Chapter 25

Hello guys 🤍

I'm back with a new chapter ✨

Happy reading 📖💫

"Jo har taraf nhi dekhte 🌙

vo ek taraf badi shiddat bhari nigahon se dekhte hain"

Author Pov -

It was night, around 11:30.

Netrabhan was continuously looking at the time.

Meanwhile, in her room, Kashvi was sitting quietly, remembering everything that happened today.

Everyone had wished her after finding out it was her birthday.

Everyone except him.

Netrabhan still hadn't wished her.

And somehow... that made her a little sad.

Here, Netrabhan kept staring at the clock.

The moment the time turned 11:59, he immediately typed-

Happy Birthday, Aarzoo. 🤍

Kashvi heard the notification sound and quickly picked up her phone.

The moment she saw his message, a smile appeared on her face instantly.

She typed back-

"Thankyou... lekin aapko abhi yaad aa raha hai wish karne ko?"

Netrabhan smiled reading it.

"Sach batau?"

"Haan."

"Mujhe sabse last me wish karna tha."

Kashvi frowned slightly and typed-

"Kyu?"

After staring at the screen for a few seconds, he replied-

"Kyuki mai aapko iss baar sabse pehle toh wish nahi kar paya... toh iss hi liye last hi sahi,lekin"

A soft blush spread across Kashvi's cheeks.

She smiled while typing-

"Lekin?"

Netrabhan replied instantly-

"Lekin next time se first bhi mai hi rahunga... aur last bhi."

Kashvi's cheeks turned completely soft pink.

"Acha ji?"

"Haan ji."

Kashvi smiled softly but then unknowingly typed-

"Aur next time mai hi nahi rahi toh? Tab kaise karenge?"

The moment Netrabhan read that message, the smile on his face disappeared.

His fingers stopped moving for a second.

Then he typed-

"Kya matlab hai? Aur kuch bhi bolti hain aap."

Kashvi quickly replied-

"Kya hua? Mera woh matlab nahi tha."

But this time Netrabhan replied immediately-

"Ji, aapko jo bhi matlab ho. Mujhe nahi baat karni aapse. Aise kaise kuch bhi bol sakti hain aap? Mai jaa raha hu."

Kashvi quickly typed-

"Arey lekin kaha-"

But before she could continue, his reply came.

"Sone. Bye."

And he went offline.

Netrabhan threw his phone beside him and muttered angrily,

"Aise kaise bol sakti hain woh? 'Mai hi nahi rahi toh' matlab kya hota hai..."

He stayed quiet for a few minutes.

Then slowly his anger started fading.

"Kahi maine zyada toh nahi bol diya...?"

But immediately again he shook his head.

"Nahi. Sahi kiya maine. Aise baatein kaise kar sakti hain..."

Meanwhile, Kashvi was sitting sadly on her bed.

"Mujhe pata hai mujhe aise nahi bolna chahiye tha... lekin bas muh se nikal gaya..."

Then she pouted slightly.

"Aur unhone bye bhi bol diya... bye? Aise kaise bye bol diya? Aaj tak toh kabhi nahi bola..."

Both kept thinking about each other until sleep slowly took over.

✿

Next Morning

Everyone was already present in the classroom.

Except Kashvi and Saanvi.

Netrabhan kept looking toward the classroom door again and again.

Someone else was waiting too.

Eshaan.

And of course, Ishvik and Aarohi noticed everything.

Ishvik whispered dramatically,

"Yeh dekh... kaise tadap rahe hai dono. Jaise bina paani ki machli."

Aarohi laughed softly.

Then she whispered under her breath,

"Acha hai na... koi toh kisi ka wait karta hai. Ek mai hu idhar..."

Ishvik smirked hearing her.

"Tu bole toh mai bhi tera aise hi wait karunga."

Aarohi rolled her eyes instantly.

"Chal chal... aur kuch? Aaya bada wait karne wala. Pehle khud toh time pe aa."

Then suddenly she remembered something.

"Aur yaad hai na?"

"Kya?"

"Iss baar jiske marks kam aayenge na... usse dusre ki baat maanni padegi."

Ishvik smirked confidently.

"Toh ready rehna. Jo bhi bolunga, karna padega."

Aarohi was about to reply when-

"Ishvik! Aarohi!"

Both straightened immediately.

Mam glared at them.

"Agar tum dono ka baat karna ho gaya ho toh mai class start karu?"

Ishvik smiled innocently.

"Yeah mam, sure."

Aarohi's eyes widened.

She elbowed him hard.

"Idiot!"

Ishvik looked at her innocently while suppressing his smile.

Classes started.

Just after a few minutes, Kashvi and Saanvi entered the classroom.

Mam scolded them lightly and allowed them inside.

The moment Kashvi entered, her eyes directly went toward Netrabhan.

But he was looking down at his book.

Without even once looking at her.

Kashvi's heart sank a little.

Yeh toh sach me naraz hain...

Meanwhile, Netrabhan, who had been continuously staring at the door till now, immediately looked into his book the moment she entered.

Because somehow... he always knew when she came near him.

And the moment she entered, his heartbeat had started beating faster again.

The entire period passed like that.

Kashvi kept secretly looking at him.

But he never once looked back.

By lunch break, tears had already gathered in her eyes.

Everyone left toward the garden.

Except Kashvi and Netrabhan.

Netrabhan quietly opened his bag and started taking out his lunchbox.

Suddenly-

He felt someone lightly tugging his shirt.

But he didn't turn.

Again...

A small tug.

This time he finally turned around.

And froze.

Kashvi was standing there silently with tears in her eyes.



Netrabhan POV

The moment I saw tears in her eyes, I forgot everything.

My anger.

My frustration.

Everything.

Just one thought came into my mind-

Why is she crying?

I quickly kept my lunchbox aside and asked,

"Kya hua Aarzoo? Aap ro kyu rahi hai?"

She looked so small at that moment.

So vulnerable.

I immediately made her sit properly on the bench and kneeled slightly in front of her without even realizing it myself.

"Kya hua?" I asked again softly.

Then she looked at me with teary eyes and asked between hiccups,

"Aap... naraz hai?"

God.

How was I supposed to stay angry after looking at her like this?

Still, somewhere inside me, that line from last night was hurting.

"Aur next time mai hi nahi rahi toh..."

Why would she even say something like that?

Does she even realize what happens to me hearing things like that?

I quickly shook my head.

"Nahi nahi Aarzoo..."

But then she asked softly,

"Toh fir aapne mujhse baat kyu nahi ki... ek baar bhi dekha tak nahi..."

I smiled a little hearing that.

So she noticed everything too.

The truth is-

I did look at her.

Again and again.

But every single time, I forced myself to look away because I knew the moment I looked properly... my anger would disappear.

And exactly that happened now.

I looked at her and said softly,

"Pehle tha... lekin ab nahi."

Then I sighed.

"Lekin aapko bhi waise baatein nahi karni chahiye thi na..."

And suddenly she held her ears like a little child and whispered,

"Sorry..."



बस.

Finished.

Whatever anger I had completely disappeared at that exact second.

How does she even manage to look cute while apologizing?

I wanted to smile so badly but somehow controlled it.

Then I told her softly,

"Firse kabhi aise mat bolna... samjhi aap?"

She immediately nodded obediently.

And honestly?

At that moment I felt weirdly relieved.

As if my breathing became normal again.

Then after few moments she suddenly asked,

"Friends hai na hum?"

For a second I went silent.

Friends?

Was that really what we were?

Because honestly... nothing about whatever I feel for her feels like friendship anymore.

Friends don't wait till midnight just to become the last person to wish someone.

Friends don't calm down just by hearing one voice.

And friends definitely don't feel their heartbeat losing control every single time someone smiles at them.

So no.

She wasn't just my friend.

Not anymore.

Maybe never.

But I also didn't know what exactly to call this feeling yet.

So I just looked at her and replied softly,

"More than friends."

The moment I said that, her eyes widened slightly.

"Mtlb?"

The way she asked that made my heartbeat rise again.

Because if she kept looking at me like that, I might actually end up saying everything.

So I immediately looked away.

"Kuch nahi..."

Then I stood up quickly and forwarded my hand toward her.

"Chaliye lunch karte hai... nahi toh time nahi milega."

She smiled softly before placing her hand in mine.

And honestly?

At that moment, while walking beside her toward the garden...

I realized one thing very clearly-

I was completely gone for my Aarzoo.

Kashvi Pov-

The whole morning felt horrible.

He didn't look at me even once.

Not once.

And maybe for others it was something small... but for me?

It felt like someone was continuously hurting my heart slowly.

I kept looking at him throughout the class.

Waiting.

Just one glance.

But every single time, he kept looking into his books only.

That's when I realized-

He is really angry.

And strangely... his anger affected me more than I expected.

By lunch break, my eyes were already filled with tears.

Everyone left toward the garden, but I stayed back.

He was sitting there quietly taking out his lunchbox.

For few seconds I just kept looking at him.

Then slowly... I tugged his shirt lightly.

He didn't turn.

So again I tugged his shirt.

This time he finally looked at me.

And the moment his eyes met mine, his entire expression changed instantly.

"Kya hua Aarzoo? Aap ro kyu rahi hai?"

I don't know why... but hearing that softness in his voice after the whole morning made my tears fall even more.

Before I could even answer, he made me sit on the bench and kneeled slightly in front of me.

At that moment my heart melted completely.

Because nobody had ever handled me this carefully before.

"Kya hua?" he asked again softly.

I looked at him through blurry eyes and asked between hiccups,

"Aap naraz hai?"

The moment I asked that, I noticed his expression soften immediately.

"Nahi nahi Aarzoo..."

Then why were you ignoring me...?

So I asked exactly that.

"Toh fir aapne mujhse baat kyu nahi ki? Aur ek baar bhi dekha kyu nahi..."

And when he softly replied-

"Pehle tha... lekin ab nahi..."

I don't know why but my heart instantly felt lighter.

Then he softly scolded me saying I shouldn't say things like that again.

Honestly?

I knew he was right.

But hearing him get affected by my words like that...

Somewhere deep down, it made me feel important to him.

So without thinking much, I held my ears softly and apologized.

"Sorry..."

And the way he looked at me after that...

God.

I had to stop myself from smiling.

Then he softly said,

"Firse kabhi aise mat bolna... samjhi aap?"

I immediately nodded obediently.

Because if something hurts him this much... then I really don't want to say such things again.

After that, silence settled between us for few moments.

But my heart was beating strangely fast.

I kept looking at him and suddenly one question slipped out of my mouth-

"Friends hai na hum?"

The truth?

I already knew he wasn't just my friend.

At least not for me.

He was the first person I ever loved this deeply.

The same person whose memories I protected for two whole years.

The same person whose one message can make my entire day better.

The same person whose anger makes me cry.

So no... he was never "just" my friend.

But I still asked.

Maybe because I wanted to hear what I meant to him.

And when he replied-

"More than friends."

My heartbeat literally stopped for a second.

I looked at him immediately.

"Mtlb?"

I wanted him to explain.

I wanted him to say something more.

Anything.

But instead he looked away quickly and said,

"Kuch nahi..."

Liar.

Then he stood up and forwarded his hand toward me.

"Chaliye lunch karte hai..."

I looked at his hand for few seconds before placing mine in it.

And while walking beside him toward the garden...

Only one thought was running inside my heart-

What exactly are we becoming?

Author Pov

After lunch, everyone returned to the classroom. A short while later, the principal arrived and made an announcement.

"As you all know, the day after tomorrow is Raksha Bandhan. So the school has decided to celebrate Rakhi festival tomorrow."

After finishing the announcement, he left the class.

The moment she was gone, Netrabhan leaned back in his seat and muttered, "Abey yaar... yeh principal kahin pagal toh nahi ho gaya na?"

Eshaan smirked. "Yeh principal pakka budhape mein satyia gaya hai."

Ishvik chuckled and added, "Agar itna hi Rakhi bandhwane ka shauk hai, toh apni biwi se jaake bandhwa le."

Arjun couldn't help but laugh at their comments.

Then Ishvik suddenly said, "Tum dono ka hi sahi hai... class mein koi hai hi nahi jise tum dono pasand karte ho, toh sabse Rakhi bandhwa loge."

Eshaan nodded. "Haan, sahi bol raha hai."

But then he paused, as if something clicked in his mind. "Lekin ek second... tera koi hai kya? Mera aur Netrabhan ka toh thoda-thoda samajh aata hai... par tu kisi ko pasand karta hai?"

Ishvik looked away, suddenly shy. "Haan... hai koi."

"Naam?" Netrabhan and Eshaan asked together, leaning forward.

Ishvik hesitated, then said dramatically, "Pata nahi... bas itna pata hai ki woh hamari hi class ki hai."

Netrabhan's eyes widened. "Tune hume bataya bhi nahi?"

Eshaan pointed at him. "Haan bol, kaun hai?"

Ishvik rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Mujhe sharam aa rahi thi..."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the class, Kashvi, Saanvi, and Aarohi had heard everything. They froze in shock.

All three said at the same time, "What the hell..."

Without wasting a moment, they left the classroom and went to sit in the garden.

Kashvi sighed and said, "Bhai, tum logon ka toh samajh aata hai... naya-naya crush hai. Lekin main kaise Rakhi bandhoongi? Main toh almost 3 saal se pyaar karti hoon."

Saanvi blinked. "Yeh kya baat hui? Lekin tum log kaun...?" She turned towards Aarohi in shock.

Then she whispered, "Ishvik hi hai na?"

Aarohi's eyes widened. "Tujhe kaise pata?"

Saanvi smirked. "Mujhe uss din se doubt tha jab woh project ke liye tere ghar aaya tha."

Aarohi immediately blushed, looking down.

Saanvi teased, "Chori sharma gayi!"

Kashvi rolled her eyes. "Arre bas karo tum dono yeh drama. Kal ke baare mein socho."

Aarohi and Saanvi nodded slowly.

Then Aarohi asked, "Kashvi, ab kya karein?"

Saanvi sighed. "Yeh school wale bhi na... zaroorat thi Rakhi celebrate karne ki? Arghh!"

Kashvi suddenly raised a finger. "Mere paas ek idea hai."

She leaned closer and started explaining.

After listening, Aarohi asked worriedly, "Pakka koi gadbad toh nahi hogi na?"

Kashvi shook her head confidently. "Arre nahi, baba."

And with that, they all headed back to the classroom...

So here wraps the chapter 🤍

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