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Happy valentine’s day lovelies so here is a small valentine’s gift from my side to you all hope you all will like it and if you do than show love to the chapter💝
*****
POV AUTHOR
It had been a month since Tarun’s birthday, yet the memories of cake fights, mock arguments, and Tara’s surprise performance still lingered in the air. Today, however, the focus was entirely on the annual gathering preparations.
The school was alive with activity, and Class 11 was no exception. In the dance room, the students were busy perfecting their routine under the stern watch of Ms. Sanvi.
At least, they had been supervised until Ms. Sanvi got an urgent call and hurried out of the room. Before leaving, she peeked back through the door, squinting at the students.
“Main kuch senior students ko bhej rahi hoon tumhe supervise karne ke liye. Room ki band bajaane ki zarurat nahi hai… aur ek doosre ki bhi nahi.” (I’m sending some senior students to supervise you. No need to destroy the room…or each other.)
The students exchanged amused glances as the door closed behind her. Moments later, it swung open again, and in walked Tarun, Rajveer, Manav, Rohan, and Sakshi, one of their friend.
Tarun strolled in with his usual swagger, hands stuffed in his pockets, while Rajveer made an exaggerated show of inspecting the room like a drill sergeant.
“Alright, bachcho, kya ho raha hai yahan?” (Alright, children, what’s going on here?)
Tiya rolled her eyes, muttering, “We’re not children.”
“Tum tab tak bachche ho jab tak main kehta hoon,” (You’re children until I say otherwise,) Rajveer shot back, grinning.
Meanwhile, Manav was far too distracted to join in Rajveer’s antics. His eyes kept drifting toward Tiya, who was standing near the speaker, adjusting the playlist. Every time she moved, he nervously ran a hand through his hair or cleared his throat in a poor attempt to seem casual.
Ishita, who had been observing the scene with amusement, leaned toward Tiya. “Lagta hai Manav bhai ka chhota sa crush hai. Chedein kya?” (Looks like Manav bhai has a little crush. Should we tease him?)
Tiya glared at her, though the faintest smile tugged at her lips. “Chup kar, Ishita!” (Shut up, Ishita!)
“Badi serious ho,” (You’re so serious,) Ishita teased, winking at Manav, who immediately looked away, his ears turning red.
Sakshi clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Chalo, team! Practice ko thoda interesting banate hain. Dikhao apne moves!” (Alright, team! Let’s make this practice more fun. Show us what you’ve got!)
******
While the others began warming up, Tarun gravitated toward the mirror, his arms crossed as he watched the dancers. His eyes landed on Tara, who was twirling effortlessly with her partner, Ayaan.
“Wah, kya chemistry hai,” (Wow, what chemistry,) Rajveer muttered, nudging Tarun with a mischievous grin.
“Kya bakwas kar raha hai?” (What nonsense are you talking?) Tarun snapped, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Bas keh raha hoon, Ayaan kaafi talented lag raha hai,” (I’m just saying, Ayaan seems quite talented,) Rajveer teased. “Aur thoda charming bhi… kisi ki yaad aa gayi?” (And a little charming too… reminds me of someone?)
“I’m smoother,” Tarun replied curtly, his jaw tightening as his gaze remained fixed on Ayaan like a hawk locking onto its prey.
Across the room, Tara laughed at something Ayaan whispered, her face lighting up with an unguarded smile. The laughter hit Tarun like a thunderclap, sending his irritation through the roof. Ayaan, emboldened by Tara’s reaction, twirled her again, this time adding a dramatic dip with a theatrical flourish.
“Bas, ho gaya,” (That’s enough,) Tarun muttered, pushing off the wall and striding toward them like a man on a mission.
“Hey!” he called out, halting mid-step and crossing his arms. “Yeh kya ho raha hai?” (What’s going on here?)
Tara stopped, blinking at him in confusion. “Uh, dance practice?”
“With him?” Tarun’s tone was sharp, his eyes narrowing as he shot a pointed glance at Ayaan.
“Yes, with him,” Tara replied, her eyebrow arching in challenge. “Why?”
“No reason,” Tarun said, his voice clipped. “Bas lagta hai tumhe ek better partner ki zarurat hai. Someone experienced. Someone who won’t-” (Just think you need a better partner. Someone experienced. Someone who won’t-) He glanced at Ayaan with mock concern, making the poor boy fidget nervously. “-drop you.”
Ayaan cleared his throat awkwardly, raising his hands in defense. “Main drop nahi kar raha tha… woh toh ek move tha…” (I wasn’t dropping her… that was just a move…)
“Move?” Tarun repeated, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Tujhe lagta hai woh move tha? Main tujhe move karke dikhaun?” (You think that was a move? Should I show you how to move properly?)
“Tarun!” Tara cut in, exasperated, placing her hands on her hips. “What’s your problem?”
“No problem,” Tarun replied with a strained smile, though the tension in his stance was obvious. “Just thought I’d show him how it’s done.”
Before Tara could argue, Tarun stepped forward, grabbing her hand smoothly. With a swift pull, he spun her into a graceful twirl. “Dekha?” (See?) he said smugly, dipping her effortlessly and holding her steady as if to prove a point.
Tara leaned in slightly, her voice low enough for only him to hear. “Jealous ho?” (Are you jealous?)
“Main aur jealous? Kabhi nahi,” (Me? Jealous? Never,) Tarun replied with mock indignation, though the possessive grip on her waist and the defiant look in his eyes betrayed him.
On the sidelines, Ayaan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Bhai, mujhe yahan kyun bulaya gaya tha?” (Man, why was I even called here?)
Rajveer, overhearing, patted him on the shoulder sympathetically. “Ab samajh gaya hoga tu, ladki ka boyfriend kaun hai.” (Now you must’ve understood who the boyfriend of the girl is.)
*****
While the drama between Tarun, Tara, and Ayaan unfolded, Manav hovered awkwardly near Tiya, who was busy adjusting the playlist.
“Need help?” he asked, attempting to sound casual as he leaned a little closer.
Tiya glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “Uh, no, I’m good. But thanks.”
Manav nodded, straightening awkwardly as he ran a hand through his hair. “Cool, cool. Bas socha puchh loon.” (Just thought I’d ask.)
Before Tiya could respond, Ishita’s teasing voice rang out from behind them. “Manav bhai! Yahan khade rehne se playlist theek nahi hogi. Kuch kaam bhi kar lo.” (Manav, just standing there won’t fix the playlist. Do some work too.)
Manav glared at her, his ears turning slightly red. “Mujhe kaam pata hai!” (I know what to do!)
Tiya bit back a laugh at the sight of his flustered face. “Relax, Manav. She’s just pulling your leg.”
“Tum dono chup reh sakte ho?” (Can you both just stay quiet?) Manav muttered, shooting Ishita a mock glare.
Meanwhile, Rajveer, the self-proclaimed entertainer of the group, clapped his hands and decided to spice things up. He climbed onto the stage dramatically and raised his hand as if commanding attention.
“Sunno sab! Practice toh theek chal rahi hai,” (Listen up, everyone! Practice is going fine,) he announced, his voice booming. “Par ek twist hona chahiye! Sabko ek minute milega. Show us your moves, and hum decide karenge kaun hai Spotlight Performer!” (But there should be a twist! Everyone gets one minute to show their moves, and we’ll decide who the Spotlight Performer is!)
The room immediately buzzed with excitement as pairs volunteered eagerly, while a few groaned in mock protest.
*****
First Pair: Shivi and Rohan
Shivi and Rohan were the first to step forward, confident and ready. As the music began, they launched into a synchronized hip-hop routine, complete with exaggerated expressions that had the audience in splits.
Halfway through, Shivi spun and delivered a dramatic hair flip straight into Rohan’s face.
“Yaar, yeh toh cheating hai!” (Hey, this is cheating!) Rohan sputtered, trying to dodge her hair and still keep up. “Main kya karun agar tumhe L’Oréal ka ad karna hai?” (What can I do if you want to audition for a L’Oréal ad?)
Shivi smirked, effortlessly hitting her next move. “Stop whining and dance!” she commanded, spinning into a perfect freeze.
As they finished, Rajveer dramatically wiped an imaginary tear. “Emotional damage, Rohan. Full marks for Shivi!”
Rohan threw his hands up in mock frustration, while the room burst into laughter and applause.
—
Next Pair: Bhoomi and Shivam
Bhoomi and Shivam, two of Tara’s classmates, confidently strutted to the center like seasoned performers.
As the peppy Bollywood track began, they launched into a perfectly synchronized routine. Their movements were sharp yet graceful, with each step flowing seamlessly into the next.
Midway through, they added an unexpected comic twist. Pretending to trip over each other, they recovered with exaggerated expressions of mock horror that sent the audience into fits of laughter.
The applause was thunderous as they finished with a coordinated hand wave and wink.
“Bhai, kya entry thi!” (What an entry!) Rohan exclaimed, clapping loudly.
Rajveer nodded approvingly, raising an imaginary scorecard. “Strong start. Bahut badiya! 10/10 for humor and style!” (Very good!)
*****
After Bhoomi and Shivam, it was Tara and Ayaan’s turn. Ayaan looked visibly nervous as they stepped forward.
“Tara, sure about this?” he whispered, glancing at the expectant faces around the room. “Yeh sab log toh badi expectations leke baithi hain.” (These people are sitting here with high expectations.)
Tara gave him a reassuring smile. “Relax. Just follow my lead. We’ve got this.”
The music began-a slow, romantic tune that gradually built into a fast-paced rhythm. To everyone’s surprise, Ayaan matched Tara’s energy effortlessly. His moves weren’t just decent; they were smooth, confident, and perfectly in sync with Tara’s.
Tara, too, was at her best, flowing through the steps with elegance and ease. Together, they executed intricate twirls, dips, and dramatic poses that left the room in stunned silence.
When the final note played and they struck their ending pose, there was a moment of complete stillness. Then, the room erupted into applause and cheers.
Even Rajveer jumped to his feet, clapping loudly. “Yeh toh unexpected tha!” (This was unexpected!) he exclaimed. “Tara aur Ayaan ne literally sabki bolti band kar di!” (Tara and Ayaan literally left everyone speechless!)
In a corner, Tarun stood with his arms crossed, his face darkened by a scowl. “Hmm… theek tha,” (It was okay,) he muttered under his breath. But the way his fists clenched and his jaw tightened betrayed his true feelings.
—
The Final Pair: Mahi and Aditya
Next up were Mahi and Aditya, though it was less of a voluntary appearance. Mahi practically dragged a reluctant Aditya to the center of the room.
“Ready, Aditya?” Mahi asked, smirking at her visibly panicked partner.
Aditya gulped nervously. “Main ready nahi tha jab tumne mujhe pair banaya. Abhi toh bilkul nahi hoon!” (I wasn’t ready when you made me your partner. I’m definitely not ready now!)
The music began, a high-energy Bollywood track, and Mahi launched into a full-on, enthusiastic routine. She spun, jumped, and added dramatic expressions, expecting Aditya to follow her lead.
Instead, Aditya flailed his arms wildly, his movements resembling something between a windmill and a person trying to escape invisible bees.
The room exploded with laughter as Aditya stumbled over his own feet, almost crashing into Mahi at one point.
“Aditya!” Mahi exclaimed, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation. “Tum hopeless ho! Agar yeh comedy competition hota, tum first aate!” (You’re hopeless! If this were a comedy competition, you’d have won first place!)
Aditya grinned sheepishly, scratching his head. “At least log enjoy kar rahe hain.” (At least people are enjoying themselves.)
By the time their “routine” ended, everyone was doubled over, clutching their sides from laughing too hard.
Even Rajveer wiped tears from his eyes. “Aditya, tum dance mat karo… lekin comedy mein ek bright future hai.” (Aditya, don’t dance… but you have a bright future in comedy.)
The practice concluded with everyone clapping, laughing, and teasing each other, the room buzzing with energy for the upcoming event.
*******
Rahul, standing on the sidelines, had been watching the entire scene unfold with an unreadable expression. However, the moment Mahi burst into laughter at one of Aditya’s ridiculous moves, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
Rohan, noticing his sour mood, nudged him lightly on the shoulder. “Kya hua, bro? Lagta hai Aditya se kuch zyada hi problem hai tumhe.” (What’s wrong, bro? Seems like you’ve got some serious issues with Aditya.)
Rahul’s jaw tightened. “Koi problem nahi hai.” (There’s no problem.)
Rohan smirked. “Arey, sach bol. Tumhe pasand nahi aa raha na, Mahi kisi aur ke saath has-muskura rahi hai?” (Come on, admit it. You don’t like Mahi laughing and joking with someone else, do you?)
Rahul rolled his eyes, refusing to answer, but his glare hardened as Aditya stumbled through another step, earning more laughter from Mahi. Her carefree laugh, coupled with the casual closeness between her and Aditya, was grating on him.
Finally, unable to watch anymore, Rahul strode forward and clapped his hands sharply.
“Bas, practice band karo!” (Enough! Stop the practice!)
The room froze, and all heads turned toward him.
Mahi raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Rahul, what’s your problem?”
“No problem,” Rahul replied, though his tone was strained. “But agar tumhe seriously dance karna hai, toh kisi proper dancer ke saath karo.” (If you want to take this dance seriously, pair up with someone who actually knows how to dance.)
Aditya frowned, clearly offended. “Bhai, main toh try kar raha hoon!” (Bro, at least I’m trying!)
“Well, don’t,” Rahul snapped, his voice sharp. “This isn’t a joke.”
Mahi stepped closer, her eyes blazing. “And who exactly is my ‘proper’ partner? You?”
The room went completely silent, every pair of eyes now on Rahul. His confident facade faltered for the briefest moment, and he hesitated. “Main toh bas… main yeh keh raha tha ki-” (I’m just… I’m saying that-)
“You know what, Rahul?” Mahi cut him off, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Since you’re so concerned about my dancing, why don’t you show us how it’s done?”
Rahul’s bravado faltered further. “Main… main kaise karoon? It’s your class dance!” (How can I? It’s your class dance!)
Mahi smirked, her voice full of mockery. “Exactly. So let me handle it. Thanks for your concern, though.” She turned back to Aditya, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Chal, Aditya, let’s make this even funnier. Looks like we’ve got a fan.” (Come on, Aditya, let’s make this even funnier.)
Aditya nodded enthusiastically. “Mujhe ab aur practice nahi karni. Rahul bhai ka gussa dekhke mera stamina khatam ho gaya.” (I don’t think I can practice anymore. Rahul’s anger drained all my energy.)
Rahul clenched his fists, muttering under his breath as Rohan gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. “Better luck next time, dude.”
*****
Just as the laughter began to die down and the chaotic energy in the room started to settle, the door creaked open. A peon entered hesitantly, looking around.
“Tara?” he called out, his voice cutting through the chatter.
Tara, who had been chatting casually with Ishita, turned to him in confusion. “Yes? Mujhse kaam hai?” (Yes? Do you need something from me?)
The peon cleared his throat. “Principal sir ne bulaya hai,” (The principal has called you,) he said. “Woh keh rahe hain, koi aapse milne aaya hai.” (She said someone’s here to meet you.)
The room went silent. Everyone exchanged curious glances, their expressions reflecting the same unspoken question: Who could it be?
“Koi milne aaya hai?” (Someone’s here to meet me?) Tara repeated, frowning. “Kaun?” (Who?)
The peon shrugged, looking indifferent. “Mujhe nahi pata. Bas principal sir ka message dena tha.” (I don’t know. I was just asked to give you the message.)
Tarun, who had been leaning casually against the wall, immediately straightened. His expression turned serious. “Main bhi chal raha hoon.” (I’m coming too.)
Tara raised an eyebrow at him. “Tum kyu?” (Why?)
“Bas… precaution ke liye.” (Just… as a precaution.) Tarun’s tone was firm, but Tara could sense the hidden protectiveness behind his words.
“No, you stay here,” Tara replied, her voice calm but resolute. “Main dekh leti hoon.” (I’ll go and check.)
Tarun hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. He finally gave a reluctant nod, though his eyes didn’t hide his unease. “Theek hai, lekin jaldi wapas aana.” (Fine, but come back quickly.)
Tara nodded and walked out of the room, leaving behind a buzz of whispers and speculation.
The moment the door closed, the tension in the room exploded.
“Koi idea hai yeh kaun ho sakta hai?” Ishita asked, leaning toward Tiya. (Any idea who this could be?)
“Maybe a family member?” Tiya guessed.
“Principal sir kabse family members ke liye message dene lagi?” Rohan interjected, shaking his head. “This feels… odd.”
Tarun, who had been pacing restlessly near the door, suddenly stopped and turned to Rajveer. “Mujhe lagta hai hume check karna chahiye.” (I think we should check.)
Rajveer placed a hand on Tarun’s shoulder. “Relax, bro. Tara sambhal legi. Let’s not make it a big deal.” (Relax, bro. Tara will handle it.)
But Tarun wasn’t convinced. His mind churned with possibilities-none of them good.
Outside, the hallway was eerily quiet as Tara made her way toward the principal’s office. Her footsteps echoed against the walls, heightening her sense of unease.
As she approached the office, she noticed a figure waiting near the door-a man she didn’t recognize. He was tall, dressed in a formal suit, and held a briefcase. The moment he saw her, his face broke into a polite smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Miss Tara, right?” he asked, his voice smooth but unfamiliar.
Tara stopped a few feet away, her heart beating just a little faster. “Yes… and you are?”
The man didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced toward the principal’s office door, as if expecting someone to join them.
“You’ll find out soon,” he said cryptically.
******
Who will be the person?
Only few chapters left for the first part to end.
Hey, lovelies! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don’t forget to hit that vote button and leave your thoughts in the comments. Till then byy see you soon ❤️
Thank you for your love and support!
Love from,
Miss Sharma ❤️
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