The Day After the Result
Nirvay could sense that Arohi was still a little awkward about yesterday's hug.
He wanted to bring things back to normal—not just for her, but for himself too.
Nirvay: "You got good marks, you owe me a party now."
Arohi: "Okay! Let's celebrate today itself in the canteen. And seriously, thank you. If you hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have even passed."
(Arohi meant every word. She knew this boy had practically dragged her through the finish line.)
Nirvay (grinning): "I'll help you in the future too. Your marks will get so good, you'll start tutoring me."
Arohi: "Deal. But you'll regret this when I start bossing you around."
Nirvay: "Hey, we're friends, so we can hug. No need to feel awkward, okay?"
(But why did he feel awkward himself now?)
Arohi (smiling): "Yeah, you're right. I just… felt weird after hearing some gossip. I hugged you so tightly in front of everyone—I guess it was the excitement from my result."
Nirvay (softly): "Yeah… just the excitement."
(Excitement, right? He wanted to believe that too.)
Nirvay (teasing): "And don't worry about the gossip, people will always talk. If we start living by their opinions, we'll have to stop breathing next."
Arohi: "Wah, philosopher baba! Should I touch your feet now or later?"
Nirvay: "Fees for feet-touching: one extra samosa today."
(They both laughed. The awkwardness melted—almost.)
---
After Classes
Nirvay was helping Arohi again, but his mind wasn't fully on the textbooks.
Nirvay: "We'll finish all chapters before the final term. But you'll have to stay an extra hour after class every day."
Arohi (dramatically): "What? And what about my hunger? Will you give me free food too?"
Nirvay (grinning): "I'll bring extra snacks for you."
(Why did he want to bring snacks for her? Just as a friend, right? Right?)
Arohi (playfully): "Snacks in exchange for studies? You sound like those street vendors."
Nirvay: "Yeah, but my discounts are for you only."
(And maybe his heart was on discount too, but who was going to admit that?)
---
Walking Home
Sukhi: "What do you really think about Nirvay?"
Arohi: "What? I mean… he's already committed to Shreya. We're just friends."
Sukhi (mocking): "Friends? Sure. Friends like Jai and Veeru. At this rate, soon you'll be finishing each other's sentences."
Arohi (teasing back): "Oh, you're jealous. Come, I'll buy you a chocolate to fix your mood."
(But deep down, Arohi kept wondering—if she and Nirvay were truly just friends, why did her heart skip every time he smiled?)
---
That Night – Nirvay's Room
Nirvay texted: "Good night 💤"
Arohi: "Good night and sweet dreams 😴"
Nirvay: "Did you fall asleep already?"
Arohi: "Going to sleep now. Super sleepy."
Nirvay: "Okay. Bye 🙂"
(He stared at the last message. A strange emptiness settled inside him.)
Nirvay's thoughts: "If Arohi only sees me as a friend, maybe I should see her the same way too… Maybe I'm overthinking. Yeah… let's stay friends. That's safer."
(But since when had his heart started avoiding 'safe'?)
---
The Unspoken Zone: Both Friend-Zoned Each Other
Unknowingly, both had carefully… silently… friend-zoned each other.
They started spending more time together. Arohi began to depend on Nirvay in small ways—solving math problems, opening snack wrappers, carrying extra notebooks—without realizing she had built her own comfort zone around him.
Their hours of talking, teasing, and laughing started making Sukhi's inner drama queen wake up.
---
Sukhi and Ayush's Conversation
Sukhi: "Arohi doesn't even talk to me anymore. She's glued to Nirvay now."
Ayush: "I'm here, Sukhi. You can always talk to me."
Sukhi: "You don't talk, you just listen. And I'm tired of this 'just friends' act between those two. Arohi, you need a boyfriend, not a tutor with snacks."
Ayush: "And you need a cold drink. Come, let's go to the canteen."
(Sometimes Ayush's timing was so bad that it circled back to being perfect.)
---
The Canteen Walk
Arohi and Nirvay were heading to the canteen when a gust of wind blew dust into Arohi's eye.
Arohi (blinking): "Ahh, something's in my eye."
Nirvay: "Wait, let me see."
(He carefully cupped her face, trying to check her eye. From behind, it totally looked like he was about to kiss her. Shreya saw this.)
Nirvay: "Got it. All good now?"
Arohi: "Yeah, much better. Thanks."
Suddenly—storm alert.
Shreya (furious): "Shameless girls like you must be born that way, Arohi! Nirvay is my boyfriend, and you were kissing him in public?"
Nirvay: "Her eye was hurting! Don't talk to her like that! Get your facts right before throwing accusations."
Arohi: "You misunderstood, Shreya. Seriously, something went into my eye."
Shreya: "I'm not blind, Arohi. I saw what I saw."
Nirvay: "There's no point explaining to her. Let's go, Arohi."
Arohi: "You go talk to her, Nirvay. I'll leave."
(But inside, Arohi's heart whispered: "Why does it hurt me to leave him alone with her? Why does it feel like I'm the outsider here… when I'm the one who feels at home with him?")
---
Shreya and Nirvay's Confrontation
Shreya: "Don't you think you're getting a little too involved with her?"
Nirvay: "I don't owe you an explanation."
(His patience was gone. His limits were crossed.)
Shreya: "Weren't you just playing a game? Or did you actually fall for your 'toy'?"
Nirvay: "Why should I explain anything to you, Shreya? You know I've always been your fake boyfriend. You never thought this was real, right?"
Shreya (hurt but covering it with anger): "I know we're not a real couple. But I'm still your childhood friend."
Nirvay: "Then stay in the friend zone. Don't cross the line."
Shreya (dangerously calm): "What if I tell Arohi that you only became her friend to entertain yourself? What then?"
Nirvay (furious): "And what if I tell the police that you arranged attacks on Arohi? What then?"
Shreya: "You have no proof. And remember—our families are tied in business. One wrong move and you won't just lose me, you'll lose your father's trust too."
(Shreya left. But the conversation echoed in Nirvay's head like an alarm that refused to stop ringing.)
---
The Storm at Home
It had already been a rough day.
When Nirvay returned home, things were worse.
His parents were at it again—screaming, cursing, breaking things.
But this time, it wasn't just a fight—it was the end.
Mother: "I want a divorce!"
Father (without hesitation): "Fine. Let's do it."
In the corner, Jai Raj, Nirvay's 10-year-old brother, was crying so hard he could barely breathe.
Jai wasn't just emotionally weak—he had health problems. Serious ones.
But neither parent cared.
Nirvay knelt down, hugging Jai tightly.
Nirvay (whispering): "Go to my room and lock the door, okay? I'll come soon."
He stormed toward his parents.
Nirvay (shouting): "Can you both stop thinking about yourselves for a second? Jai's health is getting worse because of you!"
Mother: "It's his fault!"
Father: "No, it's yours!"
Mother: "I can't stay with this man anymore!"
Father: "I feel the same way!"
Nirvay (tears in his eyes): "Can you think about us? Your children?"
Father (coldly): "Don't worry. You'll stay with me. Jai will go with your mother."
Mother (snapping): "No! Nirvay will stay with me. Jai can go with you. I'm not wasting my life taking care of Jai and his illness!"
(The words cut deeper than knives. Jai wasn't even a person to them—just a responsibility to throw around.)
Nirvay ran back to his room—only to find Jai struggling to breathe.
Without a second thought, Nirvay lifted Jai in his arms and rushed him to the hospital.
(Some days life hits you from all sides. This was one of those days.)