Arun came to an abrupt halt. His firm, leading stride broke, catching Abhi and Vihan off guard.
They froze instinctively, eyes flickering with a trace of hope—just enough to wonder if maybe they had swayed him.
But when Arun turned, his face was unreadable. No softening. No cracks.
"It's just for the exams," he said flatly. "And you're not to talk to Ayan unless necessary."
His eyes locked with Abhi's—piercing, silent, cold.
No more words. He strode through the doorway ahead.
Abhi and Vihan looked up, only now realizing they'd arrived at the library. Abhi shot Vihan a scowl, irritation bubbling—then twisting into a slow, disappointed smile. They'd need a better plan.
Vihan lingered at the threshold, watching them disappear.
---
[Inside the Library]
Ayan sat absorbed in a thick textbook, the quiet wrapping around him like a cocoon.
He looked up at the shift in atmosphere—and froze.
Arun stood beside him with a soft brotherly face.
And right behind… Abhi.
Ayan blinked, visibly puzzled. "Abhi?" he whispered. "What are you doing with Brother Arun?"
"Oh! Didn't your brother tell you?" Abhi replied, voice smooth and harmless. "He's helping me prepare for our semester exams."
Then, turning toward Arun with an almost deferential tone, he added, "Isn't that right, Young Master?"
Arun's jaw twitched.
Meanwhile, Ayan glanced between them, utterly baffled. The sudden closeness between his brother and an underclassman didn't make sense.
Before he could speak, Arun's gaze snapped to Abhi—sharp, burning. A silent warning.
"Sit."
And Arun placed his bag on the table with a deliberate thud.
Abhi, unfazed, smiled lightly and obeyed, sinking into the chair with an expression that clearly said got you.
Across from him, Arun held out his hand. "Give me your previous test sheets."
He spared a glance toward Ayan. "You have exams too, you should keep studying."
Abhi's gaze never leaving Arun, retrieved a folder from his bag and handed it over.
Arun turned his focus to the papers, doing his best to ignore the unrelenting stare pressing into him from across the table.
...
At the doorway, Vihan remained, phone pressed to his ear, eyes on the trio.
Abhi's gaze flicked toward him, catching his signal.
In response, Vihan nodded subtly, with a hideous grin.
Then, Abhi returned his focus to Arun, letting an enigmatic smile ghost across his face.
Arun furrowed his brow at the test sheets. He froze on a particular page.
"How... all your scores are below fifty?"
Abhi flinched. Then leaned in, resting his elbows on the table with theatrical ease. "Oh! At least I scored above thirty, and that's all I need to pass, isn't it?"
Ayan choked on a laugh.
But it was short-lived.
Arun turned to him sharply. "Ayan."
And, Ayan straightened instantly with an awkward pause.
Abhi, ever the mischief-maker, sent him a playful look, puffing his cheeks and nodding exaggeratedly, as if to say oops.
Watching him—Ayan struggled to suppress another laugh, cheeks puffing adorably. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt."
Arun sighed, visibly exhausted, and moved to hand the sheets back.
But just as his lips parted—
A neatly wrapped box was placed on the table. "Here," a calm voice said. "Your chocolate cake. With caramel topping."
All three heads turned.
Abhi lit up with an appreciation. "Thank you, Senior Karan."
There—Karan stood casually beside Aarav and Vihan.
When Aarav's eyes found Ayan, his expression softened instantly—light blooming across his face.
Ayan's cheeks flushed.
Across the table, Arun's arms folded, irritation flickering in his gaze.
Abhi turned to Aarav, gesturing toward the seat beside him.Directly across from Ayan. "Brother… sit here."
Aarav hesitated only for a second before nodding and taking the seat.
As he settled—he cast a glance toward Ayan, his expression gentle and warm.
Then, almost imperceptibly, Aarav stretched his legs under the table, his foot brushing softly against Ayan's.
The touch was feather-light. Intentional.
Ayan's breath hitched. His eyes flicked up in surprise—meeting Aarav's.
Aarav didn't look away this time. He held his gaze with a soft smile.
Ayan's heart stuttered, his cheeks tinting with a pink so subtle only someone watching closely would notice.
But Aarav noticed.
Meanwhile, Karan and Vihan quietly joined them.
Arun, visibly bristling, snapped, "What are they doing here?"
"Your brother's here too. I didn't complain." Abhi answered with practiced ease.
Arun's eyes narrowed. "And the extras?"
His gaze landed on Karan like a dart.
Abhi leaned back slightly, meeting him head-on. "They have exams too. And this is a library—I can't stop them from being here."
The silence stretched—tense and fragile.
Then Arun stood up abruptly.
"Then... enjoy your cake. We're done for today."
A pause—
He turned sharply toward Ayan. "Ayan. Let's go."
Ayan, still dazed from Aarav's presence, blinked. The spell broke. He pulled his legs back immediately.
Then, he stood slowly, and followed his brother out of the room.
Aarav's eyes followed him, disappointment shadowing his expression.
...
As they disappeared, the tension exhaled.
Karan muttered, deadpan, "His stares are deadly."
Vihan laughed, a boyish chuckle escaping him. "And you call me dramatic?"
Karan turned, smirking. "Oh? Asking for it, junior?"
He gave Vihan a light smack on the head. Unharmed almost soft.
Vihan gasped, rubbing the spot with exaggerated pain, grin spreading wider.
Across the table, Aarav watched the two with quiet fondness.
Abhi finally stood, stretching as he pushed back his chair. His smile fainted slowly, "Ok... k...Stop playing now."
A pause. "What's next?"
The playful air faded, replaced with renewed focus.
[ In Parking lane ]
Arun and Ayan strolled through the nearly empty parking lane, weaving between the few remaining vehicles.
Arun unlocked the car with a soft click, and moved to open the driver's side door.
Just as he was about to get in, Ayan hesitated, his gaze narrowing.
Something didn't seem right.
Ayan stepped closer to the car, crouching slightly, and then straightened, pointing toward the tires, "Brother, the tires..."
Arun paused, turning to follow Ayan's finger.
Two were deflated. Arun slammed the driver's door shut, frustration flashing before he masked it.
For a moment, he stood still.
Then with practiced patience, he dialed a number.
Seconds stretched into an eternity, but no one answered.
Ayan, watching him intently, stepped closer. "What happened Brother ?"
Arun's expression softened, a calm veneer masking the undercurrent of frustration. "Papa isn't picking up, and the landlines aren't connecting either."
He turned his attention back to his phone, searching for alternatives.
Meanwhile, the other four entered the parking lot, their footsteps echoing faintly against the empty space.
The four of them slowed to a stop a few paces behind Ayan and Arun.
However, Arun remained engrossed in his phone, oblivious to the world around him.
Vihan's eyes flicked toward the gleaming black car, then back to Ayan. "Ayan, is everything okay?"
Hearing Vihan's voice, Ayan turned around, his expression dull and weary.
"Our car's tire... it's flat."
The four exchanged brief glances, sneaky.
Abhi stepped forward with his voice warm and humble, "You want to come with us?... We'll drop you home."
Ayan glanced at Abhi, his face the picture of innocence and then his gaze shifted to Arun.
The others followed him, waiting for Arun's response.
Arun slowly powered down his phone. He lifted his eyes, meeting Abhi's gaze with a calm, calculating look.
Just then, the rumble of an approaching car cut through the tension.
The group of four stood in uncertain silence, their eyes fixed on that car.
Arun, however, moved with quiet assurance and stepped toward the car, opening the back seat door with a practiced motion, then turned to Ayan.
"Hop on..."
Ayan with unruffled face, obeyed his orders without a flicker of hesitation.
Arun then opened the passenger door, pausing for a moment. He turned his keen, luminous eyes toward Abhi.
"It's really uncomfortable to be around you ."
Abhi's face twisted with annoyance, his fists clenched, ready to lunge, but Vihan pulled him back.
Meanwhile, Arun slid into the seat, and the car's engine purred to life.
The car purred to life and drove off.
Abhi spun around, fuming. "How did he call a car? I thought our guys set jammers."
"They said they did," Vihan replied, grinning faintly. "But wasn't my plan smooth?"
All heads turned to him, unimpressed. Done.
"What?" Vihan murmured in confusion.
Karan placed a hand on Vihan's shoulder, giggled, then nudging him forward.
They left without another word.