Chapter 13

Hello everyone 💕

Here is Chapter 13 ✨

Happy reading 📖

______________________

Dil ne chaha tha use apna banana,

Kismat ne kaha—“yeh sirf ek ehsaas hai, haqeeqat nahi।”

                         _____________________________

Author Pov -

Everything looked settled from the outside…

But that night—

Nothing was okay.

In Kashvi’s room—

She was sitting on the floor, near her bed…

Holding a cup of tea.

Not just one—

Cup after cup.

She kept drinking continuously.

As if she was trying to numb something inside her.

Aarohi was watching her, completely confused.

She leaned closer to Saanvi and whispered,

“Yeh chai pe chai kyu piye ja rahi hai?”

Saanvi sighed softly,

“Ruk… batati hoon. Flashback me chalte hai.”

Flashback~

After coming home—

Kashvi was unusually quiet.

Saanvi noticed it but didn’t say anything at that moment.

Later—

She went to Kashvi’s house.

Directly to her room.

She saw Kashvi still in her uniform.

Didn’t even change.

That itself was enough to tell something was wrong.

Saanvi went near her,

“Kashvi… kya hua?”

Kashvi didn’t answer.

Instead she said,

“Tu chai bana mere liye… main change karti hoon.”

Saanvi frowned,

“Chai? Tu toh peeti hi nahi…”

Kashvi snapped slightly,

“Saanvi… tu chai banayegi ki nahi?”

Saanvi raised her hands,

“Bana rahi hoon na… itna hyper kyun ho rahi hai? Aati hoon.”

After a few minutes—

Saanvi came back with tea.

Kashvi had changed.

Kashvi looked at the cup and said,

“Jitna banaya hai na… woh sab leke aa.”

Saanvi was shocked,

“Kya?

Kashvi just glared.

Saanvi sighed,

“La rahi hoon baba… dara kyun rahi hai.”

When she came back with all the tea—

She sat beside her and asked softly,

“Ab bataegi bhi?”

Kashvi looked down,

“Tujhe nahi pata main kisliye peeti hoon?”

Saanvi nodded slowly,

“Pata hai… jab tu sabse zyada udaas hoti hai tab.”

Then suddenly she realized,

“Ek minute… kya hua?”

Kashvi whispered,

“Woh… Rajasthan ke nikle.”

Flashback Ends

Back to present—

Aarohi looked at Kashvi in disbelief,

“Yeh toh aise pee rahi hai jaise yeh alcohol ho…”

Saanvi said softly,

“Iske liye… yeh usse kam nahi hai.”

They both kept watching her.

But then—

Aarohi couldn’t take it anymore.

“Stop! Band karo yeh!”

Kashvi looked at her—

Eyes filled with pain.

“Haan chilla le tu bhi… sab toh yehi karte hai.”

Aarohi immediately softened,

“Arey nahi baba… lekin tu jabse aise kar rahi hai… kuch bol bhi nahi rahi.”

Then she said seriously,

“Aur ek minute—main yaha kyun aayi hoon? Taaki mujhe sab pata chale. Toh ab shuru karo… dono.”

Kashvi took a deep breath.

“Main bata dungi… lekin please kuch galat mat sochna.”

Aarohi nodded,

“Main kyun sochungi… tu bata toh sahi.”

Kashvi started—

“Tum log ki school se kabhi trip gayi thi Banaras? 9th class ke start me?”

Aarohi thought and nodded,

“Haan… lekin tujhe kaise pata?”

Kashvi said softly,

“Tab maine pehli baar… topper saheb ko dekha tha.”

Aarohi frowned,

“Kaun topper saheb?”

Saanvi replied,

“Aur kaun… Netrabhan.”

Aarohi’s eyes widened,

“Ohh… kya?”

Kashvi nodded.

And then—

She told everything.

From the first glimpse—

To how she fell in love—

To how she waited—

For 2 years, 11 months, 25 days and 10 hours.

At the end—

She whispered,

“Aur aaj pata chala… woh Rajasthan se hai.”

Aarohi said immediately,

“Toh kya hua? Rajasthan se hi toh hai… usme kya problem hai?”

Kashvi smiled sadly,

“Ab iska koi matlab nahi hai.”

She looked down and said,

“Agar humare beech kabhi kuch hua bhi na… mere ghar wale kabhi nahi maanenge.”

Her voice broke,

“Woh pehle mujhe maar denge… phir unhe.”

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Then she said firmly,

“Toh maine decide kiya hai…”

Both Aarohi and Saanvi looked at her,

“Kya?”

Kashvi closed her eyes,

“Abse main unhe avoid karungi. Unse baat karna band kar dungi.”

Aarohi scoffed lightly,

“Acha joke tha… ab sach bol.”

Kashvi looked straight at her,

“I’m serious.”

Aarohi turned to Saanvi,

“Sach me?”

Saanvi nodded slowly,

“Yeh kar legi bhai. Ek baar decide kar leti hai na… toh kar ke hi manegi.”

Aarohi shook her head,

“Lekin yeh koi baat thodi na hui… woh Rajasthan se hai toh uski kya galti?”

Kashvi whispered,

“Mujhe bhi pata hai uski koi galti nahi hai… lekin yeh hi best hai.”

Tears rolled down her eyes.

“Mujhe nahi chahiye ki unhe kabhi kuch ho… meri wajah se.”

Then she lay down on the bed.

Turning her back.

Still crying.

“Bas… baat khatam. So jao… kal school jaana hai.”

Slowly—

She cried herself to sleep.

Aarohi looked at Saanvi,

“Yeh sahi kar rahi hai na?”

Saanvi sighed,

“Mujhe khud samajh nahi aa raha.”

Aarohi said softly,

“Itne saalon se pasand karti hai… aur aise hi sab khatam kar degi?”

Saanvi looked at Kashvi,

“Jitna time isne wait kiya hai… utna aage bhi nikal legi.”

Aarohi asked quietly,

“Kya uske ghar wale sach me aise hai?”

Saanvi replied,

“Tu soch bhi nahi sakti.”

After a pause—

Aarohi said,

“Hume kuch karna chahiye.”

Saanvi nodded,

“Haan… lekin hume yeh bhi toh nahi pata Netrabhan kya feel karta hai.”

Aarohi said,

“Main pata karungi.”

Then she added,

“Aur agar woh bhi feel karta hai…?”

Saanvi looked at her and said firmly,

“Toh main khud tumhari help karungi… dono ko ek karne me.”

Aarohi sighed,

“Aisa kyun hota hai… humesha Kashvi ke saath hi kyun?”

Saanvi looked up slightly,

“Mujhe bhi kabhi kabhi bhagwan pe bohot gussa aata hai.”

After a while—

Aarohi said softly,

“Chal… so jaate hai. Kal sochenge kya karna hai.”

Saanvi nodded.

Both of them lay down beside Kashvi.

One on each side.

Kashvi in the middle.

And that night-

Three hearts slept together—

But none of them were at peace.

•••••••

The next day—

Everyone was present in the class.

Netrabhan, Eshaan, and Ishvik were already there.

After a few moments—

Kashvi, Saanvi, and Aarohi entered.

The moment Saanvi stepped inside—

Her eyes automatically went toward Eshaan.

And just like always—

He was already looking at her.

As if he had been waiting.

Their eyes met for a second—

And instantly—

Saanvi looked down.

A slight blush forming on her face.

On the other side—

Aarohi entered and saw Ishvik.

Her eyes lit up immediately.

For a second—

She felt like running and hugging him.

But—

She controlled herself.

Composed.

But Ishvik noticed everything.

The way her eyes changed…

That small excitement.

He smirked.

Aarohi saw that smirk—

And rolled her eyes instantly.

And then—

There was Kashvi.

She didn’t look toward Netrabhan even once.

Not even by mistake.

She quietly walked to her bench—

And sat down.

But from the moment she entered—

Netrabhan’s eyes were on her.

Constantly.

He noticed everything.

Her silence.

Her behavior.

And then—

Her eyes.

Red.

As if she had cried.

He wanted to ask her.

Right then.

But he stopped himself.

Later… when they are alone, he thought.

Meanwhile—

Kashvi sat there quietly.

Not talking.

Not reacting.

But Netrabhan kept observing—

Every small thing.

How she avoided looking at him.

How she turned her face away every time.

He frowned slightly.

“Why is she ignoring me…?”

He couldn’t understand.

To break the silence—

After few minutes-

Ishvik spoke dramatically,

“Aur kal toh sabko sukoon mila hoga mere na hone se.”

Aarohi immediately replied,

“Aur woh sukoon ko bhang karne ke liye aaj aa gaye ho.”

Ishvik smirked,

“Yeh bol padi… pata nahi kya hoga uska jo tera pati banega.”

Aarohi shot back,

“Aur pata nahi uska kya hoga jo teri biwi hogi… mujhe toh daya aati hai bechari pe.”

Ishvik laughed,

“Woh bechara kitna bebas, laachaar hoga… poori zindagi roega.”

Aarohi crossed her arms,

“Toh woh kaunsi khush hogi? Uska bhi wahi haal hoga.”

Suddenly—

Kashvi spoke softly,

“Main kya bolti hoon…”

Everyone turned toward her.

Even Netrabhan.

She said calmly,

“Agar dono ki shaadi ek dusre se hi ho gayi toh?”

For a second—

Silence.

Then—

Ishvik and Aarohi both reacted at the same time,

“Shaadi?! Woh bhi isse?! Sapne me bhi nahi!”

Aarohi added,

“Chal chal… main kaunsi mar rahi hoon tere se shaadi karne ke liye. Shakal dekhi hai apni?”

Ishvik smirked confidently,

“Dekhi hai… abhi subah bhi dekh ke aaya hoon. Ekdum handsome lagta hoon. Kal party me bhi ladkiyan dekh rahi thi.”

Aarohi rolled her eyes dramatically,

“Aandhi hongi… ya phir mental asylum se bhaag ke aayi hongi.”

Everyone laughed lightly.

The usual chaos returned.

But in between all that—

Two people were quiet.

Kashvi.

Avoiding every glance.

And—

Netrabhan.

Trying to understand why.

•••••

Everyone left with Netrabhan to help him with the election work.

Posters, arrangements, last-minute planning—

Everything was going on.

But in between all this—

Saanvi and Aarohi noticed something very clearly.

They moved a little aside.

Saanvi whispered,

“Abey yaar… yeh toh sach me avoid kar rahi hai.”

Aarohi nodded,

“Wohi toh… jabse aayi hai, ek baar bhi uski taraf dekha tak nahi.”

Saanvi shook her head slightly,

“Kar kaise leti hai yeh? Main uski jagah hoti na… mujhse toh ho hi nahi pata yeh avoid karna.”

Aarohi agreed,

“Mujhse bhi nahi hota.”

Saanvi said seriously,

“Jaldi se jaldi pata karna padega…

Netrabhan ki side kya hai.”

Aarohi nodded,

“Haan… warna yeh dono khud hi sab khatam kar denge.”

Just then—

Kashvi’s voice came,

“Tum dono kya baat kar rahi ho? Jaldi jaldi karo… kal elections hai.”

Both of them immediately composed themselves.

“Haan haan… kar rahe hai.”

They all got back to work.

After a few hours—

Everything was finally done.

Now—

Only Kashvi and Aarohi were sitting in the classroom.

The rest had gone outside for some work.

Kashvi looked at Aarohi with a teasing smile,

“Koi bol raha tha… shaadi woh bhi Ishvik se? Aur usse pasand bhi karte ho… wah bhai wah.”

Aarohi glared at her,

“kashvi nhi bilkul bhi nhi.”

Kashvi smirked slightly—

Then suddenly said,

“Woh dekh… bula rahe hai.”

Aarohi got confused and quickly looked around,

“Kaha? Kaha?”

Kashvi pointed toward the door—

Where Ishvik was standing, looking inside.

Aarohi’s eyes instantly found him.

For a second—

Everything else disappeared.

Kashvi noticed that.

And smiled softly.

“Jaa… tera pati bula raha hai.”

Aarohi immediately hit her lightly,

“Kashvi!”

But still—

She got up.

Trying to act normal.

While Kashvi—

Sat there quietly.

Watching her go.

With a small smile on her face—

But deep inside—

Still holding onto her own storm.

---

Outside the classroom—

Ishvik called Aarohi,

“Chal aa… meri help kar poster lagane me.”

Aarohi crossed her arms,

“Koi aur nahi mila kya?”

Ishvik smirked,

“Nahi… tu hi chahiye.”

For a second—

Aarohi didn’t say anything.

But her heart—

It definitely reacted.

She quickly composed herself and said,

“Chal… kya karna hai? Kidhar lagana hai bata.”

And just like that—

Both of them started working together.

Putting up posters—

Fixing things—

And in between—

Their usual banter never stopped.

“Seedha laga na… tedha kyu kar raha hai?” Aarohi complained.

“Tujhe lag raha hai tedha… actually teri nazar hi tedhi hai.” Ishvik replied.

“Haan haan… blame mujhe hi kar.”

“Aur kisko karu? Tu hi toh ho yahan.”

They kept arguing.

Teasing.

Fighting.

But between all that—

There were small moments.

Where both of them would pause.

Look at each other.

And then quickly look away.

On the other side—

Inside the classroom—

Kashvi was sitting alone.

The class was silent.

Empty.

She rested her head on the desk.

Staring at nothing.

Her mind wasn’t there.

Her thoughts were somewhere else.

She remembered everything—

Last night.

Her decision.

Her words.

“Avoid karungi… baat nahi karungi…”

She closed her eyes tightly.

“Kar paungi na…?” she whispered to herself.

A small tear escaped—

But she quickly wiped it away.

Just then—

She felt a presence near the door.

Someone was there.

Standing.

Watching her.

Netrabhan.

He had come back—

But didn’t enter immediately.

He just stood there.

Looking at her.

The way she sat quietly…

The way she looked so… different.

So distant.

His chest felt heavy.

“Yeh aise kyun behave kar rahi hai…?”

He finally stepped inside.

Slowly.

And walked toward her.

Kashvi sensed it.

She knew it was him.

But—

She didn’t look up.

Her fingers tightened slightly on the desk.

Netrabhan stopped near her bench.

And said softly—

“Kashvi…”

Her heart skipped a beat.

But she stayed still.

Not looking at him.

Not replying.

And in that moment—

Both of them were close.

Very close.

Yet—

It felt like there was a distance—

Too big to cross.

Netrabhan stood there—

Right beside her.

Waiting.

He called her again—

But this time…

Not like before.

Not casually.

Not normally.

“Aarzoo…”

The moment that word reached her ears—

Kashvi froze.

Her heart clenched.

Her fingers tightened.

Her eyes—

Filled with tears instantly.

Aarzoo…

That one word…

Felt like everything she ever wanted—

And everything she could never have.

She wanted to look at him.

So badly.

Just once.

But she couldn’t.

Because if she did—

She knew—

She wouldn’t be able to stop herself.

So she stayed still.

Avoiding him.

Avoiding his eyes.

Avoiding her own feelings.

After a moment—

She forced herself to speak,

“Haan boliye… kuch kaam tha?”

Her voice—

Calm on the outside.

But trembling inside.

Netrabhan frowned slightly,

“Kya hua hai?”

Kashvi shook her head lightly,

“Kuch bhi toh nahi…”

Then quickly added,

“Arey haan… mujhe Saanvi bula rahi hai. Main aati hoon.”

Without waiting—

Without looking at him—

She got up.

And left.

Just like t

hat.

Netrabhan stood there—

Still.

Looking at the door—

From where she disappeared.

Confusion filled his mind.

His brows slightly furrowed.

“Inhe kya hua hai…?”

He whispered.

“Aise ignore kyun kar rahi hai mujhe…?”

“Mujhe dekh tak nahi rahi hai…”

For the first time—

He felt something unfamiliar.

Something uncomfortable.

Distance.

And the worst part—

He didn’t even know why.

How was today’s chapter?

After reading this chapter… what do you think? How long will Kashvi keep avoiding everything?

Thank you for reading,

take care…

see you in the next chapter! 😌