[Next Morning - Classroom]

The bell rang sharp at 8:00 AM.

Rajvansh was already in his seat, eyes scanning the door. Waiting.

Aarohi walked in, her usual confident stride, hair tied neatly, face calm - maybe a little too calm.

He watched closely. No puffiness in the eyes. No hesitation in her steps. No trace of last night.

She greeted the teacher, took her seat, and pulled out her notes.

Not a flicker of pain. Not even a crack in the mask.

How does she do that? Rajvansh thought.

She hadn't even looked his way. As if nothing happened.

As if she hadn't broken down under moonlight, letting her silence speak through trembling shoulders.

---

[Free Period - Supposed to be Games]

"Guys, ground chalein?" Karan asked, spinning a basketball on his finger.

Naira shook her head. "Aarohi needs the auditorium."

Ritik nodded instantly. "Right."

Rajvansh frowned. "Auditorium? Why?"

Neither answered.

"I'll come along," he offered, casually.

Naira glanced at Aarohi, who gave a short nod. "Your wish."

--------

The auditorium was dim, empty except for faint sunrays slipping through large curtains.

Dance like no one is watching, was written on one of the wall.

The heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them. Dust danced in the golden slant of sunlight slicing through the maroon curtains.

Aarohi didn't say a word. She walked straight to the corner, and played song on the music system. A few taps - and the hall was filled with the slow, aching piano notes of "Agar Tum Saath Ho."

Rajvansh paused in his steps. He knew this song. Everyone did. But he had never felt it until now.

She stood still at center stage. Back straight. Eyes closed. Breathing in.

And then - she moved.

Her right hand floated upward like she was trying to reach for something far away. Her feet glided forward, but her gaze remained distant - as if lost in a memory too painful to relive.

Her movements were fluid but weighted. Like her limbs were carrying things her heart hadn't let go of yet.

"Pal bhar theher jaao..."

With the lyrics, her hand reached out and stopped mid-air, trembling - as if begging someone not to leave.

She twirled once, a slow turn, almost collapsing to her knees midway - but caught herself.

"Dil ye sambhal jaaye..."

Her eyes opened now - fierce, raw, unshed tears glimmering. She wasn't just dancing. She was arguing with the universe. With fate.

With herself.

The choreography had no clear structure - it was wild, instinctive, untamed.

She spun again, but this time faster. Arms wrapping around herself like a shield.

She dropped to the floor in a split-second kneel and then rose with a sharp, striking wave - as if pulling herself up from the depths of something dark.

From the aisle, Rajvansh felt like he was watching someone bleed without a single drop spilling.

Naira sat with her chin on her knees, unmoved but understanding. She'd seen this side of Aarohi. So had Ritik, who watched quietly, chewing his gum slower than usual.

They knew this wasn't performance.

It was purge.

"Tum sath ho ... ya na ho, kya fark hai..."

Aarohi's final spin ended with her collapsing into a half-sitting pose, her hand slamming the floor once, palm flat, trembling.

The music faded. The speaker buzzed in silence.

She stayed there, head bowed, chest heaving. No applause. No words.

Just silence.

A heavy, sacred silence no one dared to break.

Rajvansh finally breathed. His throat was dry. Eyes locked on her like he'd just seen something holy and heartbreaking all at once.

He silently gestured Naira and Ritik to come outside.

------

Meanwhile,

Aarohi sat on the edge of the stage now, legs dangling, water bottle in hand. Her hair clung to her forehead, strands still damp with sweat. She stared ahead blankly, chest rising and falling in the aftershocks of the storm she'd just danced through.

The silence around her was peaceful. Until -

"Bas kar, Madhuri Dixit. Stage tod degi tu ek din."

She blinked - and turned.

Karan stood by the wing curtain, arms crossed, smirking like he'd been watching her for a while. Not judging. Just... there.

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "Originality naam ki cheez hoti hai. Ye dialogue pehle bhi suna hai maine."

Karan walked up, exaggeratedly dusting off a spot next to her and sitting down. "Toh kya karoon? Tere jaise dramatic logon ke liye mere paas bhi thoda overacting ka stock ready rehna padta hai."

She gave him a faint smile - the kind that doesn't try too hard.

"Waise..." he added, nudging her elbow, "tera footwork solid tha. Ek kick meri taraf bhi maar deti, thoda akal aa jaata."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Tu kabhi serious ho sakta hai?"

"Main toh hoon," Karan said, mock-offended. "Main toh iss school ka moral support hoon. Dukh, sukh, crush, breakup - sab ke liye available."

Aarohi raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

He nodded proudly. "Of course. Aur tere liye toh especially. You know, I don't have a sister. But if I ever had one, she'd probably punch like you."

Aarohi smirked. "Sweet. Weird... but sweet."

"Main hi sweet hoon," he grinned. "Ab chal, ice cream khilaata hoon. Tujhe dekh ke mujhe bhi thoda dramatic feel ho raha hai."

Aarohi shook her head. "Tu pagal hai."

"Certified," Karan said, hopping off the stage. Then, offering her his hand, "Chal, aaj ka gyaan yahi khatam. Ab normal insaan ban ja thodi der ke liye."

She took his hand.

And just like that - no heavy talks, no questions, no sympathy - just a quiet bond and a distraction in the form of an idiot with a soft heart.

---------

[In the garden]

Rajvansh caught up to Ritik and Naira .

"Hey."

They turned.

"I need to ask you something. About Aarohi."

Ritik raised a brow. "Nope."

"You don't even know what I'm going to ask."

Naira crossed her arms. "You want to know what's going on with her. Why she dances like that. Why she looks like she's smiling with bruises."

Rajvansh's jaw tightened. "Yes. That."

Ritik gave a small smile. "Then our answer is the same. Nope."

"Why?" Rajvansh asked. "I just want to help. Or at least understand."

Naira looked him straight in the eye. "Because it's not our story to tell."

Rajvansh looked between them - the unshakable loyalty in their silence.

Ritik added softly, "We're her shield, bro. If she wants you to know... she'll tell you. Until then, don't try to break the rules we've kept her safe behind."

Rajvansh nodded slowly. Disappointed, but... not angry.

Just more determined.

--------

[After the final bell rang]

Aarohi zipped up her bag, already half-walking toward the gate when Ritik called out behind her.

"Aree madam! Itni jaldi kya hai? Tumhare bina toh zindagi adhoori lagti hai!"

She didn't even turn. "Drama mat kar, Ritik."

Naira sprinted and caught up with her, looping an arm around hers. "Chal na, plan bana hai. Ek naya cafe khula hai - 'Mocha Moonlight'... sounds cute, na?"

Rajvansh (grinning): "Plus point - tumhare highness ka mood bhi improve ho jaayega."

Aarohi narrowed her eyes. "Tum sabko seriously lagta hai main mood mein nahi hoon?"

Karan (joining in): "Main toh keh raha hoon mood check karne ke liye ek hi raasta hai - chocolate shake and fries therapy."

Ritik: "Aur agar tujhe pasand nahi aaya, toh bill humara. Treat."

She paused - dramatic as ever - then finally shrugged, hiding a smile. "Theek hai. But I'm choosing the playlist in the car."

Naira: "Deal!"

----------

[Mocha Moonlight Café - Evening]

Five friends sat around a wooden table, menus in hand, plates slowly arriving - and quickly disappointing.

Rajvansh chewed a bite, winced, and whispered, "Is it just me... or does this pasta taste like toothpaste?"

Naira choked on her mocktail. "More like washing powder."

Karan picked at his burger, unimpressed. "Yeh toh sad burger hai. Life mein koi spice hi nahi."

Aarohi (pouting): "Mujhe ab aur zyada bhukh lag rahi hai... aur yeh toh paap hai food ke naam pe."

Ritik leaned back dramatically. "Agar zindagi ne kabhi challenge diya ho... toh yeh dinner uska result hai."

Rajvansh (sighing): "Kya karein ab? Mujhe toh lag raha hai maggi banani padhegi ghar jaake."

Naira (half-joking, half-serious): "Guys... waha paas mein ek shadi ho rahi thi na... lights dekhi thi maine gate ke time."

Karan's eyes lit up. "Don't even joke. Free food, loud music, chaat counters... shaadi ka level hi alag hota hai yaar!"

Aarohi (mock-offended): "Tum log shadi mein ghusne ki baat kar rahe ho?!"

Ritik (joining Karan): "It's not crashing. It's... community participation."

Rajvansh (pretending to be logical): "Dekha jaaye toh hum unki khushi mein shaamil hone ja rahe hain."

Naira: "I mean... it'll be a memory. And the food will definitely be better."

Aarohi, trying not to smile but already defeated by their chaos: "Fine. But agar kisi ne pakad liya toh main tum sabko nahi jaanti."

Karan: "Pakda gaya toh bol dena dulhan ki behen ho. Bas confident rehna."

They burst into laughter - and just like that, the plan was sealed.

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