Author Pov
At Evening
Aarohi was on a call with Kashvi and Saanvi, telling them everything about how Ishvik had asked her out on a date.
Kashvi immediately teased her.
Kashvi: "Toh baat yahan tak pahuch gayi hai?"
Saanvi: "Aur nahi toh kya! Yeh dono bas naam ke liye ladte hain, woh bhi dikhane ke liye, taaki kisi ko shak na ho."
Aarohi: "Kuch bhi mat bolo! Woh toh hum dono ke beech challenge laga tha. Jiske zyada marks aayenge, saamne wala uski baat maanega. Bas utna hi."
Kashvi: "Haan haan, hum sab samajh rahe hain."
Aarohi: "Arey tumlog yeh sab chhodo na! Main kya pehnu, yeh batao."
The three of them started discussing outfits, and after a while, they finally helped Aarohi choose one.
She decided to wear a pastel lavender/lilac kurti with delicate embroidery, white straight-fit palazzo pants and a light chiffon dupatta casually draped over one shoulder. She paired it with small silver jhumkas, a simple bracelet and white juttis. Her hair was left open in soft waves.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Ishvik was sitting on Netrabhan's bed with Eshaan and telling them everything.
The moment he mentioned the date, both of them practically jumped up.
Eshaan: "Bhai, tujhe permission mil kaise gayi? Aise kaise de di? Diya kaise?"
Ishvik looked at them as if they had asked the most obvious question in the world.
Ishvik: "Aise kaise matlab? Jhadu-pocha, bartan, safai... sab kiya maine. Tab jaake mummy se permission mili."
Eshaan immediately burst out laughing while Netrabhan chuckled.
Eshaan: "Ek date ke liye itna sab kar diya tune? Jise ek glass paani tak uthaya nahi jaata!"
Ishvik: "Karna padta hai. Tumlog nahi samjhoge."
Netrabhan looked at him suspiciously.
Netrabhan: "Ishvik, tu toh usse pasand bhi nahi karta tha. Aisa tune pehle bola tha. Toh ab kya hua?"
Eshaan: "Aur nahi toh kya! Tum dono toh hamesha ladte rehte ho jaise ek din ek dusre ko kha jaoge."
Ishvik scratched his head.
Ishvik: "Yeh toh mujhe bhi nahi pata."
Netrabhan: "Kya matlab nahi pata?"
Eshaan: "Haan, humein bhi jaana hai. Bata bata!"
Ishvik sighed.
Ishvik: "Haan toh mujhe abhi bhi pasand nahi hai woh. Bas aise hi. Main nahi batane wala."
Eshaan's expression became serious.
Eshaan: "Dekh Ishvik, agar tu sirf pareshan karne ke liye yeh sab kar raha hai na, toh main bata raha hoon—yeh galat hai."
Ishvik: "Main aisa kuch nahi kar raha. Ab mujhe ready hone do."
Saying this, he left to change.
As he stood in front of the mirror, a thought crossed his mind.
Main sach mein kyun kar raha hoon aisa? Main toh Aarohi ko pasand bhi nahi karta...
Suddenly, his imagination appeared in front of him.
Imagination: "Kyunki tum Aarohi se pyaar karte ho."
Ishvik froze.
Ishvik: "Abey iski maa ki! Yeh kaun hai aur mere jaisa kyun dikh raha hai?"
Imagination: "Kyunki yeh tum hi ho."
Ishvik: "Do-do Ishvik? Great!"
He was about to call Eshaan and Netrabhan when his imaginary self interrupted.
Imagination: "Mujhe tumhare alawa koi nahi de sakta. Ab yeh sab chhodo aur jaldi ready ho. Meri Aarohi udhar wait kar rahi hogi."
Ishvik immediately frowned.
Ishvik: "O hello! Teri kaunsi Aarohi? Woh teri thodi hai. Aaya bada 'meri Aarohi' karne wala!"
He shook his head and continued getting ready.
A few minutes later, Ishvik came out wearing a black-and-white shirt, blue jeans, a watch and slightly messy hair.
Eshaan looked at him and smirked.
Eshaan: "Bhai, aaj toh bada hero lag raha hai."
Ishvik: "Chup kar aur chal."
The three of them left for Aarohi's house.
---
At Aarohi's House
Ishvik called her.
Ishvik: "Aarohi, bahar aa."
A few moments later, Aarohi stepped outside.
The moment Ishvik saw her, he froze.
His heartbeat suddenly became faster.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
Yeh kya ho raha hai mujhe?
Aarohi noticed him staring and immediately looked away, her cheeks turning soft pink.
Ishvik quietly placed a hand over his heart.
Ishvik: "Yeh kya ho raha hai mujhe..."
Aarohi's father came outside.
He looked at Ishvik seriously.
Aarohi's Father: "Dhyan se le jaana. Aur kuch hua toh samajh lena aage tumhara kya haal karunga."
Ishvik quickly nodded.
Ishvik: "Ji uncle."
Her father then turned towards Aarohi.
Father: "Beta, abhi bhi time hai. Chhod isse. Hum dono chalte hain date pe."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Ishvik immediately said,
Ishvik: "Arey uncle, aap chinta mat kijiye. Aapki beti meri beti—"
Everyone stared at him.
Ishvik realised what he had said.
Ishvik: "Mera matlab... aapki beti meri zimmedari hai."
Aarohi covered her face in embarrassment.
After a few minutes, they finally left.
---
On the Way
Aarohi sat behind Ishvik on his bike.
For a while, neither of them said anything.
Finally, Aarohi broke the silence.
Aarohi: "Waise hum jaa kahan rahe hain?"
Ishvik smiled.
Ishvik: "Jaldi pata chal jaayega."
Aarohi rolled her eyes.
Aarohi: "Aap bhi na..."
Ishvik chuckled and continued riding.
But somewhere in his heart, he couldn't understand one thing—
Why was he suddenly so nervous about this date?
And why did Aarohi look a little too beautiful tonight?
Maybe this date wasn't going to be as simple as he had imagined.
_____
After some time, they finally reached their destination.
It was a small, aesthetic coffee shop with warm lights, cozy interiors and, to Aarohi's surprise, a bookstore inside the café itself.
The moment Aarohi saw it, she froze.
Her eyes widened as she looked around.
This was exactly how she had always imagined her first date would be—a cute café, books everywhere, peaceful surroundings and someone special beside her.
She turned towards Ishvik with a huge smile.
She remembered mentioning something similar once while commenting on a reel.
And Ishvik had remembered it.
Without thinking twice, Aarohi hugged him.
Aarohi: "Thank you... thank you so much!"
Ishvik stood completely frozen.
His heart started beating so fast that for a moment, he genuinely felt like it might jump out of his chest.
He slowly smiled and thought,
Yeh mujhe kya ho raha hai?
Aarohi pulled away and looked at him.
Aarohi: "Waise... tujhe kaise pata mujhe—"
Ishvik quickly interrupted.
Ishvik: "Mujhe pata tha bas."
Aarohi smiled, still completely unaware that he had remembered something she had casually mentioned months ago.
They entered the café.
Being the gentleman he was, Ishvik pulled the chair back for her.
Aarohi looked at him for a second before sitting down.
He then took the seat opposite her.
They placed their order.
And then...
Silence.
Both were nervous.
Both wanted to talk.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Aarohi decided to break the silence.
Aarohi: "Waise tune bataya nahi..."
Ishvik raised his eyebrows.
Ishvik: "Kya?"
Aarohi: "Main kaisi lag rahi hoon?"
Ishvik looked at her for a moment and without thinking, murmured,
Ishvik: "Bilkul meri... Bas meri...."
But Aarohi didn't hear him properly.
Aarohi: "Kya?"
Ishvik immediately realised what he had said.
He smirked.
Ishvik: "Bhootni."
Aarohi's eyes widened.
Aarohi: "Kya?!"
Ishvik: "Haan, bhootni jaisi lag rahi hai."
Aarohi immediately stood up.
Aarohi: "Main ja rahi hoon."
Ishvik laughed.
Ishvik: "Acha acha, sorry! Baith ja. Achhi lag rahi hai."
Aarohi sat down again and smiled.
Aarohi: "Sirf achhi?"
Ishvik: "Bohot achhi."
Aarohi: "Abhi bhi achhi?"
Ishvik sighed dramatically.
Ishvik: "Achhi ke saath-saath sundar bhi lag rahi hai."
Aarohi smiled wider.
Ishvik: "Aur..."
He paused deliberately.
Aarohi: "Aur?"
Ishvik: "Khoobsurat bhi."
Aarohi's cheeks immediately turned soft pink.
She looked away.
After a moment, Ishvik asked,
Ishvik: "Waise main kaisa lag raha hoon?"
Aarohi looked at him from head to toe.
Aarohi: "Theek-thaak."
Ishvik immediately leaned back.
Ishvik: "Rehne de, rehne de."
Aarohi giggled.
Soon, their order arrived.
After finishing their coffee, Aarohi's eyes wandered towards the bookstore.
She looked at Ishvik.
Aarohi: "Woh books wali side mein bhi chale?"
Ishvik dramatically gestured towards it.
Ishvik: "Jaisi aapki ichha ho, madam. Udhar bhi chalte hain."
Aarohi laughed and got up.
They walked towards the bookstore.
There were books everywhere.
Aarohi's eyes instantly lit up.
She started looking through the shelves, picking up books one after another and reading their titles.
Meanwhile, Ishvik wasn't looking at the books.
He was looking at her.
He stood beside a bookshelf, arms folded across his chest, silently watching her.
He didn't understand what was happening to him.
Why was he noticing every little thing she did?
Why did he like seeing her this happy?
And why did his heart feel strangely peaceful whenever she smiled?
One thing, however, was becoming clear to him.
He was liking this.
Aarohi knew he was watching her.
She could feel his gaze on her.
But she didn't say anything.
She simply continued browsing through the books, secretly smiling to herself.
But she thought Maybe it was the way he kept looking at her.
Or maybe...
It was just her.
She kept staring at him for a few seconds.
And slowly, the bookstore around her began to disappear.
she is standing between the bookshelves with Ishvik beside her.
The warm lights were glowing around them.
Books surrounded them from every side.
Ishvik came closer and gently held her hand.
Aarohi looked down at their intertwined fingers and smiled.
He slowly pulled her towards another shelf, still holding her hand.
She laughed softly.
Then suddenly, Ishvik stood behind her, close enough for her to feel his presence.
Aarohi turned around.
He was looking at her.
Not teasing.
Not arguing.
Just looking at her.
She smiled shyly and whispered,
"Kya hua?"
Ishvik smiled.
"Yahi soch rahu ki ya meri aankhein kharab thi ya mai andha tha jo ab tak aisi khoobsurat cheez ko ignore kar raha tha.."
Her cheeks turned pink.
He gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Aarohi looked into his eyes.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
The whole world seemed to disappear.
Only the two of them remained.
Ishvik slowly leaned closer.
Aarohi's heart started beating faster.
She closed her eyes.
He came even closer...
Their faces were only inches apart.
Aarohi's lips slowly curved into a nervous smile.
She leaned forward too—
And just when their lips were about to meet...
"Aarohi?"
Her imagination shattered.
Aarohi blinked rapidly.
The bookshelves were still there.
The bookstore was still there.
And Ishvik was standing right in front of her...
She immediately looked away, her cheeks burning.
Ishvik raised an eyebrow.
"Kahan kho gayi thi?"
Aarohi quickly shook her head.
"K-kahin nahi."
Ishvik smirked.
"Pakka?"
"Haan!"
She turned towards the books again, pretending to be busy.
But her heart was still beating like crazy.
Pagal ho gayi ho kya, Aarohi?
Meanwhile, Ishvik had no idea what had just happened inside her imagination.
He simply looked at her and smiled.
After a while, Aarohi started walking towards another shelf.
Ishvik suddenly noticed something on the floor.
Her dupatta had fallen behind her.
He bent down, picked it up and held it carefully in his hand.
Then he followed her.
Aarohi kept walking from one shelf to another...
And Ishvik kept following her, holding her dupatta.
She finally noticed.
She turned around and looked at him.
Ishvik simply raised the dupatta slightly.
Ishvik: "yeh....."
Aarohi smiled softly.
Aarohi: "Thank you."
Ishvik nodded.
But instead of giving it back immediately, he continued holding it as he followed her.
Aarohi shook her head with a small smile.
And Ishvik?
He was asking himself the exact same question.
After some time, they decided to leave. Before leaving, Aarohi picked a few books she liked, and Ishvik happily paid for them.
They walked back towards the bike.
Aarohi sat behind Ishvik, carefully holding her books in one hand.
Ishvik started the bike and they drove away.
For a few minutes, everything was quiet.
Ishvik secretly smiled.
Then an idea crossed his mind.
Ek baar dekhte hain...
He deliberately applied the brakes suddenly.
Aarohi, caught completely off guard, immediately moved forward and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist.
Ishvik's smile grew wider.
His heart started beating faster.
Aarohi realised what she had just done and quickly loosened her arms.
Aarohi: "Ishvik!"
Ishvik: "Kya hua?"
Aarohi: "Tune brake jaan-bujhkar lagaya tha na?"
Ishvik tried his best not to laugh.
Ishvik: "Arey nahi! Brake toh apne aap lag gaya."
Aarohi narrowed her eyes.
Aarohi: "Haan haan, mujhe pata hai."
Ishvik chuckled and started riding again.
After a moment, he said softly,
Ishvik: "Waise... pakad ke baith sakti ho. Girne ka risk nahi chahiye mujhe."
Aarohi's cheeks turned pink.
She quietly held the back handle again.
Ishvik smiled to himself.
Handle pakad liya... par mujhe toh khair.
After that, Ishvik finally dropped Aarohi back at her house.
As soon as they reached, Aarohi noticed her father was already waiting outside.
She immediately became a little nervous.
Aarohi: "Thank you..."
Ishvik smiled.
Aarohi picked up her books and started walking towards the house. Before entering, she turned back once and looked at him.
Ishvik was already looking at her.
Their eyes met for a moment.
Aarohi smiled softly and went inside.
Her father looked at Ishvik and nodded, while Ishvik politely greeted him before starting his bike.
After making sure Aarohi had reached safely, Ishvik finally left for his own house.
Aarohi POV
At night, I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about today.
Our first date.
A small smile appeared on my face as every moment started replaying in my mind.
The café... the books... the way Ishvik had pulled the chair for me...
And the way he had remembered that I always wanted my first date to be somewhere like that.
Usse sach mein yaad tha...
Mujhe nhi laga tha yeh sab usse yaad nhi hoga bolkar....
I hugged my pillow and smiled.
Then I remembered how he had complimented me.
Achhi...
sundar...
khoobsurat...
My cheeks immediately turned pink.
"Pagal hai kya Aarohi? Itna kya soch rahi hai?" I whispered to myself.
But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop smiling.
Then I remembered the bike ride.
That sudden brake.
The way I had instinctively held him.
I covered my face with the pillow.
"Usne jaan-bujhkar brake lagaya tha! Lekin hayee sahi kiya"
I was sure of it.
But then I remembered how he had told me to hold him properly so I wouldn't fall.
My heart skipped a beat.
Because today, for the first time, being around him didn't feel like another argument or challenge.
It felt... different.
I closed my eyes and smiled.
"Shayad... mujhe aaj ke baad se woh kuch aur zyada hi psnd aane lage."
And with that thought, I slowly drifted off to sleep, still smiling.
Ishvik pov
I was lying on my bed, but sleep was nowhere near me.
My mind kept going back to today.
That date.
Our date.
I sighed and turned to the other side.
I don't like her.
It was just a challenge.That's it.
But then why was I thinking about her so much?
I remembered the moment she came outside.
She was wearing that pastel lavender outfit, her hair open, and that little smile on her face.
For a second, I had completely forgotten what I was supposed to say.
Yeh kya ho raha tha mujhe?
And when she hugged me and said, "Thank you, thank you so much," I swear my heart almost stopped.
I smiled just thinking about it.
Then I immediately frowned.
"Pagal hai kya Ishvik? She's just Aarohi."
The same Aarohi who irritates me.
The same Aarohi who fights with me over literally everything.
The same Aarohi who never misses a chance to threaten me.
Phir aaj uske saath itna accha kyun laga?
I remembered her asking, "Mai kaisi lag rahi hoon?"
Without even thinking, I had almost said—
Bilkul meri zindagi.
I closed my eyes.
"I actually said that?"
Thankfully, she hadn't heard me.
I smiled again.
Then I remembered the bookshop.
She was looking at every book with so much excitement, while I...
I was looking at her.
I don't even know why.
She would move from one shelf to another, and somehow my eyes would follow her every time.
Even her dupatta fell on the floor and instead of calling her, I picked it up and followed her while holding it.
What was I doing?
I had never behaved like this before.
And the worst part?
I liked it.
I turned around and buried my face into the pillow.
"No. I don't like her."
I said it again.
"It was just a challenge."
But this time, even I didn't believe myself.
Then I remembered the bike ride.
That sudden brake...
Her hands around me.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"Okay... maybe I did that brake a little deliberately."
I laughed quietly at myself.
But then I became serious.
Maybe everyone was right.
Maybe there was something I was refusing to understand.
I closed my eyes and whispered—
"I don't like Aarohi..."
A pause.
"...right?"
And for the first time, I wasn't sure of my own answer.
Author POV
The next morning, Kashvi and Saanvi were sitting with Aarohi, who was already regretting telling them about her date.
Kashvi looked at her with a teasing smile.
"Aur bhai, kaisi rahi date? Humein bhi batao."
Aarohi rolled her eyes.
"Zyada kuch nahi hua. Bas coffee shop gaye, phir bookshop... aur thodi der ghoome. Bas."
She told them everything that happened.
Saanvi listened carefully, and then suddenly leaned closer with a mischievous smile.
"Kiss bhi kiya?"
Aarohi's eyes widened.
"Pagal hai kya? Kuch bhi bolti hai!"
Saanvi innocently shrugged.
"Kya kuch bhi? Kiss ka hi toh poocha maine."
Kashvi immediately joined them.
"Aarohi, koi na. Jab Saanvi jayegi na date pe, tab woh karegi. Tab pooch lena."
Saanvi froze.
Her eyes automatically travelled towards Eshaan, who was standing nearby, teasing Ishvik and laughing with him.
Kashvi and Aarohi noticed it.
Aarohi's eyes widened.
"Ohooooo!"
Kashvi immediately understood.
"Dekha Aarohi? Soch bhi liya hai isne!"
Aarohi added dramatically,
"Haan, bas jaane ki jaldi hai."
Saanvi's cheeks turned bright red.
"Muh band karo dono!"
Both girls burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Eshaan was busy teasing Ishvik.
"Aur kaisa raha? Raat ko neend aayi ki nahi?"
Vedansh looked confused.
"Date?"
Eshaan nodded proudly.
"Haan, gaye the kal Janab."
Vedansh looked at Ishvik.
"Kiske saath? Aur kaun hai woh pagal?"
Netrabhan chuckled.
"Hai koi... iske jaisi hi pagal."
Vedansh raised an eyebrow.
"Lekin kaun?"
Eshaan casually replied,
"Aarohi."
Vedansh's eyes widened.
"Achha... Aarohi?"
Then he looked at Ishvik and said,
"Yeh apni Aarohi?"
Ishvik immediately frowned.
"Yeh 'apni Aarohi' kya hota hai? Aur aise shock kyun ho raha hai jaise main kisi bhoot ke saath date pe chala gaya hoon?"
Vedansh laughed.
"Tum dono kaise jaa sakte ho?"
Ishvik looked at him seriously.
"Kaise matlab? Pair se... aur kaise?"
Eshaan and Netrabhan started laughing.
Vedansh rolled his eyes.
"Arey mera matlab, tum dono jo hamesha ek dusre se ladte rehte ho, ek dusre ko maarne pe aa jaate ho... woh log date pe? Yeh baat kuch hazam nahi hui."
Ishvik smirked.
"Toh Hajmola kha, hazam ho jayega."
Eshaan and Netrabhan burst into laughter.
Vedansh shook his head.
"Tum dono ka kuch nahi ho sakta."
Just then, the teacher entered the classroom.
Everyone quickly settled down, trying to hide their laughter.
The teacher placed her books on the desk and said,
"Alright everyone, let's begin."
______
After lunch, everyone continued teasing each other for a while before finally heading back to class.
Just as everyone settled down, their teacher entered and announced something that instantly caught everyone's attention.
"Students, we have an important announcement. Our farewell is going to be held soon."
The entire class immediately became excited.
After all, the seniors were going to get their farewell, and for the juniors, it meant they were finally going to become the seniors of the school. It would also be their last year together in this school.
Aarohi immediately smiled.
"Finally farewell ho raha hai!"
Ishvik leaned back in his chair.
"Mujhe toh laga hi nahi tha yeh hoga bhi."
Aarohi looked around at everyone.
"Sab aa rahe hain na?"
Ishvik nodded.
"Main toh aa raha hoon."
Eshaan quickly added,
"Main bhi."
Saanvi shrugged.
"Sochna padega."
Vedansh nodded.
"Same."
Kashvi shook her head.
"Nahi, main nahi aa rahi."
Arjun also said,
"Main bhi."
Netrabhan simply replied,
"Dekhte hain."
Aarohi looked at everyone in disbelief.
"Arey yeh kya hai? Sab aayenge tab na maza aayega!"
Ishvik agreed.
"Aur nahi toh kya."
Eshaan added,
"Sirf hum teeno aakar kya karenge?"
Aarohi crossed her arms.
"Aisa nahi chalega. Sabko aana padega. Mujhe kuch bhi nahi pata, bas baat khatam."
Ishvik immediately nodded.
"Haan, baat khatam."
Everyone laughed, but the others only said that there was still time and they would decide later.
Aarohi didn't say anything after that. She quietly went back to her seat and sat down.
Ishvik noticed her sudden silence.
After a moment, he walked towards her and stood beside her.
"Arey, Ziddi Afat, kya hua?"
Aarohi looked away.
"Kuch bhi nahi... chhod."
Ishvik smiled.
"Abhi pakda hi kahan hai jo chhod doon?"
But Aarohi still didn't say anything.
Ishvik understood what was bothering her.
He softly said,
"Tension mat le. Woh log aayenge."
Aarohi finally looked at him.
"Sachi?"
Ishvik smiled confidently.
"Haan, sachi. Dekhna tu."
Aarohi gave him a small smile.
And somehow, just those few words were enough to make her feel a little better.
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