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She turned to leave, but just as her back was about to face them, Rahul and Deepak exchanged a subtle look.

A tiny flash of panic crossed both their faces eyes locking for just a second.

Dubti hui naiya… Rahul thought. Only Deeksha can save us now.

Deepak’s grin faltered for a moment.

He leaned slightly toward deepak.

“You… we didn’t really study that much, did we?” Rahul whispered, a nervous edge in his voice.

Deepak shrugged, whispering back, “Heck no. But shh… just let her handle it.”

Rahul nodded slightly, biting his lip to keep from laughing.

Both of them turned their heads toward Deeksha as she walked ahead, completely unaware of their tiny panic.

Deeksha glanced back once. “What are you two looking at?” she asked suspiciously.

“Nothing,” Rahul muttered, forcing a straight face.

Deepak nodded in agreement, still trying not to grin.

The three of them walked into the classroom, the familiar smell of chalk and books filling the air.

Rahul and Deepak took their seats quietly, while Deeksha walked straight to her desk.

Once the test papers were handed out, Rahul leaned slightly toward Deepak and whispered, “Do you… want to see the answers?”

Deepak smirked faintly. “I don’t think we have a choice…”

But before they could even start, Deeksha’s sharp voice cut across the row.

“Excuse me! Both of you hands off, and eyes on your own papers!” Her face was red with anger, her eyes blazing. “I can’t believe you two didn’t study! When are you going to take anything seriously? Huh? You think I’m going to show you the answers? Not a chance!”

Rahul and Deepak froze.

Their eyes met for a brief second the classic silent panic they always shared.

No words were needed. Both of them knew exactly what the other was thinking.

We’re doomed… only Deeksha can save us now, and she’s furious.

Rahul swallowed nervously, shifting slightly in his seat.

Deepak leaned back just a little, pretending to focus on the paper, but his smirk betrayed him.

Rahul noticed and whispered under his breath, “Deepak… be careful. Deeksha is watching.”

Deepak grinned, ignoring the warning. “Relax. I’m a genius. Nothing can go wrong.”

But just as he tilted his paper, Deeksha’s sharp eyes caught him immediately.

She slammed her hand on her desk, making him jerk back in surprise.

“Deepak!” she hissed, leaning forward, eyes blazing. “I saw that! Hands on your own paper, right now!”

Deepak froze, caught red-handed, his confident smirk vanishing instantly.

Rahul tried to stifle a laugh, hiding behind his pen, but a small smile escaped anyway.

Deeksha glared at both of them, her patience running thin. “Honestly, you two! When are you going to take anything seriously? I can’t babysit you forever!”

Deepak shrugged innocently, but Deeksha caught the guilty sparkle in his eyes.

Deeksha shook her head, pointing at both of them. “I swear, if you two try that again, I’ll take your papers and make you start over!”

The test had barely begun, and Rahul was already biting his pen in panic.

Deepak, of course, was leaning slightly in his seat, whispering under his breath.

“Rahul… what if we just… ask her for help?” Deepak muttered, eyes darting toward Deeksha, who was focused on her paper like a hawk.

Rahul shook his head quickly, whispering back, “No… we can’t. She’s… she’ll get so mad.”

Deepak smirked, nudging him lightly. “Exactly. Which means it’s perfect. Watch this.”

He leaned over just enough so Deeksha could hear, voice low but playful: “Hey, Deeksha… maybe you could… you know… help two poor souls who clearly didn’t study?”

Deeksha froze, eyes narrowing at him. “Two poor souls? You didn’t even try! And now you want me to do the work for you?”

Rahul swallowed nervously, looking anywhere but her eyes. “D-Deeksha… please… we’ll owe you, I swear…” His voice was soft, almost desperate.

Deeksha huffed, arms crossed. “Owe me? You two never listen, and now you want me to save your marks? I’m not your personal tutor!”

Deepak grinned, leaning closer, his voice teasing but coaxing. “Come on, just a little hint? I promise we’ll never forget it. You’ll feel like a hero… your brain saving two idiots from disaster!”

Deeksha shot him a glare, but Rahul saw a small twitch at the corner of her mouth maybe the tiniest bit of amusement.

“I don’t know… I could… maybe…” she muttered, clearly trying to resist but softening slightly.

Rahul’s eyes widened in relief.

Deepak nudged him again, whispering, “See? Told you. Just a little charm, and she’ll cave.”

Rahul leaned in, voice barely above a whisper, “Please, Deeksha… just… one hint? Just this once?”

Deeksha sighed, shaking her head but her voice softer now. “Fine. But only this once. And don’t think this makes up for all your laziness!”

Rahul let out a quiet sigh of relief, while Deepak winked at him, clearly pleased.

Both of them exchanged a quick, triumphant glance, knowing their little coaxing had worked for now.

And Deeksha, though still a little annoyed, felt that familiar warmth of seeing her friends scramble and trust her, even if they drove her crazy most of the time.

The classroom was tense for a moment, but thanks to Rahul and Deepak’s coaxing, Deeksha finally leaned over just enough to show them the hint.

Rahul’s eyes widened, and Deepak’s grin practically split his face.

They scribbled down the answers as fast as they could, exchanging quick, triumphant glances.

Rahul felt a wave of relief, and Deepak let out a quiet laugh, trying not to disturb anyone around them.

Deeksha leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, a small satisfied smile playing at her lips.

She shook her head slightly, muttering under her breath, “These two…”

When the test finally ended, the papers were collected, Deeksha turned to Rahul and Deepak, her expression serious but tinged with exasperation.

“This is the last time, alright?” she said firmly. “If next time you two come unprepared, I’m not helping. Do you understand?”

Rahul and Deepak nodded quickly, still a little flushed from relief and mischief.

“I mean it!” Deeksha continued, her voice sharper now. “You can’t just wander around like a couple of idiots and expect someone else to save you. What are you two planning to do to actually study? Or are you going to keep roaming around like aimless fools?”

Deepak chuckled quietly, nudging Rahul. “Well… we could try… maybe… actually open the books?”

Rahul muttered under his breath, cheeks warm. “Yeah… maybe…”

Deeksha raised an eyebrow, looking both of them over. “Maybe isn’t good enough. You two need to take responsibility. Study properly. Don’t expect me to keep bailing you out. Got it?”

“Got it, Deeksha,” they said in unison, a little sheepishly, but also secretly grateful that she had helped them.

Deeksha sighed, shaking her head, and muttered, “You guys are hopeless… but somehow, I can’t stay mad at you.”

Rahul and Deepak exchanged that victorious, quiet glance again, both happy and relieved but also fully aware that Deeksha’s warning meant she was not going to be fooled twice.

The physics professor walks into the classroom and announces,

“Today the maths professor hasn’t come, so I’ll be taking two periods instead.”

The moment they hear this, Deepak and Rahul groan together.

“Again? We’ll have to sit through this boring lecture one more time,” they mutter.

Deeksha turns to Rahul and Deepak, her eyes narrowing.

“If you both already knew that Vaibhav sir wasn’t coming to college today, then why didn’t you tell me?”

Rahul shrugs casually. “Why? What happened?”

Deeksha glares at him, anger flashing in her eyes.“So what do we do? Bunk the class, obviously.”

Hearing this, Deepak and Rahul stare at her in shock.“You bunk classes?” they blurt out together.

Deeksha, unfazed by their reaction, replies calmly,

“And why not? I find his classes boring too. And anyway, I’ve already studied the chapter he’s about to teach.”

Deepak smirks and says,

“Of course. What else could we expect from a top student like you?”

Deeksha looks straight at Deepak, her voice low but firm.“Don’t label me just because I study.”

Deepak leans slightly toward her, a faint smirk on his lips.“And don’t act like you’re above everyone just because you finish chapters early.”

Deeksha scoffs.“At least I don’t waste time complaining about lectures I don’t even try to understand.”

Deepak’s tone sharpens.“Oh please. Understanding doesn’t make boring lectures interesting.”

Their voices overlap, one cutting into the other.

“Then bunk and stop cribbing—”

“Maybe you should try listening for once—”

A sudden silence falls over the room.

“What is happening there?” the professor’s voice echoes across the class.“Why are you two making so much noise?”

Deepak and Deeksha straighten instantly and stand up beside their bench.

Rahul slowly covers his mouth with his hand, eyes darting between them.

"Ye dono aaj marwayenge," he thinks.

The professor folds his arms.

“Yes? Speak. What’s the issue?”

Deeksha opens her mouth—

but Deepak speaks first.

“Sir, Deeksha’s grandfather’s health suddenly got worse,” he says calmly.

“I was telling her to ask you for permission. I thought you’d understand.”

Deeksha turns sharply toward him.

Her eyes widen.

What?

Why would he say that?

She whispers under her breath, barely moving her lips,“Deepak, what are you doing? Why are you lying?”

The professor notices her expression.

“Is that true, Deeksha?” he asks.

Deeksha swallows. Her hands curl into fists.

She looks at Deepak again confused, stunned, angry.

Deepak meets her eyes, steady and serious, then turns back to the professor.“Yes sir. She got a message on her phone. She’s very worried.”

Deeksha stands there, frozen.

Embarrassment rushes over her like heat.

The classroom is silent.

Everyone is watching.

And Deepak—

he doesn’t look away.

The professor looks at both of them for a moment, his expression softening.

“Alright,” he says finally. “You may go, Deeksha.”

Deeksha remains standing, frozen in place.

For a second, she doesn’t understand what just happened. Her mind feels blank.

Deepak quickly responds,

“Okay sir, thank you,”

and starts picking up his bag.

The professor stops him.

“But where are you going?”

Deepak answers without hesitation,

“Sir, I’ll have to take her with me. She’s in shock… her grandfather is ill, you know.”

The professor turns his gaze toward Deeksha again.

Looking at her pale face and stiff posture, it genuinely seems like she isn’t well.

“Hm,” he murmurs. “Alright then. Go.”

Deepak’s face lights up instantly.

Relief almost victory flashes in his eyes.

Rahul, still seated, watches all this in disbelief.

“Hey, I’ll come too!” he blurts out.

“You can’t just leave me here alone.”

Deepak shoots him a look.

“If you didn’t use your brain, what am I supposed to do?” he snaps quietly.

“I used mine. Now you sit here and listen to the lecture.”

Before Rahul can reply—

Deeksha suddenly sways.

Her vision blurs, her legs give up and she collapses forward, falling straight into Rahul’s lap.

The entire class gasps.

Every pair of eyes turns toward her.

“Deeksha!” Rahul exclaims, panic flooding his voice as he holds her instinctively.

Deepak rushes forward, his earlier confidence vanishing.

“What happened to her?” he asks, genuinely scared now.

The professor steps closer, concern replacing his authority.

Deeksha lies unconscious for a moment, her head resting against Rahul,

while the classroom buzzes with shock and tension and Deepak realizes the lie may have gone too far.

They both hold Deeksha carefully, one on each side, not letting her fall again.

Rahul quickly grabs a bottle and gently pours a little water into her mouth.

“Deeksha… open your eyes,” he says anxiously.

Slowly, her eyelids flutter. She blinks, confused, trying to understand where she is.

Seeing her awake, the professor steps closer and says softly,

“Don’t worry so much, child. Your grandfather will be fine.”

Deeksha nods faintly, her face pale.

She tries to lift herself up, forcing her body to cooperate.

But the moment she moves, her legs weaken again.She starts to fall.

Rahul tightens his grip instantly and holds her.

“Easy… I’ve got you,” he says.

The professor watches them, concern clear on his face.

“Take her with you,” he orders gently. “And get her checked at a hospital.”

“Yes, sir,” Rahul and Deepak reply together.

Deepak picks up Deeksha’s bag without a word.

Rahul and Deepak each hold one of her hands, supporting her from both sides.

Slowly, carefully, they walk her out of the classroom.

The whispers fade behind them.

They step into the open air, cross the corridor,and move toward the college ground.

The moment they reach the ground, the fresh air hits Deeksha’s face.

She straightens up.

Then almost magically She pulls her hands away from both of them.

Deepak and Rahul stop mid-step.

Deeksha rolls her shoulders, takes a deep breath…and smiles.

A perfectly normal, completely

healthy smile.

Rahul blinks.

Once.

Twice.

“Deeksha…?” he asks slowly. “What happened to you? Are you okay? You weren’t fine just now.”

Deeksha looks at him, still smiling.

“I’m totally fine.”

Deepak narrows his eyes.

“…Define fine.”

Deeksha suddenly stretches her arms like she just woke up from a good nap.

“Ahhh. Much better.”

Rahul’s mouth falls open.

“Wait—WHAT?”

He points back toward the building.

“You fainted in class. In my lap. The whole class saw!”

Deeksha shrugs innocently.

“Yeah. Acting.”

Deepak freezes.

“Acting?”

She nods proudly.

“Full performance. Five stars.”

Rahul stares at her in disbelief.

“So… the shaking… the falling…"

“All drama,” she says cheerfully.

“Very realistic, right?”

Deepak lets out a short laugh, half shocked, half impressed.

“You scared the hell out of us.”

Rahul groans and rubs his forehead.

“Do you know I almost carried you to the hospital?”

Deeksha grins.

“See? Convincing.”

Rahul looks at her, offended.

“You made me look like a hero for no reason!”

Deepak smirks.

“And me like a criminal mastermind.”

Deeksha finally laughs.

“Relax. Mission successful. We escaped the lecture.”

Rahul crosses his arms.

“You’re unbelievable.”

She tilts her head, playful.

“But admit it is worth it.”

Deepak shakes his head, smiling despite himself.

“Next time you fake a faint, warn us.”

Deeksha starts walking ahead, hands behind her back.

“No fun in that.”

Rahul and Deepak exchange a look.

Then Rahul mutters,

“I swear… this girl will be the end of us.”

And Deeksha, hearing that, just laughs louder as she walks across the ground.

Deeksha suddenly stops walking and turns back toward them, hands on her hips.

“You know why I did all that acting?” she says, looking straight at Rahul.

“If I hadn’t, you would’ve been left behind in that class.”

Rahul frowns.

“Me? How?”

She points toward the building behind them.

“Professor only allowed me to go at first. If I hadn’t collapsed dramatically, you would still be sitting there, listening to that lecture.”

Rahul processes this… then exhales loudly.

“Oh.”

A beat.

“So basically, you sacrificed your dignity for me?”

Deeksha nods seriously.

“Exactly.”

Deepak chuckles.

“Wow. Such friendship.”

Deeksha immediately turns to him, eyes narrowing.

“And you—”

Deepak straightens instinctively.

“Yes?”

She steps closer, lowering her voice but making it very clear.

“Next time, don’t ever say something like my grandfather is sick.”

Deepak’s smile fades.

“I was just trying to help—”

She cuts him off.

“I don’t care.”

Then, pointing a finger at him, half-angry, half-warning:

“If you say that again, I swear I’ll hit you properly.”

Deepak raises his hands in surrender.

“Okay, okay. My mistake. Won’t repeat it.”

Deeksha exhales, her anger softening.

“I don’t joke about family,” she says quietly.

There’s a brief silence.

Then Rahul grins.

“But admit it your acting was Oscar-level.”

Deeksha rolls her eyes.

“Obviously.”

Deepak smirks.

“Next time, we’ll plan the escape without fainting scenes.”

She starts walking again, shaking her head.

“Good. Because next time I won’t act

I’ll actually faint because of you two.”

Rahul and Deepak exchange a look.

“Fair enough,” Rahul says and laughs.

Deeksha says,

“Why are you laughing so much, Rahul?”

Rahul grins.

“The way you’re threatening him like a strict teacher, and he’s agreeing like a scared student.”

Deepak scoffs.

“I was being respectful.”

Rahul raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Respectfully terrified.”

Deeksha laughs despite herself.

“See? Even he noticed.”

Deepak shakes his head.

“Traitors. Both of you.”

Rahul slings his bag over his shoulder.

“But seriously,” he adds, smiling,

“one fake faint, one emotional lie, and suddenly you two are professional bunk experts.”

Deeksha smirks.

“Talent recognizes talent.”

Rahul laughs again.

“I swear, if anyone asks me why we weren’t in class I’m telling them I fainted too.”

Deepak groans.

“Please don’t.”

Deeksha chuckles.

“Relax. Next time, we’ll write you a better role.”

Rahul laughs so hard he almost bends forward.

“Great. I can’t wait to see what character I play in your next drama.”

Deepak looks around the open ground, hands in his pockets.

“So… what are we even going to do here?” he asks.

“If we’re bunking, we should at least go somewhere outside.”

Deeksha tilts her head, curious.

“Where would we go?”

Before Deepak can answer, Rahul jumps in immediately.“Nowhere.”

Both of them look at him.

Rahul drops down on the grass and stretches his legs.

“We’ll sit right here. When college ends, I still have to take Ishani home.”

Deepak raises an eyebrow.

“And if you don’t?”

Rahul sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

“If I don’t stay on campus, she’ll look for me everywhere.”

Deeksha smiles softly at that.

“She worries about you, doesn’t she?”

Rahul nods, a little embarrassed.

“Yeah. Too much, actually.”

Deepak smirks."He also keeps looking for Ishani didi everywhere.

Rahul says“Shut up. I just don’t want her stressing.”

Deeksha sits beside Rahul, hugging her bag.

“Then let’s stay,” she says simply.

“No point roaming around.”

Deepak lets out a dramatic sigh and drops down next to them.

“Fine. Ground it is.”

Rahul smiles, relieved.

“hmm”

For a moment, the three of them sit quietly,watching students walk by,

feeling the calm that comes only when there’s nothing urgent to do.

Just then, Vaibhav enters the college campus.

He has already taken his mother to the doctor and dropped her home safely.

There’s still a lot of time before college ends, so he thinks to himself,

I’ll just mark a half day today.

I can still give the remaining lectures to the students.

With that thought, he rides into the campus, parks his bike near the entrance, and starts walking inside.

As he passes by the ground, his eyes fall on three familiar faces sitting outside.

Rahul.

Deeksha.

Deepak.

Vaibhav slows down.

Physics class should be going on right now, he thinks.

Then what are they doing here?

Suspicion creeps in.

He changes direction and walks straight toward them.

“Tum teeno yaha kya kar rahe ho?” he asks, his tone calm but questioning.

The moment they hear his voice.

All three look up at once.

Their expressions change instantly.

Shock.

Fear.

Panic.

They jump to their feet almost together.

“Sir?” Rahul blurts out, his voice cracking slightly.

Deeksha stiffens, her heart skipping a beat.

Deepak straightens up, trying to look normal but failing.

Then, nervously, all three speak almost at the same time,

“Sir… aap yaha kya kar rahe ho?”

Vaibhav looks at them carefully, his eyes moving from one face to the other.

Vaibhav folds his arms slowly.

“So,” he says, looking at them one by one, “physics class is going on right now. Any reason why all three of you are sitting here?”

There’s a pause.

A very dangerous pause.

Rahul panics.

“We—uh—sir… actually…” he blurts out, waving his hands,

“we were just… breathing.”

Deepak turns sharply toward him.

“What?”

Rahul nods quickly, as if it makes complete sense.“Yes sir. Fresh air. Very important for health.”

Vaibhav stares at him.“…Breathing.”

Deeksha immediately jumps in, forcing a polite smile.

“Sir, what Rahul means is we were feeling a little suffocated inside the classroom.”

Vaibhav looks at her.“All three of you?”

“Yes sir,” she says quickly. “Coincidence.”

Deepak opens his mouth.“Sir actually—”

Deeksha steps slightly in front of him.

“Sir, Deepak was just helping me. I wasn’t feeling well.”

He turns to Rahul. “Then why are you here?”

Rahul freezes.

His brain clearly shuts down.“Sir… I…”

He scratches his head.“I came for… moral support.”

Deepak gasps softly.“Bro.”

Vaibhav raises an eyebrow.

“Moral support during physics class?”

Rahul nods, too fast.

“Yes sir. Very emotional subject.”

That’s it.

Vaibhav sighs and shakes his head.

“You bunked the class.”

Silence.

Deeksha straightens, trying one last time.

“Sir, actually—”

Vaibhav lifts a hand.“Enough.”

Rahul mutters under his breath,

“I knew I should’ve stayed quiet.”

Vaibhav looks at him.“You especially.”

Rahul swallows.“Yes sir.”

Vaibhav looks at all three of them again, his tone firm but not angry.

“Go back to class. All of you. Right now.”

Relief and fear hit them together.

“Yes sir,” they say in unison.

As they turn to leave, Rahul whispers dramatically,“Worst bunk ever.”

Deepak groans.“Shut up.”

Deeksha closes her eyes for a second, then walks ahead, muttering,

“Next time… no acting, no lying, and definitely no Rahul.”

A slow, knowing expression forms on his face.

Rahul is still whispering something animatedly.

Deepak looks like he’s replaying every mistake he made.

Deeksha walks ahead, clearly annoyed but trying to stay composed

Once they’re a few steps away.

Vaibhav exhales slowly.

The strict expression on his face softens.

Just a little.

He shakes his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"BREATHING," He thinks.

"MORAL SUPPORT" during physics class.

He lets out a quiet chuckle under his breath.

They didn’t even rehearse their lies.

Looking back once more, he sees

Deeksha stops Rahul from saying something else, placing a hand on his arm and shaking her head.

Deepak follows silently, unusually obedient.

Vaibhav smiles again this time more openly.

They’re not bad kids, he thinks.

Just bad at bunking.

Adjusting his bag on his shoulder, he walks away, already deciding not to mention this incident again.

Deeksha, Deepak, and Rahul quietly step back into the classroom.

The moment they enter, a few heads turn.

Whispers ripple across the room.

The physics professor looks up from the board and pauses mid-sentence.

His eyes land on Deeksha.

“Oh?” he says, surprised.

“Deeksha… you’re back already?”

The class goes silent.

Deeksha swallows and nods politely.

“Yes, sir.”

The professor studies her face for a second.

“Is your health better now?” he asks gently.

“You didn’t look well earlier.”

Deeksha forces a small smile.

“Yes sir. I’m feeling much better now.”

From behind her, Rahul holds his breath.

Deepak stares at the floor like it owes him money.

The professor nods slowly.

“That’s good,” he says.

“Health comes first. But if you weren’t well, you should have rested properly.”

“No sir I'm good now,” Deeksha replies softly.

The professor’s gaze shifts to Deepak and Rahul.

“And you two… I hope you both are also okay .”

“Yes sir,” Deepak answers quickly.

Rahul adds a little too fast,

“Yes helping Emotionally. And physically. And… academically.”

Deepak closes his eyes.

The professor raises an eyebrow but lets it pass.“Alright,” he says.

“Go back to your seats. Let’s continue.”

They quickly move to their bench.

As they sit down, Rahul whispers,

“That was close.”

Deepak mutters,

“Way too close.”

Deeksha exhales slowly, her heart still racing,realizing that pretending to faint was easier than surviving the consequences afterward.

The chalk hits the board again.

The lecture resumes but none of the three are really listening

As soon as the physics lecture comes to an end, Vaibhav walks into the classroom.

The physics professor notices him and says with a smile,

“Oh, sir, I thought you weren’t coming today.”

Vaibhav smiles back lightly.

“Yes, the work I had is done, so I came.”

“I see,” the professor replies, gathering his notebook and books before leaving the classroom.

Vaibhav steps forward and says clearly,“Good afternoon, class.”

“Good afternoon, sir,” the entire class responds in unison.

As Vaibhav moves toward the board, many of the girls in the class can’t help but glance at him again and again, whispering softly among themselves.

Rahul notices this from his seat.

He watches their eyes follow Vaibhav wherever he goes and shakes his head slightly."I’ll definitely have to tell Divya didi today," He thinks to himself, half-amused, half-serious.

Deepak says,“Bro, now that Vaibhav sir has come, Ishani didi will go home with Vaibhav sir.”

Hearing this, Rahul doesn’t feel good at all the little time he had with Ishani feels like it’s gone now.

Meanwhile, completely unaware or pretending to be Vaibhav begins teaching, his voice calm and confident as he writes on the board.

Classes ended, and the college slowly emptied out. Deepak, Deeksha, and Rahul stepped outside together.

Just as Rahul was about to leave the classroom, Vaibhav called out to him.

“Rahul.”

Rahul stopped and turned around.

“Yes, sir?”

Vaibhav looked a little busy, already distracted by work.

“I have some office work today,” he said. “Please take Ishani home for me. Otherwise, she’ll have to wait here.”

For a second, Rahul just stood there then his heart leapt.

Today feels like a festival, he thought.

Ishani had come with him… and now she would go back with him too.

Trying to keep his excitement hidden, he nodded calmly.

“Okay, sir,” he said.

But inside, he was smiling brighter than he ever had all day.

Rahul comes outside and looks around everywhere for Ishani.

Rahul’s eyes kept searching the crowd, scanning every face as if he was looking for someone important

but Ishani was nowhere to be seen.

Deeksha noticed his restlessness.

“What happened?” she asked casually.

“Nothing,” Rahul replied, a little too quickly.

Deepak understood immediately. Rahul was looking for Ishani didi.

A quiet smile spread across his face without him even realizing

Deeksha caught that smile and raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you showing your teeth like that?” she teased.

Embarrassed, Deepak instantly shut his mouth.

Just then, Rahul spotted Ishani. His face lit up, and without wasting a second, he walked toward her.

Deepak and Deeksha stood there, watching him go.

Ishani noticed Rahul approaching and smiled softly.

“Shall we go, Rahul?” she asked.

Rahul nodded with a gentle smile.“Yes,” he said.

They both started walking away together.

Deeksha watched them leave and turned to Deepak.

“Where are those two going?” she asked, curious.

Deepak replied, “Today, and in the morning Vaibhav bhaiya wasn’t coming to college. So Rahul brought Ishani didi along. And now they’re leaving together again.”

Deeksha frowned slightly.

“But Vaibhav sir has come back now, right? Then why is Rahul taking Ishani didi with him?”

Deepak paused, thinking for a moment, then nodded.

“Yeah… you’re right,” he said quietly.

On the other side, just as Rahul and

Rahul and Ishani reached the parking lot,

Rahul takes out his bike, and Ishani sits behind him.

The bike moved steadily through the evening traffic. Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting soft yellow light on the road.

After a few minutes, Ishani spoke, breaking the silence.

“Did your class end late today?” she asked casually.

Rahul tightened his grip on the handle for a second.

“No… normal time,” he replied. His voice came out quieter than he intended.

“Oh,” she said. “Vaibhav bhaiya has been really busy these days.”

“Yeah,” Rahul nodded, though she couldn’t see it.

Another pause followed.

“You’re riding very slowly today,” Ishani added, not complaining just noticing.

Rahul’s ears felt warm.

“I thought… it’s better like this,” he said. “Evening traffic and all.”

“Hmm,” she murmured. “It’s fine.”

Her simple words felt like approval to him.

As the bike slowed near a speed breaker, Ishani’s hand lightly touched his shoulder for balance.

It lasted barely a second but Rahul felt it like a shock.

His heart raced.She has no idea, he thought.

No idea how loud my heart is right now.

He wanted to say something about anything but the words stayed trapped in his chest.

He was scared that if he spoke too much, his feelings might spill out.

Ishani, unaware, continued looking at the passing shops and lights, lost in her own thoughts.

“You come to college every day on bike,” she said softly. “Doesn’t it get

tiring?”

Rahul smiled to himself.

“Not really,” he replied. “I like riding.”

What he didn’t say was "I like it more today."

Ishani says "Ohh"

Then Ishani says,

“But you’re riding the bike so slowly with me. Divya tells me that when she sits with you, you ride like the bike is flying through the air.”

Hearing this, Rahul feels a sudden rush of anger.

The thought that Divya talks badly about him to Ishani doesn’t sit well with him at all.

He tightens his grip on the handlebars and says irritably,

“Don’t listen to her. She exaggerates everything.”

His voice carries a hint of frustration

not because of the bike,

but because he hates being misunderstood, especially in Ishani’s eyes.

Noticing the anger on his face, Ishani looks at him for a moment, then smiles softly.

Her voice turns gentle, almost teasing, yet caring.

“It’s okay,” she says lightly, trying to calm him down.“But ride slowly, alright?”

She pauses, her hands tightening slightly at his back.

“What if something goes wrong?” she adds quietly.

“What would you do if there was an accident?”

Rahul feels her words more than he expects to.

He slows the bike down without saying anything, the engine’s sound grows softer.

For a few seconds, there’s only the noise of the road and the evening air brushing past them.

Ishani notices the change immediately.

She leans forward just a little, her voice gentle now.

“I wasn’t scolding you,” she says quietly.“I just worry.”

Rahul exhales, his anger fading into something heavier.

“I know,” he replies. “I just… don’t like it when people misunderstand me.”

Ishani smiles faintly behind him.

“I know you,” she says simply.

Her words settle him.

He glances at her reflection in the mirror for a brief second.

“Still,” he adds, softer now, “I’ll drive slowly. For you.”

She laughs lightly.

“Good. Because I trust you but I don’t trust the road.”

They share a small smile, even without looking at each other.

Elsewhere, the mood was completely different.

Deeksha was riding her scooty, dropping Deepak home.

Deepak sat behind her, legs stretched out comfortably, and suddenly said,

“Your scooty has become really bad. You should change it.”

Deeksha didn’t even slow down.

“You’re bad too,” she shot back. “Did I ever try to change you?”

For a second, Deepak was speechless. Then he laughed, shaking his head.

Deepak leaned back, pretending to think.

“Wow. So harsh. At least my engine still works.”

Deeksha smirked.

“Yeah, but the noise it makes is unbearable.”

“Excuse me,” Deepak protested, “this noise is called charm.”

She laughed. “If that’s charm, then my scooty is a luxury bike.”

Deepak shook his head dramatically.

“Luxury? This thing coughs before starting. One day it’ll just sit down and refuse to move.”

“At least it doesn’t complain all the time,” Deeksha shot back.

“Oh really?” Deepak leaned forward a little. “Then why am I scared for my life right now?”

“Relax,” she said confidently. “I know how to ride.”

Just then...

A sudden pothole appeared out of nowhere.

The scooty jerked violently.

“DEEK—” Deepak shouted, grabbing the back handle.

The scooty lost balance for a split second and slid to the side.

Both of them fell not hard, but enough to shock the breath out of them.

Silence.

Deeksha sat up first, heart pounding.

“Deepak are you okay?”

Deepak blinked, then looked at himself, then at her.

“…I think so.”

She rushed closer. “You’re not hurt, right?”

He stared at her for a moment, then let out a nervous laugh.

“Guess your luxury scooty heard us talking bad about it.”

Despite herself, Deeksha laughed too shaky but relieved.

“I told you to relax.”

Deepak slowly stood up and offered her his hand.

“Next time,” he said softly, “maybe let’s argue after reaching home.”

She took his hand, smiling.

“Deal.”

The scooty lay there quietly, as if innocent.

“Hey! Don’t you know how to ride properly?!”

A man on a bike had stopped a little ahead of them. He looked furious, his helmet still on.

“The road doesn’t belong to you alone,” he snapped. “If you don’t know how to ride a scooty, stay at home!”

Deeksha was still shaken from the fall, but the fear quickly turned into irritation.

“We were riding fine,” she said defensively.

The biker pointed toward the scooty.

“Oh really? Then how did this drama happen?”

Deeksha’s patience broke. She turned sharply toward Deepak.

“This happened because of him!” she said angrily. “He kept talking nonsense from behind and distracted me!”

Deepak stared at her in disbelief.

“What did I do?” he argued. “I didn’t even do anything!”

“Oh please,” Deeksha snapped. “You kept commenting about the scooty, about everything!”

“I was just joking,” Deepak shot back.

“So now the accident is my fault?”

The biker shook his head, clearly annoyed with both of them.

“First decide whose mistake it is,” he muttered. “And learn one thing on the road, attention matters more than arguments.”

He started his bike and rode away, still complaining under his breath.

Silence followed but only for a moment.

Deeksha crossed her arms.

“If you had stayed quiet, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Deepak laughed bitterly.

“Wow. So even talking is a crime now?”

“Yes,” she replied sharply, “when talking leads to an accident!”

Deepak ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“Fine. Next time I’ll sit silently. Like a statue.”

“Good,” Deeksha said coldly. “You talk less and disturb more anyway.”

Deepak scoffed.

“You’re not perfect either. Blaming me for everything seems to be your favorite habit.”

They both stopped arguing suddenly.

Deeksha looked away and exhaled slowly.

“…At least we’re not hurt.”

Deepak nodded, his voice softer now.

“Yeah.”

The anger was still there but underneath it was relief.

They stood there quietly after that.

The road noise slowly returned horns, footsteps, distant voices but between Deeksha and Deepak, there was an uncomfortable silence.

The kind that presses against your ears.

Deeksha bent down and straightened the scooty, avoiding Deepak’s eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, not from anger anymore, but from the shock that was still sinking in.

Deepak stood a few steps away, watching her. He wanted to say something but every word felt wrong.

Seconds passed.

“I didn’t mean to shout like that,”

Deeksha finally said, her voice low, almost tired.

She kept looking at the scooty. “I just… got scared.”

Deepak exhaled slowly.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I know.”

Another pause.

“I shouldn’t have blamed you,” she added. “It wasn’t only your fault.”

Deepak rubbed the back of his neck, the anger completely gone now.

“And I shouldn’t have kept joking when you were riding,” he admitted. “Bad timing.”

She nodded. “Very bad timing.”

For a moment, they almost smiled but stopped themselves.

Deepak stepped closer and asked gently,

“You sure you’re okay? Not hurt anywhere?”

Deeksha looked up at him for the first time since the accident.

“I’m fine,” she said. “What about you?”

He shrugged. “Just my pride.”

That made her laugh soft and brief, but real.

“Get on,” she said after a moment. “We should go. Slowly this time.”

Deepak hesitated, then nodded.

“Deal. No comments. No jokes.”

He sat behind her again, this time holding the side handle quietly.

As the scooty moved forward, the silence returned but it felt different now. Lighter. Comfortable.

Ishani and Rahul reach home.

Ishani gets down from the bike, smiling softly.

“Thank you, Rahul,” she says.

Rahul smiles back and gives a small nod.

Ishani walks inside, and Rahul stands there for a moment, watching her until she disappears from sight.

Only then does he park his bike and head toward his own house.

As soon as he enters, his mother Rani looks at him.

“You’re back, Rahul?”

“Yes, Mom,” he replies.

Rani immediately calls out loudly, “Divya… Divya… Divya!”

From her room, Divya answers, “Yes, Mom?”

“Come out and give Rahul some water,” Rani says.

The moment Divya hears this, her temper flares up. She storms out of her room and snaps,

“What? Doesn’t he have hands and legs? Can’t he get water himself?”

Rani’s face hardens as she hears this.

“Can’t you see he’s just come back from college? He must be tired. You stay at home all day will something terrible happen if you give him a glass of water?”

Divya glares at both Rani and Rahul, anger burning in her eyes.

“I’m going to Ishani’s house. Do whatever you want,” she says coldly.

Rani loses her patience.

“First do what I told you to do,” she says sharply.

“I won’t,” Divya replies, and turns away without another word.

Rahul watches her leave. He gently says to his mother,“Leave it, Mom. I’ll get the water myself.”

But Rani’s anger doesn’t fade. She keeps staring in the direction Divya left, her disappointment heavy.

Divya, meanwhile, goes straight to Ishani’s house and without stopping anywhere, she heads directly into Ishani’s room.

Ishani steps out of the bathroom and notices Divya sitting on her bed.

“When did you come?” Ishani asks, surprised.

“Just now,” Divya replies.

Ishani looks at her more carefully. Something feels off Divya’s mood doesn’t seem right.

She walks closer and asks softly, “What happened, Divya?”

Divya lets out a bitter sigh.

“Nothing. Same old story,” she says. “When I’m at home, I have to live exactly the way my mother wants. Everything is always her decision.”

She pauses, her frustration spilling over.

“And your brother… I’ve told him so many times to talk to the family, marry me. But no. For him, your marriage comes first. He wants to get you married before anything else. Only after that, he says, he’ll think about me.”

Her voice cracks slightly, weighed down by anger, helplessness, and hurt all the words she has been carrying inside for far too long.

Ishani says quietly, her voice heavy with truth,

“How can I get married, Divya? You know it I love Abhay.”

Divya looks at her sharply.

“That Abhay? The one who hasn’t called or messaged you even once in an entire year?”

She says bitterly. “Are you really going to drive yourself crazy over him? Forget him, Ishani. Someone who truly cares doesn’t disappear like that. People who value you don’t forget you so easily.”

Hearing this, Ishani doesn’t feel good at all. The words sting. She lowers her eyes and only manages a soft,

“Hmm…”

Divya immediately realizes she has gone too far. Her tone softens.

“Sorry… I spoke too harshly,”

she says. “But this is the truth, Ishani. If he really loved you, he wouldn’t have stopped talking to you. It’s been a whole year. Forget him now.”

She takes a breath and continues, her frustration returning.

“Convince your brother to marry me. If not… I’ll marry someone else.”

Ishani looks at her in shock.

“What are you saying? Are you mad?” she says quickly. “I’ll explain everything properly to Bhaiya.”

Divya shakes her head, a tired smile on her lips.

“No. Your brother will just say that I put these words in your mouth that I told you to say all this.”

Ishani falls silent for a moment, torn and helpless. Then she looks at Divya and asks softly,

“Then what should I do for you, Divya? You tell me.”

Divya looks at Ishani for a long moment.

The anger on her face slowly melts into something much quieter tired, vulnerable.

“For once,” she says softly, “I just want someone to choose me.”

Ishani’s heart tightens. She sits beside Divya on the bed, close enough that their shoulders almost touch.

“You’re not wrong for wanting that,” she says gently. “You’ve waited for so long.”

Divya lets out a shaky laugh.

“Waited… yes. And I’m still waiting,” she says. “Your brother is kind, Ishani. He cares. But when it comes to decisions, he always steps back. Always puts everyone else first. And I’m left standing there, hoping he’ll say my name.”

Ishani closes her eyes for a second. She knows Vaibhav bhaiya too well his silence, his hesitation, his habit of carrying everyone’s burden except his own.

“He’s scared,” Ishani says quietly. “Not of you. Of responsibility. Of doing something wrong.”

Divya turns to her, eyes glistening.

“And what about me? Am I not scared too?”

That breaks Ishani.

She reaches out and holds Divya’s hand.

“You matter, Divya,” she says firmly. “And I won’t let you feel invisible.”

Divya swallows hard.

“Then don’t talk to him like you’re doing me a favor,” she says. “Talk to him like you’re protecting something precious.”

Ishani nods slowly.

“I will,” she promises. “I won’t force him. But I won’t stay silent either.”

For the first time since she arrived, Divya exhales properly.

“That’s all I wanted,” she whispers. “Not pressure. Just honesty.”

The room falls quiet.

Just then, Malini’s voice comes from outside,

“Ishani, come and eat.”

Divya nudges her gently and says, “Go on, aunty is calling you for food.”

Ishani shakes her head with a small smile.

“Come on, you come with me.”

“I’ve already eaten,” Divya replies.

“So what?” Ishani says softly. “Just come and sit with me. Talk to me.”

Divya smiles at her warmth.

“Okay,” she says.

They walk together to the dining table. Malini notices Divya and looks pleasantly surprised.

“Oh, Divya beta, when did you come?”

“Aunty, when you were in the kitchen,” Divya answers.

“I see. Sit down, I’ll bring food for you too,” Malini says.

“I’ve already eaten, aunty. Please just give food to Ishani,” Divya replies gently.

“All right,” Malini says and goes back to the kitchen.

Ishani notices the sadness flicker across Divya’s face. She leans closer and says softly,

“Okay… just don’t be sad.”

Divya looks at her, then forces a small smile.

“Hmm,” she says.

Trying to change the mood, Divya asks, “So tell me what happened in college today?”

Ishani smiles.“You know me. I go to class to study, not to collect gossip.”

Divya rolls her eyes playfully.“You’re so boring, Ishani. I really don’t know what will happen to you.”

Ishani laughs and replies, "As long as you’re with me, my life will never be boring, Divya.”

Divya bursts into laughter.

“That,” she says warmly, “is actually true.”

Just then, Vaibhav arrives home. He notices Divya sitting there and smiles at her instinctively but Divya turns her face away.

Ishani notices everything. Malini notices it too, but says nothing.

“Vaibhav beta, go wash your hands and face, then come eat,” Malini says.

“Yes, Maa,” Vaibhav replies.

He goes, washes up, and comes back to sit down right beside Divya.

Malini brings his food and sets it in front of him.

Divya keeps talking to Ishani, deliberately ignoring Vaibhav, as if he isn’t even there.

Vaibhav doesn’t like it. Quietly, he reaches out and places his hand over hers.

Divya pulls her hand away instantly.

Vaibhav is taken aback.

What happened to her? he wonders.

Malini comes and sits down, then casually says,

“Vaibhav, beta… a marriage proposal has come for you. If you say yes, I’ll call them over on Holi.”

The moment she hears this, Divya’s anger shoots up.

Vaibhav glances at her and suddenly starts coughing.

Malini immediately hands him a glass of water.

“What happened? Eat slowly,” she says worriedly.

Divya watches, her eyes burning with anger.

Ishani tries to ease the situation.

“Maa, why are you such a hurry to get Bhaiya married?”

Malini sighs and replies,

“Then when should he get married? He’s already thirty. I need to get him married and then you too. I want to see my grandchildren as well.”

Divya keeps her eyes fixed on the table, her jaw tight, as if she’s holding something back with all her strength.

Vaibhav steals a glance at her. Her silence hurts more than her anger.

Malini, aware of the storm brewing beside her, continues,

“It’s time now. Everything has its age,” she says matter-of-factly. “I don’t want to delay things anymore.”

Divya suddenly stood up“I just remembered some work. I’ll go now.”,” she says flatly.

She stands up so abruptly that the chair scrapes against the floor.

Everyone looks at her.

“Divya beta—” Malini begins.

“Aunty I'll come later,” Divya repeats, her voice controlled but cold.

Without looking at Vaibhav, she turns and walks away.

The room feels emptier the moment she leaves.

Vaibhav’s appetite disappears. He stares at his plate, the food untouched.

Something inside his chest tightens regret, fear, and a strange panic all mixing together.

“Eat, beta,” Malini says gently. “The food will get cold.”

“Yes, Maa,” he murmurs, but he doesn’t lift his spoon.

After a moment, Vaibhav pushes his chair back.

“I’ll just… get some air,” he says quietly.

Before anyone can stop him, he gets up and walks out toward the courtyard.

Outside, the evening air is cool, but it does nothing to calm him.

Divya stands near the gate, her back turned, wiping her eyes quickly as if afraid someone might see.

“Divya,” Vaibhav calls softly.

She doesn’t respond.

He takes a few steps closer.

“I didn’t know Maa would say that,” he says. “About the proposal.”

Divya lets out a hollow laugh.

“You never know anything, Vaibhav,” she says without turning around. “That’s the problem.”

He falls silent.

“I keep waiting,” she continues, her voice trembling now. “Waiting for you to speak. Waiting for you to choose. But every time… I’m reminded that I’m just an option.”

“That’s not true,” he says quickly. “You matter to me.”

“Then say it,” Divya snaps, finally turning to face him. Her eyes are red, her pain exposed. “Say it out loud. Not later. Not after someone else’s wedding. Now.”

Vaibhav opens his mouth then closes it again.That hesitation is enough.

Divya looks at him for a long second, then nods slowly, as if she’s finally understood something painful.

“Exactly,” she whispers.

She turns and walks away, leaving Vaibhav standing there frozen, surrounded by words he was too afraid to say, and a silence that may have come far too late.

Divya goes straight to her room and slams the door shut.

Rani watches her retreating back, her anger rising with every second.

“Just wait till her father comes home,” she mutters furiously. “I’ll tell him all about her behavior today.”

Meanwhile, Vaibhav walks silently into his own room. Ishani notices his broken, distant expression. After a moment of hesitation, she follows him.

“Bhaiya… may I come in?” she asks softly from the doorway.

Vaibhav looks up at her, forces a small smile, and nods.

“Yes, come in.”

Ishani steps inside and doesn’t waste time.

“Bhaiya, you should go to Divya’s house and ask for her hand,” she says firmly. “You both have been dating for six years now. Maa is already talking about your marriage, and tomorrow Divya’s parents will talk about her wedding too. What will happen then?”

Vaibhav sighs deeply.

“But Ishani, you’re not married yet. How can I get married before you?”

Ishani looks at him calmly.

“When my marriage has to happen, it will happen,” she says. “Don’t worry about me, Bhaiya. Or have I become such a burden on you that you’re this stressed about my wedding?”

The moment she says this, Vaibhav’s expression hardens.

“Ishani, what are you saying?” he snaps. “You’re a child. You can never be a burden to me. Never.”

Ishani softens but doesn’t step back.

“Then don’t worry about me,” she says gently. “Go to Divya’s house. Talk about marriage.”

Vaibhav exhales slowly, as if making a decision he’s been avoiding for years.

“Okay,” he says at last. “But first I’ll tell Maa about Divya. After all, she’s the one who will go with the proposal.”

Ishani’s face lights up. She smiles, her eyes shining with relief and excitement.

“Yes, tell her quickly,” she says. “Then I’ll go and bring my bhabhi home forever.”

Vaibhav smiles as he hears this and says, “Okay, go. I’ll talk to Maa.”

Ishani immediately shakes her head.

“No, go and talk to her right now,” she says urgently. “What if Maa calls that girl’s parents the ones she liked?

Then what will you do? Go and tell her. Right now.”

Vaibhav pauses. He thinks for a moment and realizes Ishani is right.

“Okay, okay… I’m going,” he says finally.

Ishani stays back, visibly happy, her face glowing with relief and hope.

Vaibhav walks over to his mother.

“Maa, I need to talk to you.”

Malini continues with her work and replies casually,

“Yes, tell me.”

Vaibhav shakes his head.

“No, not like this, Maa. Please sit down first,” he says seriously. “And listen to me properly.”

Vaibhav sits down slowly in front of his mother.

His hands are restless, his mind louder than his heartbeat.

For a moment, he just looks at the floor, as if searching for the right words there.

“Maa…” he begins, then stops.

Malini looks at him carefully now.

A mother always knows when something is heavy on her child’s heart.

“Say it, beta,” she says gently. “Why are you so serious?”

Vaibhav takes a deep breath.

“Maa, I don’t want to marry anyone you’ve seen,” he says quietly. “Because… I already like someone.”

Malini doesn’t react immediately. She simply waits.

“I like Divya,” Vaibhav continues, his voice steady now. “I’ve liked her for years. And I want to marry only her.”

For a few seconds, Malini says nothing.

Vaibhav’s heart starts racing. He prepares himself for anger, for questions, for disappointment.

Instead, Malini smiles.

A soft, knowing smile.

“I knew it,” she says calmly.

Vaibhav looks up, shocked.

“You… knew?”

Malini nods.

“Yes, beta. I’m your mother. How could I not?” she says warmly. “I knew you like Divya. I knew you both have been dating.”

Vaibhav’s eyes widen.

“But Maa… I never told you.”

“You didn’t need to,” Malini replies. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. I’ve seen how quiet you become when she’s upset.” She pauses, then adds with a light chuckle, “And I also saw those two Valentine’s Day movie tickets in your wallet.”

Vaibhav freezes.“You saw that too?”

Malini laughs softly.

“Yes. And not just that. Late-night calls, sudden smiles, your excuses to step out… you think parents don’t notice? We notice everything. We just wait for the right time.”

Vaibhav lowers his head, half embarrassed, half relieved.

“I was scared, Maa,” he admits. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t know how to say it.”

Malni reaches out and places her hand on his head.

“You should have trusted me,” she says gently. “If you love someone honestly, there’s nothing wrong in that.”

Then her tone turns serious but kind.

“But remember one thing, Vaibhav. Love is not just about feeling. It’s about responsibility too. If you want to marry Divya, you must stand by her. Fully.”

Vaibhav nods without hesitation.

“I will, Maa. I promise.”

Malini smiles again, this time with quiet pride.

“Then tomorrow,” she says, “we’ll go to Divya’s house. Properly. With respect. And we’ll talk about marriage.”

Vaibhav’s eyes fill slightly.

“Thank you, Maa.”

Malini squeezes his hand.

“I didn’t raise you to hide your truth,” she says softly. “I raised you to own it.”

And somewhere outside the room, Ishani listening from a distance smiles to herself, knowing that today, something beautiful has finally begun.

Vaibhav says,

“And Mom, please refuse the girl’s family who are coming to our house.”

Then she speaks again, her voice gentle, almost playful. Malini says slowly, “that was a lie.”

Vaibhav’s head snaps up.

“A lie?” he asks, stunned.

Malini nods.

“Yes,” she says honestly. “There was no such girl.”

Vaibhav just stares at her, completely shocked.

“I said all that only so you would finally come to me and tell me the truth,” Malinii continues. “So you would gather the courage to say it out loud that you love Divya.”

For a second, Vaibhav can’t even speak. His heart is pounding, his thoughts tangled.

“You… did that on purpose?” he asks quietly.

Malini smiles softly.

“Sometimes, beta, parents have to create a little fear to hear the truth,” she says. “I knew about you and Divya long ago. But I was waiting for you to say it. Love should never be hidden, especially from your own mother.”

Vaibhav exhales shakily.

“I was so scared, Maa,” he admits. “I thought you’d be angry… that you wouldn’t understand.”

Malini reaches out and cups his face, her touch full of warmth.

“If I didn’t understand my own child, then what kind of mother would I be?” she says. “I just wanted you to trust me enough to speak.”

Vaibhav’s eyes sting.

“I’m sorry, Maa. I should have told you earlier.”

She shakes her head gently.

“It’s okay,” she says. “What matters is that you spoke today. And you spoke from your heart.”

Vaibhav nods slowly, the shock giving way to relief, gratitude, and a quiet happiness he hasn’t felt in a long time.

For the first time in years, he feels light as if a heavy secret has finally been set free.

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