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A whole month of pre-board exams had drained every ounce of life out of us. And just when we thought we could finally breathe, the school decided to hit us with yet another cruel reality-answer sheet distribution.
Oh, and to make things even better, our practical exams started today.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Physics practical and viva-basically, our personal torture session.
I had spent the entire night revising, running on nothing but sheer determination and anxiety, and barely managed to squeeze in two hours of sleep.
And let me tell you, two hours of sleep is not even a nap-it’s a long blink.
But I had to prepare for every possible question. Because nothing, absolutely nothing, beats the satisfaction of answering a difficult question correctly. The Satisfaction. That feeling? That’s what I live for.
The school was in complete chaos. Juniors were busy preparing for our farewell, running around with decoration supplies and practicing dance performances in the corridors. Meanwhile, we seniors? We were just trying to survive.
Siddharth walked into the classroom, heaved a dramatic sigh, and dropped onto the bench beside me as if he had fought a battle just to get here.
“Tujhko kya hua?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. Yash, our resident sleeping beauty, was already dozing off beside me, head resting on his arms.
(What happened to you?)
“This guy could sleep through an earthquake. I should take notes from him,” Siddharth muttered, glancing at Yash.
“I’m nervous… for my result. Especially Vani’s result,” he added with another sigh.
“Ahnnn, first time seeing you stress over someone else’s result,” I teased, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.
Siddharth rolled his eyes, “It’s not like that. I just want her to do well. I helped her study, and if she doesn’t score well, I’ll feel responsible.”
Before I could respond, Yash-who had been sleeping mere seconds ago, suddenly spoke up, “Whatever you say.”
The guy didn’t even bother to open his eyes.
Meanwhile, Ruh had gone to Ragini Ma’am’s office to clear some doubts. I had offered to help, but she refused, saying she didn’t want to disturb me.
Someone tell her she is the most beautiful disturbance ever. I’d gladly be disturbed by her all day.
A soft smile tugged at my lips as I got lost in my thoughts.
‘Ignore him, guys. Ladka pagla gaya hai,’ my brain taunted.
(The guy has gone mad.)
‘Sometimes I wish I could throw you out of my head,’ I mentally snapped.
‘Tch tch, then how would you flex your intelligence?’ my brain mocked.
‘That’s the only reason I tolerate you. Now shut up,’ I muttered internally.
Before I could get lost in my dreamy thoughts again, Yash suddenly spoke up, “Want to hear something interesting?”
“What?” Siddharth immediately stopped writing.
This guy never misses gossip.
“Our junior, your basketball teammate Advay, has a huge crush on Ruhanika. But ever since he found out about you two, he’s been sulking every day,” Yash smirked.
“What the actual-” I started, but before I could finish my sentence, I realized the entire class had turned to look at me.
Siddharth patted my shoulder, his voice dripping with fake concern. “Shant balak, shant raho, dimaag thanda rakho. Ye lo, jal piyo.”
(Calm down, keep your mind cool. Here, drink some water)
“Why?” I asked, completely baffled.
Yash shrugged, “How would I know? Ruhanika is kind and soft-spoken. Anyone can have a crush on her.”
“How do you know? What if you misunderstood?” I demanded, narrowing my eyes.
Yash smirked, “I have my own sources. I know every kalesh happening in our school.”
(I know every bit of drama happening in school.)
“Kaleshi fufa,” I muttered under my breath to which he rolled hai eyes.
(Dramatic uncle.)
“Whatever. She’s with me. I don’t care about anyone else,” I declared. But deep down, I knew myself too well.
Looks like I need to have a long and long chat with this Advay guy. Note the keyword-Long.
Just then, Ruh walked in, flashing me her priceless smile. And just like that, all my worries evaporated.
Why should I waste my thoughts on some junior when my Ruh is the only one who truly matters?
Vani and Ruh settled into their seats just as Tanya rushed in, looking absolutely exhausted. She practically collapsed onto her chair, letting out a dramatic sigh.
“I hate being a discipline prefect,” she whined.
“I had to stand at the gate with PE sir for an hour, writing down the names of latecomers. Then I had to stand there and watch them finish their punishment laps. Freaking stupid rule,” she grumbled under her breath.
Yash, who had just woken up, silently slid a juice package across the desk to her, “Drink this. You must be tired.”
Tanya’s face instantly lit up, “Guava juice! Just what I needed to recharge. Thanks.”
Sid and I exchanged a knowing look before smirking at Yash.
The guy immediately muttered a string of curses under his breath and buried his face in his arms, pretending to sleep again.
I should knock some sense into him. But what can I do when he refuses to understand?
Just then, Ragini Ma’am entered the classroom, her arms stacked with answer sheets.
“Is this a class or a fish market?” she muttered, narrowing her eyes at us.
The room fell silent in an instant.
“Good morning, class,” she greeted, her tone carrying the weight of a thousand exhausted teachers.
We greeted her back in our iconic, perfectly synchronized chorus.
She started arranging some sheets as she said, “I am distributing your answer sheets. Check your total marks carefully. All subjects are attached together.”
One by one, she called out roll numbers, handing out our sheets of fate.
“Class, the principal ma’am is on rounds, so behave like senior students,” she warned.
Ah, the classic teacher-student truce-when the principal is on round, we transform into the best actor and actress. Oscar-worthy acting from both sides.
As I grabbed my bundle of answer sheets, excitement bubbled inside me. Checking my marks is like unwrapping a mystery gift. The thrill is unmatched.
Once everyone had their sheets, Ma’am asked, “Does anyone have doubts about any question? I’ll explain.”
Silence.
She sighed dramatically, “Of course. No one wants to relive the trauma, again.”
Then, she checked her list and said, “In Mathematics, Vihaan got the highest marks, followed closely by Ruhanika.”
I smirked, leaning back in my chair with exaggerated pride, “The Vihaan Raichand is BACK!”
Ruh, who had just turned after hearing me, i smirked at her to which she just rolled her eyes before giving me a sarcastic yet undeniably sweet smile.
I didn’t notice before, but she looks really pretty today. Maybe it’s because she changed her hairstyle, braiding the sides and merging them into her long braid. She always looks pretty.
Wait. Focus, Vihaan.
Yash snorted, “She just got one mark less than you.”
I shrugged my shoulders as I spoke the matter of fact, “That one mark makes all the difference.”
Then Ma’am continued, “In Chemistry, Ruhanika got the highest marks.”
As I checked my Chemistry paper and realized what the hell I did, I immediately spotted my silly mistakes. Seriously? Even a nursery kid wouldn’t make these mistakes.
Mom is going to throw me out of the house if she will get to know about this.
This time, Ruh cleared her throat dramatically, turning to me with a sweet yet teasing smile.
I rolled my eyes.
“What will your mom think about this?” she asked, teasing me with a mischievous smile.
I held a teasing grin as I whispered to her, “Nothing just my mom is going to think you are going to be the perfect daughter-in-law because you both are better in Chemistry.”
She started coughing and glared at me, “stop being too flirty,” but the faint pink creeping up her cheeks told a different story. Her fingers twitched slightly, betraying her composure.
I know very well how to turn the situation to my side.
Watching her reaction, I added in a husky tone, “You know…..you’re perfect in Chemistry-academically and otherwise.”
Her lips parted slightly as she processed my words. And there it was-the faintest pink dusting her cheeks.
She tried to look away, but the warmth on her face only deepened. The soft flush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, giving her away completely.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to play it cool, “Oh? And what exactly do you mean by ‘otherwise’ ?”
I leaned in even closer, just enough for my breath to tickle her ear, my voice laced with teasing tone, “Otherwise…i meant….you know… how every time you’re around, my heart rate spikes like a reaction reaching its activation energy.”
“So cheesy of you,” she narrowed her to yes to which i just passed a wink to her.
She chuckled and mouthed, “You’re cute.”
And just like that, I melted like a glacier. Why does she always look this adorable?
Yash, who had been watching this whole exchange, groaned, “You two do realize you’re dating, right? Why are you still competing like this?”
I grinned sheepishly as I added, “It’s our love language.”
Ruh nodded in agreement, “And it’s fun.”
Yash shook his head. “You guys are exhausting. Earlier, you used to taunt each other, and now….urghh…it’s cringe… whatever. Just don’t make me feel single.”
“You know, maybe if you looked around a bit for a particular person and maybe you won’t be single anymore,” i told him.
“And by the way everything feels cringe until you fall in Love, we will talk when you will start these cringe things” I mimicked his tone to which he just shrugged his shoulders, ignoring my words.
Before I could continue, Ragini Ma’am checked her list again before announcing, “In Physics… umm… Yash Sharma got the highest marks!”
Yash, who had just taken a sip of water, immediately spit it out.
“Hainnn? How is that even possible?” he gasped, looking like he had just been struck by lightning.
Ma’am smiled, “I am impressed, Yash. You’ve improved a lot since the last exam. Good job.”
Siddharth patted his back, “Today’s samosa treat is on you.”
I nodded and continued my demands, “I want pav bhaji.”
Ruh smiled warmly at Yash, “Congratulations! You worked hard for this.”
But Yash was still frozen in shock. His soul had clearly left his body.
Just then, Vani let out a dramatic yell, “NO WAY!”
Sid flinched at her tone.
Gosh! This girl surely has loud speaker in her throat. Alwyas shouting. My poor best friend got scared.
“What happened?! How much did you get?”, Sid asked in his calm tone.
She just stared at her answer sheet in disbelief.
For five whole minutes, this girl just stared at her answer sheet, unmoving.
I sighed, rolling my eyes, “Waise toh kaichi tarah zubaan chalti hai. Ab bolo bhi, itna suspense kyun rakha hai?”
(You usually talk nonstop. Now say something, why are you keeping so much suspense?)
She finally turned to glare at me, “Zyada chapad chapad kari na, toh yahi is window se utha kar phek dungi. Dimag mat kharab karo!”
(Keep talking, and I’ll throw you out this window. Don’t mess with me!)
I choked on my own breath. Meanwhile, Yash and Tanya burst into laughter.
I leaned closer to Ruh and complained, “Ruh look at your best friend, “
Ruh shook her head, amused, “Why are you annoying her, then?”
I huffed, “She started it.”
Ruh narrowed her eyes at me, “Are you a kid, Vihaan? Stop sulking.”
I sulked and mimicked Vani’s words to which Ruh laughed.
Meanwhile, Vani was still dramatically staring at her answer sheet.
Tanya whined, unable to hold in her curiosity, “Behen, ab bol bhi de! Mere pet mein gud gud ho rahi hai itne suspense ki wajah se.”
(Come on, just tell us! The suspense is killing me!)
Yash nodded, “Same. Same.”
Finally, Vani took a deep breath. “I… got…..I scored…62 marks!” she yelled, her face glowing with excitement.
We all stared at her.
“This is the first time I’ve ever scored this much in Math! Can you believe it?! For someone who always failed in Math, this is a GOLDEN achievement! I will definitely frame this answer sheet!” she gushed.
Sid, who had been watching her with a soft smile, cleared his throat and composed himself, “See? I told you that you could do it.”
Vani nodded, still staring at her marks, lost in her own dreamy world.
I, on the other hand, was watching Sid, who had the goofiest smile on his face, like he had just won a jackpot. I shook my head. My stupid best friend is gone.
After two lectures, it was finally time for our first practical exam.
We sat in the canteen. Yash, still sulking as he had to treated us to snacks.
“You are sulking like we have robbed your entire property,” Sid muttered, shoving a samosa in his mouth, clearly enjoying.
“Consider it a donation that I have given to both of you clown, the treat is only for Ruhii, Tanya and Vani for her golden achievement,” Yash teased us, taking a sip of her juice.
“Dikha di apni dosti,” I muttered to which he tightly smiled rolling his eyes and well Sid, he is busy in his samosa.
Meanwhile, my attention drifted to Ruh. She was unusually quiet, staring at her plate, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against the table.
“What happened, Ruh?” I asked her in a calm tone.
“I’m nervous,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
I frowned. This girl never ate properly when she was anxious.
“Why?” I asked, tilting my head.
She sighed, playing with her food, “What if the teacher asks something and I can’t answer?”
I frowned at her, though my tone was gentle, “And how do you know you won’t be able to answer? You studied hard, Ruh. You’ll be fine. Don’t stress yourself out.”
But she wasn’t convinced. Instead, her fingers tightened around the napkin, her leg bouncing faster under the table.
I sighed, reaching under the table and taking her hand in mine.
Her skin was cold. Too cold.
I started rubbing slow, steady circles over the back of her hand with my thumb, hoping to ease some of the tension.
But it wasn’t enough. She pulled her hand away after a few seconds, and I noticed her hand rubbing over her thighs-a habit I’d seen before when she was anxious.
Without thinking, I placed my hand over hers, stilling her movements, as my fingers slightly brushed her thigh.
She froze. Completely.
The spoon in her other hand halted mid-air, her breathing hitched, and for a moment, she just sat there, unmoving. As I held her hand under the table, so no one was there to notice us.
I didn’t pull away. Instead, I gently pressed my palm against hers, feeling the coldness of her skin beneath my touch. Her breath came out in uneven beats, but she didn’t protest.
I let my fingers spread slightly, allowing my touch to be firm yet comforting. Slowly, I started tracing light, soothing strokes over her knuckles, my thumb moving in small circles over the side of her hand.
She let out a slow exhale, her fingers twitching slightly before, hesitantly, she shifted her hand beneath mine, almost as if she was testing the warmth.
I felt her other hand, the one that had been frozen mid-air, lower as she set the spoon down.
Then, she turned her palm up and laced her fingers through mine, gripping softly to seek some silent comfort.
She wasn’t shaking anymore.
I smiled at the small victory.
After a few moments, when I felt her relax, I started to pull my hand away, thinking she was okay now.
But she didn’t let go.
Instead, she squeezed my fingers lightly, holding me there, as my backside of palm touched her thigh, my heart did something weird in my chest. I sucked a deep breath trying to compose my uneven heart beats.
“Don’t worry, Ruh,” I whispered, leaning in just enough so only she could hear.
“One chocolate is all it takes to relieve your stress.”
I slipped a chocolate bar into her free hand.
She blinked, looking down at it, then back at me.
“You always carry chocolates around?” she asked, her voice softer now, no longer trembling.
I smiled, “Of course. For situations like this….”
A small laugh escaped her lips, the last bit of tension melting from her shoulders.
She unwrapped the chocolate with one hand and took a slow bite, and as she did, her grip on my hand loosened, but still, she didn’t let go.
I didn’t either.
“Better?” I asked.
She hummed, nodding, “much better.”
β’β’β’β’β’
If there’s one award students truly deserve, it’s an Oscar for pretending to act like we are actually doing experiments.
Let’s be honest-most of us have no clue how to find the focal length. What even is this useless apparatus? I can’t see a thing!
In fact, it’s a universal truth: none of the physics lab equipment ever works.
Take my galvanometer, for example. There’s a warning written on it by some student-“Apparatus does not work. Please be careful, or you may get electric shock.”
Wow. Should I laugh or start writing my will? Wait. I don’t even have property under my name. Nevermind. It’s another topic.
Anyway, I did what any smart student would do-pretended to do the experiment, copied whatever numbers I had learned.
Practical exam? Done and dusted.
Of course, the only sincere person in the room is my Ruh. She’s actually doing the experiment, finding real readings like a responsible human being.
Just then, Vani, turned to me with her most innocent face, “Vihaan, can you please…?”
I smirked, “And what do I get in return?”
She dramatically muttered, “tumhe already puri ki puri meri bestfriend mil gayi aur kya chahiye”
(You already got my entire best friend! What more do you want?)
I rolled my eyes but wrote down her values anyway.
As I handed her the sheet, she whispered dramatically,
“Thank you, thank you! Tumne is naadan bacchi ki madad kri bas aise hi top krte rehna. May Ruhii shower you with lots of kisses!”
Excuse me, what?!
Did she just say kisses? From Ruh?
Brain? Error 404.
Heartbeat? Over-speeding.
I swear, just the thought of her soft lips on my cheek-Okay, Vihaan, Stop. You are in a freaking practical exam! Focus!
But I lowered my head as I could feel myself getting flustered just by the thought of it.
I turned to Vani and said, “Pass me your answer sheet. I’ll write your observation and calculation parts also……Just make more wishes like this in the future.”
She frowned, “What?”
“Just do it,” I lowered my head, still slightly flustered.
She happily handed over her sheet while muttering, “Aww, you’re so sweet! But not sweeter than my Siddharth.”
And just like that, she completely forgot she still had to revise for her viva as she started admiring Sid.
β’β’β’β’β’
After our exams, we gathered in the last corner of the room for our viva.
Tanya whispered, “The external examiner looks strict. He’s giving major Hitler vibes.”
Sid nodded, “Now even I’m feeling nervous.”
Tanya turned to Yash, who was peacefully dozing off, “How are you this relaxed?!”
Yash yawned, “Why will I take tension when my roll number is last. By then, the examiner will be tired and will ask easy questions. The first few roll numbers are the real victims.”
He took a sip of water, looking all smug.
And then…..
“Class, the viva will be conducted from the last roll number,” Ragini Ma’am announced.
Yash immediately choked on his water, “WHAT THE-“
We all turned to glare at him.
I kicked his foot and muttered, “No cursing in front of Ruh. She doesn’t like it.”
Yash shot me a death glare before quickly turning to Ma’am, “Ma’am, I’m feeling nauseous. Can I give my viva later?”
She raised an eyebrow, “In that case, I suggest you finish your viva first and then go home to rest.”
Sid and I burst out laughing.
Yash groaned as he walked toward the Viva room, mumbling curses under his breath.
When he returned, I smirked, “How was it?”
Yash slumped into his seat. “Disaster. Woh external examiner ne har ek second par meri beizzati kri hai.”
Sid and I laughed hearing his conversation with an external examiner.
Meanwhile, Ruh still looked a little nervous, but I knew she’d do just fine. I just had to keep her distracted from overthinking.
After giving my viva, I walked up to her and wished her all the best
I waited for her outside the classroom and guess what? She did it perfectly.
And just like that, another practical exam day came to an end.
β’β’β’β’β’
The final practical exam of chemistry was finally over. And with that, so was an entire chapter of our school life-just our final exams our left.
After the exam, we gathered in the school ground, still dressed in our lab coats, ready to celebrate Scribble Day.
“I can’t believe this is our last day,” Yash sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Feels like just yesterday I was taking admission in nursery,” Sid added, making all of us pause.
The weight of the moment settled in. We were really going to miss this place.
As I stood there, lost in thought, I saw Ruh walking towards me, a small smile playing on her lips. She extended a marker toward me.
“Why don’t you be the first to write?” she offered.
“Are you sure?” I asked, as maybe she wants the first one to Vani and Tanya.
“Yepp they both send me here,” Ruh replied clearing my confusion.
I took the marker from her and uncapped it. My eyes drifted toward her collar as I started writing below her collar of Lab coat. If you ask me what I wrote, well…..it was about her eyes.
The ones I always get lost in.
The ones that hold a world I never want to escape from.
The ones that feel like home.
And how I fall in love with her.
And then, with a red marker, I wrote just two words-Meri Ruh.
She smiled, even though she couldn’t read what I had written. But I knew….she felt it.
“Now it’s your turn,” I told her.
She smirked and shook her head, “I’ll write mine at the end.”
“Why?” I frowned.
“Because I want to,” she said, giving me that teasing look before signaling me to go back to my friends.
I sighed, knowing there was no point arguing with her.
“Jaise aapka hukum, meri Ruh,” I said dramatically, even giving her a little bow.
She giggled, shaking her head.
The school ground was buzzing with laughter, scribbles, and endless pictures. Memories were being captured, not just on lab coats, but in our hearts.
As the day neared its end, I started looking for Ruh. But strangely, she was nowhere in sight.
“Vihaan, Ruhanika is calling you to the school backyard,” Sid teased me.
“Shut up,” I muttered, smacking his head, only for him to immediately hit my arm in retaliation.
Ignoring him, I made my way to the backyard. But… she wasn’t there.
Instead, the storeroom door was slightly open.
Was she inside?
I peeked in cautiously before stepping inside. The dim light cast long shadows, the faint golden glow of the evening sun slipping through the dusty window.
And then-I was pushed against the wall.
“What the F-” I started, but a soft hand immediately covered my mouth.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to curse?” Ruh’s voice came, barely above a whisper.
I sighed, instantly relaxing.
My hands instinctively found her waist, pulling her closer.
She gasped at the sudden movement but quickly composed herself.
“You scared the hell out of me,” I muttered.
“Now you know how I feel when you randomly appear out of nowhere and say the most unexpected things,” she huffed, rolling her eyes.
My gaze flickered to the sleeve of her lab coat, and I noticed a message written there.
“Who wrote this?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
She looked at me, confused.
I read it out loud:- ‘Best of luck, senior! I have always had a crush on you, and you’ll always be my first crush. – Your junior, Advay.’
Ruh burst into laughter.
I scowled.
This guy has the audacity to write. Now it’s going to have serious talk with him.
“I’m sure his crush will fade soon,” she teased. “He’s sweet, cracks jokes, and honestly-“
Before she could continue, I pulled her even closer.
“Your boyfriend is right in front of you, and you’re talking about another guy? That’s not fair Ruh,” I muttered, my voice low.
She blinked before rolling her eyes again, “What can I do when my boyfriend gets jealous of a second-grade kid?”
I coughed, “That kid is a little demon. You have no idea what tricks he pulls just to get close to you.”
She hit my arm playfully before stepping back.
Before she could continue, I lifted her chin, my fingers grazing her skin in a slow, deliberate touch. My gaze, dark yet amused, locked onto hers as I leaned in, my lips hovering just above hers. Gently, I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, my voice dropping to a whisper, laced with playful jealousy.
“Looks like I need to occupy you by my thoughts only, so you don’t have time to think about anyone else.”
Her breath hitched, her eyes flickering between mine and my lips. For a moment, she seemed caught between a flustered reply and simply giving in to the tension between us.
Then, a teasing smile curled on her lips as she smirked, “I would love to be occupied by you.”
And that’s how she made me shut up. I got flustered by her reply.
“Now don’t distract me, let me do my work,” she said, turning to her bag.
I frowned, watching. Then, slowly, she turned back.
There was something different about her expression. A teasing glint in her eyes.
And then, she took out a lipstick and applied it. It has a very light shade of red.
I blinked, confused. Lipstick? Wait, why-
Before I could finish, she took a step forward, closing the distance between us in an instant.
My breath hitched as her fingers curled around the collar of my white lab coat, gripping it firmly. She tugged me down slightly, just enough to bring me closer to her height.
“Ruh-” I barely managed to whisper before she tilted her head slightly and leaned in.
She always makes me feel different.
The soft press of her lips against the fabric sent a jolt through my body. It was slow, deliberate-almost like she wanted me to feel every second of it. The warmth of her lips seeped through, leaving behind not just a kiss but a lingering sensation on my skin beneath the coat.
When she finally pulled away, my breath came out shaky. My gaze dropped to my collar.
A perfect lipstick mark. Bold. Vivid. A statement.
From where the hell did she get this idea? Definitely the Books, which she reads. Looks like i need to know what kind of books she reads to pull this stunt-hottest stunt.
She stepped back slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief as she examined her work.
“Ruh…” I whispered, barely able to process what just happened.
She tilted her head, and asked pointing towards her lips, “Hmm… the lipstick is still there?”
I nodded slowly, dazed, “A little bit…”
Before I could react, she leaned in again-this time, even closer. My breath caught in my throat as she pressed another kiss just a little lower on the collar, marking it perfectly once more. This time, she let her lips linger for a second longer, almost as if sealing her claim.
I feel like I might get faint at any time.
Just pray for me that i don’t get faint.
When she pulled back, she smiled in satisfaction, tilting her head to admire the marks.
“Perfect,” she murmured, her voice soft yet laced with amusement.
I exhaled a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, my mind struggling to catch up.
Then, she took the marker and began writing on my lab coat.
As she wrote, she softly murmured the words under her breath:
“You are the most precious page of my story, the one I hold onto without ever turning away. No matter how much time passes, I will always cherish you, rereading you endlessly, never wanting to move forward without you. And together, we will write the next page, hand in hand, forever.”
I felt my heart stutter.
I swear she makes fall for her more day by day.
And then, below her message, she wrote just two words-Aapki Ruh.
That was it. I was gone.
She tiptoed, leaving a soft kiss on my cheek before giggling at my expression.
“Vihaan?” she called, snapping her fingers in front of my face.
I shook myself out of my trance.
“Where did you get lost?” she asked, amused.
“Always in you,” I answered without thinking.
She rolled her eyes, but I saw the blush dusting her cheeks.
“You could have done that before,” I smirked, catching my reflection in the window, where the lipstick mark was still visible.
“As if I want you walking around the whole school showing this off,” she scoffed.
I leaned in mischievously, “I wouldn’t mind.”
“Besharam,” she muttered, her blush deepening.
“Only for you,” I grinned.
“Now take off your lab coat and put it in your bag. I don’t want anyone else to see this,” she ordered, crossing her arms.
“As you wish,” I said, finally obeying.
As we walked back to the school ground, before anyone could notice us, a small figure crashed into me.
Chutku. Again.
“Sorry, bhaiya!” he chirped, flashing his one…no..no two toothless grin.
Ruh immediately bent down to his level, “Are you okay, Raj?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“But why are you still here, the second grade kids school got over right?” I asked.
“There’s traffic, so our buses are a bit late,” he explained.
Just then, Tanya and Vani rushed toward us.
“What were you playing?” Ruh asked him.
“Baraf Pani!” he replied excitedly, his grin wide.
“This game… the last time we played, we were in 5th grade…” Sid murmured, closing his eyes as if he could still see our younger selves running across the playground, breathless with laughter.
“Aap log bhi kheliye na, bahut maza aayega!” Chutku grinned, bouncing on his feet.
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
“Should we?” Ruh asked, turning to me.
I nodded.
“I wouldn’t mind reliving our childhood school memories on our last day,” Yash added, stretching his arms as if preparing for the chaos to come.
And just like that, we threw away the weight of exams, future plans, and the bittersweet feeling of parting ways. For a while, we weren’t seniors saying goodbye-we were just kids again. We played Baraf Pani, Hide and Seek, Lock and Key, and every game that had once made our school years unforgettable.
At some point, we dragged Ragini Ma’am and even my mom into the fun, laughing as they protested but secretly enjoyed it just as much as we did.
As I ran, dodging Siddharth’s attempt to freeze me in Baraf Pani, I glanced around. Ruh was breathless from running, Tanya was arguing with Yash over whether he cheated.
And in that moment, it hit me-this was the last time we’d play like this, in these uniforms, on this playground that had been ours for so many years.
I didn’t want the game to end. I didn’t want this day to end.
But for now, I let myself live in it, in the laughter, in the chaos, in the fleeting magic of this one last time.
————————————
Finally Chapter 52….!!!
So how was the chapter…???
Your favourite scene?
Mine was definitely the scribble day- with Lipstick markπ«
And the last part was so wholesome where they played baraf Pani, hide and seek…etc…At this moment I do want to play hide and seek, Baraf Pani…..the sweetest memoryπ
Now your job is to do a lot of Vote and do comment….a lot of commentsπ (but no spam comments π€§)
And if you want, then do share your beautiful memory of your school β¨
Enjoy Reading β₯οΈ
Stay Tuned for further updates….!!!
Bye Cutiepies….!!!π
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