Author Pov:
Delhi welcomed them with unfamiliar noise and restless lights. The apartment felt new-clean walls, unknown corners, and silence that didn't yet belong to them. Kashvi stood near the window of her room, looking down at the busy streets, trying to convince her heart that this place could also become home.
Saanvi's house was just a few floors away. The closeness comforted Kashvi, yet something inside her felt unsettled-like a question waiting to be answered.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Rosewood Valley School buzzed with its usual chaos. Ishvik walked through the corridors with Netrabhan and Eshaan, complaining endlessly about classes, teachers, and everything in between.
"Delhi is too crowded," Ishvik said dramatically.
"Tu har jagah complain karega," Eshaan replied, rolling his eyes.
Netrabhan stayed quiet, his mind elsewhere. Since morning, a strange heaviness sat in his chest-an echo of something he couldn't name. He shook it off, opening his book again, trying to focus.
•••
Back in her room, Kashvi touched the windowpane lightly.
Why does this city feel like it's hiding something from me? she wondered.
Two lives, unknown to each other.
One city, breathing quietly between them.
And destiny-watching patiently, waiting for the right moment to bring two innocent hearts face to face.
•••••
The next evening, Kashvi's flat finally felt settled. Every box had found its place, and her room now carried a sense of belonging. She had spent most of the day helping her mother arrange things, folding clothes, placing memories back where they belonged.
After finishing up, Kashvi went straight to Saanvi's flat.
The hall looked mostly settled, but the moment she entered Saanvi's room, she stopped. Boxes were scattered across the floor, still packed, clothes peeking out messily. And in the middle of all this chaos, Saanvi lay comfortably on her bed, watching a movie on her phone.
"Saanvi... yeh kya hai?" Kashvi said, hands on her waist. "Sab waise ka waise hi hai, aur tu movie dekh rahi hai?"
Startled, Saanvi almost dropped her phone.
"Pagal! Tune toh mujhe dara hi diya," she said, clutching her chest.
"Ha chal chal," Kashvi laughed. "Ab band kar aur uth. Main teri help karti hoon."
Saanvi sighed dramatically. "Haan theek hai, chal."
They both got to work-opening boxes, arranging books, laughing over misplaced things. The room slowly began to change, but more than the furniture, it was their presence together that made the new city feel a little less unfamiliar.
Saanvi suddenly spoke, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Arey... ab humein phir se naye school jaana hoga. Naye log, naya sab kuch."
Kashvi sighed, placing a book on the shelf.
"Haan... mujhe toh yeh sunn kar hi anxiety hone lagti hai. Pata nahi kaisa hoga humara naya school, wahan ke log kaise honge."
"Wahi toh," Saanvi nodded. "Upar se humare friends bhi jaldi nahi bante."
Kashvi smiled faintly.
"Kyunki hum hain hi waise-introvert, dono ke dono. Pata nahi humare koi dost banenge bhi ya nahi."
"Wahi toh," Saanvi agreed again, then waved it off. "Chal chhod, tab ka tab dekhenge. Ab chal, kuch khate hain."
"Haan na," Kashvi laughed softly. "Kyunki banana toh mujhe hi hai."
Saanvi pulled her into a quick hug.
"Haan."
In that moment, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes and shared worries, they held onto each other-because sometimes, one familiar person is enough to face an entire unknown world.
◉‿◉
At the same time, in another corner of the city, the usual drama was unfolding.
Aarohi and Ishvik were standing face to face, arguing yet again-voices low but expressions loud. It had almost become a daily routine.
"Tumhe kaam-dhaam nahi hota kya?" Aarohi snapped.
"Mera kaam tumhe irritate karna hai," Ishvik replied shamelessly, a grin playing on his lips.
Aarohi rolled her eyes. "Tumse baat karna hi meri sabse badi galti hai."
"Par tum phir bhi karti ho," he said smugly.
A few steps away, Netrabhan and Eshaan watched the scene unfold like spectators at a familiar show.
"Daily ka drama shuru," Eshaan muttered.
Netrabhan sighed lightly. "In dono ka alag hi scene hai."
"Aur hum dono? Permanent audience," Eshaan added.
The argument continued, the teasing never ending.
:-)
Just like that, night fell.
Saanvi's family had dinner at Kashvi's house. The food, the laughter, and the familiar warmth made the new city feel a little less strange. After dinner, everyone gathered in the hall, sitting together, talking about small things.
Suddenly, Kashvi's father spoke,
"Kashvi... aahan, parso se school jaana hai. Toh saari school jaane ki taiyaari kar lena-apna bag wagairah. Aur kal tak tumhari uniforms bhi aa jaayengi."
Kashvi looked surprised.
"Theek hai papa... lekin itni jaldi uniform? Admission sab ho gaya?"
"Haan," her father replied calmly. "Humne pehle hi baat kar li thi, toh sab theek se ho gaya."
"Humne?" Kashvi asked, confused.
Saanvi's father smiled.
"Haan. Tumhare saath-saath Saanvi aur Shivaya ka bhi."
"Ohh..." Kashvi nodded, processing it. "Theek hai."
The conversation moved on, but in Kashvi's heart, a quiet nervousness began to settle.
A new school.
New faces.
And a destiny that was already preparing its next move.
After some time, Saanvi's family returned to their flat. Kashvi went to her room and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep felt far away. Her mind kept circling around one thought-school.
Across the corridor, in another flat, Saanvi was lying on her bed too, turning from one side to another.
Kashvi so gayi hogi kya? she thought. Mujhe toh bilkul neend hi nahi aa rahi.
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled. Call kar leti hoon.
The phone rang.
Kashvi frowned lightly, picking it up. Iss waqt call?
"Haan Saanvi, kya hua?"
"Mujhe neend nahi aa rahi," Saanvi said softly.
"Mujhe bhi," Kashvi replied honestly.
"Mujhe laga tha school jaane mein abhi time lagega," Saanvi continued, "lekin idhar toh sab itni jaldi ho gaya. Parso se hi jaana hai."
"Maine bhi wahi socha tha," Kashvi said.
"Mujhe toh yeh soch kar hi neend nahi aa rahi," Saanvi whispered.
Kashvi smiled faintly in the dark.
"Sona toh padega na."
"Haan... theek hai. So ja. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The call disconnected.
The room fell silent again, but Kashvi's thoughts refused to rest. She turned to her side, her eyes heavy yet awake.
"Aisa ek bhi din nahi hai..." she whispered to herself,
"jis din main aapke baare mein nahi sochti. Mujhe aaj tak samajh hi nahi aaya ki main aapke baare mein kyun sochti hoon. Mujhe toh aapka naam tak nahi pata..."
Her words faded into silence.
And just like every night, thinking about him, Kashvi finally drifted into sleep-unaware that fate was already preparing their paths to cross.
(ʘᴗʘ✿)
The next day passed in a blur of movement.
Everyone was busy-no one had time to sit or breathe. Kashvi's house echoed with constant discussions, lists, and reminders. Soon, both families stepped out together to complete the last remaining work.
They went shopping for everything-school bags, shoes, notebooks, stationery, and all the small things that somehow felt big. Kashvi quietly followed her parents, holding a new bag in her hands, imagining herself walking into a classroom she had never seen before.
Saanvi tried to lighten the mood, pointing at random things, joking in between, but even she couldn't hide the nervous excitement in her eyes.
By the time they returned home, the bags were packed, shoes neatly placed, and uniforms laid out carefully. Everything was ready.
Everything-except their hearts.
Just like that, time slipped by and night arrived.
Everyone had their dinner and slowly went to their respective rooms. The house grew quiet, wrapped in dim lights and unfinished thoughts.
In her room, Kashvi lay on her bed, staring at the neatly folded uniform on the chair. Tomorrow would be her first day at a new school. Her heart felt heavy-nervous, uncertain, yet quietly hopeful.
A few floors away, Saanvi sat on her bed, twisting the corner of her pillow. The thought of stepping into a classroom full of unknown faces made her uneasy. New places had never been easy.
Both of them lay awake, separated by walls but connected by the same feeling.
The same fear.
The same anticipation.
And somewhere beyond their thoughts, destiny waited patiently for morning.
Morning arrived, but sleep never did.
Both Kashvi and Saanvi had spent the entire night awake-overthinking, nervous, imagining their first day at a new school again and again.
In Kashvi's house, she got ready in her uniform along with her brother. Once dressed, she came downstairs and quietly walked toward the small temple area inside their home. Folding her hands, she closed her eyes.
"Hey Bhagwan ji... aaj humara pehla din hai naye school ka. Sab ache se ho jaye," she prayed softly.
After that, she went to the dining area. In the kitchen, her mother was busy preparing breakfast and packing lunch boxes.
At the same time, in Saanvi's house, she and Shivaya got ready. Unlike Kashvi, Saanvi came straight downstairs to the dining area. She didn't go to the temple-she had never really believed in God. In the kitchen, her grandmother was cooking breakfast and preparing lunch for both of them.
Soon, both girls finished their breakfast, placed their lunch boxes inside their bags, and stepped out of their houses at the same time.
Their eyes met.
Without saying a word, they understood each other. The nervous smiles, the quiet breaths-it was written all over their faces.
Kashvi and her brother walked toward their father's car and got in. On the other side, Saanvi and Shivaya did the same.
Moments later, both cars started together, moving away from the familiar building-heading toward school.
After reaching the school, both cars came to a halt. Kashvi and Saanvi stepped out along with their brothers. The building stood tall in front of them-unfamiliar, quiet, and a little intimidating.
Their fathers walked ahead, leading the way, while the four of them followed closely behind. No one spoke. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor, each step carrying a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Soon, they reached the Principal's Office.
Kashvi tightened her grip on her bag strap, while Saanvi took a deep breath. This was it-the first door to a new chapter of their lives.
The door opened, and the Principal welcomed them with a warm smile. She greeted both families politely and asked them to take their seats.
After a brief introduction, she spoke calmly, asking about their previous school, their subjects, and the reason for the transfer. Both fathers explained about their postings and relocation to Delhi.
The Principal nodded, listening carefully.
"Everything has already been arranged," she said reassuringly. "Your admissions are complete. I hope the children will settle in well here."
Kashvi and Saanvi exchanged a quick glance-half relieved, half nervous.
The Principal then informed them about their classes, sections, and teachers, assuring them that a staff member would guide them.
"Welcome to Rosewood Valley School," she said kindly.
Those words sounded simple.
But for Kashvi and Saanvi, they marked the beginning of something entirely unknown-and unforgettable.
The Principal called one of the teachers and instructed her to take Aahan and Shivaya to their respective classrooms. The teacher nodded and led them away.
After that, the Principal herself decided to take Kashvi and Saanvi to their classroom.
She started walking down the corridor, with Kashvi and Saanvi following behind.
"Mujhe dar lag raha hai," Saanvi whispered.
"Mujhe bhi," Kashvi replied honestly.
"Chal bhaag chalte hain," Saanvi said suddenly.
Kashvi stopped and looked at her. "Pagal ho gayi hai kya? Kuch bhi bolti hai."
Saanvi laughed nervously. "Hehehe... sorry."
They reached Class 11.
Inside the classroom, the teacher was asking questions to the students one by one. The class was silent, attentive.
"Netrabhan," the teacher called.
He was the topper of the class-confident, calm, never nervous. He stood up and began answering smoothly, without hesitation.
But then-
His eyes shifted toward the classroom door.
Kashvi and Saanvi were standing there with the Principal.
The moment he saw Kashvi, his breath hitched. Words slipped from his mind.
The answer he was confidently delivering suddenly faded away. His eyes refused to move from her face.
The class fell silent.
Everyone noticed his sudden nervousness-especially his best friends, who stared at him in disbelief. This was not the Netrabhan they knew.
Just then, the Principal stepped forward.
"Excuse me, students."
The interruption broke the moment.
"Here are two new students joining your class-Kashvi and Saanvi."
Kashvi and Saanvi hadn't noticed Netrabhan or the class at first. Both of them were busy looking around the classroom-the benches, the windows, the unfamiliar faces. Everything felt new, overwhelming.
"Kashvi... Saanvi," the Principal called gently.
Hearing their names, both of them stepped fully inside the classroom and stood beside the Principal.
That was when it happened.
Kashvi's eyes moved-slowly, unknowingly-toward the side of the room where a boy was standing.
And she froze.
Her breath stopped.
Her heartbeat raced, loud and uncontrollable.
It was him.
The world around her blurred. The classroom, the whispers, the presence of others-everything faded. All she could see was him. Her eyes filled with tears she hadn't invited.
Yeh... yeh wahi hai, her heart whispered.
The face she had carried in her thoughts for years.
The stranger whos
e name she never knew.
Standing right there.
In front of her.
So here is the chapter 🤍
How was it?
Did you feel that moment when Kashvi finally saw him? 💔✨
Which scene was your favourite moment in this chapter?
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