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Flashback:

Sakshi's POV:

We had just finished our back-to-back lectures and were now basking in the sunlight like lazy lizards sprawled across the grass in the college park. The silence was comforting... until Samira broke it with a dramatic huff.

“I'm not talking to Varsh ever again,” she declared, crossing her arms.

Our heads turned in unison. "What? Why??" we asked together, already bracing for the drama.

"Because every time he talks to me, he brings up his friend Upashna. I just hate that," she complained, cheeks puffed with frustration.

"Ohhh... someone's jealous," I teased, grinning like the devil I am.

"I am not!" she snapped, a little too quickly.

"Then why do you care?" Nikki smirked. "Let him talk to whoever he wants."

"I don't care. That's why I'm cutting him off," Samira huffed, looking the opposite direction.

"You do care," I nudged. "Just look at your face. A five-year-old could tell you're falling for him."

Samira tried hiding her face behind her palms-but it was too late. The red was already blooming across her cheeks like roses in spring.

"Okay fine," she finally whispered. "I do care. And yes, I feel jealous when he talks about other girls in front of me."

"YAYYYYYY!" we all screamed in unison, jumping like maniacs. The most awaited moment of the year-Samira had finally admitted it.

"But I swear I'll kill you all if anyone tells him," she warned, eyes narrowing like a villain. "Especially you, Sakshi."

"Me?! Why would I?" I said innocently, but I knew deep down she was kinda right to suspect me. I'm nosy and I live for chaos.

"Anyway, we should head back," she said, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeves like the drama queen she is.

We had barely taken a step when Hriti glanced around and asked, "Vihaan didn't come today?"

"Nope. Haven't seen him all day," Soniya added, looking a little too curious.

"Why are you all missing him?" I asked, a little louder than I intended. "It's good only. Peace of mind."

But my words fell flat-especially because yesterday he told me he'd be coming. Well... why do I even care?

Just then, the universe decided to slap me in the face.

"Toh mahila mandli yahan hai," a voice called out from behind.

(So the ladies' committee is here)

Speak of the devil, and there he was. Vihaan. In all his annoying glory, walking beside Varsh.

"Shaitan ka naam liya, shaitan hazir," I muttered under my breath, but loud enough to be heard.

(Call the devil, and the devil appears)

He walked over casually, like he owned the ground beneath him, and before I knew it, he was walking right next to me. I could barely reach his shoulders, the height difference was insane.

Why am I even noticing that?! Ugh, stupid hormones.

"Thinking about me?" he asked with that smug, infuriating tone.

"N-No!" I stammered. "Why would I? I have better things to do."

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded. "And being with me is the best out of them all, isn't it?"

He winked.

I scoffed, flipping my hair dramatically. "In your dreams, Sharma. I'd rather babysit a dozen hyper kids than tolerate you for an hour."

"Bold of you to assume I'm less chaotic than those kids," he replied nonchalantly, stuffing his hands in his pockets as we walked side by side.

The audacity.

"I'm serious! And tell me one thing, what fun do you get by teasing me and throwing your nursery-level flirting skills around like confetti?" I glared up at him, my hands on my hips and patience officially on life support.

He looked down at me with that trademark smirk, "Nursery-level? Ouch, Sakshi. My flirting deserves at least a primary school upgrade."

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my past mistakes.

"See? There it is again. That eye-roll. Classic Sakshi. You act like I annoy you, but deep down I know-"

I cut him off with a sharp stare. "What? That I secretly like being bullied by you?"

He chuckled, stepping just a little closer-too close, actually. "No. That you secretly look forward to it. Admit it, your day's incomplete if I don't make your blood pressure rise at least once."

The worst part? He wasn't entirely wrong.

But I wasn't going to let him win.

"I'd rather complete my day with a brick to the face," I snapped.

"Mine or yours?" he asked, unfazed.

I blinked. "What?"

"I mean, you're short enough-throwing a brick might just hit your own forehead," he teased, trying to hide his laughter.

"I swear to God, Vihaan Sharma, one more height joke and I will climb a ladder and slap you into next week," I shouted.

"Good," he said, grinning as he casually walked ahead, "At least now you're thinking tall."

Ugh. This man.

I stared at his back, already plotting fifty ways to get back at him.

Starting with hiding all his hair gel.

Vihaan's POV:

I swear, she must be thinking of 101 ways to murder me right now.

And honestly? I wouldn't even blame her.

Still, I couldn't stop myself from chuckling at her reactions. The way she sighs, gets frustrated, rolls her eyes like I'm the most exhausting part of her day... how does anyone not get addicted to that?

We were heading back to home when we decided to sit under the sun in our college lawn, the reason was Varsh and Samira, we were lazily stretched out when Ayesha broke the silence.

"Guys! I heard from the college union that there's going to be a Holi party on Monday!" she said, almost bouncing in place.

"But Holi is on Wednesday, if I'm not wrong?" Varsh raised a brow.

"Oh, so you were actually planning to come on the festival day?" Samira scoffed.

"For you? Always." Varsh threw in one of his classic cheesy replies.

Samira rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed-but the blush gave her away. She was smiling. These two needed to stop being cute and just start dating already. We were all rooting for this ship to sail.

"You all are coming, right?" Ayesha asked hopefully.

"Nope. I won't," Sakshi replied flatly. "I don't like Holi."

"Holi phobia?" I teased, nudging her slightly.

She shot me a glare, exhausted and clearly not in the mood. Oops.

"If she doesn't come, how will we laugh at Vihaan's jokes?" Nikki whined. "He's not even funny without her."

"Excuse me?" we both responded in sync-though our reasons were obviously very different.

"But bhai, she's right," Varsh joined in with a smirk. "You barely talk when she's not around. She brings out your chaotic side."

I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest. "Kar diya na gaddari baap se? Isi din ke liye paal posh ke tujhe bada kiya tha?"

(Betrayed your father, didn't you? Was this the day I raised and nurtured you for?)

Laughter erupted around us. My eyes, however, instinctively drifted to her.

She was laughing-really laughing-with her head tilted back, her dimple shining on her left cheek like it had a spotlight of its own.

God, that dimple.

"Stop laughing or your teeth will fall out," Varsh teased Samira, glaring dramatically.

Samira side-eyed him, and he immediately dropped his head like a scolded puppy.

Even I couldn't hold in my laugh this time.

"We should leave now. It's already 2 PM," Hriti reminded everyone as she checked the time. Being the responsible one, she had a curfew to beat.

We all got up and began heading out. I was walking toward my bike with Varsh, letting the mahila mandli trail behind us, when I suddenly heard my name being called out loud.

"Vihaan!"

I turned around. It was her.

Miss 4ft.

"Bye," she said, her voice soft-almost shy-with a small smile curving her lips.

I paused. That was new. Sweet. Unexpected.

And something in my chest felt... warm.

I smiled back and waved. "Bye."

She turned around quickly, but not before I caught that tiny glance back-the one she didn't think I'd notice.

Strange.

But I liked this unusual change.

Really liked it.

~~~•••~~~

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