Aarohi's POV

Another day.

Another mask.

Another reason to keep emotions buried deep beneath schedules and responsibility.

Her alarm rang at 4:45 a.m. sharp. She didn't snooze - she never snoozed. Weakness wasn't a luxury she allowed herself.

After her meditation, she tied her hair back in a firm braid. Loose strands meant distraction. Distraction meant failure. And she had no space for either.

Downstairs, she found a note instead of her father.

> "Won't be home until late. Don't wait up. - Papa."

She stared at the scribbled letters, her fingers tightening on the paper before folding it neatly and keeping it aside. At least he left a note today.

She packed lunch for both of them anyway.

She always did.

---

At School , before assembly

Rajvansh was standing near the classroom door .

He had one goal today: talk to her.

Not to flirt. Not to impress.

But to gain her attention, to be seen.

And maybe, maybe... to crack a smile from her again. A real one.

Unfortunately, the universe had other plans.

"Excuse me! Why are you standing outside the class before uniform check?" Aarohi's voice rang out, clipboard in hand.

Oh no.

Head Girl Mode: Unlocked.

"I'm... just here early," he said awkwardly.

She raised a brow. "You're loitering. It's against school conduct. Please go to the assembly area."

"Loitering?" he blinked. "I'm literally standing."

"Exactly. Without purpose. That's loitering."

He stared at her, half-annoyed, half-in awe. She really was something.

"I thought it's the school of education, not a military base," he muttered.

Aarohi turned sharply. "Excuse me?"

"I said... nothing." He smiled sheepishly. Smooth. Real smooth.

Before she could issue a full-blown lecture, Naira appeared like a guardian angel (or chaos fairy).

"Aaru!! We need you in the auditorium. Sound system down again!" she shouted.

Aarohi sighed, gave Rajvansh a final warning glare, and walked off.

Rajvansh stared after her.

"Baba Mahadev... itna attitude pehle nahi tha. But I'm not scared. I'm staying."

---

Meanwhile - Ritik & Naira Plotting

Naira leaned over to Ritik with narrowed eyes. "Tujhe lagta hai ye sach mein use pasand karta hai?"

Ritik nodded. "Ladke ki aankhon mein Devdas base hai."

"He better be real," Naira said, munching on her chips. "Hamari Aaru kisi weak link ke liye nahi bani."

"Bas thoda aur observe karte hain. Ek test lena padega is Rajvansh ka."

Naira's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Test ya trap?"

"Test trap combo."

---

Later in Class - The Little Spark

During chemistry class, Aarohi was sitting alone on the front bench, taking notes furiously. The teacher was explaining something about chemical bonding.

Behind her, Rajvansh was pretending to read, but his eyes occasionally darted toward her. And one time, their eyes met.

For a second.

She looked away immediately.

He smiled.

She didn't.

But her pen paused.

Aaru, focus.

You don't have time for random boys.

Especially not ones with dreamy eyes and half smiles.

---

Lunch Break - Plan 'Butter Paneer'

Naira opened her tiffin dramatically in front of Rajvansh.

"Mmm... butter paneer made by none other than Chef Rathore herself."

He glanced sideways, trying not to react.

"Oh really?" he asked, biting into his plain sandwich.

"Yup. Our Aarohi cooks divine food. Too bad she doesn't share it with strangers," she said loudly.

Ritik added, "Only her emotional support system gets exclusive rights."

Rajvansh smiled. "Well, maybe someday I'll earn those rights."

Ritik choked on his paratha.

Naira blinked.

Aarohi, who was sitting quietly nearby, heard it. She didn't turn. But a slight blush crept up to her ears. She stared at her own tiffin like it had betrayed her.

---

Evening - Aarohi's Room

She looked at her sketchbook. Empty.

Usually, she didn't draw anymore. She stopped the day her mother left.

But something was poking her.

That smile. That boy. Those sketches in her mind.

She brushed the thoughts away and opened her diary.

> "He talks less. Smiles more. Not like others. But why does it still feel unsafe to trust? Maybe because smiles leave. And people don't stay."

---

Rajvansh's Room

He was finishing the sketch from last night. Aarohi in head girl mode. Clipboard, cold glare, judgmental brow.

But this time... he added a faint curve to her lips. A secret smile only he had imagined.

And beside the sketch, he wrote:

> "Even rules look beautiful when she's the one making them."

Later that night,

Rajvansh 's POV

The house was quiet. The kind of quiet that didn't feel heavy - just comforting. Like warmth wrapped in silence.

He walked into the living room, sketchpad still in hand, and found his mother sitting on the couch, reading.

Without a word, he lay down, resting his head in her lap. She smiled and stroked his hair.

"Kya kehna hai?" she asked softly, already knowing.

He chuckled. "Kaise pata?"

"Jab tu chup rehta hai, tab tu sabse zyada bolta hai."

He turned the sketchbook toward her - Aarohi, in her head girl avatar, eyes sharp, lips almost smiling.

His mom studied the sketch.

"Bohot khoobsurat hai," she said gently. "Ladki bhi, aur tareeka jisse tu usse dekhta hai."

He smiled. "Uske aas paas kuch alag hi energy hai, Maa. Jaise sab kuch theek ho sakta hai... par uske andar kuch toot gaya hai. Aur woh toot ke bhi... khud pe khada hai."

His mother looked at him thoughtfully. "Zakhmon ke saath jeene waale log hi sabse gehre hote hain, beta."

At the doorway, his father - Ashvik Rajvansh - stood silently. He had heard just enough.

"Beta, zara mere room mein aana."

---

[- Study Room]

Ashvik was standing by the window, hands behind his back. Classic "baba mode."

Rajvansh entered, already nervous.

"Relax," his dad said, smiling. "Main sirf baat karna chahta hoon. Woh ladki... Aarohi, right?"

Rajvansh nodded.

"Tumhara kuch alag connection lagta hai usse."

Rajvansh sat down slowly. "i know, Bas... woh normal nahi hai mere liye,she is special. Woh routine nahi hai. Jaise... koi kitab jisme har page sirf guess kar sakta hoon."

Ashvik laughed. "Mujhe yaad hai ek ladki thi meri college mein. Tumhari maa se pehle. Woh bhi aise hi thi. Tough. Quiet. Jese duniya se lade bina chain nahi milta usse."

Rajvansh's eyes widened. "Aapki ex?"

"Aree nahi, bewakoof. Tere daadu ne mujhe pakad liya tha pehle hi," he winked. "Lekin haan, woh bhi mujhe challenge karti thi. Main hero samajhta tha apne aapko, aur uske saamne cartoon lagta tha."

Rajvansh laughed.

Ashvik grew serious. "Lekin beta, agar us ladki ke andar dard hai... toh patience zaroori hai. Tera charm nahi, tera samay use jeetega."

Rajvansh nodded slowly.

"Try karunga, Papa."

Ashvik smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Aur jab jeet le, toh use bata dena... ki uske papa bhi kisi waqt thode crazy the."

************************************

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