《Love Before Graduation》 Chapter 1 -:1:Between Classes & Heartbeats Chapter 1 -:1:Between Classes & Heartbeats "Is this the last time I''ll ask you this¡ªdo you like me or not?" Rei''s voice was little uncertain, his was eyes searching mine for an answer. We were sitting side by side on the school bus, just like always, but today its different. There was a weight in the air I stayed silent, In my thoughts a chaos occur Did I like him? Did I not? My heart and mind were at race, a storm starting inside me. For months, he had been a constant in my life, he is around me like a restless moon orbiting earth , always there waiting...And now, he wanted his answer. "No," the word left my lips , just a whisper S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I stood up as the bus came to school entrance , avoiding his gaze, and stepped down onto the land of school . My legs felt heavy, I couldn''t quite name. As the bus doors closed behind me, I knew I had just severed a thread connecting us... one he had been holding onto for six long months. Six months ago, Rei had walked into my life, and since then, he had never left my side. He was the first boy who had ever given me so much love and attention, the first to make my heart flutter in diffrent ways I Didn''t even understand. He was confessing his feelings time and again, always with that same unwavering determination. "My heart only beats for you. I''ve been waiting for you all my life," he had told me once. It was during a lunch break in the canteen, when I was sitting alone, lost in my own world. His words had sent a strange warmth through me, something close to happiness.....but even then, I hadn''t been able to believe him and not even in myself that if I am truly able for his love Rei was in 12th grade, two years ahead of me. I was only in 9th. Maybe that''s why I hesitated. Maybe that''s why I never gave him the answer . I remember thinking back then, "Maybe this is the moment when life finally offers us happiness in Golden spoon" But today, on his last day at school, I turned him down in clear way and also with those words Which are unforgiving . My heart ached but deep inside, I knew I had made the right choice. I wanted to stay with him. I wanted to hold on him for rest of my life I thought maybe our being together was never meant for me. Lost in my thoughts, I did not even realize when I reached the classroom. The pain of what happened between me and Ray was still bothering me somewhere in my heart. But before this Chamden tsunami could drown my heart, A Familiar voice came "Aira! Hurry up and come here! Where have you been?" I looked up to see Nami, my best friend, sitting on the floor near the entrance of our classroom. She was busy creating a rangoli,With her full concentration. I laughed seeing her like that. "You? Making a rangoli?" I teased, walking towards her. "You can''t even draw a straight line!" Nami give me a glare,clearly unimpressed. "Shut up! I was waiting for you! Help me out, will you? Everyone else is busy preparing for the function."She said with a wry face when she was sitting on the ground with her legs crossed and her hands were smeared with the colour of rangoli I smirked, shaking my head as I sat beside her. "Where are Ojasubi and Suhina?" I asked, glancing around. She gestured towards the classroom. "They''re inside, finishing up the decorations." I nodded and sat down beside her, I roll up my sleeves and start helping Her . The entire school was buzzing with excitement for Annual Day. Students were running around, decorating Their classroom,hall and rehearsing performances. The air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers and mixed with the yummy aroma of snacks from the canteen. Wheb I helped Nami fill in the rangoli design, I wanted to tell her everything¡ªabout Rei, about what had just happened on the bus, about everything going inside me. But words wouldn''t come out. So , I just smiled and let myself get lost in the colors, pushing the feeling deep inside where no one could see. "Woohoo! The dance performance is starting¡ªhurry up!" Chapter 2 -:2:Heartbeat Chapter 2 -:2:Heartbeat Ojasubi waved t us excitedly from the front row, holding seats for us. Without wasting a second, the three of us start walking fast toward her, pasting other students to claim our spots. As soon as we sat down on seats , Nami let out a satisfied sigh. "Finally! Now we can actually enjoy the event." She stretched her arms, smiling . Suhina who is not much interested in principal speech. She folded her arms and rolled her eyes. "Yeah... but first, we have to sit through the principal''s speec" I lean back in my seat. "Ugh, how much longer is this bald old man going to bore us?" My voice was filled with exhaustion as I slumped against the chair Nami, who had been laughing and smiling with other a moment ago, suddenly turned towards me with a concerned look. "Are you okay?" Her tone was softer and hesitant , as if she sensed something was not fine. For a moment, I considered telling her about what happend btween me and Rei, about the strom inside me. But , I just forced a smile and nodded. "Of course, I am. Now, let''s just focus on enjoying the performances." She didn''t look convinced, but she didn''t push me either. The hall lights dimmed, the music started, and for a while, we let ourself get lost in the music, The deep emotion into a love song. The melody of the song wrapped around me, going somewhere deep inside. My thoughts lost away from the crowd, away from the bright stage those lights, into a quiet corner of my mind where a single question resting was love really like this? Was it as beautiful, as painful, as overwhelming as people said? Without Thinking other words, I turned to Nami. "Nami," I called her out softly. She looked at me, slightly confused . "Yeah? What is it?" I paused for a moment before asking, hesitated, but then I asked - "What is love, Nami?" She looked at me with a mocking smile.Then, making a funny face, she shrugged looking toward Suhina . "You should ask Suhina. She''s the one in love." I turned to Suhina, who was unbothered by our question and quietly watching the performance. "Suhina, do you know?" She shook her head, she say in a calm voice. "No!"Maybe love is something that exists in your heart before you even realize it. Or maybe... even when it doesn''t exist, the heart still claims it as its own." Her eyes our still on performance Nami smirked ,suddenly a mischievous glint in on Her face. "Love is exactly what Suhina feels for Tenzin," she teased Suhina playfully. At this, Suhina''s face turned red with anger and embarrassment. "Shut up, Nami!" she groaned , crossing her arms. Nami just laughed, enjoying Suhina''s reaction. In the middle of our laughter, my phone suddenly rang. "Who is it?" Nami asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes. I slipped my hand into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and glanced at the screen. The name Krishvik flashed brightly. "It''s Krishvik," I said, my voice steady. Teru immediately pulled a face, clearly unimpressed. "Ugh, Krishvik? Come on, Aira, why do you even talk to him?" "That guy''s a psycho," she added, crossing her arms with a dramatic sigh. "He''s not like that, Teru," I said gently, my tone firm but kind. "He''s actually a good friend." "Yeah, he''s not that bad," Nami chimed in, her voice softer, trying to balance the mood. "People just don''t try to understand him." "Wait, let me just text him," I said quickly, my fingers already moving. I typed out a short message ¡ª "I''m out right now. Will call you later." And hit send. Then, nami turned back to me, tilting her head. "Alright then, you tell us.....what is love?" Her question caught me off guard. For a sec I Can''t find the words . Because the truth was....I didn''t know either. "Maybe love is something that exists in your heart before you even realize it. Or maybe... even when it doesn''t exist, the heart still claims it as its own." The words come out from my mouth without thought, as if they had always been there, waiting to be spoken to be shared After that there was silence. Neither Nami nor Suhina said anything. They simply let my words settle in , blending into the soft instrument of the love song still playing on stage. Instead of responding, we all turned our attention back to the performance, losting ourselves in the rhythm But my mind was elsewhere. As the event ended and the crowd slowly start going , we gathered our things and stepped out of the school gates. The evening air was cool and fresh carrying the distant laughter of students Behind us. Just as I was about to leave with Nami and Suhina, my eyes caught sight of him Rei... He stood near the entrance, surrounded by a few of his classmates, for a mere second, our eyes met. And in that moment, a thought crossed my mind. Is this the end? I turned away, ready to walk ahead Leaving the scars Behind . But just then, Rei looked back at me one last time. He didn''t say anything, didn''t call out my name. He only smiled .....a small smile, one that held neither regret nor sadness. And then, he turned and walked away With his Friends. I watched him disappear into the crowd, and for the first time, I felt something shift within me. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I realized, some bonds are meant to remain unname ,unlabeled, unchained by expectations. And maybe... that''s exactly how they are supposed to be. As I turned to leave, a sudden realization struck me. "Oh my God! Yaar, I left my book in the classroom!" I looked for my book in my bag, stopping in my tracks. "Really? You don''t bring books even on study days and today when there is an annual function, you have brought books?" He shook his head in disbelief. I pouted, playfully "Bitch!" I said back, sticking out my tongue. She burst into laughter. "Haha, you''re impossible, Aira." Suhina, standing nearby, was listening to our conversation quietly. She gave a tired and fed up expression and started looking at me as if I had committed a crime. And said, "Look, if you both want to go, then go, I will not come with you. I am tired." She said while removing her hair from her forehead. Nami and I looked at each other and turned our eyes to one side. "Don''t come," and saying this we left from there. Typical Suhina.....forever acting like a queen who couldn''t be bothered with trivial matters. As Nami and I walked toward the classroom, she sighed in relief and give me a smile . "Well, at least we got rid of Suhina. She always acts so high and mighty for no reason." Nami said dramatically, stretching her arms behind her head. I chuckled. It was true.....Suhina had her moments of unnecessary attitude, but that was just how she was. By now, the school was almost Empty . The once-bustling corridors were quiet, with only a faint echo of distant chatter from the few students and staff who still Their . The empty halls felt unfamiliar, stripped of the usual energy that filled them during the day. Chapter 3 -:3: In the classroom Chapter 3 -:3: In the classroom We were on our way to the classroom when Nami stopped near the water cooler. "I''m thirsty, you go... I''ll come," She said pointing towards the classroom. "Hmmm okay," saying this I went inside the classroom. As soon as I entered the classroom I felt something strange. As usual there was no noise here today. The rays of the setting sun were filtering in through the window. I went straight to my seat and picked up my book which I had forgotten from the wooden table. I kept looking at that book for a while. It''s such a small thing ¨C But for that I had to come to this empty classroom. I was thinking this when I realized ¨C I am not alone. The sound of someone''s slow breathing felt in my ears like a song. I don''t know why my heart beats started getting faster after listening to it. I turned around and looked around the classroom. And then I saw him... A boy, Who was sleeping peacefully on his seat. He was sleeping hiding his face in his arms, Only a little bit of his face was visible. His hair looked scattered and tangled due to sleep. I went a little closer and saw, He was a boy from our class. But what was he doing here at this time? I started getting confused. Curious to know this, I slowly started walking towards him. As I was going closer to him, The sound of his breathing became more clear ¨C He was sleeping very peacefully, As if he was seeing a very sweet dream. I hesitated a little ¨C Should I wake him up? I extended my hand to wake him up, and just with a slight touch he suddenly got up in a hurry. He looked at me rubbing his eyes. "Oh... sorry, I didn''t mean to wake you up, it was just..." I said and took a step back. "But what are you doing here at this time? It''s evening and the function got over long ago... Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Don''t you want to go home?" He was probably still half asleep. Stretching a little, "Oh...What time is it?" His gaze shifted to his wrist as he checked his watch, while I simply stood there,... "Its 5 pm already " Chapter 4 -:4: lantern of Memory Chapter 4 -:4: lantern of Memory Then he looked at me, I could not understand his expression and before I could understand anything, he stood up and walked out of the class without saying anything I remained in place, watching as he walked away. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the now-empty classroom, each step pulling him further into the hallway And then....he was gone. For the first time since entering, I realized how quiet the room had become. I was alone again, but I Don''t know why, it didn''t feel like before. Something about his presence feel different with a quiet mystery left behind. "Such a weird guy," I talk to myself, shaking my head. Just then, a familiar voice called from behind me. "Who was that?" I turned to see Nami standing by the doorway, with curious eyes I sighed and picked up my book. "It was Arin... from our class. That guy is so strange." I said , recalling his aloof behavior. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nami chuckled as we walked out together. "Strange? Not really. He just doesn''t talk much, that''s all." I lost, deep in thought. "That''s exactly what I mean. Look at his group,all of them are our friends. But him?" I was struggling to put my thoughts into words. Nami suddenly laughed . "Maybe he''s gay." I nearly tripped over my own feet. "Huh!? Seriously!?" I asked in shock, staring at her She burst into laughter. "How would I know? I was just joking!" She give me a look the kind you give someone who completely misses the joke. I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "Yeah, yeah... I knew that." I said , pretending to be unfazed, but my mind still Somewhere... on Arin''s odd behavior. As the evening settled in, I finally reached home, exhaustion weighing on my shoulders. "Mumma, give me food!" I called out the moment I stepped inside, kicking off my shoes and starting to unbutton my uniform. From the kitchen, my mom''s voice rang out, "At least put your uniform in its place, Aira!" I said lazily . "I am very tired, Mumma..." saying this, I fell on my bed like a starfish. After a while, Mummy came with a plate of food and a glass of water in her hand. "Here, eat." I sat up lazily, looking at the food. My face instantly fell. "Ugh, the same sabzi again? I don''t want to eat this." I pouted, making a face like a stubborn child. She simply shrugged. "Then don''t." Her tone was indifferent as if she couldn''t care less. "You''re so mean!" I said, but my hunger won over my tantrum, and I quietly pulled the plate towards me, taking the first bite. As I ate, my fingers absentmindedly reached for my phone. Unlocking the screen, my thoughts suddenly drifted to Rei. Memories flooded back the way he used to tease me, annoy me , how he''d always find some way to get under my skin. His smirk, his laugh, the mischief in his eyes... It all played in my mind like a scene from a long-lost story. A strange feeling settled in my heart. Something....something I can''t define Chapter 5 -:5:Lanterns of Memory (part 2) Chapter 5 -:5:Lanterns of Memory (part 2) The holidays had finally begun, and I couldn''t have been happier. No school, no assignment ,just relaxation. More than anything, I was excited to visit my nani''s house in her village. A break from everything, from the city, from Rei, from all the things that had been stressed me out lately. When i was packing my bags, I dialed Suhina''s number. The call rang and she picked up. "Hey, I''m leaving tomorrow! Are you coming with me?" I asked eagerly, hoping she''d say yes. She let out a sigh. "No, I have a lot to do." I pouted even though she couldn''t see me. "Fine, but you''ll at least buy the books I wanted, right?" she replied, "I can''t promise... Tenzin or Rian is getting my books, so let''s see." I could hear some shuffling in the background she was probably busy with something. A smile spread across my lips. "Oh? And you still say there''s nothing going on between you and Tenzin, huh?" My voice come with playful teasing. "Ugh, stop it! There''s nothing like that!" she was clearly flustered I can sense I smiled. "Yeah, yeah. At least be honest with me." I was enjoying her reaction. But before I could tease her any further, she quickly cut me off. "I have work to do. Bye!" And just like that, the call ended. shake my head with a small laugh. "What''s there to hide?" I said to myself. But I didn''t ponder on it for too long. Instead, I zipped up my bag, and stepped out. It was time to leave for nani''s house. A new place, a fresh change. I could already feel the excitement in my heart as I set off for my vacation. ________________________________ That night it feel luke sleep have some kind Of war with me , I rolled and turned in bed, but no matter how hard I tried, my eyes refused to close. Frustrated, I quietly slipped out of my room and climbed up to the terrace, where the cool night wind welcome me. The terrace was bathed in the light of the moonlight, casting silver shadows across the floor. the quiet rustling of leaves, I spotted Nani sitting on the old wooden swing, "You''re still awake, Nani?" I asked softly, stepping closer. She turned to look at me, her warm, wrinkled face spark seeing me . "No, my dear, I was just lost in thought. But what about you? Can''t sleep?" she asked, her voice filled with affection. I stretched my arms with a yawn. "Nope, sleep is playing hide and seek with me tonight." Nani chuckled, patting the empty space beside her. "Come here, let me tell you a story. Maybe it will take you to sleep." Laughing heartily, I lay down on the swing without any delay, with my head on Grandma''s lap.She was caressing my hair slowly and then she started her fairy tale or love story - "Once upon a time..." She started the story from here and with that I started getting lost in the world of her story "There was a small village, which was situated between the mountains.a girl named Saira lived there, She and her childhood friend, Veer, had loved each other since they were young." I listened while staring at the countless stars twinkling above, imagining a boy and girl running through the fields, laughing in the golden sunlight. "But Veer was restless ,he wanted to see the world, to make a name for himself before returning to marry Saira." I closed my eyes, and with closed eyes I started imagining how Veer would be stuck between his love and his dreams. On one side was his heart, which was beating for Saira... and on the other side was his dream, which wanted to take him away from that hilly village "Before leaving Veer gave a lantern to Saira and said," ¡ª Nani took a deep breath and then said - "You always keep this lantern lit near the window... It will remind me that my heart is with you. And then, one day I will return with the help of this light..." I smiled to myself. ''Veer really loved Saira, didn''t he?'' The thought made my heart feel warm. Nani paused for a moment, probably thinking I had fallen asleep. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then what happened, Nani? Did Veer ever come back?" I mumbled, my eyes still closed. She laughed softly. "You''re still awake? I thought you had drifted off." She took a sip of water from glass before continuing the story furthe Chapter 6 -:6:The Love tale Chapter 6 -:6:The Love tale "Saira waited. Every night, she lit the lantern. Days turned into months, months into years. People told her Veer wouldn''t return that he must Have forgotten her , but she never stopped believing in Veer''s words ." I felt pain in my heart. She waited without expectations, just like a devotee waits for their god. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nani continued. "One night, after many years, a storm hit the village. The winds were fierce, and Saira''s lantern finally stop glowing . She took it as a sign , that it was time to let go." I speak quietly. ''So she finally gave up...'' Nani''s voice carried a hint of mystery. "The next morning, a traveler arrived at her door. His clothes were damaged , his face covered in dust, but his eyes.....his eyes were the same as before. It was Veer." She paused again "Nani, but why? Why did he come back after all these years?" I asked, confusion clear on my face. She smiled, her eyes filled with wisdom. "Because when the storm covered the lantern, Veer panicked. He had been following its light every night from afar, believing he still had time. But the moment it disappeared, he realized he might have lost Saira forever." My breath stop for a sec as she spoke the final words of the story. Saira smiled, tears in her eyes. ''You were lost long before the storm. But I am glad you found your way home.''" Silence filled the air I turned slightly, looking at Nani. "Did Saira forgive him?" She sighed, brushing of hair from my face. "Some questions don''t have simple answers, Aira" As I lay there, the story refused to leave my mind. Was love meant to be painful? Or was it people who made it so? Before I could find an answer, my eyes slowly closed, the wind carrying me into dreams woven with lanterns, storms, and the light that always finds its way home. my dreams pulled me into the very tale that had consumed my thoughts.I found myself standing within its world, not as an outsider, but as a part of its essenc....walking the same paths, and living the moments as if they were my own. Every detail was vivid........the scent of damp earth after the rain, the distant echoes of whispered conversations, the weight of emotions pressing against her chest. I spoke, I fought, I felt....completely immersed, as if the boundaries between fiction and reality had blurred into nothingness. Time lost its meaning in this realm, and before Iknew it, the golden glow of sun enter in my room through my window. The dream clung to me like an unspoken truth, and I woke up .... though a part of me still belonged to that world. Chapter 7 -:7:A Morning of Memories Chapter 7 -:7:A Morning of Memories "You''re still sleeping? Look at the time!" My cousin yelled , hurriedly gathering her bedding in a rush. Her voice carried a urgency , as if she had already conquered half the day while I was still lost in dreams. I blinked a few times, stretching lazily. "Ugh... why did morning come so soon? It was such a wonderful dream," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and rolling onto my side, unwilling to let go of my dreamworld. Her curiosity at peak instantly. She stop her task and shuffled closer, eyes sparkling with interest. "Really? What was it about?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement, eager to hear the details. I smile ,contemplating whether to share. Then, with a playful spark in my eyes, I dismissed her curiosity with a teasing remark. "Nothing... just the devil," I said, nudging her away before finally pulling myself out of bed and stepping into the routine of the day. By evening, the weather began to shift, the sky darkening , heavy clouds rolled in. A storm was brewing, and the air carried the scent of impending rain. Sensing the change, I rushed upstairs to the terrace, my footsteps quick . The clothes I had left out to dry swayed in the growing wind. Just as I started gathering them, the first drops of rain fell....light at first, then suddenly turning into a downpour. With the rain beating down, I hurried back inside, my clothes slightly wet from the sudden shower. The downpour grew bigger , drumming against rooftops and streets. I peered outside, my eyes drawn to the road where a few children had gathered, their laughter echoing through the rain ,soaked air as they floated paper boats along the rushing water. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I stood there in silence, mesmerized. The rhythmic sound of rain, the scent of wet earth, the innocence of childhood games....it all felt strangely calming . Without realizing it, I found myself lost in the moment, simply watching the rain and its melancholic beauty. As I stood there, watching the rain weave its quiet symphony, an uninvited thought of Rei slipped into my heart. I had denied it countless times, convinced myself that I had moved on, yet somewhere, a part of me still belong to him,unseen, unspoken, but undeniably present. "Does he ever think of me? Or is this, too, just another illusion of mine? Is he just as lost in thoughts as I am? Or have I never even crossed the boundaries of his mind? Why does this heart refuse to quiet down? Is there no other pain in the world?" The questions yelled within me, unanswered, dissolving into the rhythm of the falling rain. Lost in my thoughts, I hadn''t even noticed when the rain stop.The air smelled fresh, washed clean by the downpour. Just then, my cousin stepped onto the terrace, her presence breaking the Silence. "Everything looks so clean after the rain, doesn''t it?" she said, her Eyes drifting towards the distant mountains. "Look, even those faraway peaks are visible now." She pointed toward them, her eyes filled with wonder. The mountains, usually hidden behind layers of dust and haze, stood clear and majestic after rain . A shadow of melancholy crossed her face as she sighed. "The weather isn''t the same as before. There was a time when these mountains were always visible... but now, they only shine like this after the rain."There was sadness clearly visible in his voice, as if he was sad for those mountains. I closed my eyes and began to speak while feeling the wind "The rain comes, and even the mountains reveal themselves again. But I remain buried beneath layers of sorrow. If only there were a rain for grief," Maybe then... I could see myself too. She looked at me smilingly, she was impressed with my lines, ¡ª "You''re really good at poetry." She said very proudly, and I just smiled a little at this. "So, are we planning to spend the entire night here?" I said, stretching my arms as the cool wind brushed against my skin. She smile, shaking her head, and without another word, we started making our way downstairs. the scent of rain still in the air. Just as I reached the last step, an inexplicable pull made me pause. I turned back, my eyes drawn once again to the distant mountains....those silent, steadfast witnesses of time and change. For a fleeting moment, I stood there Then, without another glance, I turned away and walked down Chapter 8 -:8:The School Morning Chapter 8 -:8:The School Morning The holidays were over and I had returned from my grandmother''s village about two-three days ago. Today was the first day of school after the holidays were over. There was sadness of the holidays ending and also excitement of going to school. As I was getting ready, my phone rang, and Nami''s name flashed on the screen. I answered, putting it on speaker while I continued with my routine. "You are coming, right?" Nami asked in excitement. She was also happy like me as school was about to open and meet her friends "Yes, I am just having breakfast, the bus hasn''t arrived yet" I told him while eating breakfast And then while talking I put the phone on the dresser and started combing my hair in front of the mirror "Alright then, I''m leaving now. See you at school!" she said cheerfully. "Okay, see you," I replied, hanging up. Wasting no time, I hurriedly finished styling my hair. In the distant honk of the school bus reached my ears. It was already here. "Mumma, I''m leaving! Bye!" I called out, carrying my bag over my shoulder in one swift motion. Without waiting for a reply, I rushed out, stepping into the fresh morning air as the familiar yellow bus waited at the end of the lane, ready to take me back to the routine . As soon as I stepped onto the school bus, I quickly made my way to my usual seat, slipping into the familiar comfort of routine. Then , I pulled out my earphones and placed them in my ears, letting the music drown out the chatter around me. The bus was filled with the usual morning energy.....students talking, laughing, and sharing stories about their vacation. But I simply leaned against the window, watching as the city, lost in my own little world. When we finally arrived at school, an undeniable excitement filled in the school. After the long break, the campus was buzzing with life again. Friends reunited with hugs, laughter echoed through the corridors, and everyone seemed eager to catch up on everything they had missed. There was something special about these post-holiday reunions...the joy of being back with school Friends , sharing stories, and stepping back into the routine of school life. As I walked toward the assembly area, a sudden realization struck me. "Oh no, I forgot to wear my ribbons!" I speak in low voice , glancing at Nami and Suhina for help. Nami gave me a pointed look and sighed. "At least today, you should''ve remembered." I turned slightly to check the line behind us. The teacher was already making her way through the rows, inspecting every student. "What do I do now?" I asked, putting on my best innocent expression, hoping for a miracle. Suhina, unimpressed. "What else? Get scolded, obviously." Her voice carried a teasing sharpness, but I could tell she found the situation amusing. She crossed her arms and give me a Weird look "Was showing off your fashion more important than following the rules?" I try to Explain . "It''s not like I did it on purpose! It just slipped my mind." Nami try to control her laugh, nudging Suhina slightly. "Ignore her, she just loves to rant." Before I could do anything, I felt someone standing behind me. "Where are your ribbons?" teacher asked, her voice commanding . I just opened my mouth to explain but the teacher without listening to anything just held my hand and took me towards the principal''s office. "Come with me. Let''s see what the principal has to say about this." I felt my stomach twisting in . "Oh no... the principal is going to murder me," I thought to myself, my heartbeat growing heavier as we neared the office. The moment we entered, the principal wasted no time. She folded her arms and gave me a sharp look before scolding. The principal give me a Sharp eye look."again, Aira?" Not again. One more slip-up, and she''d be on cleaning duty for a week. "Sorry" ''Excuses don''t work here. You''ll be assisting in the library for the next three days. One more late mark, and we''ll be calling your patents" Great. Just what she needed. "You know the school rules, don''t you? After so many reminders, how could you still forget? This is not the kind of discipline we expect from our students. If everyone started ignoring the dress code, would this still be a school or a fashion show?" "Sorry." That was the only word I could say. Every time she spoke, I repeated it like a broken record, hoping it would work on her. But she wasn''t done. Just then, the door opened, and PT sir walked in, dragging a few boys behind him. "These students arrived late," he tell. The principal, already fuming, turned to them with even more frustration. "Come here!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the office. Among them were two boys from my class...Rian and Arin. Rian looked unfazed, almost as if he was used to being in trouble. But Arin... he stood there quietly, his innocent face making it seem like he had been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The principal''s lecture continued for some time without stopping and then after about half an hour he calmed down and then he allowed us to leave. As soon as we came out, I heaved a sigh of relief. "The first day has started so well?" I almost laughed. "It could have been worse than this. Whatever happens happens for good, we just accept this." I shook my head. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 9 -:9:The weight of the words Chapter 9 -:9:The weight of the words Rian speak while rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You were late." I rolled my eyes. "No, it was the ribbons." I pulled one of my braided strands forward so that he can see , as if that proved anything. His eyes tunr toward me with amusement before settling back into its usual self. "These school rules are getting ridiculous." "You''re telling me," I said . Then, looking between him and Arin, I added, "But what about you two? What''s your excuse?" Rian barely hesitated. "We ran into Rei." It was quick.....just a second, a small misstep in my otherwise controlled reaction. But I felt it. That quiet, unwanted pain in my heart. Rei. I forced a smile, shifting my tone like the conversation bored me. "Oh." That was all I allowed myself to say. But inside, it was a different story. Rei. His name had once felt safe, familiar. Now, it was like stepping onto unstable ground, not knowing whether I''d fall or stand .But this wasn''t the time to think about him. Not here. Not in front of them. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I pushed the feeling away, locking it . A rustle of movement happen beside me. I turned my head and my eyes met Arin''s. I wasn''t expecting the way his posture stiffened, like I had caught him off guard. His fingers twitched at his sides. For someone who rarely lost his composure, the hesitation was noticeable. his lips parting slightly before he quickly looked away. For a moment, I just stared. Arin. Flustered? That was new. And after seeing him like this I did not understand what I should say next I thought it best not to take the matter further, "Let''s meet in class" and saying this I quickly moved towards the class But even as we walked, something stay btween us an unspoken shift, a quiet understanding neither of us acknowledged. Just then, the school bell rang, cutting through my thoughts. Everyone started moving toward their classes. I followed, slipping into my seat as the same dull routine began the teacher yelling , assignments being handed out, and the weight of another long school day settling over me. The class was going on, the teacher was explaining something on the blackboard but my attention was not on that side, at that very moment Nami wrote something on her notebook and pushed it towards me "What happened between you and Rei?" she had written, her eyes watching me with curiosity. I hesitated for a moment before picking up my pen and writing back. "What do you mean? Nothing happened between us." I wanted to avoid this conversation. Everyone had their suspicions, their assumptions, but I had never openly admitted anything to anyone. And now, I refused to even acknowledge it to myself too Nami read my response, then quickly write again. "You turned him down? I thought you liked him." My grip on the pen tightened and then I responded. "There was never anything like that. I never liked him." As soon as she read my words, she didn''t trust but didn''t push further. Instead, she simply wrote, "Oh, I see. Well if it really is like That....I accept it" She did not say anything further and just focused her attention on the teacher, she acted as if we had never said this.. I take a breath softly and my fingers still over the notebook. Even though the discussion had ended, a strange feeling settled in my heart Chapter 10 -:10:Caught in the Moment Chapter 10 -:10:Caught in the Moment Now my heart was away from studies, so my eyes started roaming around in the class and while roaming they stopped on Arin. He was as if far away from the world of studies, I saw him secretly using the phone from under the desk and that too with such cleanliness as if it was his daily routine. He had no fear of the teacher as if the presence of the teacher does not matter to him. How clever he is, he always escapes. I started smiling looking at him and I could not stop it. Before I could turn, Arin raised his eyes and looked straight at me. "Our eyes met." My heart skipped a beat. "Oh no." I immediately straightened up, forcing myself to look away. Just act normal. I grabbed my pen, pretending to focus on the notes I hadn''t written. "Did he notice?" I resisted the urge to look back, but the feeling of being watched oh my god terrifying . The lecture continued, but my mind didn''t. I should be thinking about the assignment, the endless routine of school , anything except I didn''t do anything, yet why does it feel like I''ve been caught? It felt like I was caught red-handed, not her. The lecture was over. As soon as the teacher left the class, the students started shouting, talking and laughing - as if they were freed from some prison. Conversations and laughter filled the Classroom and everyone took a moment to relax before the next class began. Then a few minutes later, Tenzin casually came and sat on the seat behind me ¨C the same one where Suhina was sitting. He sat very close to her, as if this was a normal thing. Then he leaned towards me slightly and said, "Hey, beautiful.. What are you up to?" A smile played on my lips as I turned to face him. "What do you think?" I replied, matching his flirtatious energy. Tenzin laughed slightly, mischief in his eyes.. "You should give those delicate hands a little rest." His voice carried a playful charm, making it impossible to take him seriously. "Then why don''t you do my share of work too?" I replied to him with a playful smile. "If you get tired, I might just do it... but at least give me permission first," he said his words were meant for me, but his eyes were fixed on Suhina. Nami and I exchanged a look, instantly understanding what was happening. A knowing smile came onto our faces as we laughed together. "I''m hungry... and thirsty too," I said, looking at Nami. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come on, let''s go get some water," she suggested. "Lunch break is about to start anyway," she added . I dramatically clutched my stomach . "But what if I don''t make it till then, Nami? What if I collapse right here, right now?" I said with puppy eyes, as if on the verge of fainting. She rolled her eyes and looked at my watch. "It''s 10:35... just five more minutes. You''ll survive." "No" I request "Alright, at least let me pack my book first," she said, bringing it away into her bag. "Fine," I replied, doing the same. Just then, the bell rang. The corridors instantly filled with students pouring out of their classrooms, their chatter voice loud through the halls. Nami and I rushed towards the water cooler, cutting through the crowd. But as soon as we reached, "Ah... there''s too much crowd today. We''re never getting our turn, Nami," I said , eyeing the long queue. She looked at the crowd and then at me. "Let''s eat first," she suggested. I nod and we quickly washed our hands and made our way to our usual lunch spot. As soon as we sat down, Nami smiles , her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You definitely liked Rei. Maybe not a lot, but at least a little , I know that." Chapter 11 -:11:Those feelings Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 11 -:11:Those feelings I held on my lunchbox tighten for a second. Just a small movement. Almost unnoticeable. Almost. "No, it wasn''t like that... or maybe..." The words come out before I could stop them, my voice quieter than I intended. I hated how easily his name do something inside me. It wasn''t regret. It was... something else. Something more. Nami narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean ''maybe''? Spill." I press my lips together before finally admitting, "Look, it''s just... I didn''t like him. Or maybe I did. I was confused back then. But now, I just want to forget about him." But did I? Saying it out loud was supposed to feel like closure. Like locking a door and never looking back. But if it was really over, why did his name still feel like I can''t let go yet? Nami stay silent for a moment then nodd, as if she understood everything without me needing to say anything more. Why was it always so easy to talk to her? No matter how much I tried to hide, she always find a way. "Anyway, love and relationships... that''s just not our thing, right?" I laughed, as I leaned back against the bench. Talking to Nami always had this effect like shaking off bit of my sadness that hidden inside me. Moments ago, the weight in my heart had been suffocating, but now, after letting it all out, it felt lighter. The way she hold the power making even the heaviest emotions seem temporary, was something I secretly admired about her. Nami smiled , her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "That''s true. And it''s especially not your thing. You''re always crushing on someone, then backing off just as fast." Her teasing tone made it obvious she wasn''t letting this go. I nudged her playfully. "Hey! That''s not¡ª" I paused, thinking about it. "Okay , maybe it was true." How many times had I convinced myself I liked someone, only to lose interest the moment things started getting real? It was like I enjoyed the idea of it more than the reality. Maybe that was my problem. ...I liked keeping people at a distance, where they were safe . Where they couldn''t hurt me. Nami leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, watching me with amusement. "See? You can''t even deny it." I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Maybe I just get bored easily." She shook her head with a smile. "Or maybe you''re just scared." I opened my mouth to argue, but the words didn''t come. Because she wasn''t wrong. She hit too close to the truth.....the part of me I didn''t want to admit, even to myself. I masked it with another laugh. "Scared of what? Falling in love? Please, as if that''s ever going to happen." Nami gave me a knowing look but didn''t push further. Maybe she understood me better than I thought. And yet, despite all that, talking to her made it easy to forget....even if just for a moment...that those walls were ever there in the first place. "Oh no! We forgot!" I suddenly speak, realization hit me. Chapter 12 -:12:Just a Coincidence Chapter 12 -:12:Just a Coincidence Nami, calmly wrapping up her last sip of her lunch, looked up at me slightly with slight fear. "Forgot what? " she asked furrowed brows. I could not stop laughing as I walked out. "The water cooler. " Her eyes followed me as I moved and then, as if she knew just the same thing, she rushes back to her lunchbox and stands up too "Ahh right! Let''s go now before everybody gets there again" As we walked away from the bench, Nami gave me a peck on the cheek. "Hurry up, " she told me. Or you would be deprived of water again. I flicked her a look of displeasure and held steady. "Hey! Don''t push me! " I honked furiously. She laughed and smiled with a smile of mischief in her eyes. "I was just thinking.... what if you trip and run into the arms of some handsome guy? "My voice was pouring with mischief ¨C I couldn''t even stop laughing. I stared back at him. "You get that guy. I don''t want to embarrass myself in front of the entire school. "So - well, " Nami whispered, tilting her head slightly. "If it were somebody like Arin, would that really be all that bad? " As if to mask it for a second, my breath quivered again and then I turned on a scoff. "What the fuck is that?? " She gave me a knowing look, her smirk widening. "I don''t know... I just think you''ve been showing a little interest in him lately, " she said. I frowned, crossing my arms. "You''re imagining things." "Am I? " she said quizzically. "Because, you know, he''s right behind us. My body clenched, slowly, almost awkwardly, I turned my head just slowly enough to get a glance¡ªand sure enough Arin was several steps behind, casually walking with his hands in his pocket. Our eyes met. It was brief, but something about it made my stomach twist. He didn''t smirk¡ªhe just looked at me, like he was trying to figure something out. He then screamed out a half a second too long and with somewhat shaken vocal cords said, "I - I was here just to get water. " I blinked with amazement at how he faltered over his own words. Nami didn''t miss a beat, by the way, she pushed me with her elbow in a smiling manner. Oh, that ''s coincidence. She was about to have water as well. Arin glanced at me again, and then squeezed the back of his neck again. "Uh... guess we''re headed the same way then. " But all the same he move forward with a shudder something changed in his face, quite like he remembered suddenly something; his eyes flashed with slight hesitation before he screamed: "Wait... I think I forgot something. " Before either of us could say anything about it he turned on his heel and run nearly fast up the corridor. I stood there, watching his retreating figure, completely bewildered. Nami whistled back with her lips, "Well that wasn''t really strange at all. " I rolled my eyes, trying not to notice that my heartbeat had picked up. "Shut up. I didn''t believe what I said, so I just nodded. And flipped quickly away so Nami wouldn''t see how hot my face was. It was nothing. Just a coincidence. Right? With a small shrug I moved to the water cooler. The corridor was still fairly crowded but I did find a way. I came to the water cooler and there was already someone standing there¡ªMir. Mir was one of our class''s most attractive girls. Her perfectly styled hair, effortless elegance and effortlessly confident personality made her stand out wherever she went. She was talking to her best friend and since I was standing quite close I couldn''t help but hear them. "You know, I''ve noticed Arin keeps looking at me anyway, " Mir said smugly. Her best friend frowned. "Really? That ''s interesting. I don ''t think he ''s very good at talking to girls. Mir nodded earnestly, her expression thoughtful. "Very well. Even in his own group Aira is very friendly with everybody but Arin rarely talks to her. Her best friend chuckled. "Well, he is good-looking." Mir suddenly turned her head slightly and nudged her friend. "Look, there he is. " And simply in response to what she said I followed her gaze. Arin was strolling along the corridor with his company with his usual calm and illegible expression. But then- almost like it knew what weight we put on him- he glanced back. He turned his gaze at Mir first. And a slight smile crossed his lips, smooth, confident - as though he hadn''t really said a word. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, his gaze shifted¡ªto me. It was subtle and momentary, but it was clear -- his smile faded to a fraction of a second and the grin faded in the blink of an invisible thing flickering across his face. It was different than he''d ever given Mir -- there was something about it, something... panic? Tripped over? His fingers jerked slightly at his side and for an instant, almost unnoticeable, period of time I imagined I had caught him pause. And then - as quickly as he had looked - he turned away, stooping as his pace grew quicker. Did he just... get flustered? I blinked in confused confusion at what I''d just seen. Mir was still smiling though, completely unaware of the change of temperature. I wasn''t even sure what to make of it myself. I stood near the water cooler my gaze Follow arin walking away, his strides relaxed yet purposeful. For a second it all seemed to just be he... I just watched him, watching his dark hair fall right over his eyes, the way his uniform fit him perfectly, as if he was forced into being that way... "Arin is pretty... I wonder if he has a girlfriend?? "I couldn''t help but blink, thinking, "Oh that made me blink.. who am I talking to? "I didn''t have time to think about it any longer, so I shook my head. Why am I even thinking about that? Before I could figure it out, a sound that reminded me of a familiar voice whispered into my head. "Come on, the bell just rang! We better get inside before the history teacher comes, " Nami said urgently but innocently. As I leaned over I saw her standing a few steps away waving me over with a smile. "Or else she ''ll make us also a part of history too, " I added in return with a smirk. My heart melted in joy as Nami laughed wildly, and the lightness of his voice distracted the very doubt I had of being a bad person. Still laughing we joined hands and ran into the classroom, casting ourselves among the numerous queues for seats among the rush of students rushing in.Nami, calmly wrapping up her last sip of her lunch, looked up at me slightly with slight fear. "Forgot what? " she asked furrowed brows. I could not stop laughing as I walked out. "The water cooler. " Her eyes followed me as I moved and then, as if she knew just the same thing, she rushes back to her lunchbox and stands up too "Ahh right! Let''s go now before everybody gets there again" As we walked away from the bench, Nami gave me a peck on the cheek. "Hurry up, " she told me. Or you would be deprived of water again. I flicked her a look of displeasure and held steady. "Hey! Don''t push me! " I honked furiously. She laughed and smiled with a smile of mischief in her eyes. "I was just thinking.... what if you trip and run into the arms of some handsome guy? "My voice was pouring with mischief ¨C I couldn''t even stop laughing. I stared back at him. "You get that guy. I don''t want to embarrass myself in front of the entire school. "So - well, " Nami whispered, tilting her head slightly. "If it were somebody like Arin, would that really be all that bad? " As if to mask it for a second, my breath quivered again and then I turned on a scoff. "What the fuck is that?? " She gave me a knowing look, her smirk widening. "I don''t know... I just think you''ve been showing a little interest in him lately, " she said. I frowned, crossing my arms. "You''re imagining things." "Am I? " she said quizzically. "Because, you know, he''s right behind us. My body clenched, slowly, almost awkwardly, I turned my head just slowly enough to get a glance¡ªand sure enough Arin was several steps behind, casually walking with his hands in his pocket. Our eyes met. It was brief, but something about it made my stomach twist. He didn''t smirk¡ªhe just looked at me, like he was trying to figure something out. He then screamed out a half a second too long and with somewhat shaken vocal cords said, "I - I was here just to get water. " I blinked with amazement at how he faltered over his own words. Nami didn''t miss a beat, by the way, she pushed me with her elbow in a smiling manner. Oh, that ''s coincidence. She was about to have water as well. Arin glanced at me again, and then squeezed the back of his neck again. "Uh... guess we''re headed the same way then. " But all the same he move forward with a shudder something changed in his face, quite like he remembered suddenly something; his eyes flashed with slight hesitation before he screamed: "Wait... I think I forgot something. " Before either of us could say anything about it he turned on his heel and run nearly fast up the corridor. I stood there, watching his retreating figure, completely bewildered. Nami whistled back with her lips, "Well that wasn''t really strange at all. " I rolled my eyes, trying not to notice that my heartbeat had picked up. "Shut up. I didn''t believe what I said, so I just nodded. And flipped quickly away so Nami wouldn''t see how hot my face was. It was nothing. Just a coincidence. Right? With a small shrug I moved to the water cooler. The corridor was still fairly crowded but I did find a way. I came to the water cooler and there was already someone standing there¡ªMir. Mir was one of our class''s most attractive girls. Her perfectly styled hair, effortless elegance and effortlessly confident personality made her stand out wherever she went. She was talking to her best friend and since I was standing quite close I couldn''t help but hear them. "You know, I''ve noticed Arin keeps looking at me anyway, " Mir said smugly. Her best friend frowned. "Really? That ''s interesting. I don ''t think he ''s very good at talking to girls. Mir nodded earnestly, her expression thoughtful. "Very well. Even in his own group Aira is very friendly with everybody but Arin rarely talks to her. Her best friend chuckled. "Well, he is good-looking." Mir suddenly turned her head slightly and nudged her friend. "Look, there he is. " And simply in response to what she said I followed her gaze. Arin was strolling along the corridor with his company with his usual calm and illegible expression. But then- almost like it knew what weight we put on him- he glanced back. He turned his gaze at Mir first. And a slight smile crossed his lips, smooth, confident - as though he hadn''t really said a word. Then, his gaze shifted¡ªto me. It was subtle and momentary, but it was clear -- his smile faded to a fraction of a second and the grin faded in the blink of an invisible thing flickering across his face. It was different than he''d ever given Mir -- there was something about it, something... panic? Tripped over? His fingers jerked slightly at his side and for an instant, almost unnoticeable, period of time I imagined I had caught him pause. And then - as quickly as he had looked - he turned away, stooping as his pace grew quicker. Did he just... get flustered? I blinked in confused confusion at what I''d just seen. Mir was still smiling though, completely unaware of the change of temperature. I wasn''t even sure what to make of it myself. I stood near the water cooler my gaze Follow arin walking away, his strides relaxed yet purposeful. For a second it all seemed to just be he... I just watched him, watching his dark hair fall right over his eyes, the way his uniform fit him perfectly, as if he was forced into being that way... "Arin is pretty... I wonder if he has a girlfriend?? "I couldn''t help but blink, thinking, "Oh that made me blink.. who am I talking to? "I didn''t have time to think about it any longer, so I shook my head. Why am I even thinking about that? Before I could figure it out, a sound that reminded me of a familiar voice whispered into my head. "Come on, the bell just rang! We better get inside before the history teacher comes, " Nami said urgently but innocently. As I leaned over I saw her standing a few steps away waving me over with a smile. "Or else she ''ll make us also a part of history too, " I added in return with a smirk. My heart melted in joy as Nami laughed wildly, and the lightness of his voice distracted the very doubt I had of being a bad person. Still laughing we joined hands and ran into the classroom, casting ourselves among the numerous queues for seats among the rush of students rushing in. Chapter 13 -:13:The Art of Getting Kicked Out Chapter 13 -:13:The Art of Getting Kicked Out As soon as we enter in class ,It must have been like that the history teacher just started lecture again without a word. Like she was waiting all day just to dredge up a hundred years worth of knowledge on us. I sighed and slumped into my seat. "I just don''t get it. Why do we even study history anyway? What are we supposed to do with it? " I whispered, pushing my pencil between my lips and nose like a seesaw. I glanced at Nami behind me who had been doing all she could to pretend to listen, turning into a mouse, like I was about to reveal a great secret. ''Nami, what if we actually could step into history through this book? '' My eyes glowed and I blurted the words as if I had just found a great secret. She didn''t even look up. "Aira, stop talking, because in case the teacher finds us she will make sure we leave this class instead. "As if I''m afraid of her. " I raised my chin on the sloping expression. Nami sighed deeply and turned her head to look at the teacher. "Oh, okay, you''re not afraid. But please, don''t be quiet. " She folded her hands and asked the universe to keep me quiet. I huffed, made a face at her, and started doodling in my notebook at will. But as my pencil scratched paper in the middle, I couldn''t stop drawing as far as I wanted. "What if we¡ª" "Aira, stand up." The teacher ''s steady voice was echoing across the hall and every eyes in the room began to guffaw at me. I was briefly trembling but managed to cover it up with a casual posture as I made my way to my feet. "Yes?? " I asked, trying to sound as though I had been listening all along. She glanced again suspiciously at them. "Please tell me, what page are we on? Read from there. I hesitated, scrambling for an answer. "Uh... actually..." She squinted. "What is "actually"? Get up and start reading. All the others, look at your books!" She adjusted her glasses, already convinced I was lost. I slightly paused again. Rather swiftly my mind became preoccupied "teacher, I have a question." She let out a heavy sigh. "What is it now?" "You told us that people of Harappa never fought or waged wars. Is that true? "I asked dropping into a low voice like someone just about to solve a historical mystery. "Yes, absolutely true," she replied confidently. A childish glow caught in my eye. "Then... then would their way of arguing be puffing up their cheeks and pouting in the corner?" The whole class laughed like crazy and I could just feel Nami next to me wanting to hold it in. Even she couldn''t hold a silent laugh. He saw her face beet-red. "You here to learn history, or to make fun of history? " she asked, ripping the laughter from the stone. I smiled "Teacher, I ''m just trying to bring history to life " At this point her patience went into a trough. "OUT! " she howled, heading for the door. I opened my mouth in protest, but she was not going to listen. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as that I was exiled standing outside the classroom like an enslaved warrior. I nodded and sat back against the cool wall staring out at the empty corridor. The faint whistles from the classroom sound was barely audible now. At least a part of me was annoyed but another part of me... well it wasn''t that bad. The breeze from the window was nice. Chapter 14 -:14:The Small Things Chapter 14 -:14:The Small Things I heard footsteps for around 10 minutes then turned around to see Arin walk off the classroom with a quick glance around then strolling briskly towards me. My throat was pounding. "Why do you talk so much? " he asked me, standing next to him. I smirked. "Why do you stay so quiet?" He drew his eyebrows back, gazing at me with a half smile that didn''t quite match his eyes. For a split second I though I could sense something flicker in his face, a slight hesitation before he lost his gaze, almost painfully minor, but enough to make my chest hot. "No reason. " I mirrored his expression. "Well, no reason for me either." A silence had settled between us but it wasnt awkward. It was... comfortable. We leaned against the wall looking the same way down at the same spot in the distance But I couldnt help but notice how his eyes were still on my hands, a minute or two of glance before he swiftly turned away. Was he checking to see if I was fidgeting? After a second glance at me he looked again. "But... it must be hurting, right? S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I blinked, confused. "Huh? No, my feet don''t hurt." He chuckled softly with his head tilted up but there was some inconspicuous warmness to his voice that made something in my heart vibrate. "Hehe. I guess I''ll start. As he turned away I began to shout before I could stop myself "Wait! What are you going? I thought the teacher kicked you out too? " He turned back around and looked at me with his eyes twinkling like a child. "Nope. Not going to the washroom. Wanna come along? I laughed to cover the little flutter in my stomach. " Don''t talk about shit. " I turned my gaze away, but my mind was racing. Wait... did he really just come out to check on me? There was a weird heat in my chest. Very little... about a bit of something... but there it was. And somehow, that was enough to make me smile. Chapter 15 -:15:Study Session (Not Really) Chapter 15 -:15:Study Session (Not Really) When I went back everyone ''s eyes were gazing at me like I had just accomplished some great achievement, in the way they stared at me you ''d think I ''d just slain a dragon. "Nice drawing," Teru teased, smirking as I passed by. I rolled my eyes. ''Oh... shut up. It was you that got me caught '', I whispered with a face and walked back to my seat. "Me? What did I do?" she asked, genuinely confused. I scratched my nose at her and lay down in my chair and walked away from the conversation. A few minutes later Suhina turned around, leaning over from the seat behind us, suddenly cheery and low voiced. "The exams are coming soon, everyone is arranging some group studying time in the library, you guys going? The book she''d been reading was suddenly open, and Nami looked up. "Who all is coming? '' "Me, Rian, Tenzin, and... Arin." My fingers froze mid-doodle. Arin? I blinked. Not for that I cared. Of course not. It wasn''t like I had been thinking about our little corridor conversation or anything. Nope. Not at all. "Let''s go, Nami, it''ll be a good place for studying " I said in haste before I could stop myself. Nami raised her eyebrow. "You? Talking about studying, actually? " she asked sadly. I widen my eyes a bit and put on my best innocent face. It didn''t take her long to realize. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ahh I see how it is, " she said under her breath, shaking her head. I ignored her knowing smirk and turned back to Suhina. "Try, what time is it? " Nami asked. "Four in the evening. Get there on time, " Suhina said with a smile. I nodded and tried not to look eager but somehow inside a little spark of excitement burned up in my chest. Studying? Yup. And that ''s the whole reason why I ''m going. Totally. Chapter 16 -:16:Those Moments Chapter 16 -:16:Those Moments After that for the next several hours my mind was in an endless loop - what should I wear? How should I dress up? Would it be weird if I dressed up or something? I drummed my fingers on the desk, thinking. "Nami, what should I wear?" I finally blurted out. She didn''t even raise her head up from the table. "What do you mean, what is it to wear? Wear whatever you want, where are you going? I sighed and rushed toward the hem of my sleeve. ''Group study..." That got her to pay attention; she leaned slightly upward and gave me a flat face: "Oh man, it''s just a group study, not a fashion show ,Wear whatever feels comfortable." I exhaled, pressed my lips together "Yeah, yeah but... hey... this is my first time going... I should at least look a little nice, right? " Nami groped passionately. "Ugh... I''m really bored out of my mind! I want a crush on a guy! "she slid onto her side and rested her chin on her arm. "But no guy is even coming into my life! " I glanced at her. "You are worrying about boys but the least you have to do is listen to what I say! " I said irritably. "Yeah, yeah we only have to talk about you all the time, " she said, turning her back to me and curling up on the bench, as if she were going to sleep. I sighed, accepting my defeat. "Find" Worried, I let my gaze wander round the room -- until it hit him. Arin. He was sitting at a table several rows away, bent slightly over his notes, his pencil being drawn by deliberate careful strokes. Between each pen stroke his fingers tossed it, a tiny thing I never noticed before. His eyebrows furrowed in concentrated concentration; lips not quite half closed, as if they were whispering what he was writing. For some reason, I couldn''t look away. It ''s not like he was doing anything particularly interesting, but somehow something about his movement - calm, focused, in the middle of nowhere - made me stop. My eyes wandered from his fingers to his lips and followed the faint movements as if hoping to catch the silent words that were being whispered out of his lips. My breath hitched. What are you doing Aira, I threw off my gaze and retracted it. Get a grip. I tried to get myself to look away, but the burn on my face told me that I ''d been gazing for a long time. by the time 2: 00 was done school and we all went our different ways. "You two, come next to me in front of the caf¨¦, right? " Suhina shouted, ensuring we both understood her. "Okay, bye! " Nami and I repeated in unison before cutting off. My first impulse on arrival home was to grab my plate right there at the dining table, as if I was in some sort of speed eating competition. " Slow down! Why are you eating so fast! " Mom yelled as I began to literally inhale what I was eating. I couldn''t even see my reflection, my mouth half full. "I ''ve got to go out for the group study today, " said I, over squirming bites. "When are you going?" she asked, folding some clothes nearby. "I''ll be out about 3: 00, " I said, already counting down the minutes. She just nodded and walked away, when I managed to get through my meal in record time. After eating I ran to the washroom and took a quick shower, then stood in front of my closet as if it were a major decision. Something simple, or something more stylish? The question kept coming up in my head as I stared at my clothes. I glanced at the clock. Oh no - it ''s already 3: 00! My heart just stopped. Why am I doing this? Once I ''m trying to be cute and then I ''m actually on a real-life version of Running Late: The Aira Edition. I put on a fitted white top with high waisted jeans and stepped into my shoes of choice. And a simple pendant lay against my collarbone ¡ª discreet but ok to make me look put together. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... standing in front of a mirror I fumbled around with my hair till I got the half up half down look. Right at that moment I noticed my younger brother lying on my bed, his eyes fixed on his phone. "Hey, how do you look? " I asked with a tilt of my head hoping he''d get at least a "meh" response. He didn''t even glance up. I shut my eyes wide. "Do you not hear me? " I cracked a scream. Looking towards him. Finally, he sighed dramatically and looked up. "What?" "I asked how I look... nobody needs to know I''ve already told you - I look lovely " I smirked flipping my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial. He had stepped up his game suddenly. "Don''t go outside", i whispered seriousness. "Why? Are you afraid people will become blinded to my beauty? " I said proudly and straightened my hair again in the mirror. he snorted. "Nay. People can just go into a coma if they see a ghost. " he said, making a big laugh and running out of the room. "Oh you little - hold on until I get your hands on you! " I said, running after him. And suddenly the whole house was all set up like the whole movie "Wrong Turn". He jump over the couch like some parkour class, and I nearly fell over my own feet trying to catch him. He was fast - too fast. But I was not giving up. I swerved around a chair, almost knocked over a vase and I ran down him and grabbed his hoodie - almost got him! But he just slipped away at the last second, laugh like some guy who just won the final big battle. Then, we froze. Dad''s stern gaze landed on us from across the room. Silence. We immediately stood still, pretending nothing had happened. I swallowed hard and slowly turned to check the clock. 3:40. Oh no! All that mess and now I ''m late! I mentally screamed. Without any other words I grabbed my bag and ran out the front door with a pounding heart, not just from running, but from thinking about Arin again. Would Arin even notice me? Ugh, get a grip, Aira! It''s just group study... right? Chapter 17 -:17:when Friendships feel like battelfield Chapter 17 -:17:when Friendships feel like battelfield By the time I reached the caf¨¦, Suhina was already there, waiting. I was out of breath, slowing down with my hands on my knees, trying to breathe properly. Damn... why did I run so fast? My legs were shaking, my chest was hurting, and for a second, everything went kind of blurry. I couldn''t hear the cars or the people or even the food smell from the street ¡ª everything just faded for a bit while I tried to catch my breath. "Sorry... I''m a little late," I said, still breathing hard as I finally looked up. Suhina turned her head, her gaze unreadable at first. But then... something changed. Her eyes looked down at me, slowly and carefully. Her lips curveped - not in a smile, but in the vague sense of amusement. I straightened up, confused. "What? Is there a problem?" A little she tilted her head slightly and looked at me as if I was somehow special. "You look... different." Different? For a second I felt a small burst of pride in my chest. Maybe I looked good? Maybe she was amazed at how well I ''d dressed today? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I laughed, stroking my fingers over my pendant. "Ahh... yeah I tried something new. " But the moment didn''t last. Her lips slid apart and I knew it was coming before she even spoke. "Why so much makeup? You look like a clown." My confidence wavered. ''I did very little... just put on some lipstick '', I dawdled, tone lowered. Pretty certain. She scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. "Oh, it shows." A quick laugh. A flick of her hand and then the last blow ¡ª " Seriously it ''s ridiculous how hard you work. Do you really think this makes you look pretty? " Something in me cracked. I forced a small smile, but inside, my stomach twisted. Why does she always do this? She was my friend¡ªmy best friend. So why did her words always feel like little darts with a fine aim? I laughed it off, as if her words didn''t bother me at all. But they did. Every. Single. Time. As I was about to respond a loud rev of an engine deflated the cord. "Oye, I''m here!" I turned to see Nami tripping on her bike with a playful grin on her face. She had been flipping her hair way too much., like she had just arrived in a movie scene. " Are you two finished with your beauty pageant? Hurry up. We ''ve got things to do. " I did n''t say anything. Just got on the bike behind her with my heart still full of unspoken feelings. Suhina went behind me and as we sailed it was windy and blowing against my face ¨C but not to wash away the weight that was still hanging on. We fetched our way through the quiet streets and away from any chance of passing into the police. I stared intently ahead, holding loosely my hands from Nami''s waist. I wanted to believe Suhina didn''t mean it. That maybe I was just being too sensitive. But deep down, I knew. This wasn''t the first time. And it wouldn''t be the last. Chapter 18 -:18:Hoping for a Glance Chapter 18 -:18:Hoping for a Glance We reached the library gate and got off right there. It wasn''t some fancy place¡ªjust a small school that let students use its space after hours. Nothing special. I pushed open the iron gate, and we walked in. Some little kids were playing nearby, laughing and shouting. I didn''t really pay attention. We just headed upstairs, climbing the narrow stairs to the study room. But the whole time, Suhina''s words stuck with me like tiny thorns. Her mocking tone. That little scoff. The sharp look she gave me¡ªlike she was just waiting for me to break. Why does she always have to be like this? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the door, my fingers touched my lips for a second. Should I wipe off the lipstick? Maybe if I did, I wouldn''t feel so weird. Maybe I could act like her words didn''t bother me. I rubbed my lip a little with my thumb. But then I stopped. Wouldn''t that mean she won? Wouldn''t that mean she got to me? I hesitated... and let my hand fall back to my side. No. Not this time. Suhina doesn''t get to decide how I feel. We walked into the study room. Rian, Tenzin, and Arin were already there. But I didn''t really see the others. Because the second I saw Arin¡ª My heart did that annoying thing again. It sped up so fast. My face felt warm. Ugh. I tried to act normal. I really did. But was it obvious? "You okay? Got a fever or something?" His voice was calm, casual¡ªbut I saw a bit of worry in his eyes. I panicked. "N-No... I mean... the sun outside, it was really harsh, so¡ª" My words tripped all over themselves. Seriously? Rian laughed. "Yeah, she turns red like a tomato every time she steps out in the sun." I laughed too, even if it was forced. Gotta play it cool. But before I could settle down, Suhina just had to speak. "So, Arin, you and Aira are pretty close these days?" Her voice sounded sweet. Too sweet. She was smiling, but her eyes were sharp. Watching. Waiting. I tensed up. Arin didn''t even blink. He just said, "We''re classmates, so yeah, we''re friends." Friends. That word hit weird. I should''ve been fine with it. I should''ve felt okay. But it felt kind of... empty. Just a classmate? That''s all? A mess of feelings swirled in my chest¡ªhappy, confused, kind of sad. Before I could even figure it out, Nami scooted her chair closer to me. She leaned in and whispered, "What''s Suhina''s deal with you anyway?" I sighed and rolled my eyes. "No idea. That''s just how she is." Nami laughed softly and shook her head. "Yeah, sounds like her. Always acting like she''s in some dramatic movie or something." Her voice had this playful vibe. I smirked and winked at her just for fun. After that, things calmed down. Everyone got quiet and started studying. The only sounds were pages turning and pens scribbling. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my eyes kept wandering. Kept going back to him. Not even once? Not even one look? That thought stuck in my head. Some silly part of me kept hoping he''d look up. That he''d notice me... like I notice him. But he didn''t. And for some reason, that hurt more than I wanted to admit. Chapter 19 -:19:Between Fights and First Crushes Chapter 19 -:19:Between Fights and First Crushes The evening had passed. It was half past seven when we all stand up¡ªtired, but with the relief of returning home. "Math..." I took a deep breath and spread my hands, "...sucks away the brain." "Really!" Nami yawned and said, stuffing the books in her bag, "I don''t know who invented this poison." We were packing our things when Suhina''s laughter echoed. "No wonder you both are weak in math¡ªyou stare at boys more than books." The wind stopped for a few moments. My face hardened. "And have you become some Einstein? Is Tenzin''s tuition now called ''talent''?" There was bitterness in my tone. She smiled, but that smile was nothing less than poison. "At least i have better marks than you." "Why wouldn''t they? With tutors like Tenzin available 24 hours a day." The tone had become increasingly harsh by now. "I study myself!" Suhina was now completely furious. Nami, who had been silent till now, said with her arms folded, "Whether you study yourself or someone teaches you, it doesn''t mean that you should look down on others." Suhina''s face changed. There was a strange glow in her eyes¡ªas if she was hurt. She pressed her lips together, sighed, and then turned away. As if tears would flow over the slightest thing. "Stop it now!" Rian interrupted, there was fatigue in his voice. I clenched my fists. "Okay, whatever you say." She looked at me, as if disappointed. "Aira, why do you let Suhina dominate you?" "What did I do?" I raised my eyebrows. "You and Nami always stand up against her" "You were listening, right? She started it!" Nami was completely enraged now. Rian just sighed in exhaustion. "Enough is enough." I didn''t say anything. He always thought of me as his younger sister, but when it came to Suhina, he never stood by us. One day you will see Suhina''s true face, Rian... I thought to myself. A voice came from behind, "Suhina, come on. You have to come with me." We all turned around. Tenzin was standing. Suhina quietly picked up her bag and went with him. Nami and I just kept looking at each other. There was only one question on our faces¡ªwhat did we do wrong? "Unbelievable..." Rian muttered and walked out. The room fell silent. Then came Arin''s voice¡ªcalm, firm, "You two did nothing wrong." I looked at him. While we were all entangled, he was sitting quietly on the side. As usual. "At least someone understands," Nami heaved a sigh of relief and went out. I was about to pick up my bag when Arin came near me and patted my forehead gently. He went away without saying anything. I froze there. It was as if my heart had stopped beating. When I regained consciousness after a few moments, I saw that Nami had reached the stairs. "What are you doing? Come quickly!" she called out. I picked my and came out. We had just reached the bikes when I suddenly grabbed her t-shirt and stopped her. "Nami..." I said softly. "What happened?" She turned around. I pointed towards the nearby park. "Swing..." She looked at me, then a soft smile came on her lips. "Let''s go?" I nodded. And we ran towards the swings like running kids. The wind was touching our faces. The swings went up sometimes, down sometimes. After a while we climbed the slide, and sat on top, dangling our legs. Nami sighed. "I was really angry at Suhina today." "I always am." She laughed. And nodded. "Listen," I looked at her, "I have to tell you something." She widened her eyes. "What?" I smiled, pressing my lips. "I think... I like someone." "Who?" She narrowed her eyes. "Guess first." "Aira!" she moaned. I laughed lightly. "Arin." She was startled. "Arin?" I nodded. She was quiet for a while. "I''ve heard weird things about him... his vibe..." I rolled my eyes. "I''m not getting married to him." She laughed. "Oh really? Just a crush? No bells ringing?" "Shut up!" I pushed her gently. I looked up at the sky. "It''s just talking... sometimes we meet... don''t know what''s next..." She smiled. "Okay. Now let''s go?" We got up, dusted our clothes, and headed towards the bikes. On the way, I played a song on my phone and we started singing loudly. Like there was nothing else in this world. Then Nami shouted, "Do you want to leave the cafe?" I didn''t hear. "What?" She stopped singing. "Do you want to leave the cafe?" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, leave me there." The bike sped up. We left, talking to the wind. But even in that strong wind, the slight warmth of Arin''s hand still remained on my forehead. I don''t know what this feeling was... but one thing was certain - I wanted to know him more. Chapter 20 -:20:Echoes of Us Chapter 20 -:20:Echoes of Us We were at that point where stories don''t end... just some relationships take on silence. When the bike stopped in front of the cafe, I got off without saying anything and stepped on the road. There was a mild smell of coffee in the air, but now it did not give comfort like it used to. The sounds of the city were being left behind somewhere. "Will you walk from here... or should I call someone?" Nami had said, but the concern in her tone could be heard even in the noise. "I will take a rickshaw," I said lowering my eyes. She just said ''okay'' without saying anything and started the bike. While leaving, I looked back, she smiled... just a little. "Message me after reaching home..." She left a mark while leaving. And then... I stood there alone. As if a book had been closed but its smell still remained in my fingers. And then... a hand stopped time. Someone''s light touch on my shoulder. I was frozen. When I turned around, I saw him. Rei. The person to whom I had once said, "It feels like a relief to see you..." And today, seeing him, my heart again started searching for that relief. "How are you?" There was a strange, familiar softness in his voice. "Fine..." The first word of the lie came out of my lips. Why am I like this? Why did I hurt him? This question was stirring in my mind, but I tried to hide it directly. "You?" "As always," he said, looking at me, as if he wanted to say something else, but some words were stopping him. We stood silently. There was a lot between us, but nothing was said. As if both of us wanted to ask each other something, but there was no answer to the questions. "Are you going home?" he asked. I nodded. "Yes." He looked towards the road, then looked at me. "Alone? It''s quite late." I paused and said, "It was a group study. It got late." He ran his hand through his hair and looked at me again, as if he wanted to say something else. "If you don''t mind..." He paused. After thinking for a while, he said, "Shall I come with you?" My heart stopped again for a moment. I was beginning to feel a strange nervousness. Why is he doing all this? Why now? "There is no need. I can go alone," I said sternly, as if trying to convince myself. He became serious. "It doesn''t feel good even to think that I should let you go alone." I looked at him, there was the same old worry in his eyes, that hope that I should feel him close to me. "Why?" "Because I don''t trust these roads right now," he said straight, honest, as if he was expressing his worry in direct words, without any hesitation. I looked towards the road. It was quiet. Not a single rickshaw was visible. The darkness of the night had swallowed everything. Maybe he is right. Maybe it would be better to let him come along. I took a deep breath. "Okay." He didn''t say anything. He just started walking with me, as if someone was accepting his compulsion firmly. We were walking slowly. So close, yet as if there was a whole world between us. My heart and mind were still caught in the same confusion. My fist automatically clenched. You are so bad, Aira. How did you let him go so easily? How did Arin come into my life so quickly? I looked down, clutched the strap of the bag more tightly. I felt a little relieved. No. I never liked Rei. I like Arin. Or... am I lying to myself? Am I just pretending to like Arin to forget Rei? No. I like Arin. Really. I have to. Then why do I feel all this when I see Rei? This question pierced my mind, as if an old wound had been reopened. The path was passed in silence... We both were walking together, but there was a deep silence in between. When we reached near my house, Then Rei said something... "''Have you never liked me? Not even once?'' he asked¡ªin a very soft, but very broken voice. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My heart had suddenly taken a deep sip in a moment. He was sad... I could clearly see the pain in his eyes¡ªthe pain he had expressed by making me feel it, not by saying it. Chapter 21 -:21:To Let Go Chapter 21 -:21:To Let Go Often some words get stuck in the throat before they can be uttered... and when they come out, they take a part of the heart with them. My hands... were clenched into fists near my arms. Perhaps with the fear that if I loosened them, I would fall apart. "Rei..." His name came out of my lips as if a prayer that could not become words came out only as a breath. And he held that breath. As if he knew that this was his name¡ªhis identity, his patience, his punishment. He took another step... there was that hope in his eyes which is often there before breaking. "Say it again..." he said. I looked away. Because some truths flow only from the eyes, and my eyes would have said a lot. "A person always desires the things that are not his..." Every word was cold, but straight through the heart. "And what is his... he does not value it." I stopped. The words were heavy. Even more than the heart. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am no different." My words were not poison... they were a mirror. And mirrors often break. He gave a slight smile. The smile that people give when something is dead inside. "I understood..." That was all he said. And then he left. I saw him go. Every step was increasing the distance between us. My heart screamed for him... but my tongue remained silent. "I did the right thing..." I said to myself. But my voice was trembling. As if the truth did not believe in itself. And then... when I stood there alone... just one thought echoed in my heart - once again. " i am no Different....." "You were mine... but never mine. And I was yours... but never yours." I took a deep breath. No, these were not tears... these were just the feeling that was sitting quietly in some corner of the heart. I turned inward. The night swallowed him completely Chapter 22 -:22:If Only Forgetting Was Easy Chapter 22 -:22:If Only Forgetting Was Easy I entered the house. The door slammed shut from behind, and the soft whispers of the night outside stopped right there. But inside ¨C in the house ¨C there was such a silence that even breathing became heavy. I leaned against the door and slowly closed my eyes, as if I was trying to somehow hold my restless soul. I had done the right thing... I had to do it. But my heart was refusing to believe it. I don''t know when my fingers had clenched into fists, as if they were fighting with themselves. "A person wants only that which he does not have. And he does not value what he has." These words of mine came back echoing inside me in some deserted street. Why did I say that? Why did I make that difficult emotion so easy? There was a strange pain that was stuck in my heart. I separated myself from the door and started climbing the stairs with heavy steps. Every step seemed to carry the burden of my existence. When I reached the room, it felt as if the fatigue of centuries had taken hold of my soul. I sat on the edge of the bed. Holding the mobile phone in my hands, whose black screen had now become a part of some deep silence, I just kept staring at it. A corner of my heart was screaming - "Send a message. Tell everything to rei." But I did nothing. Because the truth is never as simple as yes or no. Because love does not only demand feelings, it also demands decisions. And I... I had made my decision. A light, very slow knock broke the knot of thoughts. "Aira?" I turned and looked towards the voice. It was Kyara - my younger sister. I took a deep breath. "Come in." The door opened a little and she came in. An innocent look of concern on her face... a delicate worry in her eyes. She quietly came and sat down next to me. A long silence passed between us. Then finally she asked softly, "Has something happened?" I swallowed and looked at my fingers. "No," I said. A lie¡ªso raw and transparent that even my own heart could hear it. Kyara let out a long sigh and smiled softly, "You lie really bad, you know?" A soft laugh slipped from my lips¡ªan incomplete, sad laugh. I didn''t want anyone to dig up wounds that had just opened up. But Kyara, she was Kyara. She was one of those people who quietly get along. "Is it about rei?" Her question took my breath away. I didn''t shake my head, didn''t say anything - and perhaps, that was her answer. Kyara didn''t ask anything else. She just sat beside me and said - "If you ever feel like talking, I''m here." Just that - and it felt like a little burden on my heart had been lifted. I lowered my eyes, with a slight smile, which was probably wet with tears. "Thank you, Kyara." She smiled too and said, "Always." Then she stood up. "Now go to sleep. It''s very late." She left, closing the door softly. I was left alone in that dim light - with my scattered feelings. That night, I kept thinking about everything for a long time. Every word that was said, every emotion that was left hidden, every moment that I wanted to take back. And then, I cried. I cried the way someone breaks down from within ¨C silently, but loudly. The kind of crying that exhausts you, shakes your shoulders, lays you completely bare in front of your own truth. Amidst these tears, the phone screen flashed. It was a message ¨C from Krishvik. "Today I had a lot of fun with friends. I laughed heartily after a long time... but I missed you a lot. How are you? Take care of yourself." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I remained glued to the screen. The heart once again said something in a broken voice... perhaps to itself. And then I cried even more. Because I had not forgotten as much as I had thought I had forgotten. I kept crying until the moisture of the tears dried up. And when finally sleep took me in its embrace, one last thought bubbled inside me ¨C If only forgetting was as easy as sleeping. Chapter 23 -:23:Unspoken Confessions Chapter 23 -:23:Unspoken Confessions As soon as I opened my eyes, I felt a slight chill in the air. There was the same old cold inside the house - like every day. Papa was sitting on the table, with the newspaper in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on the tiffin - as if the time of the tiffin was more important to him than every word of the newspaper.Brothers and sisters were running here and there, and from downstairs, Mummy''s voice echoed, "Get up, it will be late!" I looked at the ceiling with sleepy eyes. There are some mornings... which never change. But today was something different. The moments of last night were still standing frozen at the threshold of my thoughts. Why did I say all that? Why? Maybe sometimes to save the heart, it has to be broken... The day slipped away like a hazy dream. When we reached school, the assembly hall was already filled with the light humming of children. Namie was standing on my right, Suhina behind. "What happened to you?" Nami asked in a whisper. There was that strange tenderness in her voice which only close friends have. "I will tell you in class," I said avoiding her eyes. But what kind of Nami is she who agrees so easily? "At least tell me if you are okay?" I just nodded slightly. Okay... The word okay was so easy to say, but so difficult to feel. Just then Suhina''s voice came from behind, "Why are your eyes so swollen?" Suhina and worry? Sometimes even the world moves backwards. "Couldn''t sleep..." The words slipped from my lips, as if I didn''t believe myself. The prayer started. The same daily rhythmic noise, the same familiar voices... But my mind was somewhere else - Where the doors of my heart were still stuck on that last meeting of the night. As soon as I reached the classroom, I took my favourite seat as usual ¨C the one next to the window. Nami also came and sat next to me. As the bell rang, she leaned towards me ¨C there was a restlessness in her movement, as if she had to say something important. "Tell me now," her voice had the last shred of patience. I took a deep breath. "Yesterday evening..." The words seemed to get stuck in my throat. "What about yesterday evening?" Nami''s eyes narrowed. I lowered my gaze. "I met Rei." She was startled. "Rei? Then?" I rubbed my fingers on the desk, as if trying to erase some unspoken emotion. "He asked the same thing again, Nami. He wanted to know... do I love him." For a moment, a ray of hope appeared on Nami''s face, then it slipped away and disappeared somewhere. She said in a light whisper, "Did you really say that which is stopping my breathing?" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As if the burden of the words had reached her heart - and she was standing just a step away from breaking it. Her voice was so light, as if she was holding her breath while saying each word. I closed my eyes tightly ¨C as if I wanted to stop the tears that had filled my eyes by dropping the curtains of my eyelids. "I had spoken to her very strictly..." The words fell, and with each word I started feeling more burden of my heart. Nami did not say anything. Her silence made my crime even bigger. "What did you say?" she asked in a whisper, as if she was afraid that the answer would break her too. Should I even tell her? What if she thinks I''m being stupid? What if she agrees with Rei? I gathered the pieces of my broken heart, and said in scattered words, "A person always wants what he does not have... and does not appreciate what he has. I too am a victim of the same nature. You are mine but not mine, and I am yours but not yours." Silence... A very heavy silence. Such that if someone wanted to listen, they could even hear the sound of a broken heart. Nami just kept looking at me. Her eyes had everything that words could not express¡ªpity, sorrow, and perhaps, an attempt to understand me. There was an incomplete silence between us... Like an incomplete prayer, which dies on the way before reaching God. Chapter 24 -:24 -s That Refuse to Close Chapter 24 -:24:Chapters That Refuse to Close I could still see... the strange sadness in Rei''s eyes last night. That moment... when her smile stopped, as if a light had been extinguished inside her. And now, seeing that same broken shadow in Nami''s eyes... my heart accepted¡ªI had broken her too. Perhaps unintentionally. Perhaps intentionally. She was about to say something¡ªher lips trembled¡ªbut the words died in her throat. She just sat, looking at me... as if a forgotten question was waiting for an answer. For the first time since last night... I allowed myself to feel fully. The pang that rose in my chest, the heavy breaths that were stuck in my throat, and the exhaustion... that had penetrated to my soul. And in that moment... I didn''t know what was more painful¡ª That I had hurt Rei... Or that whatever I had said... every word... had come from my heart. "You did the right thing," Nami''s voice pulled me out of my desolate thoughts. I turned my head to look at her. My voice was a stranger than my own, a broken whisper. "You really think so?" She nodded without blinking. "Of course. You clearly told him no. Then why did he come back to try and embroil you again?" Her laugh was bitter, like rubbing salt into the wounds. She folded her arms and said, "To be honest, I feel like punching him in the face. And you... you''re sitting here, shedding tears for him?" I looked at her¡ªshocked at her brutal honesty. But that was Nami. She didn''t sweeten the truth... she just stabbed me like a knife. A part of me wanted to smile at her unwavering support, But the other part... was asking just one question: Was I really right? "And you''re crazy," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Just last night you said you liked Arin. And now you''re crying over Rei?" I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it. Do I really like Arin? Or was I convincing myself of a dream that never existed? Despair began to fill me like a flood. I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath. "I don''t know, Nami. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don''t know for sure." Her eyes softened a little, but then she leaned forward, her voice no longer friendly... it was commanding. "Okay, whatever Arin has to do with it, we''ll see later. But one thing is clear¡ªthe Chapter on Rei must end now. Forever." There was no hesitation in her voice, her words, her tone. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was not an admonition. It was an order. I looked at the desk in front of me, as if it held an answer. If only... If only it were as easy to finish a story... Like turning a page in a book. But some stories... Stick to your soul. No matter how much you want to leave them behind. Chapter 25 -:25:Tangled Shadows and Spirals Chapter 25 -:25:Tangled Shadows and Spirals There was an awkward silence in the classroom when the teacher''s footsteps were heard. The sound of pens being scratched could be heard, and all I could think about was what I didn''t want. Like the wound last night¡ªthe deep hate hidden in Rei''s eyes¡ªit was with me like a part of my life, but I wanted to push it out of my memory. I didn''t remember what she said, but at that moment there was an emptiness in my chest. As if I had buried something lost somewhere deep inside me, and some trace of it was still there, like a longing. The sound of the second bell pulled me back to the present. It was time for the biology lab, and the students were rushing in with their stuff. The sound of their footsteps seemed to match the beat of my heart. I followed them slowly, but the pain in my head was getting stronger. There was a slight coolness in the air, and then a voice was heard that sounded very deep and strange¡ªRian''s. "Nami, are you leaving me?" he asked teasingly. His voice was embedded in the walls, as if it were a shadow trying to surround me every moment. "It doesn''t matter to me," Nami said, and there was a freshness in that voice that she had probably found in herself. Rian put a hand over his heart and said, "Ouch! I thought we were friends!" There was a slight mischief in his words, but there was something in his eyes that disturbed me. "Friends? After what you did to us yesterday?" Nami silenced him. There were barbs in her words, and those barbs made Rian''s smile fade. I felt something break in Rian''s eyes, but he came closer to me and said softly, "Aira, tell him she''s too harsh." There was a deep sadness in his eyes, and I didn''t know how to answer him. But still, I just shook my head, "Not anymore," and walked on without saying a word. Rei''s shadow was with me, and Rian''s pull was entangling it further. "Aira...." Rian''s voice trembled, but I moved quickly. My heart was fluttering, like something was about to break, but then Nami''s hand fell on my shoulder and she stopped me. Her touch was solid, like she was there to protect me from any storm. In the lab, I sat on a chair, hiding my head in my hands. The pungent smell of chemicals lingered in the air, shaking my soul. Just then, Arin''s soft voice pulled me back from the outside world. "You okay, Aira?" he asked, and there was something in her voice¡ªsomething deep, something comforting. I looked up. Arin was standing there, holding the lab book in his hand, and his eyes, full of a freshness, were looking into mine. It was as if he understood everything, but he wasn''t saying anything. "I''m fine," I said softly, but my voice was trembling, as if I was lying to myself. He didn''t listen. "You don''t look well," he said, and sat close to me. His proximity stirred inside me, as if someone had plucked my heartstrings. There was something in his eyes,something very soft, very steady. "Headache again?" he asked, and my breath stopped. His proximity, his breath, everything was absorbed in me in that moment. "Yes," I said softly, and then I got lost in his eyes. A slight smile came to his lips, and my heart was caught in some unknown dilemma. Was this smile real, or was it just an illusion, which I couldn''t understand? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Teru''s laughter now surrounded us, and his joke allowed me to compose myself a little. "What''s going on? Is Aira upset and embarrassed?" "I don''t.." I said nervously, but Arin''s light smile calmed me down. His smile had a warmth that made me feel relaxed for a moment. Teru''s eyes were shining, and she pointed to the wall. "Aira, what is that?" she asked, and I saw that there was a curved diagram¡ªslowly, then a light smoke. "Stairs?" I asked, trembling, and Teru laughed, "What is that? DNA, you turned out to be a genius!" Her laughter echoed in my ears, and she pointed to Nami. Nami smiled, "Only you can do that." Arin laughed again, and there was something about his smile that pulled me in from the inside. His closeness, every bit of his, it was like I was being absorbed into him. Teru''s teasing eased, and in that moment, all I could feel was Arin¡ªhis laugh, his eyes, and how he made the air seem small. I bowed my head, hiding a smile I couldn''t hide anymore. Chapter 26 -:26:spirals and Stairs Chapter 26 -:26:spirals and Stairs The bustle of the classroom had slowed down, as if time itself had stopped. Teru''s laughter had disappeared, and only the soft rattle of pens could be heard. All the students were immersed in their notebooks, mechanically writing down the words the teacher told them. The sound that once made my mind settle down now made me feel lost in emptiness, far away. I looked out of the window. A tree, which was different from the rest, was in front of my eyes. Its branches were bare and lifeless, as if someone had taken away all its treasure. Its state was like a story¡ªstanding with a lost hope of colors, as if it was telling the world that yes, I am still here. Trees are so strong, right? I thought, looking at that tree with my eyes. Even if it does not have all the colors of life, it still stands in its place, as if this world cannot break it. There was a tightening in my chest. Am I the same as I was before? Can I ever be the whole, strong girl I once was, or am I ready to fall apart at any moment? The emptiness of last night still lingers in my heart, raw and deep. "Now, have everyone show me your thoughts and give me written feedback," the teacher''s shrill voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Her voice, very stern, silenced everything. A slight murmur rose in the classroom. Everyone was quietly busy with their work, as if this was a routine. I nudged Nami, "Did she ask us to write something specific?" She slid her notebook towards me without saying anything, as if she fully expected me to write what she had written. I noticed, her handwriting was chaos¡ªletters merging into each other, like a jumbled code. "What did you write?" I squealed. She said quietly, "That''s what he said." I nodded, but then let out a soft laugh, "Do you ever pay attention to your handwriting?" She glared at me and pulled out her notebook. "You were staring out the window like a lost poet, so help yourself now." I said, smiling, "Yes, yes, you''re a nerd." She scowled at me and put her headphones on. I laughed, but also felt something else¡ªdoes she ever pay attention or is she lost like me? Just then there was a soft tap on my back. I turned around to see Arin standing there, his eyes deep in thought. "What?" I asked, startled. She held out his notebook to me, "Take this." I noticed his handwriting was very clear and crisp, as if he had written each word with great concentration. "Why?" I asked, not understanding. "Copy what you missed," he said lightly, as if it were a trivial matter. "But don''t you need the notebook? Don''t you have to work?" I asked. "No, I''m going out," said Arin, his voice sounding as if he had already decided everything. "Will the teacher let me go? I looked at her, then at the teacher, then at her." "I don''t think it''s necessary to ask," he said, smiling, a smirk but a deep silence in his eyes, as if he knew what he was doing. I had the notebook in my hand, and my fingers touched the edge of its pages. But I could sense something in Arin''s eyes, a truth that was hidden from my eyes. "What?" I asked, looking into his eyes. "Nothing," he said, smiling, and then turned to walk out of the classroom. He sneaked out and the teacher didn''t find out anything. I laughed a little at his cleverness. He did everything so easily, as if he didn''t care about anything. I think this boy will not be caught under any circumstances, I said to myself, and then hiding my smile, I opened my notebook and started writing. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I looked at his notebook and turned the pages again. And there it was¡ªin the margin, a blueprint¡ªa dry tree, and below it was written: "Stairs or spiral?" Something stirred in my heart, as if Arin had read me from some deep place. Had he really begun to understand me? I looked out the window, the same dry tree, its lifeless branches standing. As if it was telling me, "Still standing, not broken." I felt as if that tree had become a symbol of hope like me. And my fingers started holding the pen tightly. Chapter 27 -:27:The Note Between the Pages Chapter 27 -:27:The Note Between the Pages As soon as the pen moved on the paper, a question pricked my mind¡ªwhy had Arin given me the notebook? The question was stupid, and I brushed it off like one would brush off a fly. But my heart was pointing its finger again and again, like an old nail coming off and pricking me. I was thinking, or perhaps pretending, that no, everything was fine. Suddenly, the bell rang. Stupidly and absurdly. The teacher packed up her things and ran away as if she hated this place. There was a commotion in the class. Chairs were knocked over, books were banged, and students ran to the door as if to save their lives. I kept fighting with myself. I was packing up my books when I saw Nami and Suhina standing at the door. "Let''s go!" Nami said, stamping her feet. "We''re getting late," Suhina said irritably. I was about to get up when the books slipped from my hands. The papers scattered like the dreams of a poor person. "You did a great job," Suhina taunted. Nami sat down next to me. She started helping me. Just then a crumpled letter fell out of Arin''s notebook. Nami picked it up. Her eyes sparkled as if she had been caught stealing. "Oh! Aira!" she teased. I replied without thinking, "It''s Arin''s notebook, he had given it to me to copy notes." Nami laughed. Suhina snatched the letter. Her smile had disappeared. Her face was like stone. She read it in a cold voice¡ª "Read carefully next time. You are making it too obvious." On hearing it, it felt as if someone had slapped me under the ear. Nami pretended, grabbed her chest as if her heart was sinking. "He is noticing you!" she said. I gathered the books in frustration. "Don''t say anything." But Suhina had started a war. "Nami is right," she said, her voice laced with venom. "Anyway, I know Arin better than you do. He''s not interested in girls like that." "Like that?" I asked quietly. "You mean... closer than me," she said bitterly. Nami rolled her eyes. "Oh please. Arin is not your private property." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I was tired of this drama. "Enough Nami," I said, pulling her away. Nami giggled. "Look who has become a peacemaker!" I jerked her hand away. "Shut up." But my eyes were fixed on Suhina. She was still there, crumpling the letter. Then suddenly, without saying anything, she went to a corner. Nami asked, "What''s the matter with this?" I shook my head. "I don''t understand. Something is strange these days." We went out. I looked out of the window¡ªthere was the same dry tree outside. Naked, lifeless. Just like me. Or maybe...like I was afraid of becoming. But there was no moisture in my mind, no happiness. There was just that irritation. "You are making it too obvious." I swear, my heart was on fire. What does Arin think? he hide things in papers, and now laughing carefree with Rian? I held the books tighter, as if I would suppress my anxiety with them. I saw him in the last corner of the hall¡ªlaughing, as if nothing had happened. My lips tightened. What is the matter with him? Chapter 28 -:28:Whispers Left Unsaid Chapter 28 -:28:Whispers Left Unsaid Nami and I turned towards the classroom. We were dragging our feet as if we had to pay off a debt. The corridor was filled with the same stale chirping¡ªlaughter that was so empty that it didn''t echo even after bouncing off the walls. I was silent. No, let''s say I was buried somewhere within myself. Arin''s quiet words and his indifferent back were following me. Nami''s face also had the same staleness, but expecting something from her was like throwing a bucket into a dry well. There was a commotion inside the classroom¡ªlike worms boiling in a basket. Books were in hand, but the mind was somewhere else. Then my eyes fell on Suhina. She was talking more than necessary, laughing more than necessary. When a person is hiding something, he laughs in the same way as a clown laughs in a show. Nami nudged me lightly. "Something is cooking," she said. As if I had heard the sound of a pot breaking in an old neighbourhood. Suhina looked at me with a smile¡ªa smile that had less sweetness and more poison. Still I remained silent. But silences don''t last long. "Aira!" The name was called as if a butcher called a cow while taking out the knife. The fists were clenched. But the face wore the same lifeless calm that is on the cheap toys sold in the market. Suhina had a note in her hand. The show was staged in such a way as if an order was being read in God''s court. "Next time pay attention. You are revealing too much." The room burst into laughter. The same laughter that hangs somewhere between enmity and friendship. Some laughed openly, some with their mouths shut. Everyone was watching the spectacle, like hungry children staring at the pan of halwa. I raised my voice. "What''s wrong with you, Suhina?" She shrugged her shoulders. As if she was saying¡ª''What do I care? The world is like this.'' "I mean, it''s just a note, isn''t it?" she laughed, as if showing off something cheap. Waving the piece of paper in her hand, she attacked me with her eyes. "What do you want?" I asked, full of anger, but there was a sense of weariness in my voice. "Nothing," she said, shrugging her shoulders, "Arin has a habit of troubling people for no reason. You are no stranger to him. Don''t take it to heart." She laughed again¡ªan awkward laugh, with more tension than sweetness. I looked at her for a moment. The rot behind her smile could be felt by anyone from a distance. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Right,Arin?" Then Arin got up. Without saying anything, without looking at anyone. Like a labourer leaves after throwing away his tools as soon as the evening siren sounds. There was a commotion in the room. Suhina''s smile faltered, as if a mouse had fallen into ghee. Nami whispered, "Wow, Suhina tried a lot... but she got trapped herself." Now the laughter changed. Now Suhina had become a spectacle. The color had gone from her face, but she kept sitting with a forced smile on her lips¡ªlike a losing gambler throws away his last coin. I looked outside. The dry tree was the same¡ªas if it was teasing time. Not laughing, but firmly. The story was not over. Many wounds were yet to be opened." Chapter 29 -:29:Game On Chapter 29 -:29:Game On After that Nami and I did not bother to talk to Suhina. And neither did she. The day dragged on like the breaths of a sick man, and the last bell announced death. I went out ¨C the cold wind slapped me on the face. Freedom felt like a prisoner breathing air after years. "Suhina has shown herself today," I said through clenched teeth, tapping my fingers on the bag. Nami swallowed her saliva. "She thinks the world will turn on her lap." Her voice was full of disgust. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I clenched my fists. "I let you go today... next time I will tear your hair and give it to you."i said, shaking my hand, as if i was really ready to do anything now. Nami pushed me lightly while laughing. "Go home sister, don''t waste your time." She walked away waving her hand at the bus stop. "Bye," I said, but my mind was already somewhere else. As soon as I entered the bus, I took a seat near the window. I kept looking at the world outside as if I was looking for a cure for my anger. My fingers kept dancing on the glass - Suhina''s play, Arin''s letter - everything kept dissolving into a frenzy. I put my forehead against the cold window. A fire was burning inside, which was refusing to die down. ________________________________________ The next day. As soon as I entered the class, I felt as if I had fallen into a dry well. The lecture was going on. Miss Sharma was telling stale stories of the Mughals. The moisture was creating all sorts of absurdities on my notebook. I was in a half-heard, half-unheard world. Just then ¡ª Suhina bowed her head, twisted her hair in her fingers and mumbled in her fake sweet voice, "Aira, are you even able to understand anything? Or are you obsessed with Arin''s notes?" I raised my head, glared at her. "Are you jealous? If you want, I can get you the notes too." There was whispering in the class, chairs rattled. A fake smile crept up on Suhina''s fake lips. "Oh please. I don''t want others'' alms. I have come to study, not to steal notes." Miss Sharma roared, "Both of you keep quiet!" Her voice had also become a part of this stale atmosphere. I leaned back on the chair and smiled. "See, Suhina? The teacher also knows who the real troublemaker is." A fountain of laughter burst out in the class. Suhina''s face was covered in anger, but she knew her place¡ªshe was not one to give in easily. The lunch bell rang. The kids ran out as if someone had opened the prison doors. I was packing my bags when Nami nudged me. "Look sister, the snake is crawling away." I raised my head. Suhina, wearing her disgusted innocence, walked towards Arin''s desk. "Arin, can I get two minutes?" She made a sound like a goat bleating before it is slaughtered. Arin looked up indifferently. "What is it?" Suhina deliberately raised her voice so everyone could hear, "I was thinking about Aira. She is... being a little too friendly with you." My mind went blank. What stupid game was this girl playing? Arin looked at me for a moment, then looked back at Suhina. "What do you mean?" Suhina took a deep breath, as if she was going to tell me a very serious truth. "When Aira wants something, she gets closer. I was just warning you." I was about to burst out laughing - What a drama it was! Nami whispered, "She should get an Oscar." Arin looked at Suhina for a moment like one looks at the gutter cover. Then he turned the book. "Cool. It''s not my problem." I suppressed my laughter. Nami covered her mouth with her hand. Suhina said with a reluctant laugh, "I just thought I''d tell you." And as she walked away she hissed in my ear, "Enjoy it while you can." I rolled my eyes. "Don''t worry. I was born into this game." But deep inside A river of fire was flowing. Suhina had started the game. Now it was my turn to show her her place. Chapter 30 -:(Arin’s POV) Noticing the Unnoticed Chapter 30 -:(Arin''s POV) Noticing the Unnoticed Arin was never one to get into drama. It seemed like a bad habit to him. Like some kind of filth that he would avoid at all costs. When Suhina had cornered him, feigning concern about Aira, he hadn''t said a word, just brushed it off in an instant. "Not my problem." That was his line. Always. But now, outside the classroom, he was standing against the wall, his eyes searching for something. His eyes were searching for Aira. Aira was standing with Nami, gesturing with her hands, her voice echoing with a full voice, as if telling her own story. Her laughter came out uninhibited, like a sound that cut through the din. Some smiled, some teased. Typical Aira. Loud, reckless, uncontrollable. Still... He kept looking at her. "Brother, are you listening or not?" Jayan''s voice shook her. Arin turned to see Jayan''s eyes wide with suspicion. "Yeah," he replied, as if trying to sort out what he was saying. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No, you weren''t listening. You were staring at Aira." Arin raised her eyebrows without saying anything. "No, I wasn''t staring." Jayan smiled and bowed, "Caught, brother." "I don''t know," arin interrupted him. Jayan laughed and shook his head, "You don''t waste time on useless things. Then why Aira?" Arin had no answer to this. And that bothered her. Outside, a dead tree was in front of her eyes¡ªstill standing as it was, bare. he didn''t look at it much. The bell rang, and everyone started returning to their seats. Aira and Nami were the last to slip in, when the teacher entered through the door. Arin never cared who sat where. But today, her eyes were drawn to Aira. Then¡ª Bang! Her water bottle fell, rolling to arin''s feet. Aira mumbled something in annoyance and bent to pick the bottle up. Then came that moment. When she looked up, their eyes met. Just for a moment¡ªbut something unspeakable rose in her big eyes, like a storm, dimming their usual brightness for a while. Then the moment was over¡ªAira smiled. "Are you going to help or just keep looking pretty?" Arin rolled her eyes, sliding the bottle from her foot to her. "You dropped it, you pick it up." Aira frowned and picked up the bottle in a rush. But as class continued, arin''s attention kept getting distracted. To her. Suhina had said that Aira had changed. Could it be that Suhina was half right¡ªand she was the only fool to notice all this? Chapter 31 -:30:Weird Guy Chapter 31 -:30:Weird Guy Sometimes some moments in life are so slow and deep that even the sounds seem far away. Today was also such a day. That play of Suhina still seemed to be echoing from somewhere far away - like a forgotten scream, which now seemed a burden to hear. I quietly collected the books, put my bag on my shoulder and walked out of the classroom avoiding the crowd. Away from the crowd, away from the noise, all I needed was some freshness. Sometimes a person just needs a little space for himself... just a little. Reaching that old stone wall behind the school, I found myself in a strange relief. The same wall, the same cold breeze... but today everything was a little heavy. As if there was some unknown burden on the heart. I leaned against the wall, slightly turned my head back and felt the cold breeze on my cheeks. How many times had it happened that this place had silently absorbed my unspoken pain within itself? Today too, there was the same hope. Just then, I heard the sound of soft footsteps from behind. I opened my eyes. And saw him... Arin. The same Arin, who often looked different even in the crowd. He was different today too. He stopped after coming some distance. He had a notebook in his hand, the same old tiredness in his eyes... and perhaps, a little restlessness. "You are here... I did not see you," there was no special emotion in his voice. As if it was just a statement... no complaint, no grievance. Still, he remained there. He did not move, nor turn away. I also turned my eyes away. "I am not hiding," I said casually, as if it did not matter. He did not say anything. Just opened the notebook and started writing something with the pen. As if it did not matter whether I was there or not. But then... that pain pierced again in some corner of my heart. Suhina''s words, the lies in her eyes, all reared their head again. "She was lying," I said softly, playing with the thread on the sleeve of my sweater. Arin''s pen stopped. He didn''t look at me... still, his silence screamed. Sometimes silences can be heard... very clearly. "I know," he said. That''s it. But that one sentence lifted a huge burden. My breaths deepened. I turned a stone in the dirt with my feet. No words were needed. Sometimes silence is the greatest solace. "Okay," I whispered. He was still writing something in his notebook, his head bent. The wind was blowing his hair... and I was wondering, why does fate bring us to the same crossroads again and again, when neither of us wants it to be so? S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then I heard Nami scream from a distance¡ª "Aira! Chips or death¡ªchoose one!" I smiled. Very slightly. As if some old memory had suddenly touched my heart. And then I moved away from the wall and walked away. Arin did not say anything. He was lost in his own world. I did not look back, but I felt¡ª A soft smile had bloomed on the corner of his lips. Hidden, silent. As if he also knew... that some things cannot be understood by saying, but only by feeling. Arin¡ªa strange boy. One who speaks in silence. Chapter 32 -:Weird Girl (Arin’s POV) Chapter 32 -:Weird Girl (Arin''s POV) Eventually the back gate had gone silent. As if someone had pushed the noise behind a thick curtain. I opened my old notebook, every page of which was filled with all kinds of words ¨C some written, some just felt. The sound of the pen rubbing seemed to disconnect me from this world. Suhina''s taunts were still echoing in my ears... But my heart had tiredly put them aside. Nothing mattered now. Neither friendship, nor useless talks. Only a soft relationship with myself was left. And then... S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My eyes fell on her. Aira. She was standing there ¨C as if she had become a part of the wall. Hands folded, eyes stuck somewhere far away. There was a strange peace on her face... or maybe tiredness? Or a mixed reflection of both? For a moment, I felt like turning around, to save myself from this new confusion. But maybe... Maybe she too had come to steal a corner from this crowd - just like me. I took a deep breath, as if convincing myself that all this was real. Then I stepped forward - silently. "I did not see you," I said very softly, as if sharing a secret. This was not a lie. It was really beyond hope to see her here. But I did not go. I just stood there, frozen in my place. I kept drawing useless lines on the notebook - as if realizing her existence was enough. After a few moments, her voice came. Weak, drowned. "Whatever she had said, it was all a lie." The grip of my hand tightened on the pen. My heart believed without thinking - because Aaira was not one of those girls whose words are cheap. But knowing this and expressing it - were two different things. "I know," I said, without looking at her. Sometimes, believing in silence is the greatest satisfaction. Silence filled the air. Silence, which was actually a lot of unsaid things. Aira started playing with her feet on the floor. There was an innocent childishness in that act. "That''s good," she mumbled. I glanced at her - just for a moment. But I stopped myself. Sometimes distance is the greatest mercy. I turned the page and immersed myself in the tangled handwriting. Nami''s voice screamed from afar: "Aira! Chips or death - choose one!" Aira smiled slightly - a smile that was like wet leaves in the sun. Then she moved away from the wall and walked away. I stood there. Completely silent. As if something very precious had just slipped away... And then, as if inadvertently, the corners of my lips moved slightly. Very slightly. As if a prayer had come out inadvertently. Strange girl. Very strange. Very special. Chapter 33 -:31:The Checkmate Chapter 33 -:31:The Checkmate Suhina was silent ¨C ??and her silence was like stale flowers lying in a graveyard. Days were dragging on, and every moment was pricking our friendship with another poisonous thorn. Arin? He too was visible sometimes ¨C on walls, behind doors, in hazy shadows ¨C So close that the heart trembles, so far that even the voice cannot reach. Fate? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fate is like that prostitute who smilingly embraces the highest bidder. I kept running, she kept pulling me. In front of Arin, again, again and again. There were still conversations ¨C no, there were words ¨C Small arrows, rusted, but hitting straight to the heart. Then one day the wind changed. No, it did not change, it started rotting. Suhina ... that day .... had come with sweet poison in her eyes. She showered flowers of laughter, hiding the thorns. "Aira," she shouted, so that everyone could hear, "I admire your courage!" I tilted my neck. "Courage?" The air had become thick ,so thick that the breath started smelling bad. "Yes!" She laughed , like a cat that has grabbed the tail of a mouse. "Not everyone runs after a boy who doesn''t even look back." The crowd shuddered. My fingers dug holes in my palm, but my face remained the same , like a block of ice. Arin was there ,carrying his bag, with wrinkles on his forehead. Suhina shot an arrow , the last, the dirtiest arrow. "Poor Arin... how can I escape from him?" I smiled and bowed my head .... no, it was a laugh laced with venom. "You are absolutely right," I said. Her face lit up with victory. She must have felt sweet at the thought that she had humiliated me. But I moved forward, very slowly. "I have a question..." I said, with a thin edge to my voice, "If I am the one running behind, why do you talk about me every time?" The crowd was stunned. Suhina''s laughter shrank ,as if water had been thrown on a cat. "Think about it," I said, now so soft that it pierced like a knife, "If I am really that pathetic... Arin would have knocked me down by now. Or else..." I blinked, "or are you afraid that I don''t need to run at all?" Murmurs in the crowd. Splashes. Scattered laughter. Then I made the final attack. "And yes," I said, looking straight at her, "if you were dreaming of insulting me, you should have seen it¡ªArin is still standing behind you." Suhina''s face turned pale. She turned. Arin was still there¡ªlike a statue of ice. Suhina mumbled something¡ªmeaningless, out of tune¡ªthen stomped off and ran away. All her artificial magic had been shattered. Nami came up to me, whispering, "She suffered the same fate as my English exam¡ªknew everything, yet failed." I smiled slightly. But before I could say anything¡ªArin''s voice came. "She talks too much," he said¡ªhe fixed her eyes on me for a moment¡ªthen turned away. Just one sentence. Just one blow. And the game is over. At least for today. Chapter 34 -:32:Notebook Promises Chapter 34 -:32:Notebook Promises We thought the matter was over. But no, it was just a simmering storm, ready to raise its head again. In the hot afternoon sun, while the children were running around like ants in the field, Nami and I reluctantly settled down in our respective places. There was a stone bench, whose coolness also contained the anger of the afternoon. I poked my food with my fork as if it were a corpse. Nami mumbled, crushing her juice box, "Something is cooking." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I looked up. There it was¡ªSuhina. In the midst of her flock, making poison. She glanced at me every few seconds, then disappeared into a deep whisper. As if she was plotting some great conspiracy, but there was a layer of stupidity on her face, which anyone could read. I laughed and twisted the fork. "Let her fall into her own trap." Nami smiled, like a soldier''s eyes shine before a battle. "This is my girl." All day long I had behaved like a bewildered monkey¡ª When she bumped into my shoulder, I just bowed my head. When her words hit my back like smoke, I smiled. Her courage grew. She hovered around Arin, listing my faults. She thought she would change the story. She thought I would keep quiet. But stories don''t change like that. The last period was like the last scene of a funny play. Project presentations were going on. Suhina took over the stage. "Miss Sharma," her voice was sweet, but there was a venom inside, "Should we get marks not just on results, but also on efforts?" The whole class knew where the arrow was aimed. I said, leaning back in my chair, "Yeah, like people who pretend to be innocent but can''t really live without a spectacle." Her face cracked a little. "I was just talking about responsibility." I rested my fingers on my chin, "Like the day you were filling Arin with bad things About me?" The room gasped. Heads turned. Chairs creaked. Arin raised his head. "Who are you talking about?" There was no softness in her voice, no anger just a silence that could choke someone. "I was just..." Suhina''s words caught in her throat. "I was taking care of arin." "I don''t need to be protected from that," Arin said, as if he was passing judgement. "But your words... are now visible to everyone." Suhina''s face looked as if someone had thrown water on it¡ªwashed out, devastated. A few heads shook in the room. Miss Sharma coughed and said, "Let''s settle personal enmity outside. Continue with the presentation." The decision had been made. Suhina got up. Her gait was no longer as stiff as before. She was dragging her feet. Her face was tense, but not defeated. Her silence was a promise¡ªthat she would return again. After the break, Nami held my hand. "Did you see her face? As if she had chewed the whole bitter lemon!" I laughed. A broad, loud, free laugh. "I told you, she will get herself into trouble." We disappeared into the crowd. But I froze. Arin was still sitting at his desk, flipping through his notebook. As if nothing had changed for him. I was about to start walking when his voice stopped me. "Do you think I''m your personal library?" I raised my eyebrows. "What?" He raised his head. There was a coldness in his eyes, but a slight smile at the corners. "You always borrow my notebook. This time bring yours, and that notebook of mine too, which you''ve borrowed for so many days." I crossed my arms, "Okay? Now the complaints start?" He didn''t smile, just turned a page. But there was a spark in his eyes that anyone could see. Suhina had lost today, But the fight was still on. And Arin? He wasn''t open like a book. He was a puzzle that would probably take the whole story to solve. Chapter 35 -:33:Ruin’s Pull Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 35 -:33:Ruin¡¯s Pull The courtyard had emptied, the buzz of the showdown fading into echoes. Long shadows stretched across the stones as the sun dipped low. I caught Arin''s gaze¡ªjust a flicker, sharp and unreadable¡ªbefore he turned and slipped back into the building, swallowed by the classroom''s hum like nothing had happened. I let out a slow breath, shaking off the weight of his look, and followed. Inside, the room thrummed with chatter, but my head was still snagged on the gate¡ªSuhina''s crash, Arin''s quiet blade of a voice. A familiar drawl yanked me out of it. "Aira, you good?" I turned to find Subh looming by my desk, a family friend with a knack for bad timing. "Fine," I said, arching a brow. "What do you want?" He sighed, all theatrical flair. "Why do you always think I''m after something?" "Because you are," Nami cut in, smirking without lifting her eyes from her doodling. Subh glared. "Like you''re any better." "Touch¨¦." Her grin widened. I folded my arms. "Spit it out, Subh. What''s the deal?" He fidgeted, flipping his notebook pages like they held his script. Then, eyes dodging mine, he mumbled, "You know I like Suhina." I snorted. "And she''s glued to Tenzin." Nami leaned back, voice thick with mock pity. "If you''re here to play her knight, save it." "Come on, Nami," he snapped. "Just... back off her, alright? Give her space to figure things out, and then¡ª" He stopped, jaw tight. "Then what?" we said in sync, leaning in. A goofy grin broke across his face. "I''m gonna propose." I stared, then laughed¡ªshort, incredulous. "She''s drooling over Tenzin, Subh. You get that, right?" "I''m trying," he huffed, standing straighter. "And maybe if you two eased up on her, I''d have a shot." He spun on his heel and stalked off, leaving us gawking after him. Nami huffed, arms crossing. "Has he lost it? Chasing her? She''s a walking disaster." My gaze drifted to Arin, a few rows up, hunched over his notebook. His pen moved steady, unfazed¡ªlike he hadn''t just torched Suhina''s game in front of everyone. A strange ache coiled in my chest. "Love doesn''t chase beauty," I murmured, half to myself. "It hunts ruin." Nami caught my stare and whacked my shoulder. "Don''t you dare." I rolled my eyes, but the truth gnawed at me¡ªI wasn''t sure I could stop. Chapter 36 -:34:The Weight of a Name Chapter 36 -:34:The Weight of a Name I didn''t know why, but Arin was creeping into my thoughts¡ªslowly, steadily, like ink bleeding through paper. That evening, I sat alone in my room, the faint hum of music curling around me like a warm breeze. The melody was soft, almost haunting, threading through the stillness. "Dil ki daali mein kaliyan khilne lagi... jab nigaahein nigaaon se milne lagi..." The lyrics sank into me, delicate yet heavy, tugging at something I couldn''t name. Eyes shut, I swayed to the rhythm, letting it pull me under. But beneath the notes, beneath the flicker of my bedside lamp, one thought pulsed louder than the rest. Arin. His name slipped into the cracks of my mind, unbidden but stubborn. The way he''d cut through Suhina''s noise with a single line, the weight behind his silences, the pull of his gaze when it lingered just a beat too long. I couldn''t shake it. My eyes snapped open. I huffed, dragging a hand through my hair. "Aira, get a grip," I muttered. "Arin? Really? You''re losing it." But my cheeks burned anyway, a traitor''s blush I couldn''t will away. I turned to the window. The moon glowed high, a pale pearl against the endless black, spilling silver into my room. It felt like a spotlight on a question I wasn''t ready to face. "Am I falling for him?" The words slipped out, barely a whisper, fragile as glass. My heart thudded, loud and unsteady. "Would he ever see me like that? Would he even care?" The ache in my chest tightened, a longing I didn''t know how to hold. I pulled my knees up, wrapping my arms around them as the music looped on. Outside, the night stretched vast and quiet, hoarding answers I couldn''t reach. --- Days slid by, smooth and uneventful. Suhina had gone silent¡ªno jabs, no schemes. Maybe she''d finally let it go. Or maybe she was too wrapped up in Tenzin¡ªthose stolen glances and hushed moments they shared hinted at something brewing. I didn''t care enough to dig. Because my focus had shifted. My thoughts, my pulse, my everything¡ªthey kept drifting to Arin. Back when Rei had pressed me, I''d tossed out "I like Arin" like a shield, a half-truth to dodge her teasing. Now, those words felt heavier, sinking into me like roots. --- The next evening, restless and tangled in my own head, I grabbed my jacket and slipped out. A quick errand run¡ªmilk, bread, whatever¡ªanything to shake off the static buzzing in my skull. The market hummed with life, streetlights casting gold across the dusk-blue sky. Vendors called out, their voices mingling with the clatter of footsteps. I was halfway to the store when I saw him. Arin. He leaned against a shop wall, black hoodie up, cap shadowing his dark hair. Cool, effortless, but there was something softer too¡ªalmost boyish in the way he stood, hands buried in his pockets. Then his eyes caught mine. "You here?" His voice was calm, steady, like always. I swallowed, forcing my tone even. "Yeah, just... grabbing stuff for home." My heart kicked against my ribs. Why did it always do that around him? "Oh." He nodded, shifting his weight. "I live around here." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm. Cool." I flicked my gaze to the stalls, pretending to scan them¡ªanything to dodge those eyes that saw too much. But he wasn''t done. "Why do you always look so lost?" A thread of amusement wove through his words, followed by a low chuckle. My breath hitched. "I''m not lost," I said, quieter than I meant, eyes dropping to the ground. "You just... never try to figure me out." His fingers twitched in his pockets. For a split second, something flashed in his gaze¡ªsurprise, maybe regret¡ªbefore it smoothed over. "Figure what out?" he asked, head tilting, curiosity sharpening his tone. I faltered, words catching in my throat. "I mean... why are you so quiet? Why do you keep everyone at arm''s length?" The questions spilled out, soft but heavy, carrying all the nights I''d wondered about him. He didn''t answer right away. His eyes held mine, searching, unreadable. Then, barely above a whisper, he said, "Sometimes being alone is easier." He lingered a moment longer, gaze steady, before turning and melting into the crowd. I stood rooted, watching his back fade into the dusk, a quiet ache settling in my chest. His words echoed, simple but loaded, and the space between us felt wider¡ªand closer¡ªthan ever. Chapter 37 -:35:Riddle of the Ride Chapter 37 -:35:Riddle of the Ride I didn''t even realize it until Arin had completely disappeared from sight. Snapping out of my daze, I quickly picked up the bag in my hand and tucked it into the scooty''s compartment. Just then, a voice pulled me back to reality. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Beta, what time is it?" I turned to see an old woman standing nearby, her frail figure wrapped in a shawl. "4:45," I answered, glancing at my watch. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Could you drop me off at this address?" She held out a small piece of paper. I sighed, already feeling late. "Aunty, I''m in a bit of a hurry. Maybe you can ask someone else?" She simply looked at me, her gaze unwavering. A small pang of guilt crept in. "Alright... let me see where you need to go." I took the note from her hands, scanning the address. For a brief moment, I hesitated. Should I take her? What if she''s a thief? But come on, Aira, she''s just an old lady... You should at least show some humanity. I exhaled. "Alright, get on. I''ll drop you off." She climbed onto the back of my scooty, holding onto me tightly as I started the engine. "Please, God, let us reach safely. I really don''t want her to fall off," I muttered under my breath. As we rode through the dimly lit streets, her voice broke the silence. "What''s your name?" I stiffened slightly. Should I really tell her? What if she''s some hacker and uses my name to hack my account or something? No, Aira, stop overthinking. You''re being ridiculous. "Aira," I replied. "Hmm... strange name," she murmured. I blinked. What the heck? What''s so weird about my name, old lady?! I forced out an awkward chuckle, pretending not to care. "Haha..." By the time we reached her destination, I let out a relieved sigh and stopped the scooty. "Here we are. You can go now." I gestured toward the house. But something about the way she lingered made me uneasy. Why did it feel like this wasn''t just a simple ride...? Just as I turned to leave, the old woman suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist. "You will meet the one you are destined to meet... but that doesn''t mean he will be yours forever, nor that he will only bring you happiness." Her voice was eerily calm, carrying the weight of something I couldn''t quite grasp. And then¡ªwithout another word¡ªshe stepped inside the house, vanishing behind the door. I stood there, frozen. What... did she just say? Who was she talking about? A strange chill ran down my spine. Was she some kind of fortune teller? A mystic? Or just a senile old woman rambling nonsense? Meet someone... but not for a lifetime? I shook my head, scoffing at my own thoughts. Ugh, old people say the weirdest things. Still, as I climbed onto my scooty, I couldn''t resist glancing back at the house one last time before speeding away into the night. Even after I reached home, her words kept circling in my mind like an unsolved riddle. I barely tasted dinner, my thoughts tangled in the cryptic message she had left behind. Later, as I finally retreated to my room, exhaustion settled over me like a heavy blanket. I shut my eyes, willing my mind to silence. Forget it, Aira. It''s just another strange encounter. And with that, I let the weight of the day pull me into the depths of sleep. Chapter 38 -:36:Whispers Over Desk Chapter 38 -:36:Whispers Over Desk The morning air was crisp as I stepped into the school grounds, my bag slung over one shoulder. As expected, Nami was already waiting for me, arms crossed, an exasperated look on her face. The moment she saw me, she wasted no time. "Subh came to me earlier," she said, her tone laced with disbelief. "He''s serious. He''s actually going to propose to Suhina." I let out a sigh. "Let him. What can we even do?" We were still talking when a sudden commotion erupted in the classroom. A murmur spread through the students like wildfire, heads turning, whispers filling the air. Frowning, I followed the noise, and my eyes widened at the sight before me. Right there, in front of everyone, Subh was down on one knee, looking up at Suhina with nervous determination. "I really like you, Suhina," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment. For a second, the whole room seemed to hold its breath. Then, Suhina scoffed. Loudly. "Are you out of your mind, Subh?" she snapped, her voice dripping with irritation. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The class erupted into hushed gasps, everyone watching with rapt attention. "How could you even think that I''d like you?" she sneered, tilting her head arrogantly. "Look at yourself... and then look at me." Her words were sharp, merciless. She didn''t just reject him¡ªshe humiliated him. Without another glance, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Subh kneeling there, frozen in place. For a moment, he didn''t move. He just stared after her, as if willing her to turn back. But she never did. Then, slowly, he stood up, his shoulders sinking under the weight of silent heartbreak. The teacher walked in a moment later, snapping everyone out of their trance. Students scrambled to their seats, whispers still rippling through the room. Subh sat down at his desk, his usual energy completely drained. He didn''t say a word, didn''t react to the murmurs around him. It was as if, in that one moment, his entire world had shattred . I couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Subh. No matter how much we had warned him, watching someone get crushed like that wasn''t easy. "I told him," Nami muttered, glancing in his direction. "What could we have done?" I sighed. "We tried to talk sense into him, but at least now he knows better." Nami scoffed, shaking her head. "Suhina is so cruel. She could have let him down gently." "Yeah," I smirked. "But then how would she get the attention she loves so much?" Nami snorted, but our conversation ended as the teacher began the lesson. The classroom settled into routine, but my mind... it had other plans. Despite myself, my gaze kept drifting toward Arin. He was writing something in his notebook, his brow furrowed slightly in concentration. But every now and then, I noticed the way his hand slowed, how his fingers tapped idly against the desk as boredom crept in. He would stop, sigh, and glance around as if searching for an escape from the monotony. Then there were the moments with his friends. I watched as he leaned back, laughing at something one of them said. The casual ease in his posture, the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners¡ªit was annoyingly captivating. And then, just as quickly, their playfulness would spiral into chaos. Someone would shove another, a mock fight breaking out between them, hands grabbing at shoulders, playful smacks landing. But the moment the teacher''s gaze swept across the room, Arin transformed. Back straight, eyes focused, the picture of an ideal student. I nearly laughed out loud. How effortlessly he played both roles¡ªthe troublemaker and the model student. And yet, despite everything, there was something about him that made it impossible to look away. Chapter 39 -:37: Weight of Rejection Chapter 39 -:37: Weight of Rejection Subh didn''t come back to class after Suhina''s rejection. No one seemed to care¡ªexcept for me and Nami. The rest of the students moved on, their attention already shifting to other gossip, but I couldn''t shake off the image of him kneeling there, hope crumbling as Suhina walked away without a second glance. The final bell rang, and students poured out of the classrooms. Nami and I walked toward the gate, but my feet slowed. "He''s still missing," I murmured. Nami sighed. "Aira, he''ll be fine. Let him deal with it." But something in me said otherwise. "Just a quick look," I insisted. "If he''s gone, we''ll leave." With a reluctant groan, Nami followed as I turned toward the sports ground. And there he was. Subh sat alone behind the bleachers, knees drawn up, fingers pulling at the grass absently. He wasn''t crying, but the weight of rejection hung over him. Nami crossed her arms. "Told you she''s not worth it. Move on." Subh let out a hollow laugh. "That easy, huh?" I sat down next to him, resting my elbows on my knees. "You okay?" He didn''t answer right away. Instead, he stared at the ground, as if searching for words. "I knew she''d say no," he finally admitted. "But I had to try. Just once." His voice was quieter than I''d ever heard it. For a moment, none of us spoke. The afternoon air was heavy, filled only with the distant sounds of students leaving the school grounds. Then he added something that made me pause. "She wasn''t always like this, you know." I turned to him, frowning. "What do you mean?" Subh opened his mouth to speak¡ªbut before he could, a voice cut through the silence. "Crying over Suhina? Pathetic." I looked up. Arin stood there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as always. His school bag hung lazily off one shoulder, and his sharp gaze flickered between us. Subh''s posture stiffened. "Mind your own business, Arin." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Arin raised an eyebrow. "Hard to, when you''re sulking in the open." The tension crackled between them. Subh clenched his fists, while Arin remained completely calm, like a storm that refused to be shaken. I sighed. "Arin, not now." He tilted his head slightly, his eyes shifting to me for a brief second before looking back at Subh. "You thought confessing would change things? That she''d suddenly see you?" Arin''s tone wasn''t mocking¡ªit was cold, factual. "She never saw you, Subh. And she never will." Subh shot up to his feet. "Shut up." Arin didn''t move. Didn''t flinch. For the first time, I saw a different side of Subh¡ªnot the teasing guy who always showed up asking for favors, but someone who was actually hurt. "You don''t know anything," Subh muttered. Arin exhaled, shaking his head. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." Then, without another word, he turned and walked away. I watched his back as he disappeared into the distance, his presence lingering even after he was gone. Subh sat back down, rubbing his temples. "I hate that guy." Nami huffed. "Join the club." But I wasn''t so sure. Because in Arin''s voice¡ªbeneath that icy tone¡ªI thought I heard something else. A warning. And for the first time, I wondered¡ªwhat exactly did he see that we didn''t? A Heartbeat Too Loud I tore my gaze away from Arin and turned back to Subh. "Come on, don''t you want to go home?" I asked, shaking off the strange weight that Arin''s words had left behind. Subh exhaled sharply. "Yeah, let''s go." Without another word, he strode ahead, as if putting distance between us would somehow lessen the sting of rejection. I glanced at Nami. "Fresh heartbreak." She snorted. "Yeah, well, Arin didn''t have to be that harsh. Who talks like that?" I shrugged. "Sometimes, silence is the best option." Nami smirked. "Should I put tape over your mouth then?" She mimicked pulling an invisible strip of tape and pressing it over my lips. I laughed, shaking my head. "Let''s just go." Slipping my hand into hers, we walked out of the school gates, the air still carrying whispers of the afternoon''s chaos. ¡ª The moment I reached home, I tossed my bag aside and rushed to my phone, unlocking it in one swift motion. Instagram. My fingers moved on their own, pulling up Arin''s profile. The screen lit up with his posts, his face staring back at me¡ªsharp features, that same unreadable expression, as if nothing in the world could faze him. And yet... something about him did something to me. A single glance was enough to send my heartbeat into chaos. I slammed my phone face-down on the bed, as if I had just been caught red-handed. Caught doing what? I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. What was happening to me? Chapter 40 -:38:Spiced Secrets and Tangy Lies Chapter 40 -:38:Spiced Secrets and Tangy Lies Just. As I tried to clam my racing heart, my phone buzzed on the bed. Teru. I grabbed it immediately and answered. "Hello?" Her voice came through "Hey! Where were you today? You didn''t come to school. Everything okay?" I asked, leaning back against my bed. She sighed. "Didn''t feel like it." Then, she asked"Did I miss anything?" I let out a laugh. "Oh, you missed a lot." "How much is ''a lot''?" Her curiosity at peak I ask with a smirk on my face "Wouldn''t you rather hear it in person?" "Hmm... tempting." I suddenly had an idea. "How about we meet up at the golgappa stall? I''ll tell you properly. I''ll ask Nami to come too." There was a short silence before Teru replied, "Perfect idea. I was craving something good anyway." "Then it''s settled. I''m leaving now. See you there." I hung up and put my phone onto the bed. Then, with a urgency, I hurried to get ready, for a lovely Meeting at the Golgappa Stall I quickly changed into my favorite short kurti and jeans , tying my hair up in a ponytail. Grabbing my phone and keys, I run toward the door. "Mumma, I''m heading out! I''ll be back soon!" I called over my shoulder, not waiting for a response Before she could stop me with a question, I was already outside, Riding my scooty. within moments, I sped off into the fresh evening air, the city lights flickering like tiny stars against the dusky sky. the time I reached the golgappa stall, I spotted Nami and Teru already there, leaning casually against the cart, chatting amd giggling I pulled up and parked, waving from a distance. "Hey!" Nami turned first, a smile spreading across her face. "Took you long enough!" I rolled my eyes playfully and walked up to them, settling onto the bench beside them. "Traffic," I said . "Excuses, excuses," Teru teased, nudging my arm. The air around the stall was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of tangy, spicy water and freshly fried puris. The owner of the stall was busy serving the Golgappa to the crowd around him we placed our orders, I leaned forward, with a excitement inside me. "Okay, you guys won''t believe what happened today." Nami smirked. "Oh, we already know part of it. But go on, make it dramatic." I smirked back. "Alright, here''s the full story..." gathering my thoughts I start ."So, first thing in the morning, Nami tells me that Subh is actually serious about proposing to Suhina. And guess what? He actually did it!" Teru''s eyes widened with excitement . "Wait, what?! He really confessed?" Nami said . "Not just that. He got down on one knee in front of everyone." Teru who is nearly dropping the puri in her hand. Asked "No way! And what did she say?" I tell dramatically. "Exactly what you''d expect from someone like her. She looked at him like he was some kind of worm on her shoes and went, ''You thought I''d ever like you? Look at yourself and then look at me!''" Teru covered her mouth, . "Ouch. That''s brutal." I nodded. "Yeah, poor Subh just stood there, completely crushed. And then....." Nami cut in, "Then our dear Aira here was way more interested in someone else." Teru raised an eyebrow at Me playfully . "Oh? Who?" I can feel a little redness on my cheeks "Nothing. No one. Just... Arin." Teru''s lips smile. "Ah, I see. So while Subh was getting his heart shattered, you were busy watching Arin, huh?" Nami laughed. "More like analyzing his every move." I try to shut her . "Can we focus on Subh for now?" Teru smiles , taking a bite of her golgappa. "Oh, don''t worry. We''ll get back to Arin soon enough." They both burst into laughter and with them I too, the stall air filled with our voices as we eat the spicy, tangy flavors of our favorite street food. We were still chatting when Nami suddenly tensed, her eyes narrowing as she looked past me. "Wait... isn''t that Suhina?" she asked, with a curiosiry in her voice Teru and I instinctively followed her gaze. "Yeah, that''s definitely her," Teru confirmed, I was confused i asked , watching Suhina from a distance. "What is she doing here alone at this hour?" Teru said eyes still on suhina. "How would we know?" Nami smiles , a mischievous smirk in her eyes. "Wanna find out?" I immediately shook my head. "Nope. Not interested." "Oh, who asked you?" she said back playfully before grabbing my arm and drag me toward her scooty. "Wait¡ªNami, no!" I protested, but she wasn''t listening. With one swift motion, she made me sit behind her, started the engine, and took off, following Suhinneon-lsafe distance. "What exactly are you hoping to find out?" I asked, gripping the sides of the seat. "Just shut up and watch," Nami said, fully focused on the girl suhina ahead of us. We followed Suhina through the dimly lit streets, the hum sounds of the scooty blending into the city''s quiet hum. She walked with an air of confidence, her long hair swaying with every step, her delicate skirt and perfectly coordinated outfit making it clear she had dressed up for something or someone. After a few minutes she reached her destination. We stop a few meters away as Suhina stepped inside a hotel. But this wasn''t just any hotel. The neon-light sign flickering , and the place had a reputation , a really bad one. Everyone knew it wasn''t for casual stays but for questionable activities. I swallowed hard. "Nami... that''s not a normal hotel." "I know," she say, gripping the handlebars tighter. As we watched, a guy approached Suhina. He was tall, well-dressed, and seemed to be waiting for her. Without hesitation, she smiled and then slipping her hand into his and walk inside the hotel. hotel doors closed behind them. Teru, who had been watching carefully, narrowed her eyes. Her voice was low and certain. "That''s Tenzin." Nami and I exchanged a sharp glance before turning back to the hotel entrance. It was him.Tenzin. With Suhina. For a moment, none of us spoke. My heart pounded as I tried to make sense of what we had just witnessed. Nami broke the silence. "Are we just gonna ignore this?" Their is a disbelief in her voice Teru exhaled slowly. "No way. We need to find out what''s going on." I hesitated Before speaking, "Tomorrow. At school." Nami crossed her arms, . "Yeah. We''ll get answers." Teru''s eyes was still fixed on the spot . "And if we don''t... we''ll make sure we do." Determination settled between us. Whatever was happening with Suhina and Tenzin, we were going to uncover the truth. Just as we were about to turn and leave, my breath hitched. Arin. I saw his bike parked there and he was standing leaning on it and doing something on his phone. It looked like he was guarding the place. Something twisted in my stomach . I grabbed Nami''s wrist, my voice barely above a whisper. "Look." Nami and Teru followed my gaze. Nami''s eyes widened. "What the...?" "Why is he here?" I couldn''t answer. My mind was spinning like a wheel S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First Suhina. Then Tenzin. And now... Arin? Whatever was happening here, we have to find out Just as I was trying to process everything, Arin''s eyes catch us. For a mere second, our eyes met. Did he see us? Before I could even think of looking away, he moved. Nami tensed beside me. "Oh crap... he''s coming this way." Chapter 41 -:(Arin POV)uninvited Encounter Chapter 41 -:(Arin POV)uninvited Encounter The colorful lights of the hotel flickered weakly, casting a dull glow on the road, I was leaned against my bike, my arms crossed and gaze scanning the street. I was watching the entrance like a silent sentry. Tenzin and Suhina had just walked inside. I wasn''t sure why I am agreed to come along.... Maybe to make sure no one saw them, or maybe because Tenzin asked, And offcourse I can never said no to my Bestfriend. Still, something about that wasn''t felt right. Suhina was always careful, always playing the perfect girl. Yet here she was, stepping into a place that would ruin her if anyone found out. And I was the one making sure that didn''t happen. "What a joke," I muttered to myself... Suhina , her fake smiles, her habit of treating people like accessories it all irritated me , I Don''t like her not even a little bit . But Tenzin doesn''t know what he sees in her, and I had to come here only because of Tenzin''s stubbornness. I thought why not distract my mind with phone for some time but trouble was sitting near me from a distance. When I started looking at something on my phone, I saw that a little distance away, behind a tree Aira. She wasn''t alone...Nami and Teru were with her. They were watching. I sighed, my mind racing. I could already picture Nami''s expression her imagination everything , ready to turn this into a spectacle. Aira, on the other hand, looked... conflicted. She wasn''t someone who enjoyed drama, or she ? First I thought that I should ignore her, maybe this way she will leave quickly and she will think that I did not see her. But then Nami whispered something, and Aira''s expression changed. Her eyes locked onto me, I knew that look. She was figuring things out. I pushed off the bike, putting my hands in my pockets as I walked toward them. I wasn''t in the mood for questions, but I knew Aira. She wasn''t going to Leave without answers. When I finally stopped in front of them, Nami crossed her arms. "Well, well, look who we have here." I did''t care about nami Instead my eyes fixed on Aira. "Why are you here?" I spoke calmly , but there was an edge to it. Aira didn''t flinch. "Why are here?" Of course, she wouldn''t make this easy. "Tenzin asked me to come," I said simply. "To guard their secret?" Her voice was steady, but her eyes asking something else My head tilted a little, while watching her. Aira was different from the others. She didn''t just look ,she saw. It was both irritating and... Don''t know what else I leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "You don''t belong in this mess, Aira." For a moment, she stay quite and Then, her lips pressed together in determination. "Neither do you." I smriked "Oh is that so?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. inside hotel ,Suhina and Tenzin were playing their little secret game. Out here, in the streetlights, me and Aira were locked in a different kind of situation Chapter 42 -:39:the stalker or? Chapter 42 -:39:the stalker or? my heart was beating fast with his every move What did he know? "Let''s go, Nami. Decent people don''t belong in places like this," I said sharply, giving Arin a pointed look. "Yeah, come on, hop on," Nami said to me, already seated on the scooty with Teru. I climbed on, ready to leave, when Arin''s voice came from behind. "Be careful." Something in his tone made me pause for a second. As we rode away, I glance back just once to find him still watching. The streets were quiet as we neared my neighborhood, but my mind was anything but. Thoughts still remembering the chaotic mess all revolving around one thing¡ªArin. Why was he there? He shouldn''t have been. I clenched my fists, trying to shake the thought away. What does it matter? He can do whatever he wants. It''s none of my concern. the realization hit me hard. Tenzin and Suhina... they''re dating? And I had no idea? Not that it should bother me. Why would I know? Why would they tell me? We reached my street, and as I stepped off the scooty, I speak in a forced casual tone. "Alright then, see you both at school tomorrow." Nami and Teru nod . "Bye." Their voices sounded distant ,they were still a little shaken. I watched as they sped off, disappearing into the night. Then, I turned toward home, my thoughts still tangled in knots. Would Arin go to places like that too? Just like them? despite knowing him for so long, I had never really figured him out. No matter how much I wanted to, he never gave me the chance. Does he even like me? Or am I just another name in the background of his life? The thought was frustrating. Annoying. And then, impulsively, an idea sparked in my mind. A small stone lay near my feet. Without thinking, I picked it up, rolling it between my fingers. Alright... let''s decide this. If the stone lands on this side, he likes me. If it lands on the other... then he doesn''t. I smiled to myself at the ridiculousness of it. What kind of childish game was this? But still, I threw it into the air. Before I could see how it landed¡ª A sharp sound cut through the silence. A bike a stop behind me. I froze. "Who is it that you wish would like you?" A deep, teasing voice. Smooth. Familiar. I quickly looked back and in the process I stumbled a little. Arin. He was sitting quietly on the bike, just looking at me ,I was a bit surprised to see him. How long had he been there? Had he seen "Did I scare you?" His voice was softer now, almost amused, as if he already knew the answer "Yes..., if you suddenly come from behind and speak like that anyone will be scared ..." No words were coming out of my mouth. My heart was beating very fast... Why is he here at this time? I looked around¡ªthere was no one. We were just... alone. Arin got off the bike and came straight to me. He extended his hand toward me. "Come on, stand up properly." I hesitated before taking it. "Thanks," I said in low voice still trying to steady myself. He tilted his head slightly. "Walking home alone at this hour?" I smiled , slipping back into my usual self. "No, of course not. Can''t you see? I have four people with me." I gestured dramatically to the empty street. Arin barely blinked. "Guess they''re only visible to you." His deadpan response made me purse my lips. "You''re so¡ª" I started but stopped midway. Arin raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "I''m so... what?" His voice was low, teasing, and his gaze locked onto me. Before I could step back, he leaned in. The space Between us close in an instant. His face was very close to me... very close. So much so that I could clearly see the slight smile on his lips. His breathing, his eyes staring at me¡ªI could feel everything My heart beating fast He bent slightly, aligning his gaze with mine. "What were you going to say, Aira? Tell me..." Just by him saying this, my breathing, my mind, my heart... everything felt numb. I couldn''t remember what I was going to say. His voice... I didn''t know when I started sounding so sweet. Controlling myself, I took a step back a little... His proximity was unsettling, his gaze sharp yet I Can''t understand "N-Nothing. Why are you here? Are you... following me?" My voice came out with more breath than I intended, and I hated how weak it sounded. Arin didn''t even flinch. His expression remained calm, almost amused. "I''m not following you." His tone , leaving no room for argument. Then why does it feel like he is? I crossed my arms, trying to mask my nerves. "Then what?" There was a silence before he finally spoke. "I wanted to talk to you." His voice become quieter now. The casual air he carried had shifted slightly, and that alone made my heart race. Talk to me? I started looking away, with a slight smile... as if I was avoiding his gaze. As if if our eyes met, then something... something unsaid would happen. What would happen, I don''t know... but something would definitely happen. ''Well, what was the matter that couldn''t wait till morning? That you had to follow me at this time? I challenged, hoping to bring back the distance between us. But Arin didn''t back down. "Do I need permission for that?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why does he do this every time? Such confusing things that completely confuse me... I don''t know what to think! It was like feelings were racing in my heart; every feeling seemed out of control. "I¡ªuh... fine. Go ahead." My words came out more rushed than I wanted, and I cursed myself internally. Calm down, Aira. He looked at me carefully, then slowly moved towards me. Close enough that I could feel his presence in my breath... but still far enough away that he couldn''t touch me. The night air was cold, but with him around I couldn''t feel the cold. His actions left me perplexed what did he want? Chapter 43 -:40:whisper of night Chapter 43 -:40:whisper of night The night air Still cold , the distant noise of the city is the only way I can feel alive even when he is this close . Arin stood before me, his presence doing something to me. He shifted like he is hesitating,like he was sifting through words he wasn''t sure he wanted to say or not. he finally spoke, "Aira... I wanted to say that...." He stopped "That...?"I asked curiously His fingers twitched, then he exhaled, sliding a hand through his hair. Steadier now, he met my eyes...just for a second before looking past me. "Listen, Aira... it doesn''t matter to me. Not Tenzin. Not Suhina. Not that place." he added, "And it shouldn''t matter to you either." A strange feeling settled in my heart. I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes "what made you think that you guys matter to me?" I asked him in a very harsh tone but still a little casual. His facial expressions changed a little, maybe a little irritation, a light smile or something else, I couldn''t tell. he didn''t answer my question. instead , he took a step back, a faint shadow lingering in his expression. "That''s all I wanted to say." His tone turned cool, detached¡ªthe Arin everyone knew. "Ask me at school if you''ve got more questions." He turned, striding toward his bike with that effortless indifference he wore like armor. The engine growled to life as he settled onto the seat, but I didn''t move. He came all this way, this late, just to say that? If it really didn''t matter to him, why did his hand linger on the throttle, like he was waiting for me to call him back? I clenched my fists. Liar. Arin wasn''t as untouched as he pretended to be. I didn''t know what Tenzin or Suhina meant to him¡ªor why that place hung between us like a live wire¡ªbut I''d find out. The bike''s engine rumble faded into the night, leaving me alone in Silence That night i barely slept, Arin''s words looping in my head like a voice record. When morning came, the first thought that came to my mind was , what did Arin mean by his words? Why did he come so far to tell me all this? I was already getting nervous about that day. When the plate of breakfast was brought in front of me , I still did not feel like eating. I just kept munching on it. From behind, I could hear the faint, incomplete sound of utensils clinking. to try luck. "Papa, listen... Can you buy me a new scooter? This one''s a rattling mess.....the brakes squeal like a banshee." I kept it casual, expecting a quick nod. Before he could say anything, my mother called me and said, "It has not even been two years since I got this scooty, and look, you have ruined it as well?" "Yes, Mom. It''s a disaster," I said, not missing a beat. She clicked her tongue, piling more food onto her plate. "Of course. You don''t study, but you''ve always got your hand out for something new." I rolled my eyes. Same old song. "Take it to a mechanic," Papa said, his voice calm behind his newspaper. I pouted, crossing my arms. "Even if Papa says yes, you''ll veto it anyway." "Smart girl," Mom teased, smirking. "Aren''t you getting late?" Papa glanced at the clock, still not looking up. "You''ll think about it, right?" I pressed. "Yeah, I''ll see." Trnaslation of this words is "No chance." Before I could argue, Kyra burst in, beaming. "My results are out! I topped my class!" Papa''s face lit up like a Diwali lamp. And then it came. "Look at this one...barely scraping by," Mom muttered, nodding at me. "She''s right," Papa added, setting his paper down to fix me with a stare. "Aira, if you fail even one subject this time, I''ll enroll you in a government school. Mark my words." He turned back to Kyra, showering her with praise while I sank into my chair. Why, Kyra? Why today? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I grabbed my bag and bolted before the lecture could stretch any longer. I left early, craving air.As soon as I stepped out, the cool fresh morning breeze touched my cheeks. I gathered courage and sat on the scooty, trying to calm the uneasiness rising in my stomach. I put the key in the scooty - it stopped again making a "ghard ghard" sound. It started after I tried it for the third time. Then I took a sigh of relief and left. It was morning time. People probably hadn''t woken up properly yet. Some people were sitting in their balconies sipping tea, while some were busy opening their shops. A strange peace had spread all around. I veered onto a longer route, needing space to think before school swallowed me whole. Their words clawed at me. "Barely scraping by." "If you fail, I''ll put you in a government school." I scoffed, the wind whipping my hair. Why do they expect me to be Kyra....perfect grades, perfect smile, Papa''s perfect pride? No matter how hard I try, I can''t be like her. I am not like her. The scooter was moving on the rough and paved road, and with it came a faltering memory¡ªthat I too am walking on the path of my life in a similar way. I too am not able to handle my life. Whatever. Just get through the day. Chapter 44 -:41: Riding Through past Chapter 44 -:41: Riding Through past I drove my scooter on the road. My thoughts were lost in thought. The fresh cool morning breeze was passing by touching my cheeks. I could smell the mild aroma of bread kept in the bakery nearby. Suhina was at the roadside and crouched down battling her shoelaces which enabled me to catch a glimpse of her. She lived a street over, so our paths crossed more often than I liked. But today... Is she running late? I Look quickly at my watch and confirmed it¡ªschool started in twenty minutes. Suhina always walked, leaving earlier than the rest of us. Yet here she was, still stuck in place. Should I stop? See if something''s wrong? My hold on the handles grew firmer. No. What if she was with Tenzin? I looked at the area¡ª empty. No sign of him. Just her. Doesn''t matter. She''s not my problem anymore. We weren''t friends, not like before. Once, we had been good friends ,laughing over stupid things, sharing secrets. Now,She barely looked at me, Ignored me completely So why should I care? The engine roared as I prepared to drive away from her for good. "Aira, wait!". There was no emotion in her voice¡ªjust softness and something unnerving. I slowed my pace, easing off the accelerator and turned. Suhina stood there, staring at me. Her eyes looked tired, dark circles under them. Her shoulders were slumped, and her braid was a bit messy at the ends. I didn''t ask. If she wanted something, she''d say it. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What is It?"my voice sounded flat, maybe a little cold "Can I ride with you?" I blinked. Of all the things¡ªthis? She wanted a ride. From me. The same Suhina who had shut me out, who had replaced our friendship for something I still didn''t understand, was now asking for a favor. I almost laughed. "Really? You want to go with me?" Disbelief visible in my words. She never replied. All she did was rub her temples sequentially, as if doing so would eliminate the source of her stress. There was still a small part of me that wished I could just walk out and leave her stranded there. She didn''t deserve my help¡ªnot after all that. But seeing her slumped like that got to me, and I let out a sigh. "Fine. Hop on." She moved fast, climbing behind me without a word. I quickly looked over as she got comfortable...pale, quiet, a far cry from the Suhina I remembered. "So... why are you late?" I kept my voice light, but my mind churned . Was she with Tenzin last night? Her wrist was bare....no sign of that bracelet he had given her months ago. "I overslept," she murmured, so low I almost missed it. I frowned. Suhina never overslept. She was the type to set three alarms and still wake up before them. Up close, she looked rough¡ªmessy hair, tired eyes. It was more than just a bad night''s sleep. And for some reason I couldn''t explain, it kind of got to me¡ªeven if I didn''t wants I finally broke it. "You know, you''re never late. Not in this manner," I said while glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. I focused my gaze back on the road. "I must admit. I''ve never seen you be so... " I tried to smile, but it didn''t work. She didn''t react. Just stared ahead. I said again. "Why don''t you just get a scooter? It''d be easier. No more running late, no more open laces." That got her attention. She whipped around, her voice slicing through the air like it meant business. "Not all of us can afford things like you, Aira." I blinked. Though her words did not injure me right away, I could sense their impact. I chuckled nervously, rubbing my neck as I spoke. "What? It''s not like I''m some wealthy girl. ,You''ve seen my house...small... nothing special." "Exactly," she snapped, her eyes dark. "Still better than mine. You don''t have to think about your future all the time. I do. I can''t waste my time wandering around or......."She said it with pure hate in her voice, "chasing boys." I applied the brake and raced the scooter a little Slowly What on Earth is that supposed to mean.? Her arms formed an ''X'' in front of her while her mouth shut tightly. When she spoke, her voice had lost all warmth. "I''ve seen how you hang out with them¡ªrian, Rishi, all of them. You''re always laughing, skipping assignments like they don''t matter. That''s not a life I can afford, Aira. I have to study. I don''t get the luxury of being aimless." I wasn''t expecting it to hurt like that. "You think I''m aimless?" I scoffed. "Don''t act all high and mighty. I know how deep you''re sinking, precisely, Suhina. You hide it well, but I see it. So don''t act like you''re some perfect one." She turned her head sharply toward me, eyes flashing. "At least I''m not pretending to have everything together while wasting it all." That was it. I tightened my jaw, forcing myself to keep driving even though my knuckles were went white around the handles. She wasn''t wrong. But damn if it didn''t piss me off. I didn''t respond. Just bit my lip hard enough to sting. "Why do I even bother?"I said it low, mostly to myself. After that remark, it was clear Suhina was rendered mute. Tension radiated off her like she was a volcano set to erupt As we turned the last corner toward school, I thought, Why do I even talk to her anymore? Who does she think she is? Still, something twisted inside me. She was cracking. And I hated that I still cared. Chapter 45 -:42:Unraveling Threads Chapter 45 -:42:Unraveling Threads Suhina sat behind me on the bike. Her silence felt like an itch I couldn''t scratch. We reached the school gates just as students started rushing in. Everyone was talking loudly I was parking my scooty in the parking lot when Suhina had already got off and left. I too went inside the school. The school was filled with noise today too like every morning - somewhere someone''s screaming, somewhere laughter and jokes, and somewhere the fear of a teacher. I walked through, still thinking about what Suhina had said earlier¡ªjust a quiet "Ioverslept." She didn''t say anything else and walked to her class. I didn''t stop her. What was the point? Then I saw him. Arin. He was standing with his back resting against a pillar in the corridor, holding the bag on his shoulder with one hand, his eyes were searching for someone. He looked calm, like always. My steps slowed down. Would he talk to me today? After last night, I thought maybe he would. He looked up...just a quick glance, sharp like he was about to say something. But then he just walked away. I let out a small laugh. Of course. Then his shoulder brushed mine. Not hard, just enough for me to feel the warmth. I looked up, and though he kept walking, he had a small smirk on his face. Jerk. My chest tightened.....part angry, part something else I didn''t want to name. I pushed the feeling away and went to class. The bell rang, loud and sharp. Second period was biology. Suhina was already falling apart. She sat two rows ahead, bent over her desk. Her pencil kept drawing the same rough line in her notebook. She had come in late and didn''t look at anyone¡ªnot even me. Something was clearly bothering her, and it hadn''t gotten better since the morning. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Teru and Nami noticed. While we were handling the test tubes, Teru whispered something to Nami and laughed. Nami smiled and looked at Suhina. "You look terrible, Suhina. Didn''t sleep?" Suhina didn''t reply. Her pencil stopped moving. "I saw you," Nami continued, louder so others could hear. "With Tenzin. Last night. Sneaking around. What was going on?" Suhina froze. Her hand shook. Teru laughed. "That explains the weird vibes today." Then¡ªclink¡ªSuhina dropped everything. She quickly stood up, pushed her chair back¡ªthe sound of chair echoed through the quiet classroom¡ªand then she got up from her chair and ran outside. Everyone whispered. I stayed at my seat, test tube still in hand. Should I have gone after her? The thought came and went. She didn''t want me there. That was clear. Then I noticed him. Arin stood by the lab window, arms crossed, watching Suhina leave with no emotion on his face. He must have come in late¡ªprobably skipped the first period. Then his eyes turned to me. Cold. Blaming. Did you do this? My hands tightened under the table. I hadn''t told Nami anything. I hadn''t even talked to Suhina since this morning. But Arin didn''t care. He saw me watching Suhina all morning¡ªthat was enough for him. I opened my mouth to say something, but he looked away. It was too late. The teacher shouted at us to focus, so I looked at the bubbling beaker, trying to forget. Lunch came too fast. I grabbed my lunch box and went outside¡ªI needed fresh air. The courtyard was full, students laughing and eating. But my eyes went straight to them. Suhina and Tenzin. She was standing a little distance away, her body language was indicating extreme sadness, and tears were flowing from her eyes. Her voice was soft and broken. Tenzin looked angry, his jaw tight, eyes dark. He kept flexing his hand, like he was close to walking away. I stood near a bench, my food forgotten. Whatever Suhina was saying wasn''t helping. Tenzin shook his head, and she cried harder. The bell rang. They didn''t move. I stayed there, frozen. This wasn''t just a normal fight¡ªit felt like something important was breaking. Then¡ª "What are you doing here, Aira?" Someone hit my back. I jumped and turned. It was Nami. Her face was calm, but cold. She followed my eyes to where Suhina had been, now gone behind the trees. "Watching the mess you started," I said, dryly. She snorted and grabbed my wrist. "She''s so dramatic. Forget her¡ªlet''s eat." She pulled me toward the canteen. I pulled back. "Nami, you didn''t have to say that stuff in the lab. Everyone heard." We sat by the canteen door. The smell of oil was strong. She waved her hand and ordered a sandwich like nothing had happened. "I said what I saw. What''s the problem?" I dropped my tray, frustrated. "It''s not that simple. Maybe she made mistakes, but we didn''t have to humiliate her." Nami tapped her fingers, frowning. "What, now you''re on her side? After what she did to you?" I clenched my jaw. "No. But acting like her? That''s not who we are." She stood up, pushing her chair loudly. People looked at us. "Oh, please. Go save her, then. Just leave me out of it." "Nami, wait¡ª" I tried to stop her, but she walked away, leaving her tray behind. I sat down, staring at my cold food. Everyone around was laughing and eating, but I felt alone. Nowwhat? Suhina''s falling apart, Arin thinks I''m the bad guy, and Nami''s turned her back on me. How do I fix this? I rubbed my forehead. Everything was a mess. I thought Nami would understand. I really thought she would. But maybe I was wrong about her too. Chapter 46 -:43:the alleyway Encounter Chapter 46 -:43:the alleyway Encounter The day felt really long, like I was carrying a heavy bag on my shoulders. Even during class, I tried talking to Nami, but she barely said anything. Her replies were short and cold. It felt like there was a wall between us, and it hurt. Then the school bell rang. Everyone was happy to leave, but I still felt stuck. Nami walked out before I could reach her. I called out¡ª"Nami!"¡ªbut she didn''t stop. She didn''t even look back. I just stood there and watched her disappear into the crowd. With every second, I felt more and more alone. Everyone was leaving. And even with so many people around, I felt like I was all alone. I walked to my scooty slowly and sat on it. My hands held the handles tightly. My fingers were turning white. Nami... Arin... everyone''s mad at me. But I didn''t even do anything wrong. Arin ignoring me was one thing. He didn''t owe me anything. But Nami? She is my best friend. I felt a sting in my throat, like I was about to cry. But I shook my head. No. I''m not crying over this. I swallowed hard and started my scooty. The sound of the engine filled the silence around me. As I rode, the cool wind hit my face. I hoped it would make me feel better. Then I saw him. He was standing near a lamppost in a small alley, just outside the school gate. Arin. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I suddenly stopped. The afternoon sun made his shadow long behind him. His blazer was hanging on one shoulder, his tie a little loose like he didn''t care. One hand in his pocket, the other running through his hair. Why is he here? Part of me wanted to drive away and act like I didn''t see him. But of course, I didn''t. I stopped near him and looked at him, holding the scooty handles tight. "Waiting for a cab?" I asked, trying to sound casual. He gave a small smile¡ªnot a full one, just a little twist of his lips. "Waiting for you." His words sent a weird chill down my back. I froze for a second, then rolled my eyes. "Really? Don''t you have anything better to do?" He walked closer, slowly. Why does he always do this? "I have a question," he said. I already knew what it was about. He still hadn''t forgotten what happened in the bio lab. I sighed. I was already tired. "If this is about Suhina, then¡ª" "Did you?" His voice was calm, too calm. But his eyes didn''t blink. They were fixed on me, and my heart skipped a beat. "Did you start this mess?" It felt like something was pressing on my chest. I shifted on the scooty, trying to stay calm. But it wasn''t just his words¡ªit was the way he looked at me. Like he was trying to break me with just his eyes. The alley was too quiet. Too empty. I felt a little nervous. If someone saw us¡ªlike an aunt passing by or a junior from school¡ªwhat would they think? What would they say? I sat up straight, trying to act confident. "You really think I would do that?" I asked. My voice was steady, but inside I was shaking. He didn''t reply right away. He just stared. The silence felt heavy. Then finally¡ª A small smirk. Just a little one. Like he was enjoying this. And before I could say anything else, he leaned in. He didn''t touch me. He wasn''t too close. But he was close enough to make me feel nervous. Close enough that I could feel his words when he spoke. "Let''s see." A cold shiver ran down my back. Then he stepped back like nothing happened and walked away down the alley. He didn''t look back. I let out a breath I didn''t know I was holding. My hands were still tight on the handles. The alley was still quiet, but my heart was beating fast. My thoughts were spinning. My mom always says¡ªpeople judge girls who are alone with boys. And maybe, just maybe... Sometimes, I think she''s not wrong. Chapter 47 -:44:Promise Me, Always Chapter 47 -:44:Promise Me, Always I took a deep breath and pushed my scooty forward. Even after leaving the alley, Arin''s words kept repeating in my mind¡ª "Let''s see." The way he looked at me¡ªso intense, like he''d already decided I was guilty. My heart was racing, but I gripped the handlebars, trying not to show it. It was a quiet summer evening, but inside, I was all over the place. The ride home didn''t take long, but at every turn, I kept thinking about the crazy stuff that happened today¡ªNami pulling away, Arin''s eyes looking right through me, and that weird blame just hanging in the air. You''re the one who told. Did he really think that? I rolled into the gate of my house, and before I could even park, my mom''s voice came flying at me. "Late again? Every day you have a new excuse! Do you even care about studying?" I didn''t say anything. I could''ve told her I was with my friends or that my mind was all over the place, but I just didn''t have the energy. Her yelling only made the guilt inside me worse. I dropped my bag on the sofa and slowly walked to my room without replying. Books were waiting on my desk. I opened one, but the words were all blurry. They didn''t make any sense. Nami thinks I betrayed him. Arin''s upset too. Why is everyone against me? The pages just sat there, and I couldn''t focus. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I gave up. I grabbed my phone and hovered over Nami''s name before pressing call. My chest felt tight with every ring¡ªonce, twice, three times¡ªthen the call connected. "Aira?" Nami''s voice broke the silence. It sounded unsure. For a second, I just held the phone, not saying anything. A part of me wanted to let it ring longer, make her feel ignored like I did all day. But I couldn''t do that. I answered. "Why are you crying?" Nami''s voice was sharp, kind of annoyed. I wiped my face with my hoodie sleeve, hiding the tears she couldn''t even see. "I''m not crying," I mumbled, knowing damn well I was. Yeah, that was a lie. A weak one. Even I could hear it in my voice. She sighed loudly. "Aira... I''m sorry, okay? I was just really upset. It felt like you were taking her side. For a second, I thought¡ªhow could you? You''re my best friend." I bit my lip and gripped the phone so tight it actually started to hurt. "It wasn''t like that," I whispered, even though I wasn''t sure she''d believe me. There was a pause. Then she said softer¡ª "Fine, fine. I get it. I''m sorry, idiot. Now stop crying." I let out a shaky breath and gave a small, weak laugh. "I''m sorry too... kaan pakad kar sorry." She huffed. I could almost see her smirking. "You better be. And stop overthinking everything. I''m not mad anymore." I felt a bit better. The tight feeling in my stomach started to ease. "Promise?" "Promise, dummy. You think I can stay mad at you forever?" I pouted. "You ignored me all day." "Okay, fine! I was mad. Just a little." The silence that followed wasn''t uncomfortable anymore. It felt... peaceful. I took a deep breath, my fingers shaking a little as I held the phone tighter. "Nami... listen." "Yeah? What is it?" "No matter what happens... just don''t leave me, okay? When you''re not around, everything feels... empty." It went quiet. My heart dropped¡ªdid she hang up? But then she spoke again, softly. "Aira..." That wasn''t enough for me. I kept going, my voice shaky. "Maybe our friendship is just a bond to you... but for me, it''s like my whole life. Just... don''t leave, okay?" There was another pause. Then she sighed¡ªit sounded part annoyed, part amused. And then she laughed, that familiar laugh I love. "Idiot. I''m not going anywhere. Ever." I let out a breath I didn''t even know I was holding. That tight, heavy feeling in my chest finally started to ease up. "Promise?" "Yes, promise." That word felt like something strong I could hold on to in the dark. Her voice got softer, not teasing anymore. ""You''re really important to me too, Aira. I don''t know what got into me today. I''m really, really sorry." I wiped my eyes and gave a small smile. "It''s okay." There was a short pause. "Alright, I''m hanging up now... unless you wanna say something cheesy before I go?" And don''t you dare cry anymore." Her voice had that playful warning, but I could hear the care in it too. I laughed softly. "Yeah, okay." Just when I thought it was over, she came back with that sharp tone. "Oh, and about Arin¡ªtomorrow, I want all the details. What exactly happened?" I sighed. Of course, she wouldn''t let that go. "Hmm," I mumbled. Click. The call ended. I looked at the screen for a while before putting my phone down. My chest still ached, but it was a little less painful now. Tonight was heavy¡ªArin''s words still echoed, and Mom''s yelling still hurt¡ªbut Nami was still here. For now, that was enough. I dragged myself to bed and flopped down on the soft sheets without changing my clothes. I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts spinning¡ªNami''s promise played over and over in my head, warm and comforting, but Arin''s voice was still there, cold and accusing. You''re the one who told. Did he really believe that? What did he mean by "Let''s see"? My eyes started to close, my thoughts getting messy. The day felt way too heavy, but Nami''s words¡ªI''m not going anywhere¡ªkept playing in my head like a soft echo. Little by little, my breathing slowed, and as everything around me faded out, I fell asleep¡ªstill wondering, still holding on to hope. Chapter 48 -:45:What Morning Brings Chapter 48 -:45:What Morning Brings The daylight seeped in around a crack in my drapes illuminating my face with a spindly golden line. I woke up blinking at the light, my mind muddled from dreams that refused to define themselves¡ªsnatches of Arin''s stare, Nami''s laughter, fragments of strange voices. I stayed motionless for a bit letting the soft sounds of the world waking up sink in: birds singing outside, the distant clanking of my mom in the kitchen. Then it dawned on me¡ªschool. A fresh day. Another shot to tackle whatever lay ahead. I dragged myself out of bed, my arms and legs feeling heavy from leftover sleepiness. When I looked in the mirror, I saw puffy eyes and hair sticking out all over. I tried to clean up this messy appearance.. I doused my face with cold water allowing the jolt to rouse me then donned my uniform¡ªcrisp white shirt, navy skirt, the familiarity of it centering me. Nami''s vow rang ¡ªI''m not going anywhere¡ªand I held onto it, a tiny flicker of courage. Yet Arin''s remarks stuck too biting and unresolved. What would the day hold? My backpack sat on the couch where I''d placed it; I seized it draping it across my back as I entered the living area. "Want food?" my mom yelled from the kitchen, her voice gentler than yesterday but still tinged with anticipation. "No appetite," I said putting on my footwear. I didn''t hang around for her answer¡ªdidn''t want another speech. The door snapped closed as I exited. The summer morning air felt warm, with life buzzing all around. I pulled my scooty out of the shed, and its engine started up with its usual sound. As I headed to school, the breeze blew through my hair helping to clear my mind a bit. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The school entrance appeared ahead, and I eased up, my pulse quickening. I parked my scooter, inhaled , and moved ahead. No matter what occurred, I''d confront it¡ªsomehow or other "Was Nami telling the truth on the call last night when she said she wasn''t mad, or was she just saying that to avoid me?" "And Arin... what is he thinking? Is he starting to see me as the bad one?" Chapter 49 -:46:His Silence, My Storm Chapter 49 -:46:His Silence, My Storm The moment I stepped in the school gates, I hurried toward the assembly hall. Nami was already in line, claiming her usual spot. She turned, catching my eye and give me a small smile Thank god, she''s not angry today. But then, why would she be? Or... wait¡ªwas she? I''d find out soon enough in class. I shot her a dramatic frown, still wondering if I''d unknowingly sparked her wrath again. She smiled back, like she could pluck the thoughts right out of my head. That telepathic connection of hers was uncanny. The assembly dragged on, as always. Prayer, the principal droning on about discipline for the hundredth time, PT sir barking announcements about the sports meet. When will this end? I glanced around, half-hoping for chaos¡ªsomeone fainting under the sun, anything to cut it short. But the weather was annoyingly mild today. No luck there. Finally, after an eternity, it ended . We shuffled into our lines and start going back to class. stride quick and purposeful. My breath caught as his gaze flicked toward me.....just for a split second, his jaw tight.....before he moved on without a word. His words from yesterday crashed back. "Let''s see." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Did he really not trust me? Why would he, though? We weren''t close¡ªnot like he was with Tenzin. Still, I wanted him to believe me, with a certainty that didn''t waver. Why? I had no clue. Maybe I just couldn''t stand the thought of him doubting me. Or maybe I didn''t want him upset. Was he even upset? Ugh, this boy is so confusing! Nami nudged me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Stop staring at him like that. Your deadly gaze might just kill him." I rolled my eyes. "Oh, shut up. Wait till we''re in class¡ªI''m going to bash your head in, I swear." "In that case, I''m skipping," she shot back, grinning. "Oh, you little¡ª" I lunged at her, pretending to grab her neck. She dodged, giggling, until a shadow loomed beside us. "Everyone, get to class. Now." Miss Sharma''s voice sliced through our antics. Oops. We''d been so caught up we hadn''t noticed her walking right next to us. Like scolded kids, we straightened up and scurried into the classroom. Nami and I swapped one last glance before settling into our seats, the buzz of our banter still humming between us. As I sat, my eyes drifted to Arin again. Would he ever see me as honest? Something in me twisted at the thought. No. I''ll make him trust me. Even if I didn''t know why, the decision was already set. Chapter 50 -:47:Waiting Chapter 50 -:47:Waiting The lecture was still going on, but my mind was wandering somewhere else. I moved a little in my seat and looked at Nami, then turned my eyes back to the blackboard. "So tell me, what upset you so much yesterday that you did that to me?" My tone was light, but I kept glancing at the board and her face too. She gave a small sigh and crossed her arms. "I don''t know, I just got angry for no reason" I raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?" "Listen, that Suhina girl¡ªfirst she tried to insult you, and then she did the same to Subh." Her voice had that anger and frustration mixed in. Before I could say anything, Miss Sharma''s voice cut through the class. "Students, a quick announcement. Those who want to join my tuition classes can start coming from Monday onwards," she said while adjusting her glasses and writing something on the board. I felt Nami go stiff next to me. "Here we go," she whispered. I looked at her, already guessing what was coming. "She always gives better marks to the ones who go to her tuition," Nami whispered, only loud enough for me to hear. I nodded. "It''s so obvious. But still... I''m not going." "Me neither," Nami said. "She doesn''t even like us." I smiled. "Yeah, the way she looks at us like we''re always causing trouble." Nami rolled her eyes. "Anyway, she thinks correctly about me ¡ª after all, she only cares about making money." We smiled at each other It struck me after a while. Subh... where is he? I quickly looked around the classroom, gaze landing on his usual seat. Empty. Nami noticed my change in expression. "What''s wrong?" I waited a second, then said quietly, "Subh''s not here. Again." Her lips tightened. "Ever since Suhina said no to him, he''s almost disappeared." Taking a deep breath, I leaned back in my seat and said, "You''re right, this really is a humiliating kind of feeling." "Exactly. Suhina totally broke his confidence," Nami said, shaking her head. I sighed and rubbed my forehead, not really sure what to say next. "I guess I was just too emotional when she did that to me. Maybe he felt the same way." Nami gave a sharp laugh and tilted her head. "She''s just too into her own little games." She glanced at the back row where Suhina was sitting, all calm and composed. I looked there too and let out a soft "hmm" in agreement. And then... silence. We tried focusing back on class, but my mind is elsewhere . Every few minutes, my eyes went to Arin. But today¡ªhe didn''t look at me. Usually, when I looked at him, he''d catch my eyes and smile a little, like he just knew what I was thinking. But today? Nothing. Is he really that angry? But... what did I even do? Time kept passing and suddenly, it was lunch break. Nami and I walked to the canteen, usual crowd and noise buzzing around. We found a spot near the window and ordered our food. As we waited, Nami leaned in and spoke low. "So? What exactly happened?" I blinked. "What do you mean?" She narrowed her eyes. "Between you and Arin. You still haven''t told me." I paused. She looked at me carefully, then sighed. "And you look... worried." I looked down, fingers tapping lightly on the table. Should I tell her? Part of me wanted to brush it off. But honestly? It did matter. I took a deep breath, looking straight into her eyes. "Yesterday, after school..." The memory came rushing back¡ªthe empty alley, Arin just standing there, face unreadable, and how close he was standing. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And then... those words. That smirk. "Let''s see." I swallowed hard. Where do I even start? What should I tell her? The canteen was noisy, with kids laughing, the sounds of food being served, and the smell of samosas in the air. But my mind was still stuck, standing somewhere in that alley.. Nami leaned in more, resting her arms on the table. "So? What happened?" I stirred my juice, straw going in circles, watching the ice move. "After school... he was waiting for me." Her eyes widened. "Where?" I paused before answering. "The alley next to school." Nami looked completely shocked. "You know, people always come up with all sorts of stories when they see someone standing like that, whether it''s 2000 or 2025." I already knew she was going to say that, and it was true. No matter how much India progresses, this mentality will always remain¡ªwhy is a girl alone with a guy in an empty street, what happened, how, and a million other questions. I sighed, then said, "I never planned to meet him like that, Nami. He was just... standing there." She crossed her arms. "And you stopped?" I looked away and answered softly. "Of course, I stopped." She groaned. "Aira..." I ignored her and kept going, "I asked him if he was waiting for something, and he said..." I paused again. " he said ''He''s waiting for me.'' As I said that, I noticed the slight surprise in her eyes. For a moment, she seemed taken aback, and then flash a playful, teasing smile, "Don''t be so happy¡ªhe stayed back because he wanted to ask if I was the one who started all this." My fingers clenched around the table, but my eyes... they gave it away....tired, hurt, holding back more than I wanted to admit. Her eyebrows pulled in. "You mean... the rumors? The thing with Suhina?" I nodded. "Yeah, he was speaking very calmly, but when he came closer, I can''t explain how fast my heartbeat got¡ªlike my heart would just jump out of my chest...Its like he was testing me, like he wanted to see if I''d panic." Nami gave a small laugh. "As if you would panic that easily." I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, you know... I asked him if he really thought I was the one who started all this." "And?" I held my head in frustration. "He didn''t say anything¡ªliterally nothing. Just gave a small smile, that''s it." Nami blinked. "Wait. He smirked?" "And then¡ª" I stopped. "Then what?" I bit my lip and said quietly, "He leaned in...He didn''t touch me, but he was so close... so close that I could feel his breath." I said with a faint smile, blushing a little¡ªlike I didn''t really mind it at all. Nami was a bit shocked by this, then let out a small laugh. Her mouth seemed to hang open, like she didn''t know what to say. "No. Way." I huffed in frustration. "Then, he said, ''Let''s See..." Nami stared. "Let''s see? That''s it? He just left you hanging after that?" I nodded, holding my cup a bit tighter. "Yes. Then he just walked away. Like nothing had happened..." "''Let''s see.'' he just said that. What am I supposed to understand by that?" I said in frustration. For a moment, Nami didn''t say a thing. Then she crossed her arms. "What a jerk." I laughed softly. "Right?" "No, really. What does ''let''s see'' even mean? Is he trying to confuse you?" I took a bite of my pastry and said, ''I don''t know, but...." Nami raised an eyebrow. "But?" As I kept eating, I added, " i don''t think he was angry. It was more like he was waiting for something, like he wanted me to play along with something .''" Nami''s expression shifted, like she was thinking hard. "Waiting for what?" I shook my head. "I wish I knew." The canteen noise blurred into the background, but my mind was still in that alley¡ªhis eyes, that smirk, those two words. Let''s see. And maybe for the first time, I realised... maybe I wasn''t the only one waiting for answers Chapter 51 -: 48: Friends?? Chapter 51 -: 48: Friends?? The whole day passed just like that. The last term of school was going on. But don''t know why, there was a strange peace that day. An unknown tension was floating in the air. We did not pay attention to it, but the mind was feeling something strange again and again. At first, I didn''t notice it. Nami didn''t either. Not until she looked at Rian. "Rian, can I borrow your pen?" Nami smiled and picked up the black pen that was on Rian''s desk. She always did this to him, she didn''t ask and just took things. And Rian didn''t mind it, in fact he liked giving her things. Usually he would laugh at her and let her borrow the pen, but today... "I don''t have a pen," he snatched the pen from Nami''s hand.. Nami blinked. "Come on, just for a second¡ª" "Don''t talk to me, Nami." He got up And he just walked away. No one moved. Everything felt frozen. The sound of pens writing, the teacher talking, paper moving¡ªit all faded in my head. There was only silence. Heavy, painful silence. What just happened? I looked at Nami. I thought Nami would shout at him for this act, would curse him, but no. She just stood there and watched him go. She clenched her fists, as if she had swallowed her anger I knew Nami. She was confident. Strong. But right now, she looked like she was hurt. Before I could say anything, "Don''t you people know?" Teru, who used to sit next to our seat, leaned towards me and said in a low voice.. Nami looked at her, still tense. "Know what?" Teru looked over at the door, where Rian had gone. "After the drama with Suhina yesterday, Tenzin''s group made a decision." She paused. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "They decided to stop talking to you." My heart dropped. "What?" Nami and I said at the same time. That sick, empty feeling in my stomach grew stronger. This wasn''t just Rian being mad. It wasn''t just a mood. This was on purpose. And suddenly, everything from the day made sense¡ªArin ignoring us, Rian being cold, classmates not even looking at us. They weren''t just ignoring us. They were cutting us out. "So... what do we do now?" Nami asked quietly, like she was trying not to cry. I took a deep breath and looked out the window. The sun was shining brightly outside, it was hot and there was a light breeze blowing, which made the leaves on the trees sway gently. Ryan''s behavior felt as cool as it was hot outside "It''s their choice," I said, trying to sound calm even though it hurt inside. "We can''t make them stay." Nami gave a dry laugh and shook her head. "Did I really do something that bad?" she asked, softer this time. I looked at her. Her eyes looked unsure, hurt. "No," I said, meeting her eyes. "It''s on them. If they could leave us this easily, maybe our friendship didn''t mean that much to them after all." Nami smiled a sad smile, "Is this the only deep friendship?" I started drawing anything on my notebook. I was also sad.. "Rian used to call me his little sister," I said with a sad laugh. "Guess that didn''t mean much either." Nami rolled her eyes. "Forget it." I smiled a little. "Forget what? That he never really meant it?" We sat in silence for a moment. My thoughts went to Arin. I hesitated. "Do you think... Arin will stop talking to us too?" Nami didn''t wait. "What do you think?" she said flatly. "You heard him yesterday. And he was standing with them. He''s Tenzin''s close friend, remember?" I nodded. She was right. Arin was always quiet and hard to read¡ªbut now, it felt like I was losing something I never really had. "Maybe, but I don''t want him to be involved in all this," I said sadly and uneasy.. Nami looked at me. Her face wasn''t angry or sad¡ªjust honest. "It is not necessary that what we want will happen," and after these words I had nothing left to say. There was nothing more to say. We sat there quietly, feeling the weight of the day. The teacher kept talking, giving more homework before the long break started. And then, finally, the last bell rang. As we stepped outside, everything felt like it was moving too fast. Like the world was moving on, but we were still stuck in that moment. Tomorrow, the Kawad Yatra break would start. We''d get a few days away from school¡ªand from them. But it didn''t feel like a break. It didn''t feel like peace. When we reached the school gates, Nami looked at me. "Take care of yourself, okay?" I nodded. "You too." And then we walked away in different directions. But the heavy feeling of that day stayed with us¡ªlike a shadow we couldn''t leave behind. Chapter 52 -:49:Caught in the Rain… and Him Chapter 52 -:49:Caught in the Rain... and Him I was midway when dark clouds started gathering in the sky, they had covered the last visible rays of the sun. The wind had become quite strong, I still thought of driving fast and accelerated the scooter, but the first drop of water falling from the sky fell on my face, cold and strong, and then What... S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the rain started pouring with its full speed in no time. "Of course. Just perfect." I muttered under my breath, glaring at the sky as if it had personally conspired against me. Didn''t that TV astrologer say my day would be great? Auspicious even? What a joke. First, the mess at school, then this rain. My uniform was already almost wet and I was getting angry at the thought of driving the scooty ahead in this torrential rain. I was still thinking whether to move ahead or not when another gust of wind came and cold rain water fell on me with great force. "Enough is enough!" I quickly looked around to find a place where I could escape from this rain, and at a distance I saw a small bus stop. It was a bit filmy, but it was there. Thinking just this, "Thank god." I quickly parked my scooter there and then ran towards the bus stop. The rain was getting heavy, and the drops of water were making a loud noise in the air as they hit the roof of the bus stop. I folded up the sleeves of my shirt as I walked down the bus stop and removed more water from my skirt. I was shivering a little, but I was also enjoying it. As soon as I looked to the side, my breath stopped. A boy was standing near the bus stop, leaning against the wall of the bus stop. He had a phone in one hand, and the other in his pocket. His uniform was wet and was slightly sticking to his body due to being wet. His loose blue tie was hanging around his neck. His hair was also wet, and a few drops of water were dripping from them. He was using the phone very comfortably, as if he was not affected by such heavy rain.. Arin. My pulse skipped. Was this the only place I could find to escape the rain after leaving the whole world behind? For a moment I thought whether I should stay there or run away I decided¡ªno, I convinced myself¡ªthat slipping away was the best option. Ijust have to go slowly so he doesn''t notice. Thinking this, I slowly took a step forward, but before I could take the second step, I felt someone holding my bag from behind. Shit "Planning to get sick by soaking in the rain?" His voice came from behind, low and steady. I froze. Caught. Damn it. Umm... No, ah, Actually ... I was watching the rain like this... yes, I was watching the rain," I said nervously, moving my fingers, but my voice did not support me. Without saying anything, he pulled me back and made me stand comfortably beside him. Standing like this beside him felt like a trophy to me, and then he himself had made me stand here. "Then stay here." His tone left no room for argument. I swallowed, nodding. "Alright... thank you." His eyes flicked toward me. "Thank you? For what?" I hesitated. Why was I thanking him? For stopping me? For noticing me? For making my heart race like this? I looked at him and panicked a little, I quickly looked away from him and started looking at the rain. The wind was blowing very cold, my mild thrill made my hair stand on end, but it felt good to have Arin standing besidese to me. My heart was beating so fast that I could hear his voice in my ears. He looked at me and laughed. Maybe he laughed seeing my movement. Not a Simple simle, but a real laugh. A deep, genuine sound that sent a ripple through the air, warm and unguarded. I looked up, stunned. He always wears a mask of being tough, but at this moment he looked completely different, a real laugh. A genuine smile bloomed on his lips, his eyes looked lovely, as if the burden he had kept in his heart for a while had become lighter. For a second, I forgot about everything else. So it''s like that when he is not trying to be tough? When he wasn''t Arin, the person everyone saw, but just... Arin? I wanted to remember this moment forever. Chapter 53 -:50:Almost a Moment Chapter 53 -:50:Almost a Moment "What were you looking at?" Arin asked, his voice low and steady. I was startled and immediately avoided looking at him and looked at the rain. My heart started pounding, silently praying that he hadn''t caught me looking at him. "I was just looking at the rain. It''s soothing," I said, pretending nothing had happened. "The rain, yes?" He smiled softly, "But I thought you were looking at me." I bit my lip and looked away again. "No... I was just looking at the rain. It''s really soothing sometimes, isn''t it?" I kept my eyes on the rain, convincing myself not to look at him again. But it wasn''t as easy as it seemed¡ªhe was standing just inches away, his very presence heating up the air around me. My heart was beating so fast that it felt like there was a storm in my chest. I didn''t want him to see me in such a nervous . Not again. Arin reached out his hand past the shelter roof, letting the rain fall on his palm. The drops were slipping from her fingers as if fine silver strings were flowing in the yellow light burning on a street corner ¨C silent, soft, but touching the heart. "Do you like the rain?" He asked, this time his voice was softer than before¡ªas if an old memory had suddenly entered his tone. He was thinking of something, perhaps a past evening, some missed conversation... or perhaps just the answer hidden in my eyes. I paused for a few moments. I closed my eyes and let the fragrance of that wet soil seep into me¡ªas if an old promise was being fulfilled again. The first rain of the season does something to me... every time. As if these clouds rain not just in the sky, but also in the empty spaces within me.. It calmed me. Stirred something I couldn''t explain. "I''ve always had a strange connection with the rain," I said, still not looking at him. "On nice days, I love it. The breeze feels fresh, the earth smells on the ground, and the raindrops patter so peacefully. It''s like... time slows down, just to breathe." I slowly opened my eyes. Everything¡ªevery tree, every wall, every path¡ªseemed more colorful against the backdrop of the dim sky. It seemed as if life had retained its colors even under the blanket of sadness. Some things just look beautiful when there is a slightly sad sky behind them.. My voice got quiet. "But on bad days, it feels like everything is falling apart. The rain feels so heavy, the cold penetrates to the bones, and everything feels dull, lifeless, lonely." There was something different in my voice now¡ªas if i was reliving those bad days, lost in the words myself. "Sometimes, the rain is like that... as if it has come to understand your loneliness, and then gets absorbed into you." I still didn''t look at Arin. I didn''t know what he thought about what I just said. Did he find it weird? Or maybe he understood? Still, just standing beside him felt nice. I wasn''t scared of the people around or the ones glaring at the sky like the rain ruined their day. I didn''t care. Not in that moment. I just wanted to be there¡ªwith him. "Oh, is that so?" Arin said. Just those words¡ªbut somehow, they made my heart flutter.I turned slowly to him, and our eyes locked for a little while longer. "Yes," I said with a slight smile, "perhaps it depends my mood." A slight shade spread across his face, as if he could sense my words within himself¡ªsomething that was in the air, unspoken. Sometimes, even the rain changes with mood, just like we ourselves change I thought to myself, but the words did not come to my lips.. But... I don''t really mind the rain right now. Not as long as I have shelter. Silence again. The rain outside got heavier. Cars splashed water everywhere, people ran around with newspapers on their heads or bags in their hands. Some were standing under trees or half-broken roofs to stay dry. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But in all that chaos... I only saw one person. Arin. It was like the whole world faded and only he was in focus. He didn''t say anything. Why''s he quiet? Should I say something? I shouldn''t miss this moment today. Come on, Aira, say something... I took a deep breath and asked softly, "So... are you planning to join Miss Sharam''s tuitions?" I tried to keep my voice light and carefree, as if it didn''t matter to me. "Yes, I''m thinking about it," he said, but there was something else in his voice¡ªas if he was thinking about something else, something hidden. Thinking about it? He''ll go there... but I''m not. What will he even do there alone? I was muttering in my head, getting bothered more than I wanted to admit. "Did you say something?" he asked, seeing my weird face. "No, I mean... doesn''t she only teach Biology? What about your other subjects?" I said, trying to act like I was just curious. Then I mumbled under my breath, still not looking at him, "Don''t tell me you''re so smart you''ll manage the rest on your own..." He looked at me, something in his eyes changed. "No, actually... I''m planning to start tuitions for the other subjects too," he said. His voice felt a bit cold. Did I say something wrong? Before I could fix it, the rain had almost stopped. "Okay, I have to leave now," he said suddenly and walked away without pausing. Just like that, without saying another word, he turned around, got on his bike and left without looking back. There are some people who leave their presence even when they leave, and there are some who leave, leaving behind just an empty space. At that moment, there were some unsaid things¡ªwhich were in the air even after he left. I stood there, watching him go down the wet road. "Idiot," I said to myself, annoyed at him... and at how he always left me speechless. I shook my head, grabbed my scooty, and went home. By the time I reached, it was already evening. I took my dinner from Mom and went to my room. I wanted to eat alone. What even was this day? Good? Bad? No idea. But one thing was clear... If I could meet Arin like this every day, I wouldn''t mind. I smiled to myself while eating, thinking about his expressions, his voice, the way he was just there. Then suddenly I remembered something. Wait¡ªthose other tuitions! Maybe Rian knows... he''s Arin''s best friend. Yes! I''ll call him. He must know where Arin is going. I quickly finished dinner and grabbed my phone. Without thinking twice, I called Rian. Chapter 54 -: 51: Rings Chapter 54 -: 51: Rings The sound of the first ring had just started ringing when I disconnected the phone. This is too much. What was I thinking? Why would Rian talk to me now? For him, I had become like an old newspaper, which people read and then forget. The phone was in my palm, eyes were out of the window. The rain had stopped. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moon was unnecessarily showering its beauty, as if it was writing a letter to an unknown city, which no one would read. Suhina. You didn''t just take my Friends . You took away my courage, my being myself, everything. The thought came, quietly - as if a broken glass pierces my foot and there is no pain until blood is seen. What did you say? Why did everyone stop looking at me? The phone was still in my hand, my fingers were trembling ¨C not from fatigue, not from cold, just from the emptiness that gnaws at a living person every time. Now no one talks openly. All that is left is fake smiles... and strange accents. Holding the phone tightly. Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow I will ask Arin. He still must not be like everyone else. Maybe he can still see me, the way he used to. If he didn''t care... then why would he talk to me today? He is different. The time that everyone else had left behind still lingers in his eyes. The moonlight was scattered on the floor, like dusty dreams. I smiled ¨C a broken smile, like a forgotten song. Thought for a moment ??who knows, maybe Arin is also sitting somewhere in this moonlight, thinking... about me? Oh God. What delusion am I living in? I ran my fingers through my hair, annoyed with myself. But my heart did not listen. My heart never listens. I started waiting for tomorrow. Knock, knock. My thoughts broke. "Come in," I said - my voice so soft as if I was asking for forgiveness from myself. The door creaked. Kayra entered. There was the same tiredness in her walk that those who carry the world on their backs all day feel. Without saying anything, she collapsed on the bed - arms and legs spread, like a child who has given up. "Are you tired?" I asked - hiding the pain in a smile. "I am dead," she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow. I smiled - the same smile that does not heal rusty wounds. Kiara kept on babbling ¨C project, submission, school, teacher... I just kept on watching ¨C thinking that I wish my problems were also this simple, this innocent. I wish life was as difficult as filling a notebook. "Hey Aira," she said, turning over. "What?" I asked absentmindedly. "When will Subh return?" I was startled. "Where has he gone?" "To the village with a friend," Kiara said "That is why he is missing from school too," I said ¨C to myself. "Don''t you two talk?" she taunted. I laughed ¨C it was not a laugh, it was just a tired sigh. "Yes, of course," I said, "he asks me about my pain every evening." I got up suddenly, jerked my hair back. "Enough now. Come on, get out!" I held her hand. "What?! Have you gone mad?" she screamed. But I pushed it. The door closed. Sticked. Silence. Strange. She ruined all my moonlight, I muttered. Whenever I start becoming the hero of my film story, some important reality enters. I switched off the light. The room was plunged into darkness. There was only the air outside, and the moon - the silent witness. I covered myself with the blanket, closed my eyes. But sleep? It was as if she had become an unfaithful lover. Arin. Her name kept slipping through my veins - slowly, without any sound. He must be laughing somewhere. He must be living. Completely unaware of the fact that in some corner of this world there is someone who still waits for him... aimlessly, meaninglessly, but with all her heart. Chapter 55: Two Rows Ahead Chapter 55 - Two Rows Ahead It was morning¡ªthat silly, lazy morning, when sleep clings to the eyes and the heart wants to rebel against any kind of discipline. The school ground was filled with drowsy movements and half-hearted yawns. The girls'' uniforms were creased, the ties were tied as if someone had tried it in their sleep. We all had become part of a rote script¡ªmorning assembly, national anthem, and that familiar ''Pledge''. It was as if an invisible handcuff had been put on the entire ground. I was standing in the queue, tense, as if someone had come to hear the punishment. Hands firmly resting on my sides, lips pressed so hard that even a smile could not slip out of the crack. But my heart? It had flown away long ago... and came to rest, just two rows ahead. Arin. "Pledge." A broken voice came from the mike, and everyone started mumbling like a robot together: "India is my country. We all Indians are brothers and sisters..." Brothers and sisters? From where? At least not me and Arin. A smile slipped involuntarily on the corner of my lips. Nami nudged me, her low laugh slithered into my ears: "Romance in the middle of vows? Wow!" I captured the smile between my lips. We were not supposed to laugh, not to move¡ªbut there was an intoxication in this little rebellion, a freedom that the rest of the crowd did not know. "I love my country..." The words kept falling from my lips, just as they did every day¡ªwithout putting my heart into it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My heart was there... in Arin. On whose shoulders the morning sun was shining like gold, whose eyes were facing forward but I don''t know why, I felt that he knew that I was looking at him. His simplicity, his silent aura¡ªeverything was teasing my beating heart. "I will always try to be worthy of this..." I swear, if there was a little truth in the vow, I would have added Arin''s name to it. "...and I will behave politely towards everyone." He shook. Slightly. And so did my heart. Did he feel me? Did he know? "My happiness lies in the well-being of my country and countrymen." The mic crackled for the last time, and an awkward silence spread over the field. Only the rustling of the flag and the chirping of a stubborn bird somewhere far away remained. After the national anthem, the crowd began to disperse. The sound of footsteps, the clatter of bags... and my heart, which was still two rows ahead. I leaned towards Nami and whispered, "Look... how cute he is!" Nami glared at me as if I was committing a serious crime. "Oh Laila! Focus. First class, then love!" I smiled. "Let my Majnu pass first." "Your Majnu will leave you and reach class," Nami said teasingly, and pulled me by the hand. We reached the classroom, drenched in laughter. But there? There were the same walls again - invisible, cold, ruthless. There was still that silence in the eyes of classmates that was harder than ice. I thought - everything would be fine in a few days. But no. There are some cracks that do not heal with time, but become deeper. I have asked Arin yesterday if he know something what suhina actually said about us He said - "I don''t know anything." Maybe it was true. Or... a lie that he hid behind his smile. At least he was talking to me. And for now... that was enough. Suddenly Miss Sharma''s voice echoed in the class, like a whip: "Suhina! Stand up. Have you seen your marks?" Everyone turned their heads. Everyone''s eyes were in that direction. Suhina, who always had an answer ready, was standing silent today¡ªas if something had dried up inside her. "I... forgive me," That was all she said. Not an excuse. Not a complaint. Taru whispered, "She has become strange..." Nami immediately interrupted, "Shut up. Her boyfriend might bite you!" I looked at Suhina¡ªshe was broken. Not bad, just... broken. As if she was walking around carrying a very heavy burden. As if she too had a promise within her- which she could not fulfil. I looked away. Sometimes, the breaking of others also breaks one''s own heart silently. When the bell for lunch break rang a little later, the children ran away as if they had been released from a prison, not from the classroom. I remained there- head down, scratching the paper with the pencil. The ticking of the clock and the rattling of my restless fingers- these were the only two sounds that were left. I had resolved to finish that ruthless assignment of physics- even if my forehead would burst. "Nami, you go. I will come back soon," I said reluctantly, without looking up, as if my words were also drenched in sweat. "Okay. Meet me on the ground," she said as she was leaving, as if she was unknowingly leaving me in a war. I continued drawing the lines. The speed was fast, but my hands were still moving neatly. Just then¡ª Thud. A crumpled ball of paper fell on my notebook. I blinked. Then I turned my neck. Three boys were standing at the door¡ªthe kind who harass people in the streets, a strange, vulgar smile was dripping from their faces. One of them came forward. There was a fake swagger in his walk, as if he was trying to become a cheap thug. "What''s wrong with you?" I grumbled. I looked at him like one looks at dirt. I said, "Your mother will be worried when you return home with a broken face." He paused for a moment, as if tasting the abuse. But he kept strutting. "You were the one who was talking about Suhina, right?" There was still courage in his voice, but sweat had started to show. "Look, what has happened to her now. Everyone knows because of you she is suffering " The two hired comedians behind him were laughing loudly without any manners. Chapter 56: The Last Quiet Afternoon Chapter 56 - The Last Quiet Afternoon I stood up. The chair slid back with a slight groan. Burnt ashes were floating in my eyes. "Brother," I said, "If you want to become a lawyer, bring proof with you. Otherwise, be quiet ." He showed courage. He tried to grab my notebook."so what will you do...teachers..... Complaining... huh?" It was a big mistake. I pulled the notebook so fast that he stumbled a step back. "Complaining ? I don''t need to complain about you," I hummed, "I will make you such in three seconds that even your mother will refuse to recognize you." Someone whispered from behind, "trying to be clever." "I am clever," I paused and said, "fast and also hot like a tandoor. Not rotten insects like you, who keep smelling moisture." "...If you say something against our Bhabhi again, it will not be good. Understood?" His words were threatening, but his voice did not have any real threat¡ªit just had the hollowness that flows in a crowd. As if he was doing a drama to prove himself and his friends. I remained calm and looked into his eyes. "Bhabhi?" I raised my voice a little, which clearly had a tinge of laughter. "She won''t even invite you to the engagement, brother. Dream less." The other two boys behind him burst out laughing, and that boy stepped back in embarrassment. I took a step forward. To the door. So close that their shamelessness started getting jealous. "If you throw the paper again, I will throw your hand at you next time too." The three of them moved away, looking at each other''s faces. I sat back. Opened the notebook. Wiped off the stain. And smiled¡ªa silent, burnt smile. "The laws of physics apply to everyone. But to me? I am going to flout those rules." But then... A thought crawled into my heart like a snake. What had happened to Suhina? I looked towards the window. She was standing there - alone. Cold, broken. Like a colorless shadow, whose existence is now just a burden. I looked away. Nami must be angry if I try to know about suhina. And to tell the truth, Suhina had also stabbed me in the back. She had made me fall in everyone''s eyes. But still... The emptiness in her eyes, in the way she was standing, pierced straight into my heart. I hated her. But sometimes hatred also opens the doors of compassion. I bent over the notebook again and started writing, but now the words were becoming blurred. When the work was over, I felt relieved. I reached the ground dragging myself. "You are late," Nami raised her eyebrows. I said in a tired voice, "It took half my life to reach here." "What happened now?" "An entire army had blocked my way," I said hitting my chest. She wrinkled her nose and said, "You yourself are half an army." "Shut up," I looked at her tiffin, "What are you eating?" "Samosa," she said reluctantly. I sank next to her. I plucked her samosa without asking. While chewing it, I said, "By eating samosas, you have become a samosa yourself." She groaned looking down at her belly, "I''ve really gained weight." I pointed towards my waist, "And I have become a warehouse, look!" Both of us burst into street laughter ¨C the kind of uncontrollable laughter that only comes out in the midst of hunger, fatigue and cheap friendship. "Now?" Nami asked, trying to hold back her laughter, "War or rest?" I rested my hands behind my back and looked tiredly at the sky. "Peace talks ¨C with tea and sweets." "Peace will not come without samosas," she said. "You''ve fallen in love with samosas," I teased. "Next, you''ll marry one." She put her hand on her heart, as if she had told a big tale, "I am looking for that ¨C hot, spicy and tightly filled." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She burst out laughing again ¨C the kind that makes your stomach ache and your eyes water. The sun was falling down tiredly, as if the day had also lost to us. Golden darkness started spreading all around. "By the way," Nami said, rejecting me, "Thank you, you came." I shrugged my shoulders. "I would even leave the world for you." We reached class laughing. The same old classes, the same yawning faces. The day dragged on. Finally the final bell rang - as if someone had cut the chains - and everyone ran away. _______________________________________ [Aira''s room] There was silence outside. Inside, there was just a flickering lamp, shadows dancing on the walls. I was sitting on the bed - bare legs, loose t-shirt, notebook in one hand, pen in the other which she was unconsciously pressing to my lips. Thoughts were something else, books were an excuse. Half of the afternoon was engrossed in laughter, half in some unknown fear. A very clear feeling - this peace will not last long. Chapter 57: Ghosts, Guts, and Gossip Chapter 57 - Ghosts, Guts, and Gossip The silence of the night, which I was about to drape over my tired soul, was suddenly broken by the creaking sound of the door opening. Vihan ¡ª that half naked little brother ¡ª stormed in like he was the head of the house. His eyes were wide, as if he had come to collect a debt. "Give me the phone for a minute," he didn''t ask, he issued a command. I didn''t even lift my eyes. "Go away." But who was he to care about politeness? He came closer. "Give it." "I said, no!" This time, I shouted. And then, the real battle began. No brother, no sister ¡ª two hungry dogs fighting over a bone. The fight for the phone started ¡ª pushing, shoving, falling, pillows flying, chairs overturning ¡ª the room looked like a battleground after a drunken brawl. Then it was as if the whole vibe of the mess changed. Grabbing blankets, tossing pillows, attacking with teddy bears ¡ª there was no shame left, no restraint. Mom came in ¡ª one hand holding a half-peeled potato, the other with eyes red from fury. "What''s this spectacle?!" Her screams hung in the air. Dad also appeared, looking like he couldn''t believe if this was his house or a madhouse. Dad didn''t say much ¡ª just gave that "What did I do wrong?" look. "Savages!" Mom yelled. I just stood there shaking with anger ¡ª when I tried to say something, the words that came out were: "Dog! Bastard! Scoundrel!" It felt like years of suppressed curses were erupting like a volcano. And then ¡ª when I thought things couldn''t get worse ¡ª Vihan took my slipper. Yes, my favorite slipper. Before I could do anything, he tossed it outside like a frisbee. "Are you out of your mind?!" I screamed. Mom grabbed his ear with lightning speed, as if she had been training for this moment. "Vihan! You devil! Throwing a slipper outside like that?! Have you been possessed by some ghost or what?!" Vihan, trying to break free from Mom''s grip, started whining. "Aaa, Mom!" I stood there trembling with rage, face burning, breath heavy. Without my slipper, without my dignity, I stepped outside ¡ª into the dead silence of the night. The street was deserted ¡ª a dying tea shop, a few lazy crickets, and that old streetlight that seemed to be waiting for death. I walked barefoot ¡ª steps full of anger, my heart eager to tear out of my chest. I was ¡ª a girl ¡ª whose slipper had flown away, whose anger was at its peak, and who fancied herself as the heroine of some absurd spy movie. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As I walked, I noticed ¡ª four houses down ¡ª a shadow that wasn''t moving. Was it a girl... or a ghost? No. No, no. Not now. Not here? My mind suggested a terrifying option: A ghost? A ghost in a saree, with long hair, the kind you''d see in a horror film?! "Ghost!" my mind screamed. And like every typical Indian does, I started to half-heartedly recite the Hanuman Chalisa: "Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun Sagar..." "Jai Kap Eyes Tihun Lok Ujagar..." I wish I had remembered the whole Hanuman Chalisa properly! Where''s the sagar, where''s the eyes ¡ª it all got mixed up. Even the gods must have been laughing watching their child like this! When I tried to convince myself to run, suddenly I noticed something. Ghosts don''t have bangs. And what... was that a paper cup in its hand? Wait. What kind of ghost stands in front of Shubh''s house holding a tea cup? As if my eyes had opened, I looked more closely ¡ª it was Suhina. Suhina ¡ª wrapped in her oversized hoodie, holding a tea cup, deeply involved in some quiet conspiracy. But the question remained ¡ª what was she doing in front of Shubh''s house? Was there some secret love story going on? Or was there some mystery that a lowly creature like me had to stumble upon? I walked forward ¡ª now my heart raced not from fear, but from the scent of a new story. The story didn''t break here, brother ¡ª This is where the real heat was about to begin. Chapter 58: The Rusted Swing Chapter 58 - The Rusted Swing I walked towards her, slowly. My feet felt like they were stepping through the streets of a dead city. Cold floor, silent night¡ªand there she was¡ªSuhina. "Suhina?" I called. There was a bit of nervousness in my voice, and a bit of hope too. But she said nothing. She stood there like life had forgotten her. Or like she had forgotten life. Silent. Stone-like. Not a woman, but a statue of sorrow. I wondered to myself¡ªwas it really her? Or some illusion born from death''s leisure? "Nonsense," I shook myself, "Ghosts don''t exist. And even if they do, they don''t drink tea." Still, there was a strange unease in my heart. Like a wound hurting without being touched. This time I spoke a bit louder, "Hey! What are you doing here?" She trembled this time. As if someone had shaken her out of a deep sleep. Her eyes met mine, but there was no life in them. Only a question¡ªdeep and hollow. "Why... why am I here?" she asked. Her voice sounded like a spirit had borrowed her body. I blinked. Was that a question or a scream? "How would I know," I said, "I came here to ask the same." She said nothing. Just began to cry. But it wasn''t the kind of crying that rests its head in someone''s lap. It was the kind of weeping that bursts out from a dark well. That tears a person apart from the inside. "What happened, Suhina? Tell me," I said. I moved my shoulder forward, but my hand froze. I didn''t know whether to hold her or walk away. But she made the decision herself. She came and clung to me. As if I were the last thing left in a world that was falling apart. She trembled, shivered. "Aira... I''m scared... so much." In that moment, all the fights, all the betrayals¡ªthey faded. That moment belonged only to her¡ªa broken person. I held her in my arms, without thinking. No hatred, no calculation. She was still the same girl who shared her lunchbox with me. And in that moment, she wasn''t an ''enemy''¡ªjust a girl falling apart. She turned her face away while crying, wiped her tears, trying to hide herself out of shame. "Sorry..." she said. "It''s okay," I replied. I nodded toward the park nearby. There was that swing¡ªold, rusted, but still willing to carry someone''s weight. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded. We sat. The night was silent. As if it were listening. Even the wind had paused. I said, "Speak." She stayed quiet for a while. Held the swing''s chain tightly. Maybe she was holding onto trust. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You won''t believe me," she said. "Try me," I replied Chapter 59: The Voice Without a Face Chapter 59 - The Voice Without a Face After a long silence, she said it. Softly. Like she didn''t want to hear herself say it. "Aira... I''ve been having nightmares." Her voice cracked halfway through. She was trembling. Not from cold¡ªjust fear. Or something worse. "Nightmares?" I asked. But I didn''t ask it like a question. It came out like a whisper I wanted to take back. She nodded. "Every night... someone calls me. They say, ''Come meet me, Suhina.'' I don''t see a face. Just... the voice." I stared at her. Noticed her hands. Shaking like they were remembering something her mouth couldn''t say. "And it doesn''t feel like a dream," she added. "It feels real." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I believed her. Not because of the words. Because of the fear in her eyes. That kind of fear doesn''t live in dreams. It lives in people. "Who''s calling you?" She blinked. "I don''t know. But I hear them. And then it''s like... I go. Even when I don''t want to. I just... go." My chest tightened. "You mean you''re sleepwalking?" She nodded. "Sometimes I wake up... outside Subh''s house." Her voice fell to a whisper. "I just stand there. For hours. And I don''t know why." It wasn''t a story anymore. It was something else. Something dark and quiet and too real. "Is someone forcing you?" "No one''s there," she said. "But it''s like I''m not in control anymore. Like someone else is inside me. Moving me." I didn''t know what to say. There was no right sentence for this. She looked at me. "I think I''m losing control." That sentence... it stayed with me. I told her to talk to a doctor. But I said it like I was writing her obituary. She shook her head. "They''ll think I''m crazy." I looked at her¡ªthis girl who once danced in the rain like nothing could ever hurt her. "Tell Tenzin," I said. She looked at me like I''d betrayed her. "What will he think?" "That you need him." Silence followed. Not the peaceful kind. The kind that settles in your bones and makes you feel alone even when you''re not. "We''ll talk tomorrow," I said. I ran inside. Grabbed my keys. "Get on," I said. She didn''t speak. Just sat behind me. The ride was silent. But it wasn''t empty. The city slept. But something else didn''t. We stopped outside her house. "See you tomorrow," I said. She walked away. I watched until the night swallowed her. At home, I sat on my bed. Opened my diary. Wrote: What feels real might not be real. And what is real... doesn''t feel like it. Suhina is slipping away. Maybe into herself. Maybe into something else. It has no name. No face. But it exists. Closed the diary. Nothing had ended. But something¡ªsomething I couldn''t name¡ªhad started. Chapter 60: Familiar Strangers Chapter 60 - Familiar Strangers The morning light spilled through the clouds like it had forgotten how to shine¡ªdim, tired, barely there. It smeared across the school walls in patches, not warm enough to feel real. I pulled my jacket tighter, but it didn''t help. The cold wasn''t what made my chest feel like it was caving in. Fear did that. I gripped the strap of my bag like it might anchor me to something real and kept walking. Fast. Like I could leave the feeling behind if I just moved quickly enough. Nami was sitting by the garden. Perched on a low stone wall, hunched over her phone, but not really looking at it. Her eyes were somewhere else. Like she was waiting for a text that would never come. Or remembering something she wished she hadn''t. "Nami." She blinked up, her eyes blurry like she hadn''t really woken up yet. "Aira? You okay? You look like..." She paused. "Like you''ve seen a ghost." I sat beside her. I didn''t realize I was out of breath until I stopped moving. "Suhina... its About her. She went. In her sleep. To Shubh''s house." Nami looked at me like she wanted to laugh, but forgot how. "Seriously? She''s doing that?" "She doesn''t even remember going. Says someone calls her. In her dreams. And when she gets there, it''s like... it''s like she belongs there." Nami didn''t respond right away. Just stared at the dead leaves on the ground like they might rearrange themselves into an answer. "My cousin once told me about a girl in their village," she finally said. "Same thing. Sleepwalking. Always to the same place. People thought it was some kind of spell or curse or..." She shook her head. "It''s stupid. Just a story." But her voice cracked at the edges. And I saw it¡ªthe doubt threading its way in, delicate but undeniable. "Shubh''s house?" she asked. I nodded. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her face shifted in that quiet way people''s faces do when they''re trying to keep the world from cracking open. "Maybe it''s not ghosts," I said. "Maybe it''s trauma. Or something her mind is trying to fix in dreams." "But what if it''s not just in her head?" I didn''t have an answer. But Nami already knew that. She stood. "Let''s go talk to her." "After lunch?" "No," she said. "Now." We went to the hallway where suhina us Standing . The hallway was too still. That kind of still that makes you feel like you''re interrupting something. A breath. A moment. Suhina stood by the lockers like she didn''t remember how she got there. And when she turned to us, it felt like she was looking through water¡ªlike recognition had to swim up from somewhere deep. "You came," she said softly. But it wasn''t her voice. Not exactly. Nami stepped forward, but gently. Like approaching something that might shatter. "Aira told me. About the dreams. About the house." Suhina looked at me then. Like her eyes were asking a question her mouth couldn''t. "It''s okay," I said. "You can trust her." She nodded slowly. "It was the fourth time last night. I locked my door. I know I did. But this morning... the lock was broken." Her voice was paper-thin. Fragile in a way that made something inside me ache. Nami''s voice dropped, careful. "Is there something in that house? Something calling you?" Suhina didn''t answer. She just looked away. But silence can be louder than words sometimes. And in that silence, I realized something. This wasn''t just sleepwalking. This wasn''t just fear. This was something else. And we were already part of it¡ªwhether we wanted to be or not. Suggest same name for it raw name Chapter 61: Chocolate in the Dark Chapter 61 - Chocolate in the Dark The bell rang, like someone had brushed the dust off a dream. And just like that, we were back in the world where kids rush to grow up and forget their childhood, and where the writing on the blackboard is often clearer than life itself. But for us, nothing felt normal anymore. We were walking toward class, but every step felt heavy, like carrying an invisible weight. Just as we reached the door, Nami nudged me with her elbow¡ª"Don''t talk here, people will undress you with their eyes." I didn''t say anything. I just looked at Suhina. She was staring at the ground like she might find answers there. Even her shadow looked tired. We were sixteen. At an age when a broken heart feels like the biggest tragedy, we were caught in something else entirely¡ªa game filled with fear, silence, and something you can''t see... only feel. We were sitting in class, books were open, but our minds were shut. The ticking clock now sounded more human¡ªless like time passing, more like a warning. Nami, who always had something to say, was now typing on her phone¡ª "Meet on the terrace after school. No excuses." She didn''t look at me, just nodded slightly¡ªlike she wasn''t asking for permission, but starting a revolution. There were three of us. Three girls. One secret. And a shadow that wasn''t just on the walls anymore¡ªit was walking through our thoughts too. The teacher was speaking, but I couldn''t understand a word. My mind kept drifting to Suhina. She was just sitting there, like a doll who had started fearing her own strings. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I jumped. It was Arin. No mischief in his eyes, no questions... just a calm kind of worry you rarely see in boys. "You okay?"¡ªhis voice was quiet, comforting. I lied¡ª"Just a headache." But he saw something else in my eyes. Then he pulled something from his bag and slid it toward me. Chocolate. No drama, just a little sweetness in the middle of all that darkness. I looked at him and smiled. "Are you a doctor or just a classmate?" He laughed softly and looked down. "Whatever I am... I listen." Then he went back to his work like nothing happened. But I wasn''t the same anymore. Something quiet had settled inside me¡ªsweet, but temporary. Sometimes... it''s not love, but care that touches you more deeply. Just one chocolate... and the storm paused for a while. But the truth is¡ªthe storm never really stops. It just leans in and whispers¡ª "I''m still here. Waiting." Chapter 62: All I Heard Chapter 62 - All I Heard "Actually, I need to talk to you," I said, as if I were afraid of my own words, I turned slightly, as if suddenly I had taken the burden of that moment. A silence spread in the classroom¡ª the kind of silence not filled with questions, but with emotions. Eyes shot arrows, but Nami tried to lift the corpse of time¡ª "Yes, let''s talk," she said, as if she knew that conversations aren''t with whom, but for whom they happen. I looked at Arin¡ª he stood like a shrine of silence, his brows slightly raised, and then... he simply shook his head, as if saying¡ª "I''ve always stood outside, waiting." From behind, Nami''s voice came¡ªno, a pointed question. "What do you need to tell?" I said nothing. Before saying anything, I had already said everything... it was my habit. "I have to tell Tenzin," I said. Her eyes narrowed with sarcasm, as if saying¡ª What does Arin care, that he''d believe you so much? I didn''t need to respond¡ªbecause trust is never given, it''s quietly stolen. "Okay, I''m leaving," I said, as I slowly pushed my chair back, as if each push was furthering the distance in a relationship. I stood, but my steps rebelled against me. My heart¡ªbecame a weary drum, S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. its beat clashing against my chest, as if a ghazal was searching for its first line. He was there¡ªleaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes on the floor, as if lost in the alleys of thoughts. As soon as he saw me, he gathered himself, straightened his back¡ª as if love had knocked. "Are you okay?" His voice floated in the air, soft... like it came from an old letter. I nodded, my tongue didn''t cooperate, I just said¡ª "Can we talk somewhere... quiet?" He looked at me, and without asking anything, as if he''d already heard every unspoken word, he said¡ª "Let''s go." And without another word, he started walking. I became the shadow of his silence, steps trailing behind him, like an unfinished question chasing its answer. The hallway was long, sunlight filtered through the windows making tired patches on the dusty tiles¡ª as if time had left some memories there. With every step, the noises of the classroom, laughter, teachers'' scolding¡ª all faded away, as if the sounds of an old day were growing faint. On the lower floor, there was a silence¡ª the kind found not in books, but in broken relationships. He stopped¡ªby a pillar, where light scattered on the floor in patches, as if the sun had left without saying anything. His back was to me, but I knew¡ª some words were floating between us, unsaid, but felt. "What''s going on?" "I need your help." My words hung in the air, as if they couldn''t decide whether to fall or fly. My heart was pounding, each beat asking a question¡ª Should I tell him? Will he understand? Will he... be on my side? Arin looked into my eyes. They weren''t eyes, they were mirrors¡ª where I gazed at myself and grew anxious. "What kind of help?" His tone was calm, but underneath his words, there was a slight unease. "Can you... call Tenzin here?" I said, my voice hesitant, but my words carried a clear intent. His face hardened, as if recalling an old wound. "Tenzin?" He repeated, pausing, as if a wall had risen with the name. "I don''t think he''ll come..." "Why?" I asked "Because he didn''t listen to you, he only heard about you." Arin replied And that''s the biggest problem in this world People don''t listen to us,they only hear about us. "I didn''t say anything!" The words escaped my mouth, sharp, uncontrolled. I was startled by my own voice. "Calm down," he said, leaning forward slightly, "I know... but Tenzin still thinks that way." I took a deep breath, as if some pain inside was seeking permission to come out. "It''s about his girlfriend... Suhina," I said softly. There was a stir in his eyes¡ª as if he was suddenly pulled far away. "What?" he asked. "Call her here, and I''ll tell you everything." This time, my voice had no tremor. He looked at me for a moment. Then, without saying anything, he stepped back, pulled out his phone, and started typing. "Okay. Stay here... I''ll send him a message." And then... silence. We stood there¡ªtwo strangers who once knew each other very well. Sometimes our eyes would meet, but it was as if neither of us had anything left to say¡ª or perhaps, there was so much to say, that staying silent seemed better. Then¡ª Tenzin arrived. "What''s going on, Arin?" He asked, in a sharp tone, as if trying to open an old book, then his gaze shifted to me, "Why is she here?" Filled with anger, as if searching for the answer to a pain. I answered before Arin could speak¡ª "Because I need to talk to you." He stood there, with a cold face, surrounded by a silence of pride, but said nothing. He just stood there. As if his silence would make the words lose their meaning. "This isn''t for me... it''s for Suhina. She needs your help," I said softly, as if a heart sinking in pain was opening its secret. He laughed¡ª "Really? You''re still trying to stir up drama?" "I am not lying!" I stepped forward, as if making a vow. "Suhina needs our help. She''s not okay." Tenzin''s voice grew louder¡ª "And why would she tell you, not me?" He was yelling now, as if a flood of anger had come, and each word carried a break. Before I could respond¡ª "Why are you yelling? Just listen to her, once!" It was Arin. His voice was raised¡ª I had never heard him break silence so deeply, as if a storm had destroyed the wall of a close relationship. Tenzin was startled, then he smiled. "Now you''re supporting her, Arin?" Arin didn''t say much. Just two words¡ª "Just listen." And then¡ª I told them everything. What had happened last night, what had happened this morning, everything Suhina had told me. The truth came out¡ª heavy, raw, and unhidden. Chapter 63: She Fell Into Him Chapter 63 - She Fell Into Him Tenzin just stood there. Like time had gripped his throat and refused to let go. His face¡ªpale. Eyes¡ªhollow. And the ground? Still there, but not for him. It had already slipped out from under his feet. When he finally spoke, the words cracked like broken glass. "Where is she?" He looked at me. Not with anger. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not with love. Just... fear. The kind that doesn''t scream¡ªit eats you alive. "On the terrace. With Nami," I told him. I barely finished the words¡ªhe was already gone. Arin followed. Then I did. No hesitation. No plan. Just feet¡ªrunning. Three floors. And my heart stumbled down every single step. The rooftop door slammed against the wall. She was there. Suheena. Curled up in a corner. Nami beside her, fingers brushing her arm like touch alone could make the pain disappear. Suheena looked up. And then¡ª She fell apart. No sound. Just collapse. Right into his chest, like that''s where she was meant to break. "Why didn''t you tell me?" Tenzin''s voice wasn''t just shaking¡ªit rattled. Suheena said nothing. Only tears. And he stood there, like every drop was pulling life back into him. Time froze. Arin and I? We were just there. Watching. Witnesses to the unraveling. Then¡ª Arin brushed my cheek. Soft. Quick. No playfulness. No comfort. Just... a moment. His cheeks flushed. He looked away. Walked off. I smiled. No¡ªmy lips moved. Barely. Relief? Or something else I didn''t know how to name. Downstairs, the wind stirred. Nami pushed her hair back. "We should go to Shubh''s place," she said. Arin heard. And snapped, sharp as ice¡ª "Don''t be stupid. This isn''t our fight." Tenzin and Suheena? Silent. Their silence was louder than anything we could''ve said. "We should tell her dad..." I started. But the sentence... faded. Died in my throat. "I don''t think Shubh''s involved. He wouldn''t¡ª" Nami cut in. "He hasn''t been to school in days." She leaned over the railing. I reached for her arm. "Careful. You''ll fall." She tried to laugh. But even her laugh sounded... tired. Tenzin''s voice came quietly¡ª "Suheena... tell your dad." She nodded. Barely. Her eyes? Worn out beyond her years. Then they left. Quiet. No words. Like something had ended. And now it was just the three of us. Left behind. Arin looked at me. His gaze lingered. Then¡ª "You two need to stay out of this now." And he walked away. Nami stared at his back. "Maybe he''s right. We''ve done what we could." But something shifted inside me. "Nami..." "What?" "Shubh stopped coming to school... and after that, Suheena started changing." Her eyes filled with fear. But she masked it with anger. "You overthink everything." I looked down at my feet. "Should I call him?" She sighed, worn out."Do what you want. Just don''t say I didn''t warn you." We turned. The school was still the same¡ªwalls, hallways, voices. But something had changed. Something inside us. All day, I tried to act normal. Pretend. But Arin noticed. Every time our eyes met¡ªhe looked away. Does he care? Or am I overthinking again? Either way... This story isn''t over. Not even close. It''s only just beginning. And maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ª The truth isn''t what we see. It''s what haunts us. Chapter 64: One Night, Many Lies Chapter 64 - One Night, Many Lies At night... I was sitting at the corner of the bed. The blue light from my phone fell on my face like a torch placed on a corpse in a hospital. Subh''s name was shining on the screen. The man who had silently wrapped himself in the cloak of disappearance. I called¡ªwhy, maybe even I didn''t know. It rang... once... twice... "Hello?" It wasn''t a voice, it was an old wound still being poked. "Hi... Subh," I said. "Aira? Are you okay?" "I''m fine... just wanted to check if you''re alive or dead." He didn''t laugh. Neither did I. There was a moment of silence, as if both of us were thinking of our own lies. "Suhina..." he said. I rested my head. "She said, she doesn''t feel anything. Then one day, she smiled. Tell me, is this a punishment or mercy?" I didn''t answer. He didn''t expect one either. "Let''s meet tomorrow," he said. "Okay." The call ended. I sat there. Saying anything now was useless. He was broken, but there was no darkness in him. It was clear, like the first page of a book of silence. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I called Nami. "Subh is fine. Just... a little dead in Suhina''s love." "Are you sure?" she asked. "Yes. If there was something hidden, I would''ve noticed it first." "Okay. Now, go to sleep." "Yeah, you too." The call ended. I sat there, folding the bed sheet. I kept thinking ¡ª can a man really change in one night? Or do just the excuses change? I was convinced that there was nothing strange in Subh. At least not enough for a girl to start sleepwalking at midnight. But the fear remained ¡ª Ifnot Subh... then who? Maybe Suhina is crazy. Or maybe, as Manto said ¡ª "?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??, ?????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????, ???? ????, ?? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ???? ???" ( translation ------- "Every woman has an unknown grave inside her, where every night she buries her sleep, her faith, and sometimes, her love.") And I... that night, had dug one more grave. Chapter 65: By the lake Chapter 65 - By the lake The shrill scream of the phone tore apart the last fragment of sleep. With tangled hair and half-open eyes, I searched for the phone¡ª like someone looking for an old letter that never arrived. "Aira," it was Nami''s voice¡ªmore awake than I was, "school''s closed today." I opened my eyes fully. "What do you mean?" "Some bureaucratic reason. I don''t know, a notice came." I stayed silent. Folded a corner of the blanket¡ª as if someone had placed a cold stone on my chest. "You don''t just shut down a school like that..." "Oh come on, it''s a day off¡ªthank God for that!" she laughed¡ª an untimely, awkward laugh. I looked at the ceiling¡ªlike maybe the answer was written there somewhere. "But school isn''t that bad..." There was a pause, then she chirped, "Really? Then go, sweep the classroom!" The call had ended, and I lay there as if not a conversation, but a relationship had been left incomplete. A day off? That means no Arin. The boy who never looks at me, but whose back still feels like poetry to me. He won''t appear today. Won''t smile, won''t sit on the bench during lunch. And I won''t look at him¡ªsecretly, silently. Just an empty day. And in that emptiness, a silent ache named Arin¡ª neither complete, nor incomplete. Just a fog that devoured this morning. I got out of bed like I was serving a sentence¡ª dragging my feet to the kitchen, where the smell of breakfast turned my hunger into a wild, growling animal. The stomach, sometimes, makes the most pathetic noise. Just as I reached for the toast, Mom looked at me¡ª no, she glared at me. As if I hadn''t walked into the kitchen, but trespassed barefoot into a temple with my shoes on. "At least brush your teeth first," her voice carried no disgust, just that exhausted mom-tone that greets her daughter''s worst habits every morning. I froze¡ªhalf a bite in my mouth, half hanging from my hand. "I was hungry," as if I were making my last wish before a hanging¡ª but I still finished the bite. She shook her head and said, "Is hunger the only feeling you have?" I smirked and replied, "What else? Love? Shame? Compassion? Those are made for TV soaps, Mom." She didn''t reply¡ªjust swallowed her frustration through the clatter of dishes. Then my brother flung his words like a knife from behind, "Mom, why do you bother? She''s the most useless one here." I turned¡ªlike something poisonous had stung me. "And you''re the hardest worker, huh? You wake up just to complain." Mom sighed between us¡ª as if reminding herself that both of us were her own children. "At least she gets up early. You sleep like you''re buried in the ground." I threw a victorious smile¡ª a smile made of toast, sarcasm, and my brother''s defeat. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mom, where''s Dad?" I asked while picking up the last piece of toast¡ª wondering if I could maybe extract some money for school books today. There was a strange hesitation in her eyes. As if something was stuck in her mind, but not bleeding out. "You don''t know?" she asked¡ª not like a question, but as an examination of how blind I still was. "What?" I put the toast down¡ª my hunger instantly disappearing. "It''s about Subh..." Her lips trembled, like not news, but mourning was trying to come out. Subh... my classmate. Dad''s friend''s son. The one who quietly loved Suhina¡ª so much that just saying her name made his eyes tear up. "Subh... is gone." Those three words weren''t words. They were a shroud, wrapped in sentence form, thrown over my ears. The warm kitchen air turned cold. The toast tasted like ashes. A day off now felt like punishment. Mom''s words didn''t reach my ears¡ª they hit straight in the chest. "Subh... is gone." I didn''t say anything. What could I have said? What''s there to cry for in a word from which no one ever returns? Sunlight came through the kitchen window, but beneath it, Subh no longer sat¡ª the one who always laughed and said, "Suhina will never talk to me, but if she ever visits in a dream, I''ll stay there forever." I looked into Mom''s eyes¡ªthere were no tears. Just exhaustion. Maybe she was tired of crying, too. One more son was gone, but the world still went on spreading butter on toast. "How?" It came out of my mouth¡ª like someone else forced me to ask it. "At night..." she took a deep breath, as if wrapping herself in a shroud before speaking, "Dad got a call. Subh''s mother was crying. Near Suhina''s house... they found his bicycle. Not him." "Then?" "There was a search. They found his body in the nearby lake." Lake. I closed my eyes. He used to sit by that very lake. "Aira, water is like silence¡ªit hides everything, but reveals nothing." Now he himself was buried in that same water¡ª quiet, as always. "Suicide?" I didn''t know why I was asking. Maybe the question mattered more than the answer. "Can''t say. No note. No signs. Just a shadow left behind." I looked at the wall¡ªthere was nothing there. Yet it felt like Subh''s shadow sat there¡ªhead down, eyes carrying that same incomplete love. Would Suhina know? Maybe not. And even if she did¡ªso what? Does someone start loving just because someone else died? I looked at the toast again¡ªstill lying on the table. But now it had no taste. It was just the last thing I ate while Subh was still alive. "Dad went?" "He did. Early morning. Subh''s father said you shouldn''t come. Didn''t want a crowd. Just family." Just family. I stood up and quietly walked to my room. Closed the door, hugged the pillow¡ª and broke down in silence. Because sometimes, we cry the most... when we know there''s nothing left to say to anyone. Chapter 66: Where He Left Me Chapter 66 - Where He Left Me S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Last Evening... He had said, "See you tomorrow, Aira." That was it. His last words. I replayed them a thousand times. Each word crawled under my skin. I picked up my phone. His name still flashed in the call log, as if he was still here. I pressed the button. Once...twice...five times...no answer. I opened the messages. My fingers trembled. Typing was hard. Aira: Shubh? Aira: This is a joke, right? Tell me this is all a lie. Aira: Please. Silence. And then, a reply. Unknown: Shubh will not answer anymore. My palms went cold. This wasn''t Shubh. Someone else had picked up his phone. Someone "unknown." Mom didn''t stop me. Maybe she had read my face. I ran. Jumped down the stairs two at a time. Knocked on the suhinas door so hard, even his mother flinched. The door opened. Her face was swollen, eyes puffy. "Aira..." "Where is Suhina?" "In her room. She hasn''t come out since morning." I walked in without stopping. Suhina was on the floor. Knees pulled to her chest, face buried in her hands. Her eyes were red. I called her name, "Suhina..." She lifted her head. Something was broken in her eyes. "You came to blame me too, didn''t you?" Her voice was cracked. "What? No...I¡ª" "Everyone says I rejected him, that''s why he died. He loved me. When did I ask him to? When did I ever demand his love?" Her voice trembled. The room drowned in silence. Her eyes were looking at me, but I was somewhere else. Somewhere in that moment when he had said, "See you tomorrow." I didn''t say anything. I just watched her break. Maybe I too was sinking into that same crack. That night, sleep came in fragments. My head was heavy with pain. I closed my eyes, and there was only darkness. I was running . Black smoke everywhere. Footsteps echoed in my ears. Someone was following me. "Aira..." I turned around. It was Shubh. Standing far away. His eyes hollow, face pale. Shadows were wrapping around him. His lips moved. "I trusted you." My throat went dry. "I didn''t know." "Then why didn''t you stop me?" His voice cracked. "Shubh, I didn''t know!" He took a step forward. "I want Suhina, Aira. Just give me Suhina." His hand reached out towards me. I wanted to scream. No sound came out. I woke up drenched in sweat. Kyara was holding me. Mom sat beside me. "You were crying in your sleep," Mom said. I didn''t say anything. Just buried my face in her chest. Cried for a long time. I don''t know if I was scared of the dream or the reality that maybe Shubh was never going to leave. Chapter 67: Rooftop Moment Chapter 67 - Rooftop Moment The Next Day The school reopened. The same crowd, the same voices. The bell rang, girls got lost in their conversations, and the boys kept laughing carelessly. Everything was the same¡ªas if nothing had happened. But for me, everything had changed. I stood by the stairs, staring at my locker. The cold metal surface lingered under my hands. My fingers trembled. I hadn''t slept well last night. Shubh''s voice still echoed in my ears. "Aira!" Nami''s voice snapped me out of my trance. She came running, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay? I called you, but you didn''t answer." I looked at her. The words barely escaped my lips. "I... I saw him in my dream. He asked about Suhina." A thin layer of pain appeared on Nami''s face. She hugged me tightly. Her hands rubbed my back gently. "It was just a dream, Aira. Just a dream. You''re not alone." I was in her arms, but inside, something was empty. A silence that was screaming. Just then, a voice called out¡ª "Hey." We turned to look. Suhina. She... she looked better. Her hair was tied up, faint lines of exhaustion under her eyes, but her face seemed stronger. There was a strange confidence in her walk. "I told my parents everything," she said. "All of it. What happened. How I felt." I blinked. "You... you told them?" She nodded. "Yes. I don''t want to hide anymore." There was a strange glow in her eyes. There was pain, but maybe... relief too. I tried to speak, but no words came out. I felt something break inside me. That guilt I had been suppressing. That scream I never let out. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suhina looked at me. There was something in her eyes¡ªperhaps understanding, perhaps a question. "You don''t have to say anything now. I understand. But when you''re ready... I''m here." She walked away. Her steps steady, head held high. Nami took my hand in hers. Her grip was firm. "We''ll get through this," she said. For the first time, I believed her. Maybe we really could. --- On the Rooftop: The classroom walls were suffocating. Whispers, questioning eyes¡ªthey were all crashing down on me. I silently climbed the stairs until the breeze on the rooftop touched my face. The clouds were thick and heavy, as if the sky itself carried the weight of sorrow. "Aira?" I turned around. Arin. He stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, that familiar coldness on his face. But today, there was something else¡ªmaybe silence, maybe something more. "Are you okay?" he asked. I didn''t reply. "A stupid question," he added himself. He walked over and sat down by the wall. "Sit," he patted the spot next to him. "You don''t have to say anything." I sat down. My legs felt like they had lost their strength. We just sat there. The sound of the wind, the rumbling of the clouds, and the silence that stretched between us. After a while, he spoke, "I heard about your dream. Nami told me." I looked at him. He was staring at the sky. Maybe searching for answers, or maybe running from them. "I''ve seen things too," his voice was quiet. "When my cousin passed away." He took a long breath. "You start to wonder if it''s just your mind playing tricks or if someone really came to say goodbye." For the first time, I felt like Arin was human too. Not a hero, not a villain. Just a person, filled with pain. "How did you... deal with it?" I asked. He let out a small laugh¡ªbitter and tired. "At first, I didn''t. Then, little by little, I stopped fighting the pain. Let it be... until it became less." I didn''t fully understand, but I felt that maybe... I wasn''t alone. He looked at me. His eyes held no mask. "You don''t always have to be strong. Sometimes, just surviving is enough." I felt something catch in my throat. "Thank you," I said. He nodded slightly. "Whenever you need." That day, for the first time, I didn''t feel alone. Chapter 68: Empty Seat Chapter 68 - Empty Seat In our classroom, the same old chairs, the same dusty books. But one seat was empty. Shubh''s. No one even looked that way. Forget taking his name. As if he never existed. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some boys were laughing in the back. Their voices echoed¡ª "Hey man, Shubh took it too seriously. It wasn''t even that big of a deal." "We were just joking. Who knew he''d actually do something like that?" A joke. I looked at them. My voice came out¡ªnot as soft as it should have been. "What are you trying to say?" Ankit shrugged, as if it was all just a trivial matter. "Nothing, just... we teased him a little. He was really serious about Suhina." I looked into his eyes¡ªthere was no regret. Just a cold indifference. "A joke? Or humiliation?" He rolled his eyes. "Oh, relax. We didn''t hit him. If he couldn''t handle a little joke, how''s that our fault?" I felt like the ground beneath me was melting. I said softly, "You pushed him... and now he''s gone." The room froze. Breaths stopped. Everyone''s eyes were on me. "Sit down, Aira." The voice came from behind. Cold, measured. Arin. He was sprawled on the back seat, legs stretched out, like this was just another boring story. He looked at me, with eyes that held neither apology nor questions. Just stillness. "You knew, didn''t you?" My voice was shaking. He glanced at the boys, then looked straight into my eyes. "Yes, I knew." Silence. Thick and heavy. "And you did nothing?" He shrugged. "Shubh never told me. He never told you either. You think shouting at them now will change anything?" I saw a strange emptiness in his eyes. Like he knew everything but didn''t want to know it. "That''s your answer? That he didn''t say anything?" He took a deep breath. "It''s not an excuse. It''s reality." I went silent. Maybe words had run out. Or maybe I finally understood that nothing was going to change. Arin stood there. His gaze was cold, but deep down... something had broken. Who says people are just good or bad? Sometimes, they just are¡ªexactly as they are. Chapter 69: You, Who Are Mine Chapter 69 - You, Who Are Mine My mind had stopped working, so I stepped out into the corridor to give myself some fresh air. The corridor wasn''t spinning. I was. Maybe I was losing it. Maybe I was just... alive. I was breathing, sure¡ªbut it felt like I''d borrowed someone else''s lungs. My fists weren''t at my sides, they were buried somewhere inside me. The door shut behind me like someone had carved a verdict onto my back¡ª "Nothing will be the same now." I didn''t know where I was going. Maybe nowhere. Maybe exactly where no one goes¡ªinside myself. Then a voice grabbed me. "Aira!" It was Nami. Like the last thread of something real. Like a hand you catch while drowning. She grabbed my wrist. No¡ªshe dragged me. Away from stares, whispers, Away from the place where ''rumor'' becomes a girl''s first name. We ended up in a deserted hallway. The sun''s light was scattered on the dust like it was mocking me. I was shattered, and she wasn''t. "Stop it, Aira! He''s gone!" Her voice ripped through the silence like a slap in the face. I burst. "He''s not!" I didn''t yell¡ªI exploded. "He comes in my dreams... Tells me I could''ve saved him... That I let him die." I was trembling. Not bones¡ª Regret was trembling. In my sobs was everything I''d never told anyone. Nami pulled me into her arms. Warm. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Real. Alive. "Please... stop," she whispered into my hair, her voice not just reaching my ears, but my soul. "I''m here. I''m not going anywhere." I clung to her shirt like it was the last thing keeping me in this world. "I''m sorry..." I murmured, like I wasn''t confessing a mistake, but surrendering. She pulled back just a little, looked into my eyes ¡ªas if she was reading something she already knew. "I know," she said. And in that moment¡ª what was left after everything broke¡ªwas understanding. Nami wasn''t just Nami. She was mine. She was the voice in the dark I couldn''t hear myself in. And that moment gave me a truth too sharp to ignore¡ª If I ever lost this girl... I''d lose myself too. "Let''s go home," she said. Like home wasn''t a place, but a kind of peace. She held my hand like she knew that was the only thing keeping me from shattering. Back in class, she picked up my bag like it was the most normal thing. Like I wasn''t a burden, but a responsibility. She walked with me to the gate. To the bus. To the edge of breath. "Get some rest. Don''t think too much." Think? I didn''t smile. But my eyes whispered¡ª "You''re all I''ve got." I sat on the bus. Didn''t care about the destination. Just the silence. Got home. Mom didn''t ask anything. Just ran her hand over my hair. Like forgiveness. And as I reach my room , I slept. No dreams. No voices. No shadows of guilt creeping through my skull. Just sleep. Warm. Still. Safe. When I woke up, the room was bathed in dusk light, and where pain used to be in my chest¡ªthere was something else. Calm. Maybe Arin was right. Maybe it was all in my head. Just a ghost that grief gave birth to. Not a real one. I got up. Whispered to myself¡ª "I''m okay. I think... I''m okay." I walked out toward the living room. Mom was setting the table. "I''m going for a walk," I told her, grabbing my keys from the hook. She nodded with a soft smile. And I stepped out into the cool evening air. I thought¡ªice cream would be good. Something sweet to melt the weight in my head. But halfway there, my scooter died. The fuel gauge blinked red¡ªangry and empty. I pulled into a gas station, handed over the key, and took a deep breath. While the attendant filled the tank, I leaned back, glancing around. Everything glowed gold under the setting sun. And then I saw¡ªArin. But he wasn''t alone. A girl was with him. Beautiful. Laughing. Her laughter glistened in the sunlight. And Arin... he smiled. My heart shrank. Tight. Like someone had clenched it in their fist. She hugged him. He hugged back. Like it was routine. Like it belonged to them. They moved toward his bike. She held onto his waist¡ªtight¡ªlike she was home. I looked away. Before the tears came. Maybe she''s just his friend, I told myself. But my chest... that knot didn''t loosen. Not even a little. Chapter 70: Just Live This Moment Chapter 70 - Just Live This Moment There was no school the next day. And no plans either. Just the cold, a sleepy morning, and my blanket¡ªprotecting me from the world. Then suddenly, my phone lit up¡ª "Get ready. I''m kidnapping you." Nami had written. No love confession. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No poetry. Just a plain command¡ªand in it, a strange kind of love. The kind that''s not declared, just lived. Half an hour later, she was outside the gate. In a loose hoodie, like the world didn''t concern her. Holding two coffees. One for me¡ªso sweet, it tasted like childhood had been stirred into it. "No questions. Just come with me." She took my hand. The way a defeated soldier might clutch a charm. Through buses, crowds, and the screaming speed of cars, we reached a park¡ªnot on the city map, but maybe marked on the map of our story. There was a lake, silence, and us. She spread out a sheet on the grass and lay down, like the weight of the world had slipped off her back. "We need a break¡ªfrom ghosts, boys, and emotional trauma," she said. I laughed. She laughed too. And that laughter could never be written down on paper. We talked. Like two burnt-out lamps discussing who''s seen more smoke. From comics to contentment. From teasing each other when we cried, to hiding our own tearful eyes in embarrassment. She leaned towards me, brushed the grass from my hair. "You look like a fairy," she said. Her lips trembled, but there was a truth in her voice that couldn''t be bought in markets. And when the sun began to set, she didn''t look at me¡ªshe looked at the water, as if something had sunk into it. "What if I said... you''re my favorite person in this stupid world?" There was no drama there. No music, no camera. Just two truths¡ªone speaking, the other listening. Softly, I replied, "You''re more than that, Nami." She turned. Evening had settled into her eyes. And then¡ª everything paused. Like a film reel had come to an end. Like life had whispered¡ª"Just live this moment now." I looked at her, then at the sky. Maybe I was speaking to myself¡ªor maybe to her. "Two girls¡ªlike two shadows walking in the same sunlight. Not daily talks, not daily meetings, But whenever they met¡ªtime seemed to pause. No promises, no oaths, Yet a trust like an old childhood photograph¡ª A little faded, but somehow the clearest. Maybe that''s what friendship is¡ª Wordless, but always walking beside you." She didn''t say anything. Just smiled. As if she had absorbed every word into her heart. Chapter 71: The Road Back to Truth Chapter 71 - The Road Back to Truth One day during lunch time, Nami and I had to bring some stationery items, so we were about to cross the school road to go to the shop across the street, but before we could start walking...Our steps came to a halt. He was standing right in front of us¡ªRiyan. The same old face, but his eyes were tired. There was a helplessness in his gaze, as if someone had drained the breath from his bones. "Naami. Aira," his voice carried no weight. As if every word died the moment it fell. We turned around. Dust was swirling on the road, as if it wanted to wrap our silence and carry it off into the sky. I remembered¡ªhe once said that promises are like sand; they slip through your fingers. Maybe that''s why he was here today. "What are you doing here, Riyan?" There was neither complaint nor question in my voice. Just a silence that didn''t wait for an answer. He wavered a little, as if his legs could no longer bear the weight. "Look, Aira... forgive me." His voice slipped through. "I want to apologize to both of you. I believed in rumors... I made a mistake." His words were like an old man taking his last drag from a cigarette, rubbing it out. The smoke still lingered in the air¡ªhazy, lifeless. "But you didn''t even try!" Suddenly, his voice found strength. "You didn''t try to talk to me again either." Naami''s face hardened. "That''s not true, Riyan." Her words dropped like stones. He smiled, defeated, as if accepting that saying anything further was pointless. "Fine. I came here to apologize sincerely." His face looked like a shattered mirror¡ªevery crack filled with regret. I looked at him, but I felt nothing. No hatred, no love. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just silence that swallowed his words. "Why now?" There was neither sharpness nor anticipation in my question. "Because I need to apologize," he said, as if someone had tied stones around his neck. "Please... forgive me." Naami crossed her arms over her chest. "It''s not that easy." And me? I turned away. "I don''t want to talk to you." But he took a step forward. His lips parted, and what he said made the air suddenly heavy. "It''s about Shubh. I need to tell you something." The world stopped. As if someone had paused the game in the middle. Shubh? Where did he come from? Riyan''s eyes met ours. "Yesterday, I went to meet Shubh''s parents. On the way back, I met a boy. He said Shubh had gone to the village with him." He kept talking. We kept listening. Words floated in the air, like the pages of an unheard story flipping one by one. Riyan paused, took a deep breath. "But to understand everything... you need to come with me. In the evening. Behind the school." And then he left. Leaving us there. Dust kept swirling. We stood there, as if we had become part of the road. Naami looked at me. Her eyes held questions she couldn''t ask me. "We will go." Her words floated over, like a broken boat finally finding the shore. I nodded. And on that dusty road, we waited¡ªfor evening. For a naked truth. One that was going to squeeze the life out of our souls. Chapter 72: Price of Desire Chapter 72 - Price of Desire The sun had long sunk behind the jagged school walls. Shadows stretched across the barren land like broken limbs. The wind rasped through brittle leaves, whispering secrets only the night could understand. We stood before him¡ªa thin boy, eyes darting like trapped fireflies. Riyan and Arin flanked him, silent sentinels. He looked up, his gaze trembling under the weight of fear. "Who is he?" I asked. He hesitated, eyes flickering, as if searching for courage among ghosts. "Subh...he was my friend," he whispered. "We met at a concert. He always talked about Suhina. Said she saw him...saw right through him." I studied his face. In his eyes, I caught the glimmer of something fractured. He looked away, retreating back into his silence. "What happened then?" Riyan''s voice cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving. The boy took a breath, brittle as the wind. "One day, he came to me...broken. Suhina had rejected him. He kept saying, ''I can''t breathe without her.'' They laughed at him...everyone did." His hands twisted nervously. "That''s when he got the idea." "Idea?" I leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. The boy nodded, his eyes distant. "I''m from Assam...near my village, there''s a place...Mayong." Riyan''s eyes flickered with recognition. He stubbed out his cigarette, gaze sharp. "Mayong? That Mayong?" The boy''s lips curled bitterly. "The village of black magic." A shadow passed over us, like something ancient had stirred. "Subh knew about it. He wanted to go...and I went with him." The boy''s voice lowered. "We met a tantrik there. Baba Kalidas. Subh begged him for help. The tantrik said, ''If you want Suhina, bring me her picture and something that belongs to her¡ªhair, cloth, anything.''" Riyan scoffed, disbelief thick in his voice. "You''re kidding...he actually did it?" The boy nodded, eyes hollow. "He stole one of her selfies from Facebook...had one of her hairpins too." A chill settled between us. I could almost hear the rustle of vermillion-stained leaves. "What happened?" Riyan''s voice was edged with impatience. "The ritual happened on Amavasya. Her name was carved on a lemon, smeared with sindoor, her hairpin pinned inside...and buried deep in the earth. The tantrik said a chant had to be repeated for seven nights: ''Om Kleem Suhina Vasham Kuru Swaha.''" The silence that followed was like a curse¡ªheavy, suffocating. "Did it work?" Riyan asked, hesitant. The boy''s eyes flared with regret. "Yes. She started calling him...talking to him. Subh thought it was love, but it wasn''t. He began seeing her in his dreams...her face...distorted. He couldn''t sleep. Couldn''t eat. Neither could she." Arin''s voice was ice. "And the tantrik?" The boy laughed, hollow and bitter. "He smiled...said, ''What''s begun is no longer mine to control. The spirit that was summoned...it''s inside her now.''" Nami took a step back. "Spirit? What spirit?" I cut through the silence, my voice sharp. "When men play with fire, it''s always the woman who burns." My words hung heavy, raw, unyielding¡ªlike the blunt edge of truth. "If you play the game, you pay the price. And this tantrik...he''s just a spectator, a broker of deals. The truth is...no matter whose hunger it is...it''s always the woman who pays the price." The boy flinched, like I had struck him. "Subh tried to dig up the lemon..." His voice cracked. "It wasn''t there anymore. Just a stone...with Suhina''s name carved into it." I stared at him, disbelief clawing at my throat. "You''re lying." He met my eyes, steady, resigned. "I wish I was." The wind crept through the leaves, whispering a sob that belonged to no one. "What now?" Arin''s voice came out cold and distant. The boy lowered his gaze. "A sacrifice. Subh knew that. So he took his own life." We stood there, the truth heavy like wet earth, suffocating and inescapable. Riyan finally spoke, voice fractured. "He did it...to stop it?" The boy''s laugh was bitter, stripped bare. "No...he did it because he knew he''d destroyed her. And he couldn''t live with it." The wind stilled. Somewhere far away, a leaf surrendered to the earth. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 73: chasing the night Chapter 73 - chasing the night For a moment, everything went silent¡ªso silent that if anyone had even taken a breath, the earth itself would have trembled. "The story of Subh..." hung in the air. There was no smoke, but the suffocation felt the same. Fear was cheap, but its effect sank into the skin like the first night at a brothel. "Let''s go," Riyan said. His voice carried that habit that men get¡ªbe tough, because the world barks at softness. Arin said something. Or maybe he didn''t. His lips moved, but his eyes remained still. Perhaps he was also thinking about which word could ruin a life, which secret might not just be a secret but a burden. Everyone nodded silently. It was as if there was mourning, but crying was forbidden. Nami waved her hand¡ªshe was the girl who had grown larger than fear itself, or perhaps she hadn''t yet understood it fully. She started her scooter and sped off. I tried too. It didn''t start. Why does that happen? Whenever life needs it, machines freeze. Scooter off, heart on. I pressed the button. Again. Again. Again. Nothing. I cursed, but that story kept spinning in my mind. Not Subh''s¡ªmine. Where fear wasn''t just a part of the story, but the man who suddenly appeared from behind and asked¡ª"Are you still here?" I screamed. Why? Because for a woman, every shadow on a lonely night feels like death. It was Arin. Yes, him. The one who speaks little but watches more. The one who laughs and makes you feel like something is being hidden. And when he helps, you think he wants something. "I can''t just leave you," he said. Oh? He seemed decent. Maybe he was. Or maybe he was just decent at this moment. We started walking together. The road was empty, like a bed that had been slept in¡ªthe only things left were cigarette butts and the scent of sweat. He was beside me. So close that if his breath quickened, my waist would tremble. So far that if I said anything, he could say, "I didn''t do anything." I asked, "Why did you come back?" He said, "I can''t leave you alone." How easily men say these things. Women can''t even think about it¡ªwhether it''s concern or just an opportunity. We kept walking. The darkness deepened. They taught us in school that darkness scares us. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Life showed me that in the dark, some people start to stand out more clearly. I asked him¡ª "Do you believe in love?" He listened to the question as if a father was hearing his daughter mention a boy for the first time. Instead of answer he question Back "Do you?" "No... yes... maybe," I said to myself. Because answering was hard. And lying... even harder. He stayed silent. Or perhaps his silence was the answer. The story doesn''t end there. The story begins there¡ª Where a girl''s scooter stops, and a boy comes to help, or take a chance¡ªthe difference lies in the intent, which can neither be written nor read. > "Love stories don''t start with a broken scooter, but a man''s intent opens up right there." Chapter 74: When Love Is Just Fear Chapter 74 - When Love Is Just Fear"Don''t even try." That''s all he said. No drama, no more words. Just a tone¡ªlike a door not knocked on, just shut. He never needed to explain. I stood there. Shapes formed in my heart¡ªquestions taking form. But my lips... damn, they were bribed into silence. He pointed toward the alley¡ªthe one where darkness settled as if someone had strangled love itself. "It''s a shortcut," he said, Like telling me about some official route, No conspiracy, no warmth. I nodded. Nodded like a corpse. And said, "Go on, I''ll call someone. It''s already very late." I called¡ª And the machine''s voice came, "The person you are trying to reach is out of network coverage. Please try again later." As if love''s signal had been cut off. He laughed¡ª Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t laughter, it was a taunt on this story, One he perhaps never wanted to write. "I''m here, aren''t I?" He said, like lighting a lamp¡ª "See, there''s no darkness now." But there was. When his shadow swayed under the streetlight, My fear surfaced¡ª What will people say? But this fear wasn''t greater than love. Or maybe it was¡ªbecause love is just fear. When we reached home, he left. No goodbye, Just that gaze, That looks like a courtesan''s¡ªsilent, speaking nothing. And I stood there, As if the alley was swallowing me whole. Just as I reached the gate and opened the door¡ª Home. Mom started. Every mother in every story is a tired guard One who fears not her daughter''s love, but society''s judgment. "Hey, you!" Mom''s voice came, sharp and cold, Like someone had struck my head with freezing water. She stood in the drawing room, arms crossed, Her face marked by all those lines of anger that silently break a person inside. In her eyes, not fire¡ªpoison. "What took you so long?" "And what if your father finds out? What will I say? That your life is a film set, and you''re wandering the streets in the dead of night?" I tried to speak, but her words crushed mine. "And don''t lie about the scooter again!" "The one you just serviced, and now you''re pretending it''s a tiger, but it''s a wreck, a wreck!" I was tired. Threw down my bag. Said, "It broke down, I thought I''d push it myself¡ªlike losing in a show." But her drama wasn''t over. "If you''re late again, I''ll hide your helmet! Don''t act like you''re grown up now. These days girls think they''re gods." I gave up, "I''m alive, I''m alive." I took out ice cream, As if soothing love''s sting with something sweet. But that tub was melting too¡ªjust like me. Went upstairs, Door closed. All sounds outside. And inside me¡ª Scattered like an unfinished book. The fan kept spinning¡ªlike it was retelling the story. And I kept wondering¡ª "Was I his story? Or just a page He''d tear out and give to someone else?" My lips moved, as if my desires spoke themselves¡ª "????? ?? ?????? ????? ????, (I tried every way, every escape...) ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????... (But this wild heart just refuses to listen...) ????? ??? ????, ?? ??? ????, (If it were truly love, it would''ve stopped...) ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??..." (But all it really wants¡ªis you.) This was not love. It was just a gaze. A gaze that reads but doesn''t understand. And maybe... love is only this much. Chapter 75: love or.... Chapter 75 - love or...."Don''t even try." That''s all he said. No drama, no more words. Just a tone¡ªlike a door not knocked on, just shut. He never needed to explain. I stood there. Shapes formed in my heart¡ªquestions taking form. But my lips... damn, they were bribed into silence. He pointed toward the alley¡ªthe one where darkness settled as if someone had strangled love itself. "It''s a shortcut," he said, Like telling me about some official route, No conspiracy, no warmth. I nodded. Nodded like a corpse. And said, "Go on, I''ll call someone. It''s already very late." I called¡ª And the machine''s voice came, "The person you are trying to reach is out of network coverage. Please try again later." As if love''s signal had been cut off. He laughed¡ª It wasn''t laughter, it was a taunt on this story, One he perhaps never wanted to write. "I''m here, aren''t I?" He said, like lighting a lamp¡ª "See, there''s no darkness now." But there was. When his shadow swayed under the streetlight, My fear surfaced¡ª What will people say? But this fear wasn''t greater than love. Or maybe it was¡ªbecause love is just fear. When we reached home, he left. No goodbye, Just that gaze, That looks like a courtesan''s¡ªsilent, speaking nothing. And I stood there, As if the alley was swallowing me whole. Just as I reached the gate and opened the door¡ª Home. Mom started. Every mother in every story is a tired guard One who fears not her daughter''s love, but society''s judgment. "Hey, you!" Mom''s voice came, sharp and cold, Like someone had struck my head with freezing water. She stood in the drawing room, arms crossed, Her face marked by all those lines of anger that silently break a person inside. In her eyes, not fire¡ªpoison. "What took you so long?" "And what if your father finds out? What will I say? That your life is a film set, and you''re wandering the streets in the dead of night?" I tried to speak, but her words crushed mine. "And don''t lie about the scooter again!" "The one you just serviced, and now you''re pretending it''s a tiger, but it''s a wreck, a wreck!" I was tired. Threw down my bag. Said, "It broke down, I thought I''d push it myself¡ªlike losing in a show." But her drama wasn''t over. "If you''re late again, I''ll hide your helmet! Don''t act like you''re grown up now. These days girls think they''re gods." I gave up, "I''m alive, I''m alive." I took out ice cream, As if soothing love''s sting with something sweet. But that tub was melting too¡ªjust like me. Went upstairs, Door closed. All sounds outside. And inside me¡ª Scattered like an unfinished book. The fan kept spinning¡ªlike it was retelling the story. And I kept wondering¡ª S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Was I his story? Or just a page He''d tear out and give to someone else?" My lips moved, as if my desires spoke themselves¡ª "????? ?? ?????? ????? ????, (I tried every way, every escape...) ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????... (But this wild heart just refuses to listen...) ????? ??? ????, ?? ??? ????, (If it were truly love, it would''ve stopped...) ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??..." (But all it really wants¡ªis you.) This was not love. It was just a gaze. A gaze that reads but doesn''t understand. And maybe... love is only this much. Chapter 76: a day for friendship Chapter 76 - a day for friendshipThe next day was soft and quiet ¡ª no school, no deadlines, no chaos. Just... calm. I grabbed my phone and quickly called Nami and Teru on conference. "Hello? Nami, Teru?" I said while pulling down my clothes from the rooftop line, balancing the phone on my shoulder. "Yeah? What''s up?" Teru''s voice came first. "Let''s go to the temple today? Just a small trip," I asked, already half-distracted folding my clothes. "Sounds like a plan... but let me ask at home first," Nami replied in her usual practical tone. "Okay, ask and text me!" I said and ended the call. I hurriedly finished folding the laundry and rushed down the stairs. Just as I reached my room, my phone buzzed. Nami: "I''m in. Leaving now!" A grin spread on my face. I got ready quickly ¡ª nothing too fancy, just a soft yellow kurta and denim jacket. I told Mumma and left, the summer breeze brushing against my face as I walked toward the temple lane. That''s where I saw her. "Hey!" I waved at Nami from across the street. She squinted, then waved back, "Coming!" We met just in front of the temple steps. "Let''s go inside first ¡ª darshan, then we can explore," I said, trying to act like the responsible one. We walked barefoot on the cool temple floor, incense smoke dancing around us in slow spirals. Inside, the sound of bells echoed softly. As we stood before Lord Shiva, I closed my eyes and folded my hands. "Please... let things get better now. My mind''s been a mess ¡ª fix it if You can. And Arin? No, never mind. If he''s written in my fate, he''ll return on his own." I opened my eyes and stepped back, a quiet smile playing on my lips. Outside, sunlight spilled onto the stone steps. "I want chaat," I said suddenly, spotting a small stall nearby. My mouth watered instantly. "And maybe... something sweet too! Rasgulla!" I added, eyes sparkling like a kid. "You and your sugar addiction," Nami teased, nudging my arm playfully. We strolled over to the stall and placed an order for three plates. While we waited, we leaned on the counter and started talking. "So... tell me honestly." Nami''s eyes narrowed. "Do you still like Arin?" I almost choked. "W-What kind of question is that out of nowhere?!" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh please. The way your face twitches at his name? Obvious." I looked away, blushing a little. "It''s... complicated" Nami rested her head on her palm. "That''s not what your heart thinks." Just then, the stall bhaiya handed us the chaat ¡ª warm, spicy, and topped with extra sev just how I liked it. "Finally!" I clapped. "Let''s eat before I faint." We sat on a low bench nearby, legs dangling, our plates in hand. "Mmm this is heaven," I mumbled, stuffing a big bite. "You''re a mess. A cute mess, but still a mess," Teru laughed, arriving a little late but diving right into her plate. We all giggled together, our laughter echoing with the temple bells behind us. For a moment, it felt like nothing was broken. Just three girls, one sunny afternoon, and a little escape from the heaviness of yesterday. Evening had begun to paint the sky in golds and purples when Teru waved us goodbye, her silhouette disappearing down the temple steps. Nami and I were just about to head home too when she suddenly paused. "Hey... let''s sit by the lake for a while?" Her voice was soft ¡ª almost hesitant ¡ª but her eyes were quietly hoping I''d say yes. "The evening feels... magical, doesn''t it?" I glanced at her for a second, then smiled, gently bumping her shoulder. "You''re crazy. But fine, let''s go, you silly woman." I caught her hand loosely in mine, like it was the most natural thing. We walked down the narrow path leading to the lake. The wind grew cooler with every step, brushing through our hair like a familiar lullaby. By the time we reached the edge, the world had slowed down. The lake shimmered under the setting sun, its ripples catching golden light. Tiny fish swam near the surface. A few birds flew low, their wings just brushing the water. Somewhere in the distance, a soft giggle of a child floated past. Everything was wrapped in a quiet kind of magic. We sat down at the edge, legs folded, toes just grazing the cool grass. The temple prasad ¡ª a few pieces of sweet coconut and jaggery ¡ª still sat in our hands. We munched on it quietly, the silence between us filled with peace instead of words. The sun dipped lower, its rays casting halos around our faces. The world glowed amber. Time felt like it had paused just for us. Two friends. A lakeside. A sunset that looked like it had been painted by gods. No sadness. No worries. Just that fleeting, precious moment ¡ª so serene, it felt like we had stepped into a dream we didn''t want to end. "You know what happened yesterday?" I asked while gently plucking a strand of fresh green grass, my fingers brushing its soft blades as the sun dipped lazily behind the horizon. "What?" Nami turned her head toward me, her chin resting on her knees, arms wrapped around them like a quiet hug. Her eyes¡ªcalm, warm, endlessly curious¡ªlocked onto mine. "When you left me behind and just disappeared..." I paused, a faint smile tugging at my lips, my eyes fixed on the blade of grass twirling between my fingers. "Arin showed up. He came to take me back." Her posture straightened instantly, the calm in her eyes shifting to sharp surprise. "Wait¡ªwhat? Are you serious? Then what happened next?" She leaned in, excitement spilling from her voice like a rising tide. "What happened?" I shot her a dramatic glare. "First, tell me¡ªwithout even checking if I was dead or alive¡ªyou just flew away like the wind! It was getting dark, I was already scared, and my brain... completely shut down!" "Tch. Drama queen." She smirked, brushing me off with a roll of her eyes. "Honestly, you should thank me. If I had stayed, your little romantic episode would''ve ended before it even began." She winked, nudging my arm teasingly. "Romantic?!" I scoffed, falling backward into the soft patch of grass beneath us, arms sprawled wide, eyes drifting upward to the sky awash in orange and gold. "The guy told me not to believe in love." Nami made a face, arms crossed, lips pressing into a disapproving line. "He always seemed a little crazy to me anyway." There was a pause, one that lingered a moment longer than it should have. Then she looked at me again¡ªquieter now, more serious. "Or maybe... he likes someone else?" Then, with a strange calm in her voice, she said: "Some people... you should part ways with the moment time brings you together. Not every meeting deserves to be shaped into love." She wasn''t teasing anymore. Her words fell like evening petals¡ªsoft, true, and painful. Somewhere deep inside, I knew she was right. Loving Arin... it never felt like the right thing. Maybe it never had been. I didn''t answer. I just turned my gaze away, lying there with my thoughts tangled like threads in the wind. Was it sadness in my eyes? Regret? I couldn''t even tell. "Why did you say I should stay away from him?" I finally broke the silence, my voice barely above a whisper. My eyes were still locked on the setting sun, its fading hues bleeding into the horizon like a memory slipping away. She turned toward me slowly, her expression unreadable, shadowed by the orange light. "Do you not remember what Tenzin said... the day before yesterday?" she asked softly. Tenzin? I searched my mind, rewinding the moment like a worn-out tape. What had he said? (Flashback begins...) Chapter 77: The Open Door Chapter 77 - The Open DoorA lot of time had passed, but time has this habit¡ªit keeps moving, yet lingers where a wound still aches. Tenzin came back as if nothing had happened. As if every rumor Suhina had spread, every whisper, every melting glance¡ªwas just the ash of some old tale. "Hi, beautiful," He said. And with that one word, the rusted locks inside my chest creaked open again. Nami looked at me. I looked at Nami. There were questions in both our eyes¡ªbut no answers. Tenzin laughed, like he knew something¡ªsomething we didn''t. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He leaned against the corner of my desk. Mischief flickered in his eyes. But deep down, there was fatigue too. Maybe regret? Maybe longing? Or maybe just a habit? I said, "Just... getting through the days." Those four words were like that woman who gets beaten by her man every day, yet still asks, "Will you have some tea?" We talked. Superficial things. Light-hearted. As if everything was fine. As if our past was just a page from a cheap novel that had been accidentally turned. And then he said it¡ª "Your eyes don''t look at Arin the same way anymore." There was something in his words. Like a door had just opened. "And sometimes, even a single glance can change fate¡ªif the hearts no longer match." In that moment, he wasn''t a poet. He was cruel. The kind of cruel who doesn''t stab you¡ªbut shows you the wound and says, "Look, you did this to yourself." I laughed. The way women in tragic stories laugh¡ªbroken inside, strong outside. "Anyway, I loved you, and you flew away with that girl!" We laughed. But the truth was¡ªwhat lay between our laughter was a veil. Beneath it were bleeding bodies. Of relationships. Of dreams. Then he left. "Who knows... maybe Arin already loves someone else." Those were the kind of words that don''t close doors. They leave them slightly open... so the stench keeps seeping in. (Now) "Yes... now I remember," I said to Nami. My voice was like an old season¡ªstale, yet heavy. Nami said nothing. Because some regrets don''t need words. The sun was setting. And it felt... like it wasn''t the sun that was setting, it was me.f§Ôeew§×bno?el.c¦Òm S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the strange thing was¡ª What he was taking from me... maybe it was never mine to begin with. Or maybe... I just never had the courage to want it. --- How strange I am¡ªthat I grieve over losing someone I never even had. Chapter 78: Noise Inside the Heart Chapter 78 - Noise Inside the HeartIt was morning, and I was alive. Sometimes, I had to remind myself of that¡ªbecause it was hard to believe. The city was awake now, or maybe it had never really slept. The children''s screams, the rickshaws'' absurd honks, and the vegetable vendor''s off-key calls... it felt like not a person, but the entire neighborhood was screaming. I stood by the window¡ªlike I did every morning. A cup of tea in my hand, now gone cold. Just like me¡ªonce warm, now just a faint steam. The road below was the same. The same turn, the same crossroads... Where two nights ago, Arin had said: "Nothing will change." And I had laughed, because by then, everything had already changed. His leaving, his shadow, his silence¡ªthey all felt like sunlight now, the kind that doesn''t touch you... it burns. "How deep do words sink into people?" I had asked in silence¡ªmaybe to myself, maybe to that empty room. Maybe I was the question, and I was the answer too. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I remembered what Tenzin once said¡ª"One glance... is enough." That day when he said it, there was something in his voice that settled into my bones. To this day, I don''t know if he meant it for me or for himself. Or maybe, he just needed to say it¡ªlike we all do sometimes, just to hear ourselves. Nami had once said¡ª"Some people come into your life only to be sorrow." She had said it about Arin¡ªor maybe about me. Maybe about both of us. I had asked my heart again¡ª"Was Arin really everything?" And my heart had replied with the same careless tone¡ª"You''re nothing yourself." Sometimes, I felt love wasn''t a beautiful thing. It was a mirror¡ªin which we saw our own ugly face for the first time. And then one day, I decided¡ªno more. I didn''t want answers anymore. I wanted to be the question now. For Arin, for Tenzin, for Nami... and most of all, for myself. I had put on my uniform¡ªblue skirt and white shirt. A tie around my neck, half undone as always. Because I could never fully be bound to anything. The school gate was ahead, but I didn''t think it was worth stopping there. What if Arin showed up? I wouldn''t look. Or maybe I would... but I wouldn''t let him know. Nami, as always, met me on the way. Without any preface, she blurted¡ª"Join the dance team!" I shook my head with a laugh¡ªa laugh that felt like pain''s little sister. "I''d bring the stage down," I said. She rolled her eyes¡ª"You''re scared." Maybe I was. But of what? Of love? Or of what remains after love¡ªthe silence? And then that moment came... Arin, standing near the water cooler. Laughing while talking to someone else¡ªas if I were some old book he''d already read. Our eyes met. For just a moment. And in that one moment, everything was said. I wasn''t broken¡ªI had just bent. With trembling hands, I clutched the strap of my bag tighter. --- Tenzin arrived¡ªlike always, like a poem that had walked up to me. "Good morning, beautiful." He smiled. Without smiling, I asked¡ª"Why are you such a liar?" He gave a cold laugh. "Because sometimes, even lies are needed by those who are listening." I looked at him¡ªand for the first time, I felt we all live in the fables we write for ourselves. In class, I opened my book¡ªbut the words refused to be read. Arin''s silence, Nami''s warnings, Tenzin''s cunning... They were all making noise inside me. And me? I was just thinking¡ª If words are true, then why are people so silent? Chapter 79: Gulmohar Chapter 79 - GulmoharLunch bell rang, and the kids rushed out as if it wasn''t a school, but a prison. Each pair of eyes held the same exhaustion, the same helplessness¡ªas if even during lunch break, life trailed behind them like a burden. I was sitting under the gulmohar tree. The tiffin was open, but hunger was wandering somewhere far away. The sight of roti made me nauseous. The wind was running its fingers through my hair¡ªand I felt like flying away with it. Anywhere. Just far from here. "You''re not looking at him, but you''re definitely thinking about him." Nami arrived and sat beside me without asking for permission. As if she knew¡ªthis was the perfect moment to pry. I turned my head, pretending not to understand. "What?" "Aarin," she said his name like she was scratching open something buried inside me. "You''re ignoring him. But you''re doing it so loudly that even if Aarin doesn''t notice, the whole universe can hear it." I tore off a piece of roti and shoved it into my mouth¡ªdidn''t chew, didn''t taste. Just wanted to run away from the question. "Aira..." The way she said my name¡ªit felt like a part of me had stepped outside and was demanding an answer from the rest of me. I threw the tiffin onto my lap. "Yes, I''m ignoring him. So what? Isn''t that what ''maturity'' is? Isn''t that what everyone says¡ª''move on'', ''don''t overthink''? But there''s something stuck inside me... like a thorn in my heart. It won''t come out, and no one else can see it either." Nami stayed silent. But even her silence had a kind of rhythm to it, like she was saying¡ªgo on, say as much as you want... I''m listening. "My mind tells me to forget him. My heart says no. And me? I''m just a girl stuck between the two¡ª with dry rotis in her tiffin and damp loneliness in her life." Nami laughed. But not the kind of laugh you laugh at a joke. It was the kind that gently places a bandage on your wound. "Your problem isn''t what you should do," she said. "Your problem is you want everyone to believe you''re okay... even when you''re absolutely not." I looked at her. She had already slipped her hand into mine. "Look," she said, "if you want to curse him¡ªdo it. If you want to write stories in his name¡ªwrite them. If you want to scream and cry¡ªI''ll be right there. No one''s coming to hush you." I took a deep breath. "Will you really listen to my story? The one with Aarin in it?" "Yes," she said. "Even if it''s about both of you wanting to die... or about standing in front of him and not being able to say a single word." I smiled a little. "You really are a true friend." "And you," she said, "are a truly tormented soul." The bell rang again. We stood up. I tied my hair¡ªthis time so tightly, it felt like I was trying to take control of something. We started walking. I tried not to look at Aarin. Well, okay. I did glance a little. But Nami didn''t say anything. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because a true friend is the one who plays along with your lie as if it were the truth. Chapter 80: Unread Pages Chapter 80 - Unread PagesThey say if you try to run from love, it meets you at every corner of the street. But this wasn''t some filmy dialogue¡ª It was the daily sentence of the girl who tried to turn away from Arin... but always found herself back in his shadow. I wasn''t anyone special¡ªjust an ordinary girl, whose eyes held on to reflections longer at dusk, whose heart beat a little too fast, a little too easily. And Arin... He wasn''t a hero. He just was. Sometimes in the canteen line, sometimes leaning on the library railing, and sometimes under that tree where girls buried their dreams. He never said anything. No love, no hatred. Just looked at me with those eyes, as if my heart were some old book¡ªhe was quietly reading, without making a sound, without flipping the pages. Every time I told myself, "This time, I''ll look away." But the moment my breath caught, his eyes would be right there¡ªunblinking. Everything else would blur into a background¡ª Nami, Tenzin, samosas, laughter, those junior girls... all of it faded. Only that boy and that one moment sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. in which I gave up every test I ever cared about. "You zoned out again," Nami said, waving a samosa in front of my eyes. We were sitting by the basketball court, under the big tree¡ªthe place we escaped to when we wanted to disappear from the world. "I didn''t zone out," I said, snatching a bite of the samosa. Nami looked into my eyes, as if he wanted to see the truth behind my lie. "You did," he said. "And I know why. His name¡ª" "Shhh!" I shoved him. My cheeks were burning. Just then, Tenzin came running. One shoe missing, shirt half-untucked. "Guys! Emergency!" We looked¡ªRiyan was surrounded by girls, a thin, terrified guy trying hard to laugh loudly, but his eyes gave away the truth. "Look at his face," Tenzin said, "He''s dying inside." Nami burst out laughing. "Let him suffer. It''s called character development." I laughed too¡ªfor the first time today. Something in me, lost, stirred. Watching Riyan''s innocence and embarrassment, a lightness passed over our faces for a moment. Then, the air shifted. That''s when Arin appeared. He stood by the basketball court fence, headphones on. Head slightly bowed¡ªbut his eyes... They were on me. No words, no signals¡ªjust that silent fire I could feel burning. Like a window suddenly flung open, letting in a cold wind that chills more than it soothes. Nami saw my gaze. "You okay?" she asked. "Yeah," I said, but my voice trembled. I looked away, my throat dry. What could I have said? That I keep fighting myself¡ª that this will end, that I''ll forget him. But in truth, he''s always there¡ª like an old wound I try to wash away, only for it to deepen. Maybe I''m stupid. Maybe I''m just a messed-up girl who doesn''t understand herself. Running from reality, but unable to run from herself. A human is someone who screams even in silence. And me? I''m just a silent scream. Chapter 81: Wordless Love Chapter 81 - Wordless LoveThe noise in the classroom was as lifeless as a yawn. The teacher was writing on the board like a blind man¡ª Perhaps he didn''t know that inside a human body, there''s also a heart, One that reacts more intensely than any chemical bond. I was sitting in the third row. Pen in hand, but a storm of silence in my mind. The notebook was open, but life was being written somewhere else. And in that "somewhere else" ¡ª there was him, Arin. That boy who stayed silent, As if silence itself was a skill. He just sat there, Shoulders straight, eyes buried in his books. But me? I was captivated. And eyes¡ªthey''re strange. They can turn you into both prisoner and executioner. And mine... kept searching for him, Like a courtesan who waits every evening For the same client who never returns. I scolded myself, warned myself, cursed myself. "Focus, Aira. This isn''t love, it''s stupidity." But really, is there any vast difference between love and foolishness? I looked again. And this time¡ªhe looked too. Just for a moment. A single moment. But in that moment, my breath emigrated from my body. My heart seemed to surrender. I stood up. "Nami!" My voice came out as if someone had thrown a stone at the wall of my heart. She was startled. Asked, "What happened?" I said, "It''s an emergency. Let''s go to the washroom." She followed, tangled in questions. I led the way, running from the answers. When she stopped in the washroom and asked, "Now tell me, what''s going on?" It felt like I wrote a confession. "My eyes just won''t leave arin. At this point, I think I need a mystic, not a doctor." She laughed, but I didn''t. I looked at myself in the mirror¡ª A girl choking her own senses for a boy. "When he looks at me, It feels like the whole world stops, And only I exist¡ªor maybe only I''m dying." Nami said, "You''ve gone mad. He doesn''t even talk to you!" I replied, "Love doesn''t depend on conversation. If time stops in his eyes, that''s enough." Then she teased me¡ª "Go tell him today. Like they do in dramas." I laughed¡ªa bitter laugh. "You want me to say something like, ''Arin, your presence has auctioned off my sanity. You tell me¡ªis this a punishment or a reward?''" She pulled me along, and I followed, But in love, the one who gets pulled Never quite arrives. We returned. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And right at the door¡ªSir. Mr. Raghavan. There wasn''t a teacher in his eyes, But a coward Who spent his life teaching chemistry While love remained beyond his understanding. "Where were you two?" He asked As if we hadn''t just left class, But fled his personal life. I said, "Sir, it was a medical emergency." "And distracting the whole class is part of the treatment plan too?" Laughter echoed from behind. And then¡ªArin again. His eyes, that smile... As if he knew everything Yet said nothing Because silence is the cruellest weapon. "Go inside, Miss Aira. And next time¡ªleave your love outside the classroom." He walked away, But I stayed frozen there, Wondering¡ª Maybe even Mr. Raghavan Once looked at someone just like that, And now walks around, angry, playing the role of a teacher. ________________________________________ "This isn''t love, it''s an obsession. A filthy game of a woman''s helplessness and a man''s silence." Chapter 82: Holding On Chapter 82 - Holding OnRaghav sir said nothing. Nothing ¡ª as if silence itself were a punishment, as if he had words more frightening than speaking. We slowly returned to our seats, dragging ourselves, like criminals returning from court ¡ª just granted bail, but their sentence already decided. Raghav''s eyes? They were not eyes, they were burning bars that pierced down to our bones. That chemistry reaction written on the board was not a reaction at all, but a death warrant. I held my notebook as if it were a broken relationship ¡ª from which only some fragments remained to be saved. Nami sat beside me, like a burning poetry that, upon being touched, had turned into anger. "We''ll fail," she whispered softly, as if praying a curse instead of a blessing. "Because of you." Her face was not villainous ¡ª but that of a woman who had sworn an oath to an unfinished love. I put on innocence ¡ª an innocence that was actually a confession of guilt. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was silent, but I could hear ¡ª every word, every thought, every conspiracy ¡ª she was cursing me in the language without words. I opened my notebook again, when my eyes drifted to the corner. Arin. Playing with a pen, as if he held the remote of time in his hands. And at that moment ¡ª the classroom inside me collapsed. The bell rang. But it was no bell of relief ¡ª it was a bell of confusion. The kids ran out, as if escaping an experiment. The sounds of chairs, chains of bags ¡ª all seemed like echoes of another life. I stayed seated, gathering my books, as if collecting ashes of a time long gone. Nami looked at me, raising her eyebrows ¡ª "What now? Dreaming again?" I looked toward the door. Arin was leaving, his steps carrying that calm that only those who cannot be stopped possess. My heart turned against me again. "No, just thinking." Nami rolled her eyes ¡ª "You''re always thinking. That''s why everything falls apart." Then she smiled ¡ª a smile full of both sarcasm and consolation. "Come on, lovebird, let''s go." We stepped outside. Sunlight spilled in the corridor ¡ª like an old letter, sent but never read. Shadows were long, as if our fears stood in another time. School was over, but the storm inside me had just begun. We walked slowly down the corridor ¡ª like following a funeral procession. But this funeral was not for a body ¡ª it was for the innocence that Nami once carried. Nami''s steps were quick, her words tangled. Her face was hard ¡ª as if she had been told since childhood that crying was not allowed. Her eyes were not towards the sun, but to the ground ¡ª as if watching time crawl by. Nami ¡ª whom everyone thought was my friend, actually carried her own story. There was a time when she was like me, laughing, mischievous, full of hope. Her dad... perhaps the last person in the world who told her fairy tales. But one evening ¡ª when the neighborhood lights were out and the rain didn''t stop ¡ª Nami came home and saw her mother with a stranger, and her dad''s suitcase lying near the door. What broke that day was not just her home. Her eyes lost their fairies, replaced by a wall. That wall was called ¡ª responsibility. She became responsible ¡ª for her little sister, for her dad''s hopes, and for suppressing her own emotions. Now she didn''t believe in love. Boys like Arin hurt her ¡ª they steal a heartbeat and disappear. And me? I often troubled her ¡ª with my innocent antics, my way of looking at Arin. Walking down the corridor, I realized Nami wasn''t angry with me ¡ª she was angry at herself, for watching someone being destroyed and not being able to stop it. Her silence, her sarcasm, her laughter ¡ª all said ¡ª "Don''t break, you can''t afford to." We had reached the stairs. Down in the field, the sunlight was fading. And I thought ¡ª maybe Nami''s hatred is also a kind of love. Just her way is a little different. Chapter 83: Bear’s Wedding Chapter 83 - Bear¡¯s WeddingSunlight filtered through the curtains and fell on the floor. Slow, like a new morning was arriving. But the room was heavy with silence, sharp and suffocating. Papa was sitting there, holding his old revolver. Slowly, carefully cleaning it. There was that soldier''s sternness in his movements, like he had learned something about life that we couldn''t understand. I came in, one shoe half on, hair all tangled, bag hanging loosely. "Papa, I''m taking the scooter today." He didn''t even look up. "No." Just one word, cold like a chunk of ice dropped on my heart. "Why?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He slowly turned the barrel of his revolver. "You''ll have another accident. Then I''ll have to read the accident report again during tea time." I burned up inside. "I''m responsible!" But he wasn''t listening. My brother came in, stretching like he just returned from some royal party, laughing. "Papa''s right. She drives like an actress chasing imaginary villains in a Bollywood action movie." I snapped, "Stop laughing!" "Remember last time?" Papa asked in a sharp voice. "It broke down." I defended myself. "See? Every time, she blames the scooter." "What if someone kidnaps me?" I lowered my voice, trying to sound serious. Papa said, "Then the wedding expenses will be saved." And with that, he got up and left. My heart sank. My brother laughed like I was some kind of joke. I picked up my bag and stepped out, like a defeated girl who lost the war but not the fight. The sky was strange¡ªpink and dark clouds, the wind strong. "Mood swings, even the weather," I muttered. I hailed a rickshaw, told him the tuition location. The driver pointed to the seat. I sat down, clutching my bag tightly. As the rickshaw moved, the rain started. Drops fell slowly, then faster. "God, not today," I whispered inside. But the rain didn''t listen. Sun rays gleamed through the rain. "When it rains while the sun is shining, it''s a bear''s wedding," I told myself. That old saying, which once sounded silly, felt somehow funny now. "Wow! Surely there must be a bear''s wedding happening," I said to the rickshaw driver, who laughed. There was a strange understanding of life in his laughter¡ªpeople like us, drenched in the rain, talking about bear weddings. I reached tuition, wet and cold. Half the students were scattered in the classroom. I called Nami. "Where are you?" "At home." "I''m all alone here!" "Look outside, the whole city''s a swimming pool." "So?" "Bye." The call ended. I sat down on the bench, wet, alone. Outside, the storm was yelling like a rebellious teenager. Inside, I was there¡ªlonely, sad, and a girl hearing Nami''s laughter in her head. Chapter 84: His Name Was Rain Chapter 84 - His Name Was RainThe door creaked softly. There was water outside, silence inside. And through that silence, two shadows entered¡ªwet, unkempt, laughing like they owned the world. Their clothes clung to their bodies, hair dripping water onto the floor. Wet footprints stained the floor like blurred ink. Riyan and Tenzin. I blinked and recognized them, like one recognizes a forgotten desire that''s returned by mistake. Some old irritation stirred inside me¡ªmaybe leftover from a broken sleep or a book I never finished¡ªbut the laughter on their soaked faces poked holes through it. They were drenched but careless. As if the rain hadn''t touched them at all, or like the world''s worst troubles had already dropped off their schoolbags and splashed onto the floor. I hadn''t even smiled yet, and something had already changed. Heavy, slow footsteps came from behind. A shadow moved. And then he entered. Aarin. He wasn''t just a name. He was a cold breath slipping down your neck. A fragment of time lodged inside your heartbeat, refusing to move. He didn''t look like he had been caught in the rain¡ªhe looked like he was the rain. His white shirt stuck to his body like some cheap poet''s fantasy. His wet hair fell messily over his forehead, and droplets of water traced his sharp jaw as they slid down. And his eyes? They didn''t just look¡ªthey consumed. He met my gaze for just a second¡ªbut that second devoured my entire evening. He didn''t speak, yet the silence around him was louder than anyone else''s voice. He stood there¡ªa still from a film you keep rewinding. And I kept watching, like watching was the only thing I could do. "Why is he here?" my heart whispered. Now? Why now? But I didn''t want the answer. I just wanted to look at him. Fully awake, fully lost. And then that memory hit me. That day. The bus stop. The rain. And that crooked little smile he''d given me under the leaking tin roof. My heart had jumped that day, like a child splashing into a puddle without a care. "That day... when we met for the first time under that broken shade. I was drenched. But inside me, something was burning. Even now, that same feeling has returned." I clutched the strap of my bag¡ªlike holding onto an old letter you fold and keep hidden in your pocket. He still looked the same¡ªunreasonably beautiful. And I... I was back there again. All three of them came in, shaking water off themselves like mischievous cats caught in a storm. I folded my arms and raised my eyebrows¡ªlike I had something to say, but I said something else entirely: "Why did you three even come out in this rain?" I asked, annoyed¡ªor at least pretending to be. Truthfully, I wanted to know more than anything. Tenzin¡ªalways the dramatist, always the flirt, like he''d walked right out of some romance manga¡ªsmiled and said: "Sometimes, it''s necessary to walk through a storm... if there''s something waiting on the other side that''s more beautiful than sunshine." Oh God. I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my lips couldn''t help curling into a smile. "Is that so?" I replied sweetly, leaning in just a little. "Then I guess walking through the rain for me must''ve been quite something." Riyan choked on his breath. Tenzin grinned even wider¡ªclearly enjoying the game. But I wasn''t really in the game. My attention was somewhere else. Him. Aarin. Standing at the back, and yet somehow always in front. His shirt had begun to dry now, but droplets still clung to his lashes. He never smiled. Maybe on purpose. And then he spoke. "I''m joining tuition from today." Just that. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His voice was quiet, slow. Like he wasn''t making a big announcement¡ªbut my heart sure did. My pulse raced. And I got angry¡ªat myself. I shook my head gently, pretending to follow Tenzin''s rambling. But the room had already changed for me. Because from now on... This was going to be way too distracting. Way too much. Chapter 85: slipping heart Chapter 85 - slipping heartJust then Rian dropped onto the bench with a thud, like the world''s biggest tragedy had somehow sunk into his shoes. "Damn sneakers are ruined," he muttered to himself, poking at the dried mud stain like it wasn''t just dirt, but a punishment stuck to him. I turned my head. Tenzin followed, and shook his head the way someone does when even patience seems tired. "Arin... you''re the one who dragged us into this mess," Tenzin said. Less like a friend teasing, more like someone just too exhausted to pretend. I raised an eyebrow. "Arin? What did he do now?" Rian twisted his mouth, mock anger, but the tone was that of an elder sibling whining to a younger one. "He''s the one who said we should start tuition today. Of all days. When the damn city is drowning." Arin was standing there. Not interested in taking blame. Not in the mood to defend himself either. He gave a small smile¡ªone that didn''t reach the lips but curled in the corner of his eyes¡ªlike he knew too much but would never say it aloud. He walked past us and sat down in the back row, like someone on trial who already knew the verdict. But just before sitting, without sparing a glance at Rian¡ªhe looked at me. Direct. Unapologetic. And said: "Studies matter. And when something matters... you show up." The words were meant for Rian. But the arrow? It pierced right through me. Something shifted in the room. Just because he was in it. Like the air turned heavier, like my chest remembered how to ache again. Why does everything he says feel unfinished? The teacher walked in then, adjusting his glasses, scanning the unfamiliar face in the back. "You must be Arin?" Arin stood up and nodded ¡ª steady, silent, as if to say, Yeah. So? "Why are you sitting in the back? Come forward... yes, sit next to Aira." It was like someone kicked me in the ribs. The one person I was trying so hard to avoid¡ªand now he was going to be inches away? I lowered my head, fingers gripping my pen like it was the only weapon I had. He walked over. Sat. Close. So close I could hear his breathing. There was math happening in class. But in my head? Something entirely different was being calculated. He leaned in¡ªjust enough, like he was whispering a secret meant to unsettle. "How are you?" I barely moved my lips. "Fine." "Me too." He said it like he wasn''t answering me¡ªbut himself. I looked at him. Same eyes. Same mystery. "Why today?" I asked. "Just felt like it." The kind of answer a drunk might give if you ask why he drank. "Why not?" Then he asked, voice lower now: "Do you remember... the first time we met? In the rain?" I lied. "No." But he smiled¡ªthat goddamn smile like he''d known the truth all along. "I remember." And just like that... silence. --- I was silent. He was close. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My heart? Far. Confused. Loud. But what difference does it make? In love, closeness doesn''t matter. Nor does distance. Only that one look¡ªwhen someone sees you, and you forget who you are. And I... I was slipping out of myself. Slowly. Completely. What are you doing to me, Arin? Why does your silence feel like a scream inside me? Chapter 86: Candy Chapter 86 - CandyI really tried to focus. Swear on my father''s name. But that damn pen slipped from my hand twice. As if it had already signed a contract for my humiliation. Arin¡ªyeah, the guy with the "everyone''s favorite smile"¡ªbent down and picked up the pen. Said nothing. Just that faint smile. The kind girls paste in their diaries. And boys¡ªlike Tenzin¡ªburn with envy over. From behind, Tenzin whispered, loud enough to be heard, "Bro, our man''s sitting in VIP today!" There was nothing real about his ''brotherhood''. Even his laughter felt like it was mourning something. Riyan¡ªwho always looked like he was one gust away from a ceiling fan-induced death¡ªsnapped, "And I''m stuck under this haunted fan!" Everyone laughed. Me too. Arin as well. The teacher looked over¡ªsaid, "Silence." We shut up. But Tenzin? He never obeyed. "Switch seats with me once, man! Let me have that top view too!" Arin leaned back slightly, his eyes empty of light. "Tenzin." "What?" Me and Riyan paused. Something had shifted in the air. "Don''t you think you should be paying attention to Suhina?" He said it like a surgeon making a precise incision. "If you keep hanging around Aira like this, Suhina might do something rash. Forgot what happened last time?" Tenzin went quiet. That swagger, that smirk¡ªgone. And me? I wondered¡ªwas this about me? Or was he really worried about Suhina? I tried to lighten the mood like an idiot. "Chill, guys..." Riyan muttered, "You always make Suhina the villain." Arin said¡ªwithout missing a beat, "Because she is. And you''re blind." "Love or stupidity¡ªsame difference." Tenzin exploded, "I don''t like it when you talk about Suhina like that!" "Enough!" I snapped. Looked at Arin¡ªmy glare said more than words. He looked back¡ªcoldly. "Sit straight." I sat. Like a soldier obeying an order. Riyan leaned over, "Aira, don''t take it to heart..." Then punched Arin on the back¡ªplayfully, but hard. Arin jerked forward¡ªright toward me. The teacher saw it. But he''s human too¡ªsometimes he lets things slide. "Seems like our new student is grabbing all the attention today!" Laughter again. From everyone. Even from the guy who just told me to "sit straight." Class returned to its old rhythm. Tenzin and Arin¡ªback to being boys. Like nothing happened. What a joke. I glanced at Arin¡ªfor just a second. Then he leaned in and slid a small candy toward me. I looked at him¡ª"Why?" He grabbed both ears¡ªa silent apology. Not filmy, but sly. Like he knew this would make it okay. I took the candy. Said nothing. The rain had stopped. Class was almost over. But some strange dampness still lingered inside me. --- There were no heroes here. No pure, innocent girl either. Arin was sweet¡ªbut full of poison. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tenzin was loyal¡ªbut his eyes always doubted. Riyan seemed decent¡ªbut all he ever did was complain about his seat. And me? What was I? Maybe just the place where everyone dumped their frustrations. Everyone wanted something¡ªlove, friendship, attention, or just to win. And me¡ªI was like that pen¡ªfalling again and again, picked up by someone else each time Chapter 87: Somewhere Between Us Chapter 87: Somewhere Between UsTuition finally ended ¡ª and it felt like my heart let out a long, tired breath. "Thank God..." That awkward, tangled, sometimes funny, sometimes silently suffocating session was finally over. I quietly closed my notebook and slipped it into my bag... along with that candy Arin had given me. I¡¯d told myself, "It doesn¡¯t mean anything." And yet, I kept it. As if someone had silently touched my hand and said, "You still matter." The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp ¡ª like the scent of dried tears on an old love letter. With each step, my sneakers splashed a little ¡ª water, memories, or maybe some nameless feeling. I couldn¡¯t tell. "I¡¯m starving now, yaar," Riyan muttered, like he was carrying a burden he couldn¡¯t wait to drop. Tenzen had already dashed ahead, hopping over puddles toward the tea stall. "Wanna race?" he called out into the breeze. "No race happening," Riyan grumbled ¡ª and still ran a little. I walked behind them, slowly. Arin was beside me again. As always. Not too close, not too far. Just... there. Like a quiet prayer that walks beside you without making a sound. We didn¡¯t speak. But for the first time, the silence didn¡¯t feel heavy. It felt... calm. Almost comforting. "Do you still overthink everything?" he asked, like his voice had just drifted out of a book¡¯s folded page, scented like a pressed flower. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I looked at him. "You still say weird things and expect me to understand without any context?" He just smiled... that same quiet smile... that said everything without saying anything at all. We reached the turn ¡ª where the road split into two: one his way, one mine. "Will I see you tomorrow?" he asked ¡ª not like a casual question, but like he was asking for a promise. "Maybe." I said it with my lips, ...but my heart whispered ¡ª "Yes. Always." He turned away, hands tucked into his pockets, walking off like he hadn¡¯t just shaken my world... like he hadn¡¯t just left behind a hundred unsaid things. I turned down my street, pulling my hoodie tighter over my head. Like my heart was trying to hide something. "Arin... what are you doing?" And more importantly ¡ª "What are you making me do?" The moment I sat in the auto, the wind brushed against my face ¡ª cool and soft. Maybe it was the weather. Or maybe... it was him. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s a bad person. He¡¯s... something else. Something you can¡¯t explain, but can¡¯t ignore either. I like him. A lot, maybe. (And for the first time, I didn¡¯t lie to myself about it.) A silly smile crept across my face ¡ª and the uncle sitting across looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I am crazy. But not for just any boy. For Arin. And he... he¡¯s anything but ordinary. When I reached home, the sky was dipped in soft orange ¡ª like God had gently poured a prayer down from above. The smell of warm dal-chawal wrapped around me like a mother¡¯s hug. "Uff, I¡¯m dying of hunger!" I declared dramatically, tossing my bag on the sofa. My little brother peeked out from behind the couch ¡ª hair wild like he¡¯d been at war with his pillow. "You always walk in like you just returned from some pilgrimage in Turkey or something." "Says the kid who cried because his Maggi was too spicy," I shot back. "Hey!" he yelled, and took off after me. I laughed and ran toward the kitchen. Maa just smiled, like she always does ¡ª like her smile is the quiet answer to every question. We sat at the dinner table. He ate like he was winning a food contest. "You eat like you just escaped the jungle," I said. "And you ride in autos smiling to yourself like there¡¯s a love story playing in your head," he replied with a full mouth. I froze. "You were spying on me?" "Nope," he smirked. "Just a guess. But your face gave it all away. Got it right, didn¡¯t I?" I threw a napkin at him. "Shut up and eat." He laughed. And in that moment... everything felt lighter. After dinner, I went to my room. Studied for a bit. But sleep started to weigh down my eyes. The moment I lay down... the whole day played in my head like a quiet film. And then... I remembered the candy. I got up, pulled it out of my bag. Held it in my hand. Looked up at the ceiling. "Why did you give this, Arin?" As a joke? As an apology? Or... as a secret you couldn¡¯t say out loud? I got up, took out my diary. Flipped to an empty page. Glued the candy there. Drew a tiny heart beside it, in red ink. "You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s been reading my story with Arin, silently," I whispered to the diary. "You never say a word, but you always understand." I closed the diary. Turned off the light. And lay down, holding that candy close to my heart. Sleep was coming. But the sweetness... was still there.