Break time ended.
Students returned to class.
Lessons continued…
And soon—
The school day was over.
Everyone went back home.
At Naira's Side
Naira sat quietly in her room.
For the first time in a while—
Her thoughts weren't about studies.
They were about him.
Kartik.
His words.
His calm voice.
That simple moment—
"We are friends now."
Before she could think further—
The door opened.
Shivik and Aditya walked in.
"Let's go play badminton," Aditya said excitedly.
Naira smiled softly.
"Okay."
Outside
They met her friends—
Shreya, Siya… and Avinash (Avi).
"Let's play badminton," Naira said.
"Yeah!" everyone agreed.
Soon, laughter filled the air.
Shuttle moving fast.
Voices echoing.
A simple, happy moment.
At Kartik's Side
Kartik lay on his bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
Lost.
His thoughts—
Kept going back to her.
Her smile.
Her voice.
Her saying yes.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Then suddenly—
He questioned himself.
"Is it really just friendship…?"
A pause.
"Or something more?"
His phone rang.
Abhir.
He picked up.
"Yeah… what happened?"
On the other side—
Shivansh's teasing voice came.
"Why does your mood sound off? Are we disturbing you… or are you busy thinking about Naira?"
It was a conference call.
Kartik sighed.
"Shut up. I'm studying."
(While still lying on the bed.)
Shivansh laughed.
"Yeah right."
Abhir said,
"Wait, I'll add Shivik."
"Okay," Kartik replied.
The Video Call
The call connected.
Shivik picked it up—it was on video.
"Hi bro," he said casually.
"Hi," Abhir replied.
Then—
Something caught his attention.
A girl in the background.
Before he could say anything—
Shivik turned slightly.
"Doll, I'm talking to my friends, okay?"
Naira nodded.
"Okay, Shiv."
At Kartik's Side
The moment he heard her voice—
He became still.
Completely attentive.
And then—
He saw her.
Naira.
Standing a little away from the camera.
Holding a badminton racket.
Laughing softly with her friends.
Natural. Unfiltered.
Different from school.
Kartik didn't speak.
But his eyes—
Stayed there.
Longer than needed.
"Bro, you there?" Shivansh teased.
Kartik blinked.
"Yeah… I'm here."
Abhir laughed.
"Someone's serious today."
"Shut up," Kartik muttered—
But his tone wasn't sharp.
Just… distracted.
That Moment
Shivik adjusted the camera.
And suddenly—
She came into frame.
Properly.
Naira.
She fixed her hair slightly.
Looked at the screen.
And said softly—
"Hi."
Just one word.
But for a second—
The call went quiet.
"Hi," Kartik replied.
A little slower than usual.
Shivansh smirked.
"Wow… everyone's suddenly polite."
Abhir added,
"Feels like a school function."
But Kartik didn't react.
His attention—
Was still on her.
The way she stood.
Calm. Unbothered.
Yet somehow—
Impossible to ignore.
Then she looked away.
"Shiv, I'm going to play."
"Okay, doll," Shivik replied.
The camera shifted.
And she was gone.
Ending Scene
The call continued.
Jokes. Laughter. Noise.
But Kartik—
Stayed quiet.
Because now—
The question had changed.
It wasn't about friendship anymore.
It was something deeper.
Something he hadn't accepted yet.
Why did her simple "hi"…
stay in his mind longer than everything else?
🖤 To be continued…
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