Didn't he come

You guess it

Ahaan didn't come early today.

Usually, he's the first one here, sitting in his usual spot with that brooding look on his face, pretending to ignore everyone. But today, he wasn't.

It was strange-he never skipped being early.

I glanced around the classroom, trying not to let it bother me, but it did.

Soon, Kiara walked in, her bag slung over her shoulder and her sunglasses perched on her head like she owned the place. I smiled despite myself. At least she wasn't late today.

"Miss me, babes?" she teased, plopping down beside me with her usual confident smirk.

"Nope," I replied, shaking my head.

"You're so mean!" she gasped, placing a hand over her heart like I'd mortally wounded her.

Then, leaning closer, she whispered conspiratorially, "Hey, did you hear? The annual function's coming up, and this time, we actually get to choose our dance partners. Can you believe it?"

I nodded casually. "Yeah, I saw the notice on the board."

Kiara's excitement didn't waver. "So?"

I frowned. "So what?"

"Are you going to participate? Don't you dare say no," she warned, narrowing her eyes.

I sighed. "No, I'm not. You know I'm terrible with things like this. And don't even get me started on the idea of dancing with someone. I'd probably trip over my own feet."

Kiara winced dramatically. "Yaar, why are you like this? It's literally the perfect chance to pick a hot guy and have an excuse to dance with him. You're wasting an opportunity!"

"Oh, well," I said with mock seriousness, "I'm not interested. You know how nervous I get with just a single touch, Kiara."

Kiara groaned, tossing her head back in frustration. "beta tu na single hi maregi "

(You'll surely die single dear)

I grinned. "no doubt And you'll be my company, won't you?"

"Yeah, that's the dream," she said with a laugh. Then she added,

"But what if I do find someone? You'll have to fend for yourself, Ishi. You need to find a banda (a guy) , yaar."

I shook my head, amused. ". Banda hai khilona nahin First, we get attracted to them, and then once we have them, we get bored."

(A banda isn't a toy, Kiara)

Kiara's eyes lit up mischievously. "Oh! So, you're saying Rahul is just an attraction, and you'll get bored of him too?"

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't say that! Rahul was my crush back in second grade. It was... innocent."

Kiara grinned and mimicked my voice. "Yeah When we were in second grade, it was crush at first sight.' You've said that seventeenth times now."

"Sixteenth," I corrected with a mock glare.

She sighed, glancing out the window. Maybe she was right.

The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts, and there he was-Ahaan.

He walked in, his presence commanding as always.

His eyes found mine briefly, and I quickly looked away, pretending to focus on my notebook.

He moved to his usual desk, casual yet confident, like nothing could touch him.

But I couldn't shake the memory of yesterday-the way I'd rejected his dance proposal.

He must be angry.

Why wouldn't he be? I mean, Ahaan could have anyone. Girls practically threw themselves at him.

He didn't need me, a shy topper, to complicate things.

But then again... what if he genuinely wanted me to be his partner? What if it wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision?

A pang of guilt crept into my chest.

Should I say yes?

Would he even take me seriously if I did

I mean, what kind of girl rejects and then agrees later?

The class began, pulling me out of my swirling thoughts. I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept wandering back to Ahaan, his expression, his voice, and the way he said,

"I'll wait for your answer, topper."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period. I was packing my books when Sofie appeared out of nowhere, tapping the guy sitting in front of me to move aside.

Then, with a bright smile, she turned toward me. "Hey, Ishi. Do you mind helping me out? I didn't understand what the teacher just explained."

I nodded and smiled politely. "um Sure."

She slid into the seat beside me, placing her notebook on the desk. I skimmed through the problem, realizing it was straightforward.

"It's not that hard," I explained gently, breaking it down for her. "If you understand the basic trigonometric functions, you can build the formulas yourself and apply them directly."

Sofie's eyes widened in amazement. "Woah. That's impressive. You make it sound so easy!"

Before I could respond, Kiara chimed in with her usual confidence. "Of course, it's easy for her. That's my bestie's talent."

Sofie chuckled. "I can see that. You're really smart, Ishi."

Her genuine praise caught me off guard, and I blushed slightly. "It's nothing, really. Just practice."

Sofie tilted her head thoughtfully, then asked, "Hey, would you mind if we studied together? Like after lunch? I really want to get better at this stuff. Karan's always ahead of me, and I need to catch up."

Before I could reply, Kiara crossed her arms, shooting Sofie a look. She didn't say anything, but I could tell she wasn't thrilled about sharing me.

I glanced at Kiara, giving her a reassuring smile. She sighed dramatically but nodded, her silent way of giving me permission.

"Great!" Sofie beamed. "After lunch, meet me at the basketball ground. We have two free periods; we can study then. Thanks so much, Ishi. You're a lifesaver!"

I smiled softly and nodded, watching her walk away.

Kiara leaned closer, narrowing her eyes. "She better not try to steal you from me."

I chuckled. "Relax. No one can replace you."

Kiara grinned. " You're too innocent you know na."

Yeah I was

When kiara light up by saying "hey i brought something special, dad cooked macaroons, let's go"

Wow macaroons, I loved uncle's cooking specially the macaroons

After lunch, Kiara and I made our way to the basketball ground, the warm sun casting golden streaks across the court.

The moment I stepped onto the field, my gaze landed on Ahaan.

He was in his element, dribbling the ball effortlessly, his movements sharp and precise.

I froze for a moment.

Gosh, why had I never noticed him like this before?

I'd always heard he was a great player, but watching him now, it was different-mesmerizing.

Kiara leaned in, placing a hand on my shoulder and whispering with a teasing smirk, "Bro, look at him. He's like a five-star hotel meal. Delicious, right?"

I rolled my eyes, giving her my best bombastic side-eye. "um i don't know," I muttered, trying to downplay what I really thought.

Good? No. He was sexy-wait, no.

I mean, he was skilled.

Yes, skilled.

Why was the English language failing me now?

And then Rahul walked onto the ground, striding in like he owned the place.

Fireworks. That's the only way I could describe the feeling. When your crush enters the scene, doesn't it just feel like the whole world shifts? Or is that just me?

But my excitement was short-lived.

As I glanced between Rahul and Ahaan, I remembered something that made my stomach flip-the Instagram follow request.

I still hadn't accepted their request. What would he think if I did?

Would he think I was interested?

Gosh, I was such an overthinker.

Lost in thought, I almost didn't notice Ahaan turning around. But when I looked up, our eyes met.

Again.

It was like a jolt of electricity.
His smirk deepened, and he turned back to Rahul, who was now standing a few feet away.

Rahul said something to him, but I couldn't hear it. Whatever it was, Ahaan's expression shifted.

He glanced at me once more, then turned to his friends, signaling something with a knowing nod.

What the hell were they up to?

The next thing I heard was Ahaan's voice, loud and clear.

"Game on, boys."

Game? Wait, what game?

Were they about to have a match?

Before I could process it, Kiara plopped down on a nearby chair, popcorn in hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"Where did you even get popcorn?" I asked, bewildered.

She just shrugged. "Always be prepared, babe. This is going to be fun."

Meanwhile, I stood there awkwardly, watching as Sofie Walked over us

The whistle blew, and just like that, the match started.

but my eyes were glued to one person-Ahaan.

He was unstoppable.

His movements were sharp, precise, and ridiculously smooth.

The way he dribbled the ball, dodging players left and right, was like watching a scene straight out of a sports movie.

He made it look so effortless.

And yet, in between all his intense focus and flawless gameplay,

he would glance at me.

Not once, not twice, but several times. Each time, it felt like he was silently saying, Are you watching, ishita?

I hated how flustered it made me feel. My heart was racing for no reason.

He's just playing basketball, Ishita

Get a grip.

Rahul, on the other hand, was trying his best to keep up.

He wasn't bad, but compared to Ahaan, he looked... average.

It didn't help that Ahaan was clearly out to prove a point. With every basket he scored,

Ahaan's smirk grew wider, and Rahul's frustration became more obvious.

Sofie walked up to me, breaking my trance. "Hey, do you want to go? We could head back and study or something."

I hesitated, my gaze still on the court. Ahaan had just executed a perfect three-pointer, the crowd going wild.

The smirk on his face was pure arrogance as he glanced at Rahul, almost daring him to keep up.

Before I could answer Sofie, Kiara cut in, waving her popcorn like a flag of protest. "Go? Are you kidding me? This is getting so good! Let's see who wins-Ahaan or that langoor Rahul."

"Kiara!" I said, nudging her in mock disapproval, though a small laugh escaped me.

"What?" she said, grinning. "I'm just stating facts. Look at him-he's all arms and legs, running around like a confused giraffe."

I shook my head, trying to hold back a laugh, but my attention was quickly stolen again by the game.

Ahaan was on fire He was fast, agile, and his confidence was almost overwhelming.

At one point, Ahaan executed a spin move so flawlessly, it left two of Rahul's teammates scrambling to regain their footing.

Kiara leaned over, her voice low yet curious, "Wait, am I missing something?"

I frowned, still trying to focus on the game. "What do you mean?"

She confused knowingly, "Bro, he's been glancing at you the whole time."

I blinked, startled. "What? No, he's just... playing."

But Kiara just raised an eyebrow. "Right? Girl, open your eyes."

I turned back to the court just in time to see Ahaan catch a pass from Karan. His movements were effortless, his focus unshaken. But then it happened-he looked directly at me.

For a fleeting moment, our eyes met, and he smirked before winking and shooting the ball straight into the basket.

The roar of the crowd barely registered over the sudden rush of heat crawling up my neck. My stomach flipped as I quickly looked away, clutching my books tighter as if they could shield me from whatever spell he was casting.

Kiara didn't hold back her laughter. "he winked at you."

I glared at her. "maybe he got something in his eyes."

Sofie cheered loudly as Ahaan's team dominated the game.

It was obvious who the star was-Ahaan Malhotra owned that court.

Every move was calculated, precise, and maddeningly confident. He didn't just play basketball; he commanded it.

Rahul's team barely put up a fight before the final whistle blew. The game was over, and Ahaan had once again proven why he was the captain. His team celebrated, but his eyes were already scanning at me.

And then

I froze under the weight of his gaze, my heart thundering in my chest as he started walking-no, striding-toward us.

Kiara nudged me hard. "Bro, he's coming. Oh my god, he's actually coming."

"I-he's probably-" I stammered, but I couldn't form a coherent thought.

Ahaan didn't stop until he reached the fencing.

With one smooth motion, he jumped over it, landing with an ease that sent a ripple of tension through the air.

His gaze never left mine, and I couldn't bring myself to look away this time.

He walked straight to where we were sitting, his steps deliberate and confident.

My palms were damp, and I gripped my books tightly, hoping they'd somehow anchor me to reality.

When he finally reached us, he grabbed the bottle Sofie was holding, taking a long drink.

His Adam's apple bobbed with each gulp, and I hated how hypnotized I felt watching him.

But he wasn't done. He lowered the bottle, his eyes still locked on me, and smirked.

"Enjoyed the game, Miss Topper?"

Miss Topper?

Kiara gasped dramatically beside me, her eyes wide with exaggerated excitement.

But I couldn't even process her theatrics. My heart was racing, my face was on fire, and my brain was desperately trying to comprehend what just happened.

"I-um..." I stammered, the words caught somewhere in my throat.

Why couldn't I form a simple sentence?

Why did he have to look at me like that?

Kiara nudged me hard, whispering, "Say something! Bro."

But instead of replying, I turned to Kiara, desperate for an escape. "We're getting late," I blurted out, grabbing her arm and tugging her along without waiting for her response.

As I walked away, I could feel his gaze on me, burning into my back. It made my heart race even faster, and I hated how self-conscious it made me feel.

Once we were far enough from the court, Kiara burst out laughing. "Miss Topper? Oh my god, he called you Miss Topper."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "It's not like that. He's just... Ugh, I don't know!"

Why did he wink at me?

And what was wrong with me?

Why did my heart feel like it was trying to break out of my chest?

Kiara and I were sitting in the library with Sofie, trying to solve equations.

At least they were trying-I was completely zoned out, my mind replaying all the chaotic moments from the past two days.

Why was I so affected? Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

Sofie's voice jolted me back to reality.

"Why did you refuse to dance with Ahaan?"

My pencil froze mid-air, and so did I. Kiara, sitting beside me, almost knocked her books off the table in shock.

"Wait, WHAT?" Kiara's voice came out louder than it should in a library, earning us glares from the librarian.

I avoided eye contact, staring at the notebook in front of me like it held the answers to life. "I... I don't know," I mumbled.

Sofie raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? You didn't want to participate or just didn't want to dance with him?"

Kiara turned to me with wide eyes. "Ahaan asked you to dance? And you refused? What the actual-what is happening, Ishita?!"

I groaned internally. How was I supposed to explain this? "It's not what you think," I stammered. "I just-I got nervous, okay?"

Sofie crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "You got nervous? Well he's hurt i guess?"

My eyes widened. "What?! No, I didn't mean to! It's just-I'm not a good dancer! He deserves someone better, someone who won't embarrass him on stage!"

Sofie rolled her eyes and got up, shaking her head. "ohk that's your choice, and thanks for your help." She walked away, leaving me with Kiara, who looked like she was about to explode.

She turned to me, eyes narrowed. "Han bhai, kal toh tu pati le aayegi aur mujhe batayegi bhi nahi, na?"

(Yes brother, you will bring your husband tomorrow and will not even tell me, right?)

I blinked at her in disbelief. "PATI?! What are you even saying?"

"Yeah, pati!" she hissed. "Now spill it-what the hell is going on?!"

I sighed, realizing there was no escape. "Fine, but keep your voice down!" I hissed back.

Leaning closer, I spilled everything-the staring, the dance invitation, my refusal, and my complete inability to understand why he of all people was paying attention to me.

When I finished, Kiara stared at me like I'd just told her aliens were real.

"Are you SERIOUS right now?" she asked, her voice rising again.

"What?" I whispered defensively.

"What? WHAT?!" she whisper-yelled. "Do you even hear yourself? Girls are literally DYING to get his attention, and he's giving it to you, and you're acting like it's nothing!"

"That's my point!" I shot back. "Why me? There are so many girls better than me. Why would he choose me?"

Kiara smacked her forehead dramatically. "Because it's YOU, dumbass!"

I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "I don't get it..."

"Oh, you don't get it?" Kiara leaned closer, her expression dead serious. "Let's break this down, shall we?

1: He keeps staring at you.

2: He came early to class-alone-i guess to see you.

3: He makes intense eye contact every chance he gets.

4: He asked you to be his dance partner-something he's never done with any other girl before.

5: He winked at you during the basketball match.

6: He followed you on Instagram and liked your post."

She clutched my arm, shaking me. "Girl, do you realize you're living the plot of a Bollywood movie right now? The bad boy falling for the sweet, shy girl? And you're sitting here like it's no big deal!"

I stared at her, completely overwhelmed.

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "You know what all this means, right?"

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Yeah... I think I do."

We exchanged a knowing look, and at the same time, she whispered dramatically,

"MAYBE HE HAS A CRUSH ON YOU!"

If you're enjoy this journey, please show your love and support! Every vote, comment, and share means the world to me. Thank you for joining me on this story, and I hope you'll continue to follow Ishita and Ahaan's journey! Your support truly motivates me to keep writing and sharing their world with you. 💖

Thank you 🫶🏻

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