On the rooftop, beneath the open sky, Bhairava and Mano sat side by side with a single lunch box between them. The breeze was gentle, the sun soft, but Mano's mood was anything but calm.
He sat with puffed cheeks and crossed arms, frustration bubbling inside him. He muttered, "I still can't believe you gave away my lunch…"
Bhairava chuckled, unfazed. "We can share mine today."
Just then, a cheerful voice floated through the air. "Bhairava… hiiii!"
They turned to see a girl approaching bright-eyed, with soft brown hair that danced in the wind. She wore round spectacles that framed her face perfectly, giving her an effortless charm. It was Aarya. A Psychology student with a mind as sharp as her intuition
She was more than just a friend, she was Bhairava's childhood companion, someone who knew him beyond words.
Aarya, beaming with excitement, walked over and plopped down beside Bhairava without hesitation. "I'm starving," she said, grabbing the lunch box from his hands playfully.
Before either of them could protest, she had already started eating, smiling between bites.
Mano's jaw dropped. "Hey! Stop! That's mine!"
Bhairava just smiled, watching Aarya with quiet amusement.
Mano blinked. "Wait… now it's her lunch?"
Aarya glanced at him, then turned away with playful indifference, clearly not planning to return the lunch.
But after a moment, she pulled out her own lunch box and handed it to Mano without a word still munching on Bhairava's food.
Mano blinked, caught between confusion and gratitude. "Wait… so I get yours?"
Aarya nodded, still chewing. Bhairava chuckled softly, watching the two of them.
Aarya scooped a spoonful and gently offered it to Bhairava. He accepted it with a quiet smile, chewing slowly as Mano sat beside them, now eating Aarya's lunch in silence.
At the edge of the terrace, Kiran and Devi stood facing each other. Their voices were low but tense. Devi turned away, clearly trying to leave, but Kiran stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Stop, Devi."
She spun around, eyes flashing. "This is none of your business. I'll do what I want."
Kiran's face was tight with worry. "But Devi… please, just listen to me."
Devi yanked her hand free. "Don't ever come in my way." She turned and walked off, her steps sharp and fast.
Kiran hesitated, then followed her, his expression pleading.
Bhairava, still chewing from the spoon Aarya had fed him, watched the scene unfold with quiet intensity.
Aarya noticed his gaze and leaned closer. "What are you looking at?"
She followed his eyes toward the distant pair.
Bhairava nodded slightly. "There's something going on between them."
Aarya squinted. "You mean Devi and Kiran?"
At the mention of Devi's name, Mano suddenly looked up, startled. "What? No way."
His voice cracked slightly, betraying more emotion than he intended.
Aarya raised an eyebrow. "Why do you sound so nervous?"
Mano hesitated, his face turning a shade pinker. He scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "Well… you know… I kinda have a crush on her."
Bhairava blinked. "What?"
Aarya didn't miss a beat. "Twenty-three."
Mano paused mid-bite. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Aarya leaned in with a mischievous grin. "That's the number of crushes you've had this year."
Mano frowned, cheeks flushed. "Who asked you to keep count?"
He shoved another spoonful into his mouth, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Bhairava chuckled and Mano groaned. "Can we just eat in peace?"
Aarya, smiling mischievously, stretched out her hand and poked his cheek. "Don't worry. You'll get a good girlfriend someday. Just like me."
"If she's like you, I don't need one."
Aarya narrowed her eyes. "What did you just say?"
Bhairava laughed, the kind of laugh that comes from watching two people who know each other too well. But then, his expression shifted. His gaze drifted beyond them, locking onto something in the distance.
Shreya was walking across the courtyard with her friends. The breeze lifted her blond hair gently, and the sunlight kissed her face, making her glow like a moment frozen in time.
Aarya noticed the change in Bhairava and followed his gaze. Her smile faded slightly. "How long are you going to keep looking from a distance?"
Bhairava looked down, a faint smile on his lips. "I don't have the courage to speak with her."
Aarya turned to him, her voice soft but firm. "If you don't speak, she might never know how you feel."
Bhairava's eyes returned to Shreya, still laughing with her friends. "I don't want her to know." He paused, then added quietly, "Every day when I see her from afar, it feels like she's new to my eyes. Like I've never seen her before. Her eyes, her cheeks, her lips… even the way she walks. Whenever I see her my heart races like anything. You won't understand this feeling, Aarya."
Aarya looked at him for a long moment. Sitting close, she murmured, her eyes soft with something unspoken, "I won't understand? That may not be true."
Bhairava leaned forward, eyes wide with surprise, searching her face. "Wait… you didn't tell me you were in love. Who is it?"
Aarya's expression shifted instantly—her eyes darting, her breath catching. "What? When did I say I was in love?" Her voice was hurried, almost defensive.
Bhairava smirked, his tone playful. "Don't lie. I saw it in your eyes."
Aarya's face turned bright red. She looked away, flustered, her voice barely holding together. "I'm not in love… don't look at me like that."
Mano, who had been quietly watching, burst into laughter. "You are very bad at lying."
Aarya puffed her cheeks in frustration, her voice rising. "Shut up!" She turned away, arms crossed, trying to hide the blush that refused to leave her face.
Bhairava smiled and gently placed his hand on her head, patting it with quiet affection. "If you ever fall in love… I'll be the first person to be happy for you."
Aarya froze for a moment, then slowly turned to look at him.
Her eyes met his wide eye, searching, and filled with something she hadn't meant to show. A strange mix of surprise, affection, and something deeper… something she hadn't named yet.
She didn't speak. She just looked at him, her expression caught between what are you saying? and do you already know?
But Bhairava, unaware, smiled and added with a quiet chuckle: "But you… help me with Shreya."
The words hit like a sudden gust of wind.
Aarya's smile faltered. Her eyes widened, then dimmed. She looked at him, really looked and something inside her folded.
She turned her face away, her shoulders sinking, as if trying to disappear into herself. The warmth in her cheeks faded. Her voice didn't come. Only silence.
And then
The bell rang, slicing through the quiet like a blade. Aarya blinked, startled, and quickly straightened up. Her smile returned, posture composed and bright.
She stood, brushing off her skirt as if nothing had happened.
"Let's go," she said, voice light again.