Chapter 10

Hello everyone 💖

Here is Chapter 10 of Forbidden Love – Devotion of Innocent Hearts

I hope you all enjoy this chapter

Happy reading 🌷

Author Pov -

The next day—

Even though her mother told her to rest

Kashvi still decided to come to school.

After convincing her somehow, she got ready and left with Saanvi.

Today—

They reached earlier than usual.

The classroom was still half empty.

Both of them went and sat at their usual place—

Last bench.

After a few minutes—

Aarohi arrived and came straight toward them.

She sat beside Kashvi and asked softly,

“Ab kaisi hai? Kaisa lag raha hai?”

Kashvi gave a small smile,

“Pehle se better.”

But her face still looked a little weak.

After saying that—

She slowly rested her head on Saanvi’s shoulder.

Saanvi immediately adjusted herself, making her comfortable.

Without saying anything—

Just being there.

Then—

Kashvi held Aarohi’s arm gently.

As if needing that support too.

Aarohi looked at her and smiled softly.

“Drama queen…” she whispered teasingly.

Kashvi closed her eyes slightly,

“Chup…”

All three of them sat like that—

Quietly.

Comfortably.

A silent bond between them—

That didn’t need words.

And for a moment—

Everything felt peaceful.

___

After a few minutes—

Netrabhan, Eshaan, and Ishvik entered the classroom.

And surprisingly—

They were early today.

They came in and sat on the front bench, just ahead of Kashvi and her friends.

As soon as he entered—

Netrabhan’s eyes went straight to Kashvi.

She was sitting quietly…

Head resting earlier… eyes now gently closed.

Looking calm… but still a little weak.

He didn’t look away immediately.

Meanwhile—

Aarohi noticed them and whispered,

“Saanvi… dekhna padega aaj suraj kahan se nikla hai.”

Saanvi smirked,

“Wohi toh… chal dekhte hai.”

Kashvi slowly opened her eyes, confused,

“Kya bol rahe ho tum dono?”

Saanvi tilted her head forward,

“Samne dekh… aaj kaun aaye hain… woh bhi itni jaldi.”

Aarohi added teasingly,

“Kahin inhe tera bukhar toh nahi chadh gaya?”

Hearing that—

Kashvi laughed lightly.

From the front—

Ishvik turned back immediately,

“O hello! Zyada mat bol ziddi aafat. Woh toh bas aise hi…”

Kashvi smiled and said,

“Baat toh sahi hai… aaj aap log itni jaldi kis khushi mein?”

Ishvik scratched his head dramatically,

“Hehehe… bas aise hi.”

Then he asked,

“Aur tumhara fever kaisa hai?”

Kashvi replied softly,

“Better hai.”

While this whole conversation was going on—

Netrabhan and Eshaan were unusually quiet.

They weren’t teasing.

They weren’t interrupting.

They were just—

Looking.

Not directly staring—

But observing.

Eshaan’s eyes often went toward Saanvi.

The way she spoke…

The way she cared…

And Netrabhan—

His gaze kept returning to Kashvi.

Her soft smile…

Her slightly tired face…

And how even in weakness—

She still looked… peaceful.

Neither of them said anything.

But their silence—

Said more than words ever could.

____

Then suddenly—

The teacher entered the class.

“Attention students!”

Everyone’s attention immediately went toward her.

She looked around and said,

“Aaj koi classes nahi hongi.”

(There will be no classes today.)

Students started murmuring happily.

Then she raised her hand to calm them down and continued,

“Aur ek aur baat… head girl aur head boy ke liye election hone wale hain.”

(And one more thing… there will be elections for head girl and head boy.)

The class got even more excited.

She added,

“Jo bhi interested hai, woh log apna naam afternoon tak de sakte hain.”

(Whoever is interested can submit their names by the afternoon.)

After saying that—

She picked up her register and left the classroom.

And just like that—

The class turned into complete chaos.

🌷

After the announcement—

Everyone in the class started talking excitedly.

Amid all that noise—

Kashvi said slowly,

“Main kya bolti hoon…”

Eshaan looked at her and asked,

“Kya bolo?”

Kashvi said,

“Humare group mein se kisi ko apna naam dena chahiye… kya bolte ho?”

Before anyone else could reply—

Ishvik jumped in,

“Ek kaam kyun nahi karte? Tum teeno hi de do. Koi ek toh jeet hi jaayega.”

Kashvi, Saanvi, and Aarohi together said,

“Hum?!”

Ishvik nodded seriously,

“Haan tum log.”

Hearing that—

All three of them started laughing.

While laughing—

Kashvi suddenly held her head slightly, feeling a little dizzy.

Netrabhan noticed immediately and said softly,

“Aaram se…”

Then he added,

“Aur isme hasne wali kya baat hai?”

Kashvi nodded lightly.

Meanwhile—

Saanvi said,

“Hum jo log class bunk karte hain, woh log head girl banenge? Zara soch ke toh bolo Ishvik.”

Aarohi added,

“Arey Saanvi, yeh toh hai hi pagal.”

Ishvik frowned,

“Haan theek hai… itni si baat ko leke chedna shuru kar dete ho tum log.”

Kashvi smiled slightly and said,

“Yeh sab chhodo… aap log mein se hi kyun nahi de dete apna naam?”

Eshaan and Ishvik said together,

“Head boy banne ke liye jaldi aana hota hai… aur woh humse iss janam mein toh nahi hoga.”

Aarohi laughed,

“Kashvi tu bhi na… kise puch liya. Chhod.”

For a moment—

Everyone went quiet.

Thinking.

Then suddenly—

All of them looked at one person.

Netrabhan.

He felt their eyes on him.

He looked at them and said instantly,

“Main nahi karne wala kuch bhi.”

Ishvik leaned forward,

“Arey yaar… sun na. Tu perfect hoga head boy ke liye. Please maan ja.”

Eshaan also added,

“Haan please maan ja na.”

Saanvi nodded,

“Haan sahi bol rahe hai… agar yeh head boy ban gaya na toh kitne fayde honge.”

Aarohi smirked,

“Aur nahi toh kya… aur uss Shivani ko bhi maza chakhaenge.”

Everyone was convincing him—

But in all this—

Kashvi was just quietly watching everything.

She hadn’t said anything till now.

Then finally—

Netrabhan said,

“Mujhe nahi banna koi head boy.”

Immediately—

All four of them together said,

“Please naaa!”

While everyone was still convincing him—

Kashvi finally spoke softly,

“Suniye… yeh log sahi toh bol rahe hain…”

Everyone looked at her.

She continued,

“Agar aap head boy ban gaye… toh humare toh fayde hi fayde hain.”

Then she paused for a second—

And added innocently,

“Please mann jaiye…”

She made a small pout without even realizing it.

And that moment—

Hit differently.

Netrabhan just looked at her.

Her soft voice…

Her innocent face…

And suddenly—

His heartbeat started beating faster.

He didn’t even understand why.

For a second, everything around him felt blurred.

Then without thinking much—

He said,

“Theek hai.”

Kashvi’s face lit up instantly,

“Sach mein?! Thank you!”

She smiled brightly.

Meanwhile—

Ishvik, Eshaan, Saanvi, and Aarohi all looked at him in shock.

Then all four of them said together,

“Bipolar kahike!”

Netrabhan didn’t even react to them.

Because at that moment—

He was still looking at Kashvi.

And somewhere inside—

He knew one thing—

He didn’t say yes for them.

He said yes for her.

Kashvi suddenly stood up excitedly,

“Chalo chalte hain!”

Everyone looked at her and asked together,

“Kidhar? Kahan?”

She smiled and said,

“Arey naam dena hai na election ke liye!”

Saanvi raised her eyebrow,

“Tu kuch zyada excited nahi ho rahi hai?”

Ishvik smirked,

“Wohi toh… kuch zyada hi excited hai.”

He then turned toward Netrabhan and said,

“Aur tu? Hum log jabse bol rahe the ‘maan ja maan ja’… tab toh bada bol raha tha mujhe nahi banna head boy.”

Eshaan added,

“Aur nahi toh kya… aur ab Kashvi ke ek baar bolte hi ‘theek hai’… wah bhai wah! Kya chal raha hai?”

Netrabhan frowned slightly and said,

“Chup karo tum log… aur yeh mat bhoolo main abhi bhi apna mood change kar sakta hoon.”

Aarohi immediately replied with a teasing smile,

“Toh uske liye Kashvi hai na… ‘naah’ ko ‘haan’ mein woh hi convert kar degi.”

Hearing this—

Kashvi instantly became shy.

She hid her face in Saanvi’s shoulder and closed her eyes slightly so no one would notice.

But—

Netrabhan noticed.

He noticed how her cheeks slowly turned into a soft pink shade.

Meanwhile—

Ishvik laughed lightly,

“Wakai… kuch toh baat hai.”

Then suddenly—

Aarohi and Saanvi started singing teasingly,

“Janam samjha karo… janam samjha karo…”

Kashvi just hid more, embarrassed.

Then Saanvi said,

“Chalo chalte hain.”

Eshaan nodded,

“Haan chal, Netrabhan tera naam likhwa ke aate hain.”

Netrabhan replied calmly,

“Tum log hi likhwa ke aao… mujhe nahi jana.”

Saanvi turned to Kashvi,

“Tu idhar hi reh… thoda rest karle.”

Kashvi nodded softly.

Soon—

Everyone left.

Now—

Only Kashvi and Netrabhan were left in the classroom.

Silence.

They both looked at each other.

For a moment—

Eye contact.

But instantly—

Both turned their faces away.

Kashvi slowly rested her face on the bench…

And her eyes—

Kept watching him.

On the other side—

Netrabhan sat quietly doing his work…

But deep down—

He could feel it.

Her eyes were on him.

Constantly.

___

Kashvi was continuously looking at him, lost in her thoughts.

Netrabhan could feel her gaze.

He finally turned toward her and asked,

“Kuch chahiye?”

Kashvi, still a little lost, nodded absentmindedly.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, in a questioning way and said,

“Kya?”

She looked at him and said softly,

“Aap…”

He replied,

“Ji? Kya?”

Kashvi quickly corrected herself,

“Mera matlab… aapki notes…”

Netrabhan understood and said,

“Ohh.”

Then Kashvi asked hesitantly,

“Peeche aa jayenge?”

For a moment—

There was a small pause.

Then Netrabhan nodded slightly.

Without saying much—

He picked up his notes.

And slowly—

Moved towards her.

•••

Netrabhan sat beside her on the bench, placing his notes gently.

Kashvi rested her head on the bench, her eyes fixed on him.

She was just… watching him.

Without realizing it, her gaze softened.

And then—

She noticed something.

His ears… and the side of his neck…

Were turning into a soft pink shade.

Kashvi tilted her head slightly and asked with genuine concern,

“Aapko fever hai kya?”

Netrabhan looked at her for a second and replied calmly,

“Nahi toh… kyu?”

She pointed slightly and said,

“Fir aap itne lal kyu ho rahe ho?”

Her voice was innocent… curious… completely unaware.

He looked at her for a moment.

And then—

He couldn’t help but ask,

“Aap wakai me itni masoom hai kya?”

Kashvi blinked and asked back,

“Matlab?”

He paused.

Looked away slightly.

And said,

“Kuch nahi.”

But inside—

He knew.

It wasn’t fever.

It was something else.

Something she didn’t even realize…

But was already affecting him more than he could explain.

Kashvi looked at him again and asked softly,

“Aap kya kar rahe ho?”

Netrabhan replied in his calm tone,

“Notes bana raha hoon.”

Kashvi suddenly remembered,

“Arey haan… mujhe bhi banana tha!”

She quickly started taking out her book from her bag, slightly rushing.

But before she could start—

Netrabhan spoke, a little firmly but softly,

“Abhi aap rest kijiye. Baad me bana lena.”

Kashvi looked at him, confused.

He continued,

“Chahe toh meri le lo.”

For a second—

She just stared at him.

Not the words…

But the way he said them.

So calm.

So natural.

Like caring for her wasn’t even a choice—

It was something he just did.

Kashvi slowly smiled a little,

But didn’t take the notes immediately.

Instead—

She just looked at him again.

And this time—

Her gaze wasn’t just curious anymore…

It was softer.

Warmer.

And somewhere—

A little more connected than before.

•••••

Kashvi kept looking at him without blinking.

Netrabhan finally turned toward her and asked,

“Aise kyu dekh rahi hai?”

She didn’t look away.

“Kaise?” she asked softly.

He met her eyes and said in a low voice,

“Jaise… main aapki Puri duniya hoon.”

Kashvi replied instantly, without hesitation,

“Woh toh hai hi.”

For a second—

Everything stopped.

Netrabhan’s expression changed.

He was shocked.

Her words… so simple… but they hit something deep.

He looked away and said,

“Yeh galat hai.”

Kashvi frowned slightly,

“Kya galat hai?”

He answered, a little confused himself,

“Yehi jo ho raha hai…”

She asked again,

“Kya ho raha hai?”

Netrabhan shook his head slightly,

“Wohi toh… mujhe samajh nahi aa raha… aur kyu ho raha hai.”

And without saying anything more—

He stood up and walked away.

Kashvi immediately followed him.

He went to the garden area and sat on a bench.

She stood there for a moment… watching him.

Then slowly walked toward him and asked hesitantly,

“Baith sakti hoon… ya yeh bhi galat hai?”

Netrabhan looked at her.

His expression softened a little.

“Aap idhar kyu aayi? Class me rehkar thoda so jana chahiye tha na… aaiye, baithiye.”

Kashvi quietly sat beside him.

For a few seconds—

There was silence again.

But this time—

It wasn’t empty.

It was full of questions they couldn’t ask…

And feelings they couldn’t name.

____

Netrabhan was battling with his thoughts.

There were so many questions in his mind… but finally, gathering the courage, he asked softly,

“aapki kisi pe crush hai?”

Kashvi looked at him, a little surprised.

“Kyuu?”

Netrabhan didn’t look away this time.

“Bas… bataiye na. Kisi pe crush hai?”

Kashvi shook her head lightly.

“Nahi.”

“Phir… koi pasand hai?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

Kashvi paused for a moment, her eyes drifting somewhere far.

“Pasand… nahi bol sakte.”

Netrabhan frowned slightly.

“Matlab?”

She smiled faintly, almost to herself.

“Pasand se badhkar hai.”

His heart skipped.

“Kaise? Aisa kya hai usme… koi khas wajah?”

Kashvi finally looked at him, her eyes soft yet deep.

“Wohi…

Poore ke poore khas hai…

ki koi wajah hi nahi hai.”

A strange feeling crept into Netrabhan’s chest.

He didn’t recognize it… but it felt heavy. Uncomfortable.

Something close to jealousy.

He couldn’t understand why he was feeling this way.

Still, he asked, trying to sound normal,

“Matlab… aap use like karti ho?”

Kashvi slowly nodded.

That was enough to make his chest tighten.

“Aisa kya hai usme?” he asked, a hint of restlessness in his voice.

“Aisa kya dekh liya aapne usme?”

Kashvi looked straight into his eyes this time.

There was no hesitation now.

“Unke alawa…” she paused softly,

“kuch dikha hi nahi.”

For a moment, everything around them felt still.

“Jaise…

unke hote hue,

kuch aur dekhne ki zarurat hi nahi padi.”

Netrabhan looked away, trying to hide what he was feeling.

Then, after a pause, he said quietly,

“Agar aisa hai… toh aapko mujhse baat nahi karni chahiye.

Agar use pata chal gaya… toh shayad use bura lage.”

Kashvi let out a faint, almost bittersweet smile.

“Unhe pata tak nahi hai…”

Netrabhan frowned, turning back to her.

“Kyuu?”

There was a slight pause before she spoke again.

“Kyuki…” she looked down at her hands,

“unke liye main… exist tak nahi karti.”

Her voice was calm, but it carried a quiet ache.

“Toh unhe pata kaise chalega?”

Silence fell between them once again—

but this time, it felt heavier than before.

Before either of them could say anything more,

a voice called out her name.

“Kashvii!”

She turned her head—and saw Aarohi standing a little distance away.

“Tum dono yahan ho?” Aarohi said, slightly breathless.

“Chalo, class mein teacher samjha rahi hain kya karna hai… jaldi aao!”

Kashvi blinked, as if pulled out of a deep thought.

“Ha… aate hain,” she replied softly.

Netrabhan stood up with

out saying a word.

For a brief second, their eyes met again—

filled with everything they couldn’t say.

Then, quietly,

they both turned away.

And walked back…

as if nothing had changed.

But everything had.

So, this is where today’s chapter comes to an end.

I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it

Thank you so much for reading and being a part of this journey with me.