The next morning, the rain was gone, but the sky still looked pale, as if the clouds had forgotten to leave completely.

Vihaan entered the classroom earlier than usual.

He didn’t even pretend there was another reason. He came early because Sania did. And every extra minute with her felt like something he wanted to collect and keep forever.

When he stepped inside, she was already there, sitting near the window with her chin resting on her palm, absentmindedly looking outside. Her long hair fell over one side of her face, and the soft morning light touched her so gently that for a second, Vihaan simply stood at the door, watching.

There was something about her in the mornings.

She looked quieter. Softer.

Like the world hadn’t reached her yet.

And Vihaan loved that version of her most.

He walked toward her slowly, but she didn’t notice. Her fingers were moving across her phone screen, typing something. A small smile played on her lips — the kind of smile that looked private, like it belonged to a conversation only she understood.

Vihaan stopped.

That same smile.

The one from yesterday.

For a brief second, something uncomfortable stirred inside him.

But the moment Sania looked up and saw him, her expression changed into the familiar warmth he knew.

“Good morning,” she said, slipping her phone into her bag.

And just like that, his doubt melted.

Because how could he question the girl whose voice alone made his mornings better?

Vihaan smiled and sat beside her.

“You came before me today,” he said.

Sania nodded. “Couldn’t sleep.”

He tilted his head, studying her face.

There were faint dark circles under her eyes.

Without thinking, he reached out and touched her cheek lightly. “You should’ve slept. You look tired.”

She looked startled for a second, then laughed softly. “And you look like you didn’t even comb your hair.”

Vihaan leaned closer, grinning. “That’s because I was too busy thinking about you.”

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks turned pink.

He loved that.

He loved how no matter how many times he said things like that, she still blushed.

As if she would never get used to being loved by him.

And Vihaan secretly hoped she never would.

Because he wanted to spend years making her blush.

He wanted every morning to start with this — her sitting by the window, pretending to be annoyed while secretly smiling at him.

Maybe that was the problem.

He had already imagined forever in moments that were only temporary.

---

The first few periods passed like usual.

Kartik spent most of chemistry class irritating Shanvi by flicking paper balls at her whenever the teacher turned around.

The third time, Shanvi stood up so suddenly that her chair screeched across the floor.

“If you throw one more at me, I swear I’ll bury you under the basketball court.”

Kartik smirked, leaning back in his chair. “You think about me too much.”

The class burst into laughter while Shanvi glared at him like murder was genuinely an option.

Sania laughed too.

But only for a second.

Then her phone buzzed under the desk, and her attention shifted instantly.

Vihaan noticed because he always noticed her.

The way her lashes lowered when she read something.

The tiny smile she tried to hide.

The way her fingers moved quickly to type back.

He watched her for a moment.

And then he looked away.

Not because he wasn’t curious.

But because trusting her felt more natural than doubting her.

Still, something inside him whispered.

Who is making her smile like that?

He hated that thought.

So he pushed it away.

---

During lunch break, Vihaan and Sania sat in their usual spot near the back benches.

The classroom buzzed with noise, but for Vihaan, everything blurred when Sania was near.

She was eating from her tiffin while reading something on her phone at the same time.

Vihaan rested his chin on his palm, staring at her.

Sania glanced up and caught him.

Again.

“You’re doing it.”

He smiled. “Doing what?”

“Staring.”

He shrugged. “Can’t help it.”

She shook her head, laughing. “What is there to stare at?”

Vihaan didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached out and removed a grain of rice stuck near the corner of her lip.

Sania froze.

His voice lowered.

“Everything.”

Her breath caught.

He smiled softly, almost shyly this time.

“When you laugh, your eyes disappear a little. Did you know that?”

Sania stared at him, speechless.

“And when you’re concentrating, you bite your lower lip. Like now.”

Her face grew warm.

Vihaan’s gaze softened even more.

“I know it sounds stupid, but sometimes I look at you and wonder how I got this lucky.”

For a second, Sania said nothing.

The usual teasing reply didn’t come.

Instead, she looked down.

And for the first time, Vihaan thought maybe she was overwhelmed by how much he loved her.

What he didn’t realize was that guilt can look a lot like silence.

Her phone buzzed again.

And the moment it did, the atmosphere changed.

She picked it up immediately.

Too quickly.

Her eyes scanned the screen, and once again, that unreadable smile appeared.

Vihaan’s hand, which had been resting beside hers, slowly pulled back.

He tried not to think about it.

He really did.

But love makes small things feel louder.

---

After school, Vihaan waited outside their class as usual.

He leaned against the corridor railing, spinning his keys while looking at the gate below. He had already planned the route home.

He would walk with Sania.

Maybe stop at the small tea stall outside school.

Maybe convince her to stay five extra minutes.

Maybe hear her laugh again.

But when she came out of the classroom, she looked distracted.

She avoided his eyes for the first time.

“You’re not coming?” he asked, smiling.

Sania adjusted her bag strap. “I can’t today. I have extra classes.”

The smile on Vihaan’s face faded just slightly.

“Oh.”

“It’s just for today,” she said quickly.

He nodded.

And because he never wanted to be the reason she felt restricted, he smiled again.

“Okay. I’ll walk you till the gate then.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Her answer came too fast.

Too sharp.

Both of them went silent.

Sania seemed to realize it too and softened her voice.

“I mean… my class is in the opposite direction. You should go. Kartik’s waiting, right?”

Vihaan turned.

Kartik was nowhere nearby.

He looked back at her.

Something felt wrong.

But Sania stepped back before he could ask.

“I’ll text you later, okay?”

Then she left.

Just like that.

Vihaan stood in the corridor for a long time, staring at the empty staircase.

He told himself he was overthinking.

That she was just busy.

That one missed walk home didn’t mean anything.

But for the first time, he went home without hearing her laugh.

And the silence felt unbearable.

---

From the basketball court, Shanvi watched Sania leave through the back gate of the school.

Not the front gate.

The back gate.

The one no student used unless they wanted to avoid attention.

Her brows furrowed.

She watched as Sania walked quickly toward the road outside.

A black bike was parked there.

A boy removed his helmet.

Shanvi couldn’t see his face clearly.

But she saw enough.

Sania smiled.

That same smile.

And before Shanvi could process it, Sania climbed onto the bike.

The boy drove away.

Her grip on the railing tightened.

Because inside the corridor, Vihaan was still standing where she had left him, looking at his phone, probably waiting for the text she promised.

Shanvi looked at him.

Then at the empty road.

And for the first time, even she didn’t know whether telling the truth would save him…

or break him.

What do you think shanvi will do ? Will she tell the truth to vihaan or will support her bsf?🤔

To know that stick with the next chapter.

Live and follow💗