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The morning at the dorm was unusually quiet, but tension still hung in the air. Haniya slowly opened her eyes, feeling weak but better than the previous day. Aarav was already awake, sitting beside her bed, watching her closely. The moment she stirred, he leaned toward her.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She nodded and tried to smile. "A little better."
He helped her sit up carefully, reminding her not to rush. Soon there was a knock on the door. Vivaan, Harsh, and Kashvi stood outside, pretending to act normal, but the worry in their eyes was obvious. When they saw Haniya awake, all three visibly relaxed.
"Finally," Vivaan said dramatically. "We thought you'd scare us forever."
Harsh added, "Yeah, never do that again. We're not used to a quiet dorm."
Haniya let out a weak laugh. Kashvi came closer and touched her hand gently. "You scared us. Promise you'll take care of yourself now."
"I will," Haniya said quietly.
After a while, they helped her get ready. She insisted on coming with them. Aarav didn't argue, but he stayed close, his hand lightly resting on her back as if to steady her. At breakfast, everyone watched her carefully. She ate slowly, but at least she ate. That alone felt like a victory.
Vivaan nudged Harsh and whispered loudly, "Look at Aarav. Bodyguard mode activated."
Haniya rolled her eyes, finally sounding like herself. "Focus on your food, not my life."
The teasing made everyone laugh, and for the first time in days, the heaviness eased.
Later, they headed toward the match destination by bus. Haniya sat beside Aarav. The ride was calm at first, but soon Vivaan and Harsh couldn't keep quiet.
"So," Vivaan said, smirking, "care to explain yesterday's dramatic kiss?"
Harsh laughed. "Bro didn't even wait for privacy."
Haniya raised an eyebrow. "You both talk too much for people who scream during matches."
Aarav chuckled and pulled her a little closer. She didn't shy away this time. The bus ride continued with laughter and teasing. Somewhere between jokes and soft conversations, Haniya rested her head on Aarav's chest. He froze for a second, then gently wrapped his arm around her. She fell asleep like that, peaceful for the first time in days.
When they reached the destination, Aarav carefully lifted her without waking her. "She's light," Vivaan teased.
"She's tired," Aarav replied firmly.
In the preparation room, the teasing continued. Everyone talked about the kiss, exaggerating it shamelessly. Haniya didn't hide or blush anymore. She simply smiled and said, "Jealousy doesn't suit you guys."
Soon it was time for the match. The Rangers walked onto the stage together. The moment the game started, all emotions turned into focus. It wasn't easy. The opponents pushed hard, but the Rangers held their ground. When the final moment came and victory flashed on the screen, the team erupted in cheers.
Haniya smiled widely, relief and happiness flooding her. Aarav pulled her into a quick hug, not caring who saw. Vivaan and Harsh shouted, Kashvi clapped, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.
That night, they went out for dinner. When the bill came, Haniya casually took out her black card and placed it on the table.
Vivaan's eyes widened. "Casually paying with a black card? Who are you?"
Harsh laughed. "Adopt us."
Kashvi shook her head. "She's unreal."
Haniya smiled softly. "Consider it a victory treat."
As they walked back, Aarav leaned closer to her and whispered, "I'm proud of you."
She looked up at him, her smile gentle but strong. For now, she was okay. And for the first time, she believed she would be.