Aadhya's POV
We stopped in front of a house.
Big gate. Fancy nameplate.
"Veena."
Oh.
OH.
This is her house.
The same idiotic woman who accused Avi.
I turned slowly toward Vivaan.
"How do you even know where she lives?" I asked, suspicious.
He didn't even look at me.
"Called Maddy."
…
That's it??
Problem solved??
This guy has contacts like he's running some secret agency or something.
We stepped out.
I cracked my knuckles slightly.
Ready.
If needed.
We rang the bell.
She opened the door.
Same face. Same attitude. Same irritation crawling under my skin.
Vivaan did the talking.
Calm. Direct. Straight to the point.
Money. Truth. Deal.
Simple.
But instead—
She started shouting.
Calling us scammers.
Questioning our intentions.
And then—
She said things about Avi.
Again.
That was it.
Something inside me snapped.
"YOU—"
I stepped forward, ready to grab her, ready to shake the truth out of her if I had to—
But before I could even move properly—
A hand.
Firm.
Strong.
Vivaan.
He caught me mid-step, lifted me like I weighed nothing, and—
"HEY—WHAT THE—PUT ME DOWN—!"
Next thing I knew—
I was inside the car.
Door shut.
Locked.
"VIVAAN—!" I banged on the window. "LET ME OUT—!"
This idiot.
THIS ABSOLUTE IDIOT.
He just left me there and went back to talk to her.
I sat there fuming, legs bouncing, hands clenched.
She needed one slap.
Just one.
Truth would have come flying out like confession in a movie.
But no.
Mr. Control Freak had other plans.
A few minutes later—
He came back.
Sat in the driver's seat.
Ran a hand through his hair.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath.
Ah.
Plan failed.
Good.
Serves him right for not letting me handle it.
"What now?" I snapped. "She left. At least you could have let me punch her once—she would have spilled everything."
He turned toward me—
And suddenly—
His finger was on my lips.
Silencing me.
…
I froze.
For a second.
Just stared at him.
He stared back.
Silence.
Weird.
Then my brain restarted.
I immediately pushed his hand away.
"What now?" I asked, more seriously this time.
"Let's go to school for now," he said, already starting the car.
Fine.
Whatever.
This mission clearly failed.
But—
There was something else bothering me.
Something important.
"Hey Vivaan," I said, looking at him carefully, "did you notice anything on my paper when you handed it to sir?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Just kept driving.
But I knew he heard me.
I waited.
Eyes fixed on him.
Then—
"I did it," he said.
I blinked.
"…Which one?"
"Your paper," he replied casually. "I answered it."
…
…
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
I practically screamed.
He flinched slightly, annoyed. "What?"
"What do you mean what?!" I snapped. "You're going to get me into trouble!"
My brain instantly started imagining worst-case scenarios.
Bhaiyya finding out.
Me getting caught.
Me hanging upside down.
Pepper havan below.
NO THANK YOU.
"You won't be damned if they don't find out," he said calmly.
LIKE THIS IS NORMAL.
"Why would you even—" I started, then paused.
Wait.
Wait a second.
A thought clicked.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"…Are you trying to make up for what you did in PE?"
Silence.
A small one.
"If you call it lewdness… then yes," he said.
Oh.
OH.
I leaned back, staring at him.
"You could've just said sorry," I muttered. "Like a normal human being."
"I don't apologise," he said flatly. "It makes me feel low. It's beneath me."
…
I slapped my own forehead.
Of course.
Of COURSE.
This guy's ego is not normal.
It's not even human.
It's like… Burj Khalifa level.
No—higher.
We didn't talk after that.
Silence filled the car.
But my mind wasn't silent.
It kept circling back to one thing.
Avi.
How do I fix him?
How do I bring him back?
The car stopped near school.
I got out and ran straight inside.
Building.
Classroom.
Dheeraj came up to me immediately.
"Where have you been?" he asked, concerned.
"Just some work," I brushed it off.
My eyes went straight to Avi.
Same spot.
Same silence.
Same emptiness.
I walked up to him.
"Do you want chocolate?" I asked softly, holding one out.
He looked at it.
Then at me.
Then shook his head.
Again.
"Give it to me then," Bhavik suddenly appeared.
"Not for you," I snapped instantly.
Idiot.
"Nick, let's talk," came Vivaan's voice from behind.
Nikansh followed him out.
I didn't care.
My focus was only on Avi.
Think, Aadhya.
Think.
Lunch break.
I opened the lunchbox I brought for him. I noticed other watching us.
Sat right in front of him.
Took a spoon.
Held it near him.
"Have a little," I said gently.
He looked at it.
At me.
Then shook his head again.
"No, Avi… just a little," I insisted, softer this time.
Nothing.
No reaction.
No movement.
I slowly placed the spoon down.
"Avi… at least eat yourself. You must be hungry…"
Still nothing.
And then—
He stood up.
Walked out.
Just like that.
…
My eyes stayed on the door long after he left.
Then slowly dropped to the untouched lunchbox.
The others came.
Took it.
Ate it.
I didn't even react.
Didn't care.
Nothing mattered right now.
I stood up and went to Dheeraj.
"What does Avi like?" I asked seriously. "Games, food, anything."
He told me.
I nodded.
Okay.
Plan.
I'll make something tomorrow.
Something he can't ignore.
I walked to the door.
Peeked outside.
There he was.
Sitting on that broken table.
Alone.
Staring into nothing again.
Like the world had muted him.
My chest tightened.
Again.
…
And then—
An idea hit me.
A proper one this time
He was still sitting there.
Same place. Same posture. Same silence that felt like it was swallowing him whole.
I stood a few steps away… just watching him.
Why are you like this
I clenched my fists a little.
No.
Enough.
I walked straight to him and stood right in front.
Nothing.
Not even a blink.
Fine.
If you won't come back… I'll pull you back.
I took a slow breath… and then softly started—
🎶Tu jo rootha toh kaun hasega…
Tu jo chhoota toh kaun rahega..🎶
(If you stay upset who would smile...
If you leave who would stay....)
My voice wasn't playful this time.
It was calm.
Deep.
Real.
His fingers moved slightly.
I saw it.
Good.
You're listening.
I stepped closer… my eyes not leaving his face—
"🎶Tu chup hai toh yeh darr lagta hai…
Apna mujhko ab kaun kahega…🎶"
(When you're quiet I feel scared
Who would claim me as his own now?)
My throat tightened a little while singing that line.
Because it wasn't just lyrics anymore.
It felt… real.
I slowly sat beside him.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"🎶Tu hi wajah… tere bina
Bewajh bekar hoon main …🎶"
I smiled faintly… looking at him sideways.
(You are the reason....
Without you I'm completely useless, without a cause...)
"🎶tera yaar hoon main …🎶"
(I'm your best friend...)
Silence.
But not the same silence.
This one… was softer.
I turned toward him fully now.
Leaning a little closer.
" 🎶Aaja ladein phir khilono keliye...
Tu jeete main haar jaun...
Aaja karein phir wahi shararathein..
To bhage main maar khaun ...🎶"
( Come. Let's fight over toys again
You can win, I will lose ...
Come, let's be mischievous again
You can run away, l will stay to get beaten up ...)
Then I stood up and walked away but again turned to him. Then
"🎶 Meethi si wo gali teri suneko taiyyar hoon main....
Tera yaar hoon main ..🎶"
(Even your curses sound sweet ...
I'm all ears to them...
Im your best friend)
My voice dropped almost into a whisper.
"🎶jate nhi kahin rishte purane kisi naye ke ajane se. Jata hun mein toh muje tu jane de. Huyn pareshan hai mere jaane se. ..🎶."
( Old bonds don't fade away when new are formed ...
If I'm leaving let me go.why are you upset that I'm leaving.)
I didn't complete the line.
Because my chest felt tight.
Because I meant it.
Idiot… you matter.
I suddenly stood up again.
No no no this is getting too serious.
I clapped once.
"Okay enough emotional drama."
I grabbed his hand suddenly and pulled him a little.
"Stand up."
He didn't.
Of course.
Stubborn buffalo.
I sighed dramatically.
Then went behind him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders from the back—like always.
Annoying. Clingy. Uninvited.
"🎶 Toota hai jo juda hai kyun mere taraf tu muda hai kyun ...haq nhi tu yeh kahe ki yaar ab hum naa rhe.🎶 "
(Why fix what's broken ...
Why did you turn towards me..
You have no rights to say that we are no longer friends...
I sang again, but this time lightly teasing.
Then I poked his cheek.
Nothing.
I frowned.
"Excuse me?"
I bent and looked at his face from the side.
Still blank.
I narrowed my eyes… then suddenly pinched his cheeks hard.
"🎶ek teri yaari ka hi saaton jaman haqdaar hun mein ....tera yaar hun mein.🎶."
(It's only over your friendship that i have the right over, forever....Best friend of yours, is me...)
He flinched.
His lips twitched.
JUST A LITTLE.
I froze.
Eyes wide.
He immediately looked away
From the corner of my eye—I saw them.
Everyone.
Standing at the classroom door.
Watching.
Silent.
But I didn't stop.
No.
Not now.
I stepped closer again, softer this time.
"🎶Tera yaar hun mein …🎶"
My voice slowed.
Gentler.
"🎶Tera yaar hun mein …🎶"
I looked straight into his eyes.
Come back.
Please.
A second passed.
Then—
He stood up.
Just like that.
He didn't look at me
Didn't smile.
Didn't say anything.
He just… walked.
Straight past me.
Back into the classroom.
My smile slowly faded.
Then I let out a long breath… placing my hands on my hips.
I looked at the door… then smiled faintly. Its okay for now I'm glad I tried something over nothing.
Nikansh's POV
I was leaning against the classroom door, arms folded, watching without really intending to.
At first, I thought it would be the usual—Aadhya doing something loud, something dramatic, something… very her.
But this… wasn't that.
Avi was sitting outside on that broken table, staring into nothing like the world had pressed pause on him. And for once, no one was disturbing him. Not even us.
Then she walked up to him.
No noise. No chaos.
Just… her.
She stood there for a second, looking at him carefully—like she was trying to read something written between the lines. And then, without announcing it, without making a scene…
She started singing.
Soft.
Almost like she was afraid the moment might break if she went any louder.
I straightened a little without realizing it.
That was new.
Aadhya… being careful?
She didn't try to force him to look at her. Didn't snap her fingers, didn't crack a joke. She just stayed in front of him, singing, like she trusted him to come back on his own.
Weird girl.
There was something unpolished about her voice—but it wasn't bad. It felt… real. Like she wasn't performing for us, or for attention.
Just for him.
She bent slightly to match his eye level, tilting her head, trying to catch even a flicker of reaction. When she didn't get one, she didn't get frustrated.
She just smiled.
That same stupid, stubborn smile.
Then she sat beside him, not too close, not too far—just enough to say I'm here without saying a word. Her shoulder brushed his lightly as she kept singing, softer now, almost like a conversation.
I noticed Avi's fingers twitch.
Barely.
But I saw it.
And of course… she saw it too.
Her eyes lit up like she had just won something.
That was fast.
Too fast.
She shifted behind him after that, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from the back, resting her chin lightly there—like it was the most natural thing in the world. No hesitation. No awkwardness.
Just… warmth.
I exhaled slowly, looking away for a second.
That kind of closeness usually makes things uncomfortable.
But this?
It didn't.
It didn't feel forced.
It didn't feel wrong.
It felt… easy.
And that's what made it strange.
I glanced at Vivaan from the corner of my eye.
He was watching.
Not reacting. Not interrupting.
Just observing.
Typical.
My gaze went back to her.
She was still humming now, softer than before, her fingers lightly tapping his shoulder in rhythm, like she was anchoring him back… piece by piece.
No grand gestures.
No drama.
Just… staying.
Consistent.
Stubborn.
I huffed quietly, shaking my head.
"Unbelievable," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
Who does that?
Who puts in this much effort… without expecting anything back?
It didn't make sense.
And yet… it was working.
Avi didn't smile.
Not fully.
But his shoulders weren't as stiff anymore.
And that was enough for her.
I could tell.
She didn't push further.
Didn't overdo it.
She just… stayed there.
Like she knew when to stop.
Smart.
I didn't expect that from her.
Maybe I misjudged her a little.
Just a little.
I pushed myself off the door, rolling my shoulders casually, masking the thought before it settled too deep.
Still an idiot though.
Just… not the kind I thought she was.