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Roohi's POV

The next day, there was another Holi celebration, and we were surrounded by bursts of color and laughter.

I had been trying to avoid him, unsure of how to deal with the new confusing whirlwind inside me. But Vihan was relentless. He asked me to come and play, but I said that I was not in the mood and was with my younger cousins, Sahaj and Saanjh, and my brother Ruhan, Mahi. My older brothers/cousins ( Raj, Ron, Sujal, and Viren) were busy with their group.

Mihir and Gauravi also applied color to my face and asked me to play with them, but I told them that I was a bit under the weather. But Vihan cornered me by the water pump, his face streaked with vibrant pinks and yellows.

“Why are you hiding, Roohi?” he asked, his voice teasing but with an undercurrent of concern.

I had looked away, pretending to focus on the ground, but he wasn’t having it. He smeared a streak of color across my cheek, his touch lingering for a moment too long. My heart raced, and I hated how obvious it must have been.

“I’m not hiding, I am feeling cold.” I lied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He had grinned then, a mischievous, knowing grin that made my stomach flip. “Good. Don't ever think of hiding from me, because I’d find you anywhere.”

And he always had. Every time I tried to distance myself, to build walls around my heart, he would find a way in, as though he belonged there.

I could not help loving him however painful it had been to see him with other girls.

The pain didn’t stop there. One evening, it started pouring down in sheets, all of a sudden, soaking us to the skin as Vihan and I were leaving campus. Vihan grabbed my arm.

“Come on, let’s make a run for it!” he said, laughing as he dragged me outside.

We sprinted through the rain, dodging puddles and shouting like kids. My sandals squelched with every step, and my hair clung to my face, but I didn’t care. We were alone, the world around us blurred by the rain, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like we were in our little bubble.

“You’re a mess,” he said, brushing a strand of wet hair from my face.

“So are you,” I shot back, shivering.

For a moment, he just looked at me, his usual teasing smile replaced by something softer. My heart leaped, but then he said, “We should get you inside before you catch a cold.”

" No, let it be! I love it. " I said.

Vihan shook his head, sending droplets flying as he laughed. “Remind me to check the weather forecast next time,” he joked, brushing his wet hair out of his eyes. His grin was contagious, but I could barely muster a smile. My heart was racing, my pulse loud in my ears as I searched for the courage to say what I’d been holding back.

“You know,” I began, my voice hesitant, “rain is supposed to be romantic.”

"Really? You think so? This is something new. " He asked with a grin.

“This is, like, the perfect setting for a love story. Imagine a guy and a girl, walking home in the rain, sharing an umbrella—”

“Or getting drenched and catching a cold,” he interrupted, grinning.

I rolled my eyes but pressed on. “You’ve never thought about kissing someone in the rain?”

To my horror, his face lit up. For a moment, he seemed to consider it, his expression softening. My heart soared, daring to hope. But then he said it.

“Actually, yeah!” he said enthusiastically. “That scene in The Notebook? Total classic. I’d love to do that someday. With someone special, of course.”

My heart soared for about two seconds before crashing spectacularly when he added, “Maybe Parina. She’s been hinting that she likes me.”

The bubble burst yet again. My heart plummeted, the warmth of his smile replaced by a cold ache in my chest. I managed a laugh, masking the sting of his words. “Lucky her,” I said, hoping he didn’t hear the crack in my voice.

He didn’t notice. Of course, he didn’t.

Moments like that weren’t rare—they were the threads of my heartbreak, woven into the tapestry of my love for him. The physics lab incident was another.

It was a holiday for everyone, but we had some extra classes that day, so we had a short break. Vihan excused himself and went to the washroom. My practical file was left in the physics lab in the previous class, so I thought of going there to retrieve my physics practical file before it was lost. Gauravi and I went to the physics lab.

But the sight that greeted me was anything but comforting. Vihan stood against the wall, his signature smirk in place, leaning close to Meera D’Souza.

His voice was low, his words meant only for her, but I didn’t need to hear them to know they were sweet. Too sweet. My chest tightened as I watched him brush a strand of hair from her face, the gesture so intimate it felt like a slap. And then, as if to twist the knife, he kissed her.

I froze. I wanted to look away, to turn and leave before he noticed me, but my feet wouldn’t move. It wasn’t until Meera giggled, her laughter echoing in the hallway that Gauravi held my hand and tugged me away. Finally, I found the strength to walk away.

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Good morning 🌄

Here is my today's chapter. I hope you like it. Please let me know.

Take good care of yourself and have a great day ahead.

Thanks
Chhavi.