to get flustered. She was confident, loud, dramatic. But Ekansh?
His presence was unsettling in the strangest way.
Not because he intimidated her.
But because he made her feel something new.
Something she couldn’t explain.
"Ghar mere aaya woh mehmaan,
Dil mein jagaye sau tufaan..."
Her hands gripped the railing. She wasn’t sure how long they had been staring.
The song neared its end, the last few lines lingering in the air like a whispered confession.
"Jab se mili nazar…"
Ekansh took a step forward.
Vaani’s lips parted slightly, as if to say something—
And just then—
"Ekansh!"
Ayaan’s voice snapped them out of their trance.
Ekansh blinked, turning toward the sound.
Vihaan and Ayaan had returned, standing near the gate, looking at him curiously.
Ayaan clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Bhai, chal. Late ho raha hai.”
Ekansh exhaled sharply.
He gave one last glance toward the terrace.
Vaani was still standing there, still holding onto something she didn’t understand.
So was he.
But for now, they had to leave it at that.
As the boys walked away, Vaani exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath.
Her heart was racing.
She closed her eyes for a second, letting the last lines of the song settle in her soul.
Slowly, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Vaani watched until he disappeared down the street.
And for the first time in a long time—
She wasn’t sure what to do with the emotions crashing inside her.
Maybe—just maybe—this was only the beginning.
Vaani was lost in thought, staring at nothing in particular, when the sharp chime of the doorbell snapped her back to reality.
One… two… three times it rang.
Vaani opened the door, and there stood Tara, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Sunai nahi deta kya? Kab se bell bajaa rahi hoon," she huffed, glancing at her watch.
Vani rolled her eyes. "Main watchman nahi hoon jo hamesha darwaze ke paas baithi rahungi," she retorted.
"Chalna hai ya nahi?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Kahan ja rahe ho tum dono?" Ritvik’s voice came from behind them as he stepped out of his room.
"Garden."
"Ground."
Vaani and Tara answered at the same time.
Vaani shot Tara a look and quickly added, "Hum garden ja rahe hain," because she wanted to play.
"Nahi, hum ground ja rahe hain," Tara countered, determined to get some fresh air instead.
"Kyunki mujhe khelna hai," she replied matter-of-factly.
"Hum garden nahi ja rahe. Wahan bacche khelte hain," Tara said firmly.
"Aisa kisi rulebook mein nahi likha hai. Aur haan, hum sirf 17 ke hi toh hain!" Vani argued, crossing her arms.
Tara rolled her eyes, knowing she'd win this argument.
"Theek hai, hum chal rahe hain," she finally relented.
Vani grinned and jumped in excitement.
Just as they were about to leave, Ritvik called out, "Tara!"
She turned around.
He smirked. "Khayal rakhna bacche ka." His tone was teasing.
Vani frowned. "Humare saath baccha bhi ja raha hai?" she asked, running a hand through her hair in confusion.
Tara and Ritvik exchanged a glance before saying in unison, "Haan."
And then they burst into laughter.
Vani groaned. "Oh please, I’ve grown up!"
Tara smirked, folding her arms. "Then you’re going to the garden."
Vani rolled her eyes but didn’t argue further.
---
The park was divided into two sections—one for the garden and the other for the ground.
As soon as they arrived, Tara smirked and gestured around. "Dekh, kahin jagah nahi hai khelne ke liye."
Vani pouted. "But I wanted to play, yaar."
Tara sighed. "Okay, let’s walk in the ground for a bit. We’ll check later if there’s any space."
Vani nodded, slightly disappointed.
As they strolled across the ground, Tara spotted a juice stall. A thought crossed her mind—buying juice would not only lighten Vani’s mood but would also be a good refresher for herself.
"Tu yahin ruk, main ek minute mein aati hoon," she said before heading toward the stall.
Vani stood there, kicking a small rock with her foot, when she noticed someone familiar. A smile spread across her face.
"Hi, Ahaan!" she called out, walking in his direction.
Ahaan looked up and smiled. "Hello! Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"
"Main khelne aayi thi, par jagah hi nahi mili," Vani replied with a slight pout.
Ahaan chuckled. "Would you like to have juice?" he offered.
Vani's face brightened instantly. "Yaa!" she nodded enthusiastically.
As they reached the juice stall, Tara turned, only to spot Vani.
Her eyes narrowed. "Tu yahan kyun aayi? Main aa rahi thi na?" she questioned before her gaze landed on Ahaan.
Her expression immediately changed. "Tum!" she nearly shouted.
Before things could escalate, Vani quickly clamped a hand over Tara’s mouth.
"Please, not here!" she whispered urgently.
Ahaan smirked. "Tum!" he repeated, but in a calmer tone.
They settled at a nearby table. Soon, their order arrived.
"Ma’am, aapka juice," the shopkeeper placed the glass in front of Tara.
Then, turning to Ahaan, "Aur sir, yeh aapka."
Ahaan took his glass, thanked the vendor, and turned to Vaani.
"Tu yahan roz aata ho?" she asked curiously.
"Haan. Kyunki yahan koi chai ki shop nahi hai na." he replied casually.
Tara smirked. "Jaise tum bina dimaag ke reh sakta ho."
Vaani, who had been silently enjoying their banter, suddenly clapped her hands. "Tara—1, Ahaan—0!" she announced.
Tara raised an eyebrow. "Who told you we’re playing this stupid game?"
Vani shrugged. "My life, my marzi!" she grinned.
Ahaan chuckled, shaking his head.
Then, suddenly, his expression turned serious. He stared at his juice for a moment before speaking.
"Sorry."
His voice was soft, almost hesitant.
Tara frowned. "Kis liye?"
Before Ahaan could reply, Vani looked between them in confusion. "Wait—tum kis baat ke liye sorry bol rahe ho?"
Ahaan exhaled. "Actually… subah main football khel raha tha, aur galti se Tara ko lagya football. Maine sach mein jaanbuch kar nhi kiya tha."
For the first time, his eyes held genuine guilt.
Tara studied him for a moment before looking away, her expression unreadable.
Vani's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Toh tum the vo jisne usse ball maari thi!" she exclaimed, looking at Ahaan.
Ahaan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Arrey! Sorry yaar, sach mein galti se lag gaya."
Before Vani could say anything, Tara simply shrugged. "It’s okay, koi baat nahi."
Both Ahaan and Vani stared at her in shock.
"Wahh! I’m impressed. Tune itni jaldi maaf kar diya?" Vaani asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tara sighed. "Because he looked genuinely guilty for his actions."
Before the conversation could continue, Ahaan's phone screen lit up with the name "Bhaiya." He glanced at it and stood up.
"Sorry guys, mujhe jaana hoga. Bye!" He quickly said, plating for juice on the counter before turning to leave.
"Bye!" Vani waved enthusiastically, while Tara just gave a small nod.
As they were about to leave, Vani reached into her pocket, but Tara stopped her. "Ruk, main pay kar deti hoon." She stepped toward the counter, only for the shopkeeper to shake his head.
"Madam, woh ladka already aapka bill pay kar chuka hai."
Tara blinked in surprise and instinctively turned to look for Ahaan. But he had already disappeared.
She sighed and nodded, then walked away with Vani.
As they strolled, Tara suddenly noticed that the garden was now half empty.
"Tujhe khelna tha na? Chal ab khelenge," she said.
Vani, however, shook her head. "Nahi… fir kabhi khelenge. Aaj nahi."
Tara frowned, noticing the distant look in her friend’s eyes. "Kya hua? Kahaan kho gayi?"
Vani let out a small sigh before mumbling, "ya hi Pehli baar kisi pe crush aaya hai… aur mujhe uska naam bhi nahi pata."
Kya?! Kab? Kaha? Kis par?" Tara fired off her questions like a machine gun, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Vaani quickly cut her off, holding up her hands. "Ruk ja yaar! Kahan tufaan ki tarah bhage ja rahi hai?" She shook her head dramatically. "Aur haan, aaj subah hi maine usse pehli baar dekha—school ke assembly mein. Naam toh bhool gayi." Vaani pouted, looking genuinely upset with herself.
Tara's expression turned into disbelief, then frustration. "Hum subah se itni baar mile aur tu mujhe ab bata rahi hai?!" she nearly shouted.
Vaani winced at the sudden outburst. "Arre yaar, bhool gayi thi!" she defended, scratching her head as if trying to fix her memory.
Tara crossed her arms. "Itni important baat tu kaise bhool sakti hai?"
Vaani sighed dramatically. "Yaar, mai tujhe batane waali thi, par subah tu mujhe se gussa thi. Fir recess mein Kriti aur Nirma se milne lag gaye, aur uske baad ice cream party…" She paused for effect, giving Tara an innocent, wide-eyed look. "Time hi nahi mila!"
Tara narrowed her eyes but couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at her lips. "Theek hai. Vaise hai kaun vo?"
Vaani bit her lip before sighing. "Bas yahi nahi pata."
Tara’s jaw dropped. "KYA?!"
Vaani gave her a sheepish smile. "Lekin mai tujhe kal subah school mein dikha dungi, pakka!"
Tara arched a skeptical brow. "Pakka?"
"Haan baba, pakka!" Vaani reassured.
Just as she was about to lose herself in thoughts of the him again, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Tum dono yaha kya kar rahi ho?"
They snapped out of their conversation to see Ritvik standing there, arms crossed.
Vaani smirked. "Tujhe ghar se nikalne ki planning."
Ritvik rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Vaani." Then, turning to Tara, he asked, "Kuch hua kya?"
Tara smiled. "Kuch nahi bhaiya, bas baatein kar rahe the."
Ritvik nodded.
"Theek hai, bhaiya. Bye! Kal milte hain. Good night!" Tara waved before heading toward her house.
As Vaani turned to go inside, Ritvik ruffled her hair. "Chal na nahi hai?" He smirked, giving her a light hit on the head before running towards their house.
Vaani groaned. "Bhaiya! This is not fair yrr, Tumhe toh mai dekhti hoon!" she yelled, chasing after him.
_____
Meanwhile, at the Malhotra Mansion…
Ekansh sat at his desk, staring at an open book in front of him. But his eyes weren’t on the pages. His thoughts were elsewhere.
Corridor… terrace… those eyes… that moment…
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
Suddenly, a loud voice shattered his thoughts.
"Bhaiya!"
Ekansh sighed. He already knew what was coming. Ahaan, his younger brother, was about to barge in and narrate his entire day with dramatic enthusiasm.
Sure enough, Ahaan stormed into the room and flopped onto the bed. "Bhai! Tumhe pata hai aaj kya hua?"
Ekansh smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Nahi, vo toh tu ab batayega."
Ahaan sat up excitedly. "Haan! Pata hai? Hamari class mein ek nayi ladki aayi hai… aur uska naam hai—"
Before Ahaan could finish, Ekansh murmured, "Vaani."
Ahaan froze. "Haan… wait, ek second! Aapko kaise pata?!"
Ekansh smirked, stretching lazily. "Arrey woh Ritvik ne bataya."
Before Ahaan could react, their mother’s voice rang out from downstairs.
Ekansh nodded, watching as Ahaan left. But even as he closed his book, his mind refused to let go of the one face that had refused to leave his thoughts all day.
The dining table was filled with the usual chatter. Ahaan was busy narrating his day, adding unnecessary dramatics as he spoke about his football match. Their mother occasionally scolded him for talking with his mouth full.
Ekansh, however, remained mostly quiet. He ate slowly, lost in his own thoughts, barely registering when his mother asked if he wanted more chapati.
"Ekansh?" she repeated.
"Hmm?" He looked up, blinking.
"Beta, aur roti loge?"
"Nahi, bas ho gaya," he muttered, before pushing his chair back. "Main chalta hoon."
Ahaan smirked. "Bhaiya ka mood bada filmy lag raha hai aaj."
He looked up, blinking.
Ekansh shot him a look but said nothing, heading upstairs.
Ekansh entered his room and locked the door behind him. The night was silent except for the faint rustling of leaves outside. He walked over to his bookshelf, running his fingers over the spines before pulling out his leather-bound diary.
Sitting by the window, he flipped it open to a fresh page. He exhaled deeply, his thoughts drifting back to her—the girl with the mesmerizing gaze, the unspoken connection that had left him restless all day.
Slowly, he picked up his pen and began to write.
"pehli baar kisi nazar ne itna bechain kiya,
Jaise sub kuch hai mere paas, par ek Kami si hai,
Samajh nahi aata, tu bas ek mulakat hai, ya ek nayi kahani ki suru vat hai?"
He stared at the words for a moment before closing the diary. A faint smile played on his lips. He didn’t know what this feeling was, but he wasn’t in a hurry to name it.
Setting the diary aside, he lay back on his bed, still thinking about Vaani until sleep finally claimed him.
Next morning:-
Ritvik honked the car horn twice, signaling the girls to hurry up. Vaani and Tara rushed out of their houses, sliding into the backseat.
"Kya timing hai tum dono ki," Ritvik muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Toh kya karte? Helicopter bula lete?" Tara shot back, buckling her seatbelt.
Vaani smirked. "Bhai, aaj tum itni jaldi kyu nikal jaate ho? Date-wate fix ho gayi kya?"
Ritvik scoffed. "Haan, principal ma’am ke saath hai. Aaj discipline committee ka meeting hai."
Vaani chuckled while tara dramatically gasped. "Bhai, tum toh bade serious ho gaye ho school ke rules aur meetings ko leke!"
"Bas tum dono ke faltu arguments sunne se achha, school ki meetings hi attend kar loon," Ritvik shot back with a smirk.
As the car pulled up near the school gates, Ritvik slowed down. "Chal, utro. Aur haan, Vaani, kal se jaldi utha kar, mai roz roz tujhe nhi uthane wala ,warna main tujhe roadside chhod dunga."
Tara and Vaani stepped out, adjusting their bags. As Ritvik drove off, Tara nudged Vaani. "Chal, ab mujhe voh ladka dekhna hai."
Vaani took a deep breath, glancing towards the school entrance. "Haan… chal."
Ritvik walked down the school corridor, adjusting his bag when he spotted his friends already gathered near the lockers.casually chatting.
"Lo aa gaya mahaan Ritvik," Ayaan teased as he high-fived him.
Vivaan smirked as soon as he saw Ritvik. “Aree bhai, tu phir late?”
Ritvik rolled his eyes. “Bas do din late ho gaya, aur tum log ab samajh rahe ho jaise main roz late aata hoon.”
Ayaan chuckled.
Ritvik let out a sigh. “kya batau yarr Vaani ko ready hone mein time lagta hai.”
Ekansh, who had been leaning against the lockers with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. “Warna tu toh hamesha sabse pehle school pahunchta tha. Ab kya ho gaya?” he teased.
A few feet away, Vaani tugged Tara’s sleeve, her face a mix of excitement and nervousness.
“Tara… wahi ladka!” she whispered urgently.
Tara frowned. “Kaunsa?”
Vaani subtly pointed toward Ekansh, who was standing near Ritvik and the others.
“Wahi! Headboy! Jinhe maine assembly mai dekha tha! "
Tara’s eyes widened before she let out a dramatic gasp. “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”
Vaani nodded quickly.
Tara looked at Ekansh, then back at Vaani, then back at Ekansh. she burst out laughing. "Are you serious? Yeh baat mujhe ab bata rahi hai?"
Vaani frowned. “Kya?”
Tara smirked. “Kyunki mujhe pehle bata dena chahiye tha!”
Vaani groaned. “Kyuu?”
Tara folded her arms. “Kyunki main unhe jaanti hoon.”
Vaani’s jaw dropped. “KYA?”
Tara grinned. “Haan! i know him from childhood,he is ekansh. Aur tu mujhe pehle bhi bata sakti thi na?”
Vaani gave her a helpless look. “Mujhe kya pata tha ki vohi niklenge?”
Tara rolled her eyes. “Aur tujhe unka naam tak nahi pata?”
Tara casually shrugged. “tujhe pta hai na I am monitor so ofcource unko jaanti rahungi aur beside that voh tere Bhai ke friend bhi hai.”
Vaani pouted. "Itna dimaag nhi chala! Aur kal gharpe bhi aaye the tab bhi click nhi hua,Mujhe yeh sab pehle bata dena chahiye tha!”
Tara laughed. “Aur tujhe pehle bolna chahiye tha ki tujhe ekansh bhaiya pe crush hai!”
Vaani groaned,making Tara laugh harder.
As the bell rang, everyone started heading to their respective classrooms. The morning went by in a blur until it was time for the assembly.
Students gathered in the ground, standing in neat lines as the prayer began. Vaani stood in her usual spot, but her eyes unconsciously drifted towards the front—where the head students stood.
Ekansh stood at the front, his posture straight, his expression composed. He looked completely focused on the assembly. His gaze flickered toward the students, at that moment, as if sensing her gaze…
He looked up and for a brief moment, his eyes locked with hers.
It wasn’t dramatic, no violins played in the background, but it was enough to make Vaani’s heart skip a beat.
For a second, neither of them looked away.
Ekansh felt something stir within him as he noticed her staring back. Why does she always look like she knows something I don’t?
A shy, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips.
It was small, barely there, but it happened.
And in response, Vaani’s lips curved just a little before she quickly looked away,her cheeks heating up.
Classes went on as usual—except, for Ekansh, they weren’t normal at all.
He wasn’t someone who let distractions get to him. But today?
It was happening again.
Vaani.
Her face, her expressions, that nervous yet excited look she had, that brief eye contact from the morning kept replaying in his head.
It was just a glance. But why do I remember it so clearly?
It kept flashing in his mind, and it was annoying him.
“Ekansh, focus,” he muttered under his breath during class. He shook his head, forcing himself to pay attention to the teacher.
But then, in the next period, he caught himself wondering what she was doing.
By lunch, he was beyond frustrated with himself.
Ekansh wasn’t used to this—this kind of distraction.
Meanwhile, Vaani was going through her own turmoil.
she found herself randomly thinking about him—how he looked in the assembly, the way he slightly smiled.
Tara wouldn’t shut up.
“Toh? Mere bhai kaise lage?” Tara smirked.
Vaani groaned. “Tara, please chup hojaa.”
“Arre, tujhe pata bhi hai tu kispe crush maar rahi hai?” Tara teased. “Vo ladkiyon ki taraf dekhte bhi nhi!”
Vaani frowned. “Matlab?”
“Matlab vo serious type hai. Smart, responsible, aur school kr role model. Tu pehli case ho sakti hai joh unki nazar mai aayi ho!” Tara said dramatically.
Vaani didn’t know whether to feel special or more nervous.
But she also knew Tara was right.
Ekansh wasn’t like other guys.
Time skipped to recess
As the boys lingered in the corridor, Vihaan finally broke the silence, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Vaani ke class chalein?" he asked casually, though Ritvik immediately caught the underlying excitement in his tone.
Ayaan, always up for anything remotely entertaining, perked up. "Haan, sounds good! Chal na!" he said, a little too eagerly.
Ritvik, however, just rolled his eyes. He knew exactly why these two were so eager to go—both had taken a sudden interest in visiting her class.Vihaan wasn’t missing Vaani—he was looking for an excuse to see Kriti. And Ayaan? He just found amusement in everything and probably wanted to witness some drama unfold.
Before Ritvik could call them out, Ekansh—who had been quiet until now—spoke up in his usual neutral tone.
"Waise tum dono itne excited kyun ho? Kya kaam hai?"
Ekansh had never been interested in these things, and no one had bothered to fill him in. But observing the way Vihaan was acting, he simply assumed Vihaan wanted to meet Vaani.
Vihaan, however, smirked, effortlessly avoiding suspicion. Throwing an arm around Ritvik’s shoulder, he gave a playful nudge.
"Bas yaar, miss kar raha hoon usse. Chal na, mil ke aate hain."
Ritvik just rolled his eyes. Miss kar raha hai, my foot. But he let himself get dragged along anyway.
And with that, there was no turning back.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, Vaani sat at her desk, frustration evident on her face. She was furiously completing her book while Tara and Nirma tried to help her.
"Yaar, yeh book complete hone ka naam hi nahi le rahi!" Vaani groaned, flipping a page aggressively.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted, "Toh mai kar deta hoon."
Vaani looked up, her brows furrowing as she spotted Vihaan, ekansh,vivaan and Ritvik entering the class. Without hesitation, she handed the book and pen towards Vihaan and said in an amused tone, "Bina complete kiye wapas mat dena."
Tara and Nirma burst out laughing at her response, while Vihaan dramatically held the book as if it was some sacred responsibility.
Before anyone could say anything else, another voice cut through the moment.
"What happened, boys? Did she fight with you all?"
Everyone turned toward the doorway to find Jaya standing there, arms folded across her chest, smirking. "Actually, she has a habit of that, so I wouldn’t be surprised."
Vaani’s patience, already hanging by a thread due to the book, snapped.
"And who the hell are you to speak in between?" she shot back, glaring at Jaya.
Jaya raised a brow and crossed her arms tighter. "At least show some respect to a senior. Oh, but I forgot—you don’t know how to respect people."
That was it.
Vaani leaned forward, a sickly sweet smile on her face, her voice laced with fake politeness. "Oh, I do know one thing—how to shut your mouth with a well-placed punch."
The smirk on Jaya’s face faltered, but she quickly recovered. "Excuse me?" she huffed.
Vaani didn’t miss a beat. "Yeah, sure. From that door. Bye." She gestured dramatically toward the exit.
Laughter erupted in the room, Tara and Nirma especially enjoying the exchange, while Ayaan and Vihaan chuckled under their breaths.
Up until now, Ekansh had been silently observing, his sharp gaze studying Vaani. But now, his voice cut through the laughter.
"Tumhe isse problem kya hai?" he asked, his tone firm but unreadable.
Vaani, who had been ready to mentally float away after roasting Jaya, froze for a moment when she heard his voice. But before she could process anything, Jaya interjected.
"She tried to fight with me yesterday."
That was enough to trigger Vaani’s anger again. She turned fully toward Jaya, her jaw tightening. "Ek maarungi yahin ghir jayegi. Kal toh mai shanti thi kyu ki kal mera pehla din tha, toh tune kuch bhi bol diya, par aaj nahi."
This time, even Ayaan and Ekansh looked slightly taken aback by Vaani’s boldness. Nirma stared, slightly impressed, while Tara, Ritvik, and Vihaan controlled their laughter. They had known this was coming—no one ever won an argument against Vaani.
Vihaan checked his watch and nudged Ritvik. The recess was ending, and he could see the teacher heading toward the class. Without saying a word, he gestured toward the others and whispered, "Chal, nikalna padega warna phas jayenge."
Understanding the hint, Ritvik, Ayaan, and Ekansh quickly slipped out of the class before the teacher arrived.
As they walked back to their own classroom, Ayaan glanced at Ritvik with a smirk. "Yeh pakka teri hi behen hai?"
Vihaan, without missing a beat, added dramatically, "Nahi, uncle-aunty ne isse bahar se laya hai."
Ritvik rolled his eyes. "Haan, meri hi behen hai. Bas thodi ladaku hai, pata hai."
And with that, they disappeared into their own class.
Inside, Vaani and Jaya were still exchanging heated looks when the teacher’s voice rang out.
"What’s happening here?"
Jaya, knowing Vaani wouldn’t hesitate to spill the truth, quickly spoke up before she could. "Nothing, Miss. I was just explaining something to Vaani."
Vaani simply rolled her eyes, deciding that some battles weren’t worth fighting.
"Alright, whatever it was, it’s over now. Everyone, back to your places," the teacher instructed, and the class obediently
settled down.
As Vaani sat back in her chair, she couldn’t help but steal a glance toward the door.
They were gone already.
By the time the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, both Vaani and Ekansh knew one thing for sure—
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