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तुमको पाया है तो जैसे खोया हूँ
कहना चाहूँ भी तो तुमसे क्या कहूँ?
तुमको पाया है तो जैसे खोया हूँ
कहना चाहूँ भी तो तुमसे क्या कहूँ?
किसी ज़बाँ में भी वो लफ्ज़ ही नहीं
कि जिनमें तुम हो क्या, तुम्हें बता सकूँ
मैं अगर कहूँ, “तुम सा हसीं
कायनात में नहीं है कहीं”
तारीफ़ ये भी तो सच है कुछ भी नहीं
तुमको पाया है तो जैसे खोया हूँ|💖
——————————————————–
Meanwhile at School…
The classroom buzzed with murmurs and the occasional scrape of chairs, but Prateek was oblivious to it all. His brows furrowed in concentration as he scribbled numbers and equations in his notebook, deeply engrossed in solving the tricky numerical in front of him.
Ruhaan, on the other hand, was the complete opposite-leaning back in his chair, tapping his pen against the desk, and clearly uninterested in anything remotely academic.
For a while, he simply stared at Prateek, watching the guy’s intense focus before a smirk stretched across his face.
“Tujhe kya lagta hai?” Ruhaan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence between them.
Prateek, still lost in his numbers, hummed absentmindedly. “Huh?”
Ruhaan leaned in, his voice dropping mischievously. “Priya tujhe like karti hai?”
That got Prateek’s attention. His pen halted mid-air, and he blinked at Ruhaan. “Kya bakwaas kar raha hai tu?” he muttered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
Ruhaan snickered. “Nahi… Mujhe nahi lagta that she likes you…” He paused dramatically, watching Prateek’s face carefully before delivering the final blow.
“She loves you”
Prateek stiffened. His grip on the pen tightened as the words registered. Within seconds, a deep red hue spread across his ears and neck, his brain scrambling for a response.
“Kuch bhi bakwas mat kar Ruhaan, pata hai na Ansh ki behen hai vo? Usse pata lagega toh kya hoga?” He muttered, looking anywhere but at Ruhaan, who was now grinning like a devil who had just found his favorite source of entertainment.
Ruhaan feigned innocence. “Haan agar sab bakwas hai, toh phir Ansh se ye chhupa kyun raha tha?”
Prateek frowned as Ruhaan pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, waving it in front of him. His heart skipped a beat.
His stomach twisted in realization-it was the paper.
The same one over which he and Ansh had ended up in a full-blown scuffle at Ansh’s house yesterday. The same one that, in the midst of their chaotic tug-of-war, had led to them stumbling and-he internally cringed-falling into a position way too close for comfort.
Prateek swallowed hard. “Ruhaan… ye kahaan se mila tujhe?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
Ruhaan smirked. “Kal tere jaane ke baad Ansh ke room mein gaya tha main… wahin mila.”
Prateek snatched the paper from Ruhaan’s hand and unfolded it, his eyes scanning the words. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. “Par Tu kaise itna sure hai ki ye Priya ne hi likha hai?”
Ruhaan rolled his eyes. “Haan nahi toh kya principal likh ke dega tujhe?”
Prateek shook his head, his brain still refusing to accept it. “Par main kaise yakin maan loon? Koi aur bhi to likh sakta hai na?”
Ruhaan groaned dramatically. “tu serious hai?” He snatched the paper back and held it up. “Main bachpan se janta hoon Priya ko, uski handwriting achhe se pehchanta hoon. Ye ussi ki hai.”
Prateek still looked unsure, so Ruhaan decided to hit him with facts. “Aur nahi toh kya! Yaad hai jab tu uske ghar gaya tha mere saath aur Ansh ghar pe nahi tha? Hum hall mein baithe the, tab Priya tujhe kaise dekh rahi thi? Tune bhi toh notice kiya tha!”
Prateek blinked. “Haan…?”
Ruhaan smirked. “Us din maine use apne room mein chillate hue suna tha-‘Kaash yeh roz-roz ghar pe aa jaye!’ ” Ruhaan mimicked Priya’s voice dramatically. “Aur tu keh raha hai ye Priya ne nahi likha?”
Prateek looked horrified. “Tu kuch zyada hi over-exaggerate kar raha hai Ruhaan.”
Ruhaan gasped, clutching his chest. “Abe tu ab bhi nahi maan raha? Theek hai, ek aur sun.” He leaned in closer. “Tujhe yaad hai jab Priya ko ek baar fever tha aur tu use dekhne gaya tha?”
Prateek nodded. “Haan toh?”
Ruhaan snorted. ” fever tha usko uss time pe, aur jab tune uska fever check karne ke liye sir pe haath rakha tha, toh blush kitna kar rahi thi vo”
Prateek turned a deeper shade of red. “Vo blush nahi kar rahi thi! fever ki wajah se hua hoga vo”
Ruhaan scoffed. “aisa hai…fever main chehra laal nhi hota gawaar”
Prateek groaned, covering his face. “Yaar Ruhaan, tu mujhe pagal kar dega!”
Ruhaan leaned back in satisfaction, twirling the paper in his fingers. “Bhai, ab toh maan le. Priya sirf like nahi karti… usko tujhse pyaar hai.”
Prateek, absolutely flustered beyond belief, grabbed the paper back and stuffed it in his bag, avoiding Ruhaan’s teasing gaze. “Tu chup kar… aur ye sab mat bol.”
Ruhaan smirked, enjoying the chaos he had just unleashed. “Achha theek hai chal par ik cheez bata.”
Prateek narrowed his eyes. “Kya?”
Ruhaan leaned in with a devilish grin. “Priya ka letter dekh ke tera yeh haal hai… toh soch agar vo khud tujhe apni feelings bol de toh?”
Prateek’s face somehow managed to turn an even deeper shade of red. Just as Ruhaan was savoring Prateek’s misery, a familiar voice interrupted them.
“Kya ho raha hai?”
Prateek froze mid-breath. Ruhaan’s smirk widened.
Casually walking into the classroom, with his usual calm and composed aura, was none other than Ansh.
His sharp gaze flickered between the two idiots in front of him, hands still tucked into his pockets, his expression unreadable. There was no anger, no irritation-just a silent demand for an answer.
Prateek shot Ruhaan a silent, desperate plea-DON’T. SAY. ANYTHING.
Ruhaan? Oh, Ruhaan was a menace.
Stretching lazily, he said, “Arey kuch nahi, bas Priya ki handwriting pe research chal rahi thi…” His voice dripped with amusement, watching Prateek’s soul leave his body.
Ansh’s gaze sharpened slightly. “Kya?” His voice was soft, yet terrifyingly demanding.
Prateek panicked. FULL PANIC MODE. And because his brain had officially shut down, he did the dumbest thing possible.
He SHOVED Ruhaan.
Ruhaan, completely caught off guard, flailed and crashed off the desk, landing on the floor with a loud BANG. The class erupted into absolute chaos.Even Ansh’s lips almost twitched into a smirk-almost.
But Ruhaan? DONE. “PRATEEEEEKKK!!”
“MUMMY! BACHAAO!!”Prateek? ALREADY RUNNING.
Ruhaan jumped up, furious, and sprinted after him, yelling out threats that would make even the bravest soldier tremble.
“Bach ke nahi jayega tu aaj!” Ruhaan roared.
“Bhai maaf kar de galti se dhakka lag gaya” Prateek panted, dodging students left and right like an action hero in a low-budget comedy film.
Ansh exhaled through his nose, adjusting his watch strap before calmly walking after them. No rush. No panic. Just quiet authority.
Ahead, near the watercooler, Priya, Aditi, Shagun, and Vivaan were casually chatting when-
“BACHAAO!! MERE PEECHHE RAAVAN PADA HAI!!”
Aditi turned, blinking in surprise, as Prateek skidded to a halt behind them, using them as a shield.
Shagun frowned. ” ye kya ho raha hai?”
Priya narrowed her eyes. “Ruhaan bhaiya itne gusse mein kyun dikh rahe hain?”
Before they could react, Ruhaan came charging toward them like a mad bull. “HATTO! AAJ isko nhi chodunga !”
Vivaan gasped dramatically. “Arey kya kiya bechare Prateek bhaiya ne?”
Aditi, crossing her arms, deadpanned at Prateek. “Phir se kisiki chhoti behen rula di kya?”
Ruhaan snorted mid-rage. “Nahi, iss baar apni khud ki shaanti uda di hai!”
Prateek, still hiding behind them, gaped at Aditi. “TUJHE TOH GHAR PE DEKH LOONGA! PEHLE YAHA SE BACHU ZARA!”
Aditi smirked. “Haan haan pehle apni izzat bacha le ja.”
Before Prateek could retaliate- Ansh finally arrived.
But unlike the others, he wasn’t running. He just walked in with an air of silent authority, his sharp eyes scanning the mess in front of him.
And then, in a low, firm voice- “Ruk jao.”
The entire corridor fell into silence. Ruhaan froze mid-lunge, Prateek froze mid-cowardice, and Vivaan-being Vivaan-froze mid-drama.
Even Priya, Shagun, and Aditi instinctively shut up. It wasn’t about the volume.Ansh didn’t need to raise his voice.
There was something in the way he spoke-low, commanding, laced with quiet authority. A tone that didn’t ask for attention. It took it.
While the others were still reacting to the sheer weight of his presence, Aditi found herself caught on something entirely different.
There was a calm sharpness in his tone, like the edge of a blade hidden beneath silk. Smooth. Measured. Controlled.
Just a sentence. Just a voice. But somehow, it felt like gravity had shifted around him.And then, just for a fraction of a second Ansh’s eyes flickered to her.
It was nothing. Barely a glance. But somehow, in that one silent moment, their eyes met-and held. Aditi blinked, unsure why her chest felt a little lighter, a little strange.
Was that a flutter? No, couldn’t be.
But for Ansh… It hit like a truck.
His breath caught. Just barely. Not enough for anyone to notice-except maybe Ruhaan, who was always too perceptive for his own good.
But inside? Inside, Ansh was falling apart.She looked at him. And that one look unraveled him. For a moment, the world dulled. Sounds faded. Everything shrank down to her gaze, his heartbeat, and the silence in between.
He could feel his heart pounding in places he didn’t know had pulses.
But she?She just looked at him-like she was seeing him for the very first time.And that wrecked him.His brain screamed at him to move, to speak, to breathe normally.Don’t let it show. Don’t let her know.
So, he did what he did best-he buried it.
Straightened his shoulders. Shifted his focus. Let none of it touch the surface. Not the pounding heart. Not the trembling breath. Not the fact that every cell in his body had just memorized the way she looked at him.
And in that low, unshakable voice that didn’t hint at a thing he felt, he finally said:
“Classroom main chalo dono ke dono. Abhi.” A command. Steady. Authoritative. Classic Ansh. But if anyone had been listening closely they would’ve heard the storm beneath the calm.
Prateek gulped. “Bhai… main toh bas…”
Ruhaan, having recovered from his dramatic rage, turned his narrowed eyes toward Ansh-
and then, with the smirk of someone who lived for chaos, leaned in and whispered just loud enough for Ansh to hear:
“Bhai, calm reh na. Aditi dekh rahi hai.”
Ansh internally screamed. Like, actual sirens-blaring, earth-shattering, ‘God why now?!’ kind of screaming.
For a horrifying second, his brain shut down. Completely.”Was she really watching? What was she thinking? Did she hear Ruhaan?? Was he standing weird?? Was his shirt creased?? WHY WAS BREATHING SUDDENLY A TASK?!”
But on the outside? Nothing. Not a twitch. Not a blink. Not a hint of the absolute meltdown going on inside his head. His expression remained stoic-calm, composed, every inch the perfect head boy. He didn’t even turn.
Ruhaan, of course, grinned wider-
And Ansh? Ansh wished he could teleport. Or disappear. Or, ideally, erase Ruhaan’s memory forever. But instead, he did what he always did Shoved it all deep down and said nothing. Because if he even so much as blinked wrong, Ruhaan would never let him live it down.
Prateek, sensing Ruhaan was up to no good, interrupted, desperate to save himself.”ruhaan bhai maaf kar de sorry yrr”
Ruhaan raised an eyebrow. “Tujhe kya lagta hai main itni asaani se chod dunga tujhe?”
Prateek sighed dramatically. “Toh main phir se bhaag raha hoon.”
And before anyone could stop him HE RAN. Ruhaan, immediately activating beast mode, sprinted after him.
Ansh, with the patience of a monk, simply exhaled and followed them. Still calm. Still deadly. Meanwhile, Priya, Shagun, and Vivaan watched the whole mess unfold.
Vivaan shook his head. “Main bata raha hoon, ye log ek din school ki building gira denge.”
————————————————————————–
Moments later in Library…
The library was silent. The scent of old paper and ink lingered, wrapping the space in a nostalgic comfort.
Priya stood in front of one such towering shelf, her brows furrowed in frustration. She glanced at the book she needed-sitting smugly on the topmost shelf, far beyond her reach. Biting her lower lip, she shifted her weight onto her toes, stretching her arm as high as it would.
Her fingers barely grazed the spine.
“Ugh, yeh kitna upar hai…” she huffed, dropping back onto her heels with an exasperated sigh. She crossed her arms, staring at the book as if sheer determination could bring it down.
“Pata nahi konse saste nashe kar ke yeh log book upar rakh dete hain…” she muttered, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Still unwilling to give up, she tried again. This time, she pressed one hand against the wooden shelf for support and stretched even further. Her fingertips brushed the cover, but it only shifted slightly, making her groan in frustration.
Her lips pursed into a slight pout as she rocked onto the balls of her feet, determined to grab it. The sheer effort made a few loose strands of her hair fall from behind her ears, framing her face in soft, messy waves. She blew at them half-heartedly before focusing back on her mission
Unbeknownst to her, Prateek had just walked into the aisle.
He wasn’t even searching for a book. His feet had simply led him here, as if pulled by an unseen force. And then, there she was-oblivious to his presence, lost in her own little struggle.
His steps faltered for a moment as he took in the scene before him. A slow, amused smile curled at the corner of his lips.
There was something strangely captivating about the way she was trying so hard.
The sight of her-so determined, so stubbornly focused-made something stir in his chest. She stood on the very tips of her toes, stretching with all her might, her fingers just barely brushing against the book. A loose strand of hair had slipped from behind her ear, falling across her face, but she was too preoccupied to fix it. Her brows were slightly knitted in frustration, her lower lip caught between her teeth in deep concentration.
She looked like a painting brought to life-delicate yet fierce, soft yet unwavering. Like a bird fluttering its wings desperately, trying to reach a branch just out of its grasp.
And for some reason, he found himself utterly mesmerized.
Priya had always been beautiful-there was no denying that. But there was something about moments like these, the unguarded ones, that made her seem even more breathtaking. Maybe it was the way she pouted slightly in frustration, or how her determination refused to waver despite the clear impossibility of her task.
His fingers twitched at his sides, the instinct to step forward-to help, to be closer-almost overwhelming. But for a second, he just stood there, simply watching her with quiet admiration, as if trying to memorize every little detail.
“Priya, aaram se, shelf gira dogi kya?” The deep, teasing voice broke through the silence, making her jump slightly, a startled gasp escaping her lips.
She spun around so quickly that she almost lost her balance, her wide, surprised eyes locking onto his. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
Prateek stood there, hands casually tucked into his pockets, his stance relaxed, yet something about his presence felt overwhelming in the confined space of the aisle. His expression was a mixture of amusement and warmth, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief as he took in her flustered state.
“P-Prateek? ” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, still trying to steady her racing heart.
He tilted his head slightly, an eyebrow arching as he observed her. “Aur kaun? yahi dekh raha tha ke tumhe book chahiye ya puri shelf?”
Priya’s face flushed instantly-a deep, telltale shade of pink that only darkened when she caught the playful smirk tugging at his lips.
“Bas… woh book chahiye thi,” she muttered, looking away, suddenly finding the floor incredibly interesting.
Prateek let out a soft chuckle, the sound low and warm, wrapping around her like an unspoken caress. “Itni si baat? Tum toh aise try kar rahi thi jaise koi world record todna ho.”
Priya bit her lip, her fingers tightening around the edge of her skirt. The teasing lilt in his voice, the way his eyes lingered on her-it was all too much. She wasn’t used to this. To him, standing so close, looking at her like that.
She dared a glance at him, only to regret it instantly. The way he was watching her-soft yet intensely focused-sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t just teasing her. He was noticing her.
And that, more than anything, made her heart stutter.
Without another word, Prateek stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an unhurried, deliberate motion.
Priya barely had time to react before he reached up effortlessly, his fingers curling around the spine of the book she had struggled so much to grab. His movement was smooth, confident-completely different from her previous frantic attempts.
And in that moment, she became acutely aware of just how close he was.
As he stretched his arm above her, his body subtly caged her in. His chest hovered just behind her shoulder, his warmth brushing against her back like a whisper. His scent-an intoxicating mix of fresh cologne and something unmistakably him-filled the small space between them, making her already erratic heartbeat even more impossible to control.
Then, his arm-light as air-brushed against hers.
The contact was brief. Barely there.
But Priya felt it everywhere.
A sharp breath caught in her throat, her fingers curling involuntarily at her sides. It wasn’t just the touch-it was the way it lingered in her senses, the way it sent a shiver down her spine, leaving behind a strange, fluttering warmth.
She wanted to move. To step back. To do something. But she couldn’t. It was as if time had slowed, trapping her in this fleeting moment, in the impossible proximity of his presence.
Finally, Prateek lowered his arm, turning slightly towards her. The shift was subtle, but it was enough for her to realize just how close his face had become to hers. Her breath hitched again, her pulse hammering wildly in her ears.
And then, without a hint of hesitation, he held out the book.
“Yeh lo,” he murmured, his voice lower than before, almost as if the quiet of the library demanded it.
Priya swallowed hard, willing herself to reach for it. But her fingers trembled slightly as she took the book from his grasp, her own touch barely grazing his in the process.
She should say something. Thank him. Anything. But the words refused to form. Her heart was still trying to catch up with the moment that had just passed.
And then, as if sealing his victory, Prateek leaned in just a fraction more-his lips now dangerously close to her ear-just enough to let his breath brush against her ear.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Waise…” his voice dropped into a hushed whisper, teasing, yet laced with something gentler, something far more dangerous.”You were looking too cute while doing that.”
Priya froze. Her brain refused to function. Her cheeks burned. Her breath caught. Had she heard that right? But Prateek was already stepping back, his smirk returning.
“Agli baar, help le lena. varna shelf gir jayegi aur tum sambhal nhii paogi” he teased with a wink.
And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving Priya standing there, gripping the book like it was the only thing keeping her from melting into a puddle.
Her mind was spiraling.
“You were looking too cute while doing that.”
Her fingers curled around the book as she tried to steady herself. It was useless. She was blushing too hard. And then-
“Priyaaaaaaa~”
The drawn-out call sent a chill down her spine. She turned her head slowly, already knowing who it was before her gaze even landed on them.
Aditi and Shagun stood a few feet away, arms crossed, eyes practically glowing with mischief.
Priya felt instant regret. Oh no. No no no.
“Oh hoooo,” Aditi drawled, smirking like the devil’s apprentice. “Yeh toh naya development hai!”
Shagun, her personal tormentor number two, clasped her hands together dramatically. “Tujhe kya ho raha tha, haan? Maine suna sab kuch!”
Priya’s face burned hotter than the sun. She wished for a time machine. She wished for invisibility. She wished for anything but this moment.
“Ayeeee, shut up!” she hissed, trying to bolt, but her so-called best friends were faster, blocking her escape route like professional bodyguards of doom.
Aditi nudged Priya’s shoulder, her smirk growing impossibly wider. “Bhaiya ko pata chal gaya lagta hai… vo letter jo tune likha tha unhe…”
Priya’s heart stopped. Her entire body froze like someone had yanked the battery out of her soul.
Shagun gasped dramatically, her hand flying over her mouth. “Ohhh haa! Letter?! Priya ka love letter?”
Priya launched herself at Aditi, grabbing her arm in full panic mode. “Aditi, I swear-chup reh!”
But Aditi was on a roll. There was no stopping her now.
She tapped her chin in mock thought, “Hmm… tabhi toh itna sweet sweet behave kar raha tha bhaiya? Hmmm?”
Shagun joined in, her eyes wide with exaggerated realization. “Oh my god, Priya, tujhe compliment mil gaya? Matlab sach mein pyaar ki hawa chal rahi hai… lagta hai ab toh tum dono ko inki shaadi bhi plan karni hogi?”
Priya groaned in pure horror, “MAIN MARR JAUNGI YAHA!” She buried her burning face into the book as Aditi and Shagun collapsed into laughter, holding onto each other for support.
But before Priya could fully process her shame-A deep, amused voice interrupted.
“Letter?”
Priya’s entire soul left her body. She turned around. Prateek was right there.
Standing in all his smug glory, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised, his smirk back in full force-but this time, there was something else in his eyes.
Something knowing. Something undeniably amused. He had heard everything. Priya froze. Aditi froze. Shagun froze. For a solid three seconds, absolute silence.
Then Prateek tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening. “Toh… vo sach mein tumne likha tha?”
Priya’s brain officially crashed. No reboot possible. Aditi and Shagun, traitors of the highest degree, turned to look at each other. Then, without warning-they ran.
“SHAITAN KI BACHHIYON! WAPAS AAO!” Priya screeched, but they were already halfway down the aisle, leaving her to deal with Prateek alone.
Panic set in. “W-Woh… main… umm…” Priya tried, her voice a barely functioning mess of syllables.
Prateek, meanwhile, was enjoying this way too much. He took a slow, deliberate step forward. “mujhe nahi pta tha tum ye bhi karti ho,” he mused, his voice dripping with playful amusement.
Priya grabbed the book tighter. “Mujhe jaana hai!” She threw the book. The book hit the bookshelf with a loud THUD!
Priya didn’t wait for consequences. She turned and bolted, running out of the library like her life depended on it.
Prateek simply stood there, watching her flee, arms still crossed, head shaking in amusement. A slow, satisfied chuckle escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his hair. “interesting”
——————————————————————————————–
Shagun hurried down the school corridor, muttering curses under her breath.
“Shagun, beta, jao ye file sports coordinator ko de aao,” her teacher had said, as if she had nothing better to do. Instead of enjoying her free period like a normal student, she was now stuck running errands like some unpaid assistant.
As she stepped onto the open playground, a wave of energy hit her instantly-the sharp echoes of cheers, whistles piercing through the air, and the rhythmic pounding of feet against the turf.
The senior boys’ football team was in full action mode, their jerseys clinging slightly to their sweat-dampened bodies as they sprinted across the field, moving like a well-oiled machine. The crisp scent of freshly cut grass mixed with the distant scent of chalk dust from the nearby classrooms, grounding her in the moment.
The ball zipped across the field with rapid precision, players weaving in and out, their movements sharp and calculated. The intensity in their eyes, the sheer athleticism-it was almost hypnotic. But, of course, none of this had anything to do with her. She was just here to drop off a file. That was all.
She barely spared them a glance-until her eyes landed on one particular player.
Ruhaan.
Unlike his usual loud and chaotic self, there was something almost magnetic about him in this moment. His usual playful smirk was gone, replaced by an unwavering intensity, his sharp eyes scanning the field like a predator tracking its prey. His movements were fluid yet deadly precise, weaving through defenders with an effortless grace that seemed almost unfair.
With a swift feint, he sent his opponent stumbling in the wrong direction before striking the ball with calculated power. The air practically hummed as the ball soared across the field, slicing through the space like it had a mind of its own-before crashing into the net with an unmistakable thwack.
A perfect goal.
The field erupted. Cheers, claps, and whistles filled the air as his teammates rushed to congratulate him. But Ruhaan? He barely looked fazed. Instead, he simply ran a hand through his already messy hair, his smirk returning as he stood tall, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, sweat glistening against his skin under the sunlight.
Shagun, without realizing it, had completely stopped walking.
Her grip on the file loosened slightly, her breath catching for just a second too long. Her eyes remained locked on him, watching the way he moved, the effortless confidence in his stance.
She was just… observing. That was all.
Then-
“Oye, Ruhaan! Teri fan following toh badh rahi hai, bhai!” one of his teammates hollered, his voice dripping with mischief.
Shagun’s eyes widened. “Huh?!”
Ruhaan, in the middle of wiping sweat off his face, paused for a moment, confused. His brows furrowed as he turned toward the voice-until he noticed his teammate not-so-subtly nodding in her direction.
Shagun felt a chill run down her spine. And then-Ruhaan’s gaze locked onto hers. Their eyes met.
For a brief, painfully long second, everything seemed to slow. The distant cheers, the calls from his teammates, the sound of the ball hitting the ground-it all blurred into nothing. Shagun’s breath hitched.
And then, just as suddenly, Ruhaan’s lips curled into that all-too-familiar smirk, the one that screamed trouble. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he dragged his towel across his face, before resting his hands on his hips like he had all the time in the world.
“Arre, Shagun ji, aap yahan? Mujhe dekhne aayi ho kya?” he drawled, his voice slow, deliberate, and annoyingly smug.
Shagun felt her face ignite. “Main… main bas… mujhe kaam hai!” she blurted, gripping the file as if it were a lifeline.
Ruhaan clicked his tongue. “Ohhh, kaam?” He tilted his head, as if deep in thought. “Haan haan, samajh gaya. Kaam toh sirf ek bahana hai, asal mein toh-“
Shagun’s eyes narrowed. “Asal mein toh kya?!”
Ruhaan’s smirk deepened, eyes gleaming with uncontained mischief. “Asal mein tum mujhe admire kar rahi thi, nahi?”
Shagun choked. “Main admire- vo bhi tumhe?! tum pagal ho gye ho kya?! Main yahan sirf files dene aayi hoon!”
Ruhaan let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over his chest. “Dil tod diya Shagun. Pehle mujhe ghanto tak ghoorti rahi, ab keh rahi ho sirf file dene aayi thi?” He shook his head in fake disappointment. “Pyaar toh kiya hai, bas izhaar nahi ho raha tumse.”
Shagun’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “GHANTO TAK?!”
She really was going to throw the file at his head.
Ruhaan chuckled, stepping closer, his voice dropping just a little lower. “Waise tumhe pasand aaya mera goal?”
Shagun folded her arms, forcing herself to look unimpressed. “Mujhe kya lena dena tumhare goal se?”
Ruhaan arched a brow. “Accha?” He leaned in slightly, tilting his head. “Phir woh 5-minute tak ka statue-wala moment kya tha?”
Shagun’s fists clenched. “Main… main bas-“
Ruhaan leaned in just a little more, a teasing whisper brushing past her ears. “Sach sach batao, aankhon hi aankhon mein ishq ho gaya tha na?”
Shagun gasped at the audacity.
She stepped back, huffing. “Bhool jao ki yeh sab kabhi hua!” she declared before turning on her heel, practically stomping toward the sports office.
Behind her, Ruhaan burst into laughter, his voice carrying across the field. “Shagun! Agli baar placard leke aana, ‘Ruhaan ki No. 1 Fan’ likhwa ke! Chhupane ki zaroorat nahi padegi!”
Shagun groaned, her face still burning.She was never going to hear the end of this.
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That’s all for this chapter see you in the next one real soon! ✨
Thank you so much for reading! 💖
Love you all tons! 🫶🏻
Don’t forget to vote & drop your thoughts in the comments…they truly mean the world to me! 💌
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