Chapter 19

Hello guys 🤍

Here is Chapter 19 ✨

Happy reading 📖✨

Author Pov -

Next morning—

Kashvi sat at the dining table.

Quietly having her breakfast.

Her father looked at her.

“Padhai toh ho rahi hai na…?”

“Ya fir kuch aur ho raha hai?”

Kashvi looked up.

“Kyu?”

“School mein kuch aur bhi hota hai kya?”

Her father smirked slightly.

“Haan… padhai ke alawa bhi bohot kuch hota hai.”

Kashvi replied instantly—

“Jab pata hi hai toh mujhse puchhe hi kyu?”

Her mother intervened sharply—

“Yeh ulte jawab dena band karo…”

“Aur koi apne papa se aise baat karta hai kya?”

Kashvi rolled her eyes slightly.

“Ohh… papa.”

“Haan na… sorry, galti ho gayi.”

Without waiting—

She stood up.

Took her bag from the sofa.

And left.

Outside—

She waited for Saanvi.

But her thoughts—

Were somewhere else.

Yeh log kabhi mere saath normal kyu nahi reh sakte…

Baaki logon ke saath toh aise rehte hain jaise apne ho…

Aur khud ki beti ke saath…

She sighed.

Chhodo…

Ab tak kuch nahi badla… toh ab kya hi hoga…

“Chal?”

Saanvi’s voice broke her thoughts.

They started walking.

After a few seconds—

Saanvi spoke—

“Tujhe pata hai aaj tere ghar pe dinner pe kaun aa raha hai?”

Kashvi frowned.

“Nahi… mujhe toh kisi ne kuch nahi bataya.”

Saanvi said casually—

“Ohh… Arjun ki family aa rahi hai.”

Kashvi stopped for a second.

“Tujhe kisne bataya?”

Saanvi shrugged—

“Kisine nahi…”

“Bas suna tha.”

Kashvi nodded slowly.

But inside—

Mujhe waise bhi woh log kyu batayenge…

Kya hi farak padta hai unhe…

Rehne ya na rehne se…

Saanvi nudged her—

“Kahan kho gayi? Chal jaldi!”

Soon—

They reached school.

But they were late.

First period had already started.

From the window—

They peeked inside.

“Yaar… mam bohot gusse mein lag rahi hain…”

Saanvi whispered.

But Kashvi—

Wasn’t listening.

Her eyes—

Were somewhere else.

On him.

Netrabhan.

Sitting properly.

Listening to the lecture.

Completely focused.

Saanvi noticed.

“Bhai…”

“Usse baad mein taad lena…”

“Abhi class mein ghusne ka soch.”

Kashvi blinked.

“Haan… chal.”

They stood at the door.

“May we come in, ma’am?”

Ma’am replied sarcastically—

“Yeah… come in.”

“I was wondering why no one disturbed the class till now.”

Both whispered—

“Sorry…”

And quickly went to their seats.

Last bench.

Saanvi whispered to Aarohi—

“Jo bhi ab tak mam ne bola  hai… baad mein mujhe batana.”

Aarohi said, "haan"

Meanwhile—

Kashvi sat.

Rested her elbow on the bench.

Cupped her face.

And—

Started looking at him.

Netrabhan.

Not just looking.

Admiring.

Then she thought,

Kabhi socha nahi tha…

Ki meri kismat kuch cheezon mein itni achi bhi hogi…

Kabhi laga nahi tha ki main inse phir mil paungi…

Ya dekh bhi paungi…

Aur ab toh—

Number bhi hai…

A small smile formed.

Lekin… woh lakeerein nahi…

Jisse main inhe paa sakun…

She paused.

Then shook her head.

Abhi ke liye yeh sab chhodo…

Filhaal toh inpe concentrate karte hain…

Aaj kuch zyada hi sundar lag rahe hain…

Her subconscious whispered—

“Sundar toh pehli nazar mein hi lag gaye the…”

“Aaj kya special hai?”

She smiled slightly.

Haan toh… sundar toh hai…

Hayee…

Then suddenly—

She snapped out.

Yeh tu kya kar rahi hai?!

Class pe dhyaan de!

She looked at the board.

But again—

Her mind drifted.

To last night.

“Aarzoo…”

A small smile.

Pehle hi pata chal gaya tha ki woh hi hain…

Lekin satane mein maza aa raha tha…

Aur specially Arjun aur Vedansh wali baat pe…

Thode jealous toh the…

Aur jis tarah baat kar rahe the…

Kitne cute lag rahe honge…

“Kashvi!”

Her name echoed.

She stood up instantly.

The whole class turned towards her.

Ma’am asked a question.

Kashvi froze.

Ab inhe kaise bataun… maine toh kuch suna hi nahi…

Kyu ki pura dhyan toh rathore jii pe tha....

But then also she thought to answer...

When She was about to answer—

TRRNNNG!

Bell rang.

Ma’am sighed.

“Okay class, I’m leaving.”

And walked out.

Kashvi sat down quickly.

“Huff… bach gayi…”

But then—

She realized.

Everyone was looking at her.

Netrabhan.

Ishvik.

Eshaan.

Arjun.

Vedansh.

Saanvi.

Aarohi.

All of them.

She got nervous.

“Kya…?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Nothing.”

But their expressions—

Said everything.

✿

Afternoon—

Lunch period.

Everyone was sitting together.

Talking.

Eating.

Saanvi asked casually—

“Arjun… shaam ko Kashvi ke ghar aa rahe ho na?”

Arjun frowned.

“Kisliye?”

Kashvi paused.

Ohh… toh arjun ke ghar walon ne nahi

bataya…

Saanvi replied—

“Dinner plan hai na uske ghar pe…”

“Isliye.”

Arjun nodded slowly—

“Ohh…”

Then looked at Kashvi—

“Tumne bataya nahi mujhe?”

Kashvi replied instantly—

“Mujhe toh pata hona chahiye…”

That line—

Made everyone look at her.

She realized.

“Matlab… kuch nahi…”

Aarohi leaned forward—

“Kashvi ke ghar pe dinner…?”

“Matlab tumhari families ek dusre ko jaanti hain?”

Before anyone could answer—

Ishvik spoke.

“Aarohi… tujhe kyu jaana hai?”

His tone—

A little sharp.

Aarohi blinked.

Because—

He said her name.

Properly.

Not teasing.

Not twisting it.

Aarohi.

She noticed something else too.

His grip on the spoon.

Tight.

Too tight.

And then—

It clicked.

Ohh… jealous.

A small smirk appeared on her lips.

Maza aayega.

She replied casually—

“Arey Ishvik…”

“Ab woh humare dost hain…”

“Toh unke baare mein jaana toh banta hai na…”

“Waise bhi… tujhe kya?”

Ishvik just glared at her.

Didn’t reply.

Kashvi leaned towards Aarohi and whispered—

“Kyu faltu mein jealous feel kara rahi hai…”

“Bechara spoon unke haath bali chadh jayega…”

Aarohi suppressed her laugh.

“Tu enjoy kar…”

Then she turned back to Arjun—

“Aapne bataya nahi…”

Ishvik froze for a second.

Aapne? Seriously?

Mujhe toh ulte seedhe naam se bulati rehti hai…

Aur isse— aapne?

Arjun replied—

“Woh… Kashvi aur saanvi ke papa aur mere papa friends hain…”

Aarohi nodded—

“Ohh… tab toh kaafi close honge.”

Saanvi added—

“Woh toh hai…”

“Arjun ko toh hum log bohot achhe se jaante hain…”

“Vedansh ko bhi.”

Aarohi raised her brows—

“Ohh?”

Saanvi smirked—

“Sahi bataun toh…”

“Main aur Vedansh partner in crime the.”

Eshaan noticed.

The way she said it.

Kaafi close lagte hain…

A slight jealousy crept in.

Ishvik asked—

“Fir Kashvi aur Arjun kya the?”

Saanvi laughed lightly—

“Tum logon ko toh pata hi chal gaya hoga Kashvi kaisi hai…”

“Bilkul waise hi hai yeh Arjun bhi…”

“Dono set hain.”

That line—

Hit someone.

Hard.

Netrabhan.

His expression changed.

Subtle.

But enough.

Saanvi continued—

“Lekin main un logon jaisi thodi na hoon…”

“Toh main aur Vedansh— partner in crime.”

“Aur Vedansh ke saare secrets bhi pata hain mujhe.”

Vedansh shot her a sharp glare.

“Zyada bol rahi hai tu.”

She just smiled.

Everyone continued eating.

But now—

There were new thoughts.

New feelings.

New tensions.

After a while—

They finished lunch.

And walked back to class.

Together.

But not the same as before.

Because now—

Jealousy had quietly entered the group.

And it wasn’t leaving anytime soon.

✿

After lunch—

Classes resumed.

Ma’am entered the classroom.

“Students, for the science project—”

“You all have to form groups of 4–5 members.”

“I’ll come next period and note your group members.”

Saying that—

She left.

Eshaan leaned back—

“Dekh Ishvik…”

“Tu Aarohi aur woh dono— jo naye aaye hain— unke saath group bana le.”

Netrabhan added instantly—

“Haan…”

“Aur main, Eshaan, Saanvi aur Kashvi— ek group.”

Ishvik raised his brows.

“Arey arey… ruko zara…”

“Itna kyun tadap rahe ho dono?”

Netrabhan shot him a look—

“Koi tadap nahi raha hai.”

“Jitna bola hai utna kar.”

Ishvik nodded slowly—

“Theek hai…”

But inside—

Aise kaise…?

Main aur woh bhi un dono ke saath…?

Ab dekho…

He smirked.

Then stood up—

And walked towards Kashvi, Saanvi, and Aarohi.

“Ek baat puchun?”

All three looked at him.

“Kya tum teeno… mujhe apne group mein loge?”

Kashvi frowned—

“Kya matlab?”

Ishvik acted innocent—

“Woh kya hai na…”

“Netrabhan aur Eshaan toh soch rahe hain…”

“Arjun aur Vedansh ke saath group banane ka…”

“Toh maine socha main tum logon ke group mein aa jaun.”

Kashvi nodded—

“Theek hai.”

Ishvik smiled slightly.

Then went towards Arjun and Vedansh.

“Tumhe koi problem toh nahi hai…?”

“Netrabhan aur Eshaan ke saath group banane mein?”

Both replied calmly—

“No… we don’t have any problem.”

Perfect.

Next period—

Ma’am entered again.

Everyone started telling their group members.

Ishvik stood up.

“Ma’am…”

“I, Kashvi, Saanvi, and Aarohi—”

Netrabhan and Eshaan looked at him.

Shocked.

Then glared.

Ishvik continued casually—

“And Netrabhan, Eshaan, Arjun, and Vedansh.”

Ma’am noted it down.

And left.

Silence.

For two seconds.

Then—

“I’ll be back…”

Ishvik said quickly.

And ran out.

Behind him—

Netrabhan and Eshaan stood up.

“Hum bhi abhi aate hain.”

They left.

Kashvi blinked.

“Inhe kya ho gaya?”

Aarohi shrugged—

“Chhodo…”

“In log ka toh roz ka hai.”

Meanwhile—

Washroom.

Ishvik had barely entered—

When both of them caught him.

Eshaan grabbed his collar—

“Saale… kitna woh hai tu?!”

Netrabhan stepped closer—

“Kya bola tha…”

“Aur kya kiya tune?”

Ishvik pulled himself free—

“Arey chhodo mujhe!”

“TUM LOGON KO KYA LAGA?”

“Main aur woh bhi Arjun aur Vedansh ke saath group banaunga?!”

“Jaao jaao!”

Before they could react—

He ran.

Laughing.

Loudly.

Leaving both of them—

Standing there.

Annoyed.

And played.

After that—

Everyone left for home.

Kashvi reached her house.

Went straight to her room.

Quiet.

After some time—

Her mother called from outside—

“Kashvi…!”

“Guests aa rahe hain dinner pe.”

“Saanvi aur Arjun ki family.”

“Thoda help karo.”

Kashvi just nodded.

Didn’t say a word.

Not even a “hmm”.

Soon—

Both families arrived.

Saanvi was already there.

Arjun came with his parents.

The atmosphere—

Looked normal.

Too normal.

Kashvi’s mother said—

“Chalo, dinner serve karte hain.”

But before they could move—

Arjun’s father spoke—

“Zara rukhiye…”

“Abhi ek aur guest aane wale hain.”

Kashvi frowned slightly.

“Yeh kiski baat kar rahe hain…?”

She whispered.

Saanvi shook her head—

“Mujhe bhi nahi pata…”

She turned to Arjun—

“Tujhe pata hai kya?”

Arjun replied—

“Mujhe toh tum logon ne bataya hai…”

“Toh mujhe kaise pata hoga?”

Just then—

The door opened.

Someone entered.

And the moment—

Kashvi.

Saanvi.

Arjun.

All three—

Froze.

Kashvi whispered—

“Yeh… log…?”

Arjun stood still.

His fists clenched.

His voice low—

“Maine kaha tha na…”

“Yeh log kabhi nahi badlenge.”

Before anything else—

Kashvi’s mother called—

“Kashvi!”

“Chalo, meri help karo.”

Kashvi nodded.

But her hands—

Were shaking.

Slightly.

Uncontrollably.

Everyone moved towards the dining table.

Sat down.

Kashvi started serving.

But her grip slipped—

Plates fell from her hands.

The sound echoed.

Her mother snapped immediately—

“Ek kaam theek se nahi hota isse!”

Silence.

Tense.

Heavy.

And then—

Arjun spoke.

Cold.

Sharp.

“Toh aap log kaunsa bohot acha kaam karte ho?”

Everyone went silent.

Kashvi’s father looked at him—

“Bado se aise baat karte hain kya?”

Before Arjun could reply—

Saanvi’s father added—

“Chhodo bhi…”

“Aaj kal ke bachon mein tameez hi kahan hai.”

Arjun let out a dry laugh.

“Toh bado mein kaunsi hai?”

“Baat karne ki toh chhodiye…”

“Baaki cheezon mein bhi—”

He stopped.

Shook his head.

“Chhodo…”

“Ab kya hi bolun.”

Arjun’s mother intervened—

“Arjun, chup baitho.”

Arjun looked at her—

“Kyu?”

“Sunte waqt acha nahi lag raha?”

“Mujhe toh aana hi nahi tha aap logon ke saath.”

Tension thickened.

But Kashvi’s mother forced a smile—

“Chhodo na…”

“Bacche hain.”

“Dinner karte hain.”

And just like that—

Everything shifted.

They all started eating.

Talking.

Laughing

.

As if—

Nothing happened.

As if—

Nothing ever did.

But on the other side—

Kashvi.

Arjun.

Saanvi.

Were silent.

Watching.

The same people—

Who acted normal now—

Like they had never done anything wrong.

And that—

Hurt more than anything else.

And here comes an end to this chapter

Thank you for reading ❤️

Take care & see you in the next chapter…