The days flew by as exams drew closer. Both Naaz and Sidharth had buried themselves deep in their schedules classes, notes, revisions. In the chaos, the moments they used to steal for each other vanished quietly.

Yet, that distance did something unexpected to Naaz. It made her realise just how deeply he had settled into her life. The craving to see him grew sharper every day, and even a single glimpse of him from across the corridor was enough to keep her heart warm for the entire day. She understood he was just as occupied, but knowing that didn’t lessen her longing.

A week slipped by in preparation. Then, exams began, and Shehnaaz’s schedule tightened even further. Home to college, college to library, and back home again. Books accompanied her everywhere during lunch, during dinner, even during the rare few minutes she paused to breathe.

Whenever a problem confused her, she instinctively went to her Sidharth sir. And he, without a hint of mischief, would guide his favourite student with complete sincerity, knowing how hard she was trying to give her best. Only sometimes when he couldn’t control himself he would steal a soft kiss on her cheeks, nose, forehead & even lips ,quick enough that she couldn’t scold him.

Four long weeks passed before they finally got a chance to be with each other again.

Naaz was buzzing with excitement. So was he.

She dressed simply a loose pink top and white jeans , her face bare except for a soft layer of lip balm. Fresh, natural… and unknowingly beautiful. She stepped out of her house with a smile she couldn’t hide.

Entering college, her eyes found him instantly. Sidharth was talking to a group of students, looking effortlessly attractive in a yellow T-shirt and blue jeans.

As if sensing her gaze, he turned toward the entrance. His eyes locked onto hers, and he raised a teasing eyebrow.

Naaz just shrugged casually, pretending his presence didn’t affect her in a hundred different ways, and walked toward the canteen.

But Sidharth’s smirk said he had noticed everything.

After a while, Sidharth stepped into the canteen casual, relaxed, expecting to see Naaz waiting for him.

But the moment his eyes found her… everything inside him froze.

Shehnaaz was in someone else’s arms.

A tall, handsome boy almost her age was hugging her tightly, and she didn’t look uncomfortable at all. Something hot and sharp twisted in Sidharth’s chest. Jealousy. Hurt. Rage.

His jaw clenched, eyes darkening as the blood in his veins felt like it was boiling.

The hug broke, and Naaz looked up at him with a bright smile but the smile faded the second she saw his expression.

Before she could say anything, he turned around and walked out of the canteen, his footsteps stiff with anger.

Naaz’s breath hitched. What just happened?

She quickly excused herself and began moving toward the exit, desperate to follow him, but right then Sanya and Riya entered, blocking her way.

Sanya raised her brows.

“Oye! Kahaan bhaagi ja rahi hai itni jaldi?”

Naaz bit her lip, anxious.

“Yaar, mujhe thoda kaam hai… main tum logon se baad mein baat karti hoon.”

Riya immediately grabbed her wrist.

“Nope. Tu kahin nahi jaa rahi. Ek mahina ho gaya humne theek se time spend bhi nahi kiya. Tu yahin rukegi hamare saath, and that’s final.”

Naaz sighed, her heart heavy, but she nodded reluctantly. She sat down with them, her mind nowhere near the table. All she could think of was the look on Sidharth’s face.

A few minutes later, Riya nudged her.

“Oye Shehnaaz… ek baat pooch sakti hoon?”

Naaz lifted her eyes, already tense.

“Haan pooch… itna formal kyun hone lagi tu?”

Riya folded her arms, lips pressed together.

“Isliye, kyunki tu aaj-kal humse bohot kuch chupa rahi hai.”

Naaz frowned instantly.

“Maine kya chupaya?”

Riya leaned forward, eyes narrowing.

“Dekhte hain kitna sach batati ho. Toh ye bata tere aur Sidharth sir ke beech kya chal raha hai?”

Naaz’s eyes flew wide at the sudden attack.

Her throat went dry.

“Na… nahin toh… aisa… aisa kuch nahi hai,” she fumbled miserably.

Riya threw her hands up.

“Oye, tu rehne de! Jis tarah tu bol rahi hai na, yahaan ka koi bhi banda bata dega ki tu jhooth bol rahi hai. Hum toh phir tere dost hain!”

Her voice trembled, more dramatic than necessary.

“Tu nahi maanti, woh baat alag hai… lekin maine hamesha tujhe apna sacha dost maana. Apne saare secrets bataye apna pehla boyfriend, pehli kiss se lekar last tak sab bataya! Apna samajh ke bataya. Lekin tu… tu toh hume kuch samajhti hi nahi. Koi baat nahi… hum apni feelings doosron pe thop nahi sakte.”

She wiped her “invisible” tears like a TV serial heroine, and Sanya mentally slapped her forehead, embarrassed by her sister’s drama.

But Naaz… ever thr soft-hearted Naaz… got emotional.

She caught Riya’s hand.

“Don’t say like that yaar, please. You both are like my sisters. Bohot pyaar karti hoon dono ko… aur apna hi maanti hoon.”

Riya sniffed exaggeratedly.

“It’s okay yaar…”

Naaz took a deep breath.

Her voice turned quieter, sincere.

“Actually… main Sidharth sir se tuitions leti thi. Aur… I started liking him.”

Riya’s eyes widened.

“What about him?”

Naaz’s cheeks warmed.

“He also…”

“OH. MY. GOD!” Riya squealed, bouncing in her seat.

“Oh my God oh my God oh my God! I’m so happy for you, Naaz!”

Naaz panicked and slapped her hand on Riya’s mouth.

“Shhh! Chup ho ja pagal! Kya kar rahi hai? Announcement karwani hai kya tujhe?”

Riya giggled behind her hand.

“Shehnaaz yaar… tu toh college ke most wanted bande ko hi le gayi!”

Then suddenly she froze, remembering something.

Her eyes gleamed with mischief.

She leaned closer.

“Oye… us din jo lovebite tha… woh Sir ne hi diya tha na?”

Naaz blushed a deep shade of pink and gave a tiny nod.

Riya squealed.

“Oh my God! I’m so happy for you! Finally tujhe koi pasand aaya!”

She pulled Naaz into a tight hug.

Then she nudged Sanya dramatically.

“Tu itni khamosh kyun hai? Tujhe shock nahi laga kya? Ya tu khush nahi hai?”

Sanya rolled her eyes.

“Pagal hai tu? I’m very happy for them. Haan, mujhe thoda bohot idea tha ki inka kuch chal raha hai… woh bhi kaafi pehle se. Isliye zyada shock nahi laga.”

Riya’s mouth fell open.

“Tujhe pata tha? Tune mujhe kyun nahi bataya?”

Sanya shrugged.

“Ab toh pata chal gaya na… toh kyun chilla rahi hai?”

Riya glared.

“Tu chup kar! Tujhse baat nahi kar rahi  main ab.”

The sisters slipped into their usual bickering, voices overlapping, hands waving in the air as if they were fighting over world war issues.

But Naaz…

Naaz wasn’t listening.

Her eyes kept drifting to her phone.

She called him.

No response.

She messaged him.

Still nothing.

A knot of worry twisted in her stomach. His angry face flashed in her mind again and again, and her heart started thudding faster. She tried one more time but again, silence.

Finally, unable to sit any longer, she stood up abruptly.

Riya and Sanya paused mid-fight and looked at her.

Naaz took a shaky breath.

“Guys, you can continue your fight… I have to go. It’s very urgent.”

Riya immediately blocked her path with her hand.

“Pehle bata kahaan jaa rahi hai? Tabhi jaane dungi.”

Sanya sighed.

“Kyun pareshaan kar rahi hai usko? Jaane de na.”

Riya shot her a look.

“You shut up! Tujhse nahi bol rahi main!”

Naaz sighed dramatically.

“Okay fine, batati hoon. Sir naraaz ho gaye hain mujhse… isiliye unko manane jaana hai.”

Riya’s eyes widened.

“Naaz, tu unko abhi bhi ‘Sir’ hi kehti hai?”

Naaz blinked.

“Kyun? Isme kya problem hai?”

Riya groaned.

“Weirdo! Get lost to your Sir.”

Naaz smacked her lightly on the head and hurried out, her heart pounding as she rushed to find Sidharth.

She checked the corridors, the staff room  and finally, her feet carried her to the library.

The moment she stepped inside, she spotted him sitting alone in a corner—far from everyone, jaw clenched, eyes dark, shoulders stiff.

He looked furious.

Taking a deep breath, Naaz walked toward him. She didn’t sit across the table she sat beside him, close enough that their arms brushed.

Sidharth didn’t look at her.

He immediately tried to get up, but she slid her hand under the table and held his firmly, stopping him.

Her voice dropped to a soft whisper

I’m sorry…”

No response.

She leaned a little closer.

“Kya hua?”

Still nothing.

Her heart stung.

“Mere se baat kyun nahi kar rahe? Kya kiya maine? Mujhe bataaye toh…”

Silence.

Her worry turned into desperation.

She swallowed hard.

“Aapko… meri kasam. Bataiye mujhe… kya hua.”

The moment the words left her mouth, he gritted his teeth, and his grip on her hand tightened sharply.

Finally, he spoke his voice low, trembling with contained anger.

“How dare he?”

Naaz blinked, confused.

“Huh? Who?”

Sidharth turned his head slowly, eyes burning into hers.

“Didn’t you know?”

Naaz shook her head softly.

“No.”

Sidharth narrowed his eyes.

“Toh sorry kyun bola?”

She pouted.

“Kyuki… mene aane mein time lagaya. Isliye.”

He let out a sharp huff, jaw tightening.

“How dare he hug you so tightly.”

Naaz’s eyes widened.

This possessive streak…

It should’ve annoyed her, but instead a tiny part of her felt warm wanted.

Still, right now, she needed to calm him down.

“Sidharth, please calm down. It was just a friendly hug.”

“No, it wasn’t.” His voice dropped dangerously.

“Didn’t you feel his grip on your waist? And by the way who is that guy?”

“Senior hai.”

“Hug kyun kiya?”

Naaz sighed.

“Because he proposed to a girl yesterday… and she said yes.”

Sidharth frowned deeper.

“Toh apni girlfriend ko hug kare! Meri girlfriend ko kyun kar raha hai?”

Naaz’s cheeks burned instantly.

His girlfriend.

She quickly looked away to hide her blush.

“Sidharth… he was excited and happy. Aur woh mera bohot achha friend hai. He helped me a lot in my studies. That’s why. Please try to understand. Please… pleaaase…”

She gave him her best puppy eyes, lower lip jutting out in the cutest pout.

Sidharth looked at her.

And melted instantly.

How was he supposed to stay angry at this?

He stood up suddenly.

Before she could understand anything, he walked out of the library without a single word, leaving her stunned.

Naaz blinked at the empty space he left behind.

What just happened?

Naaz’s mind:

Meko toh laga wo maan gaye… ab aise achanak uth kar chale gaye? Iska kya matlab samjhu main? Maaf kiya ya nahi? Poochna padega.

Chal Naaz… mana apne sadu aur possessive boyfriend ko.

(She blushed at her own thoughts.)

Determined, she stood up and hurried out of the library to find him again.

Naaz was hurrying through the corridor when her phone vibrated.

One message.

Sid: terrace.

That one word was enough.

She immediately changed direction and climbed the stairs to the terrace.

As soon as she pushed the door open, the cold breeze hit her along with the sight of Sidharth standing near the edge… lighting a cigarette.

Her eyes widened.

Seriously?

She marched toward him, snatched the cigarette straight from his hand, and crushed it under her sandal.

Sidharth glared at her sharply, but she didn’t even spare him a glance.

She crossed her arms.

“Yeh kya saste aashiqon ki tarah nasha phook rahe ho? Jinko unki mehbooba dhoka de deti hai?”

For a moment he just stared…

Then he burst out laughing.

A deep, wholehearted laugh that echoed across the terrace.

But he quickly schooled his expression back into a stern one.

“This is not nasha.”

Naaz scoffed.

“Mujhe mat sikhaiye. Nasha hi hai yeh. Aur mujhe yeh nasha karne wale log bilkul bakwaas lagte hain.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically and turned to walk away.

Behind her, Sidharth muttered under his breath, half annoyed, half amused..

“Abey yahan toh paasa hi palat gaya… naraaz toh mujhe hona chahiye tha. Ulta yeh madam hi nakhre dikha kar jaa rahi hain naraaz hoke.

But ab rokna toh padega hi… agar zyada der naraaz rahi toh…”

He took a step forward, already reaching out to stop her.

Sidharth didn’t let her walk away.

In two long strides, he reached her, grabbed her wrist, and spun her around with a sharp jerk so sudden that she stumbled straight into his chest.

His other hand slid instinctively to her waist, holding her firmly in place.

Naaz wriggled in his grip, cheeks turning warm.

“Haath chhodiye mera…”

Sidharth leaned closer, voice low and stubborn.

“Kabhi nahi. Chhodne ke liye thodi pakda hai.”

Before she could respond, he dipped his head and placed a soft kiss on her nose.

And just like that she melted.

Her body relaxed instantly as she wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his chest. Her voice came out soft, innocent, full of sincerity.

“Abhi bhi naraaz hain? I’m sorry… main nahi karungi kabhi kisi ko hug. But please… aage se kabhi itna gussa mat karna.”

Sidharth’s arms tightened around her as he pressed a gentle kiss on her head.

“Sorry, meri jaan. Bas achha nahi laga… tujhe kisi aur ke saath dekh kar. Isliye itna gussa kar diya. Aage se nahi karunga.”

Naaz pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a mischievous smile.

“But… mujhe achha laga. Wo possessiveness.”

She bit her lip.

“Maza aa raha tha aapko dekh kar.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Acha… toh mere maze le rahi thi? Abhi batata hoon.”

Before she could react, his fingers found her waist, and he began tickling her mercilessly.

Naaz shrieked, laughing uncontrollably as she wriggled out of his hold and ran across the terrace.

He chased her, both of them laughing like children, until he finally caught her from behind and lifted her up, swirling her in circles.

Her giggles echoed across the empty terrace, mixing with his soft laughter

the sound of two people hopelessly, beautifully in love.

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