š 29th August, Tuesday ā Nandanpur
The day after the accident, the village air felt heavy with a strange mix of warmth and dampness. Clouds were rolling in, thick and restless, and the heat clung to the skin like an extra layer.
Unexpected Visitors
By mid-morning, two scooters appeared on the dirt road leading to the Kumar and Sharma homes.
Rehan and Rehana.
Abhay, who was carrying a sack of grain with Raghav, nearly dropped it when Rehan waved casually. Ishanvi emerged from her house, wiping her hands on her dupatta, her braid falling loosely on her shoulder.
"You didn't have to come," Ishanvi said with a polite smile.
"We did," Rehana said. "Our parents told us about what you all did yesterday. We wanted toā¦ well, thank you properly."
Vaidehi, leaning on the doorway, smirked. "They're rivals, but now they're our guests. Isn't that cute?"
While the others chatted, Ishanvi handed Abhay a steel jug of water, her fingers brushing his.
"You're still tense," she said softly. "But you were amazing yesterday."
Abhay's ears turned crimson.
"Fireflyā¦ don't do that," he muttered.
Ishanvi tilted her head. "Don't do what?"
"Compliment me like thatā¦ becauseā¦" He sighed, voice dropping.
"Because I forget what I'm doingā¦ and who I even am when you look at me like that."
Ishanvi's smile deepened, and just as she opened her mouth to tease him further, Vrinda yelled from the kitchen windowā
"Didi! Abhay bhaiya! Are you going to flirt all day or help with the vegetables?!"
Even Rehan and Rehana chuckled.
āļøThe Rain Arrives
By afternoon, heavy raindrops began pelting the thatched roofs, but the air wasn't cool. It was hot rain, strangely warm, like the air carried fire and water together.
"This weather's weird," Raghav muttered. "It's like it can't decide what it wants to be."
Abhay glanced at Ishanvi. Neither spoke, but both felt itāthat faint hum of something stirring inside them.
Truth and Dare
With the rain trapping them indoors, all ten of them gathered in the Kumar living room.
"Truth or dare!" Vivaan shouted, spinning an old brass plate like a bottle.
The game began with daresāAariv had to balance a metal spoon on his nose, Meera had to sing a funny song. Even Rehan and Rehana joined in, laughing as Vaidehi dared them to dance to a folk tune.
Then the plate spun and landed on Rehana, who grinned mischievously.
"Abhay," she said, eyes narrowing. "Truth."
"Fine," Abhay said cautiously.
"Why do you stutter when you're with Ishanvi?"
The room went silent.
Abhay's face turned pink, his gaze flickering to Ishanvi.
"Becauseā¦" he swallowed hard. "Because sheā¦ makes me forget words."
The room exploded with laughter. Even Ishanvi tried hiding her blush, swatting Vivaan's teasing hand.
"Bhaiya, that was so cute!" Meera giggled.
An Accidental Moment
Later, as the rain softened, everyone helped with evening chores. Abhay was carrying a basket of washed clothes to the line when he slipped on the wet floorālanding right into Ishanvi's arms, knocking both of them down on a pile of folded blankets.
"Ow," Ishanvi groaned. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah," Abhay stuttered, suddenly aware of how close her face was.
"Woooow," Raghav's voice rang out. "This is better than any dare!"
Vaidehi added, "Should we give you two some privacy?"
Both of them scrambled up, faces red, while the room filled with laughter.
Nightfall
By night, the rain still hadn't stopped, so Rehan and Rehana decided to stay over. The girls spread mats in Ishanvi's house, while the boys stayed at Abhay's.
As the lamps flickered, Ishanvi found herself looking out the window at the raināher palm glowing faintly warm again.
Across the lane, Abhay was doing the same, water dripping unnaturally slow from his fingertips.
Neither said a word.
But both knew something was coming.