"Chalo, chalo bhai! Madam head girl ban gayi , tera aura toh har jagah hai ab!" Anwesha exclaimed dramatically, almost bouncing as she hugged Sara tightly.

Sara laughed, adjusting her neatly pinned badge that gleamed proudly on her uniform. The golden words Head Girl still felt unreal, but exciting all the same.

Riha and Sanchi, however, didn't look as enthusiastic. Both stood with folded arms, glaring like they'd been left out of some big secret.

"Kya hua tum dono ko?" Sara asked, pulling away from Anwesha and tilting her head in confusion.

Riha raised a brow, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Agar tum dono ka Bharat Milap khatam ho gaya ho toh, madam, zara hume bhi dekh lo. We exist too, you know."

Sanchi nodded firmly beside her. "Exactly! Don't forget us."

Sara chuckled, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Hehe, sorry sorry! Ab khush? Chalo line banao. Main jaa rahi hoon."

She swept out of the classroom, her friends trailing behind, and entered class 9th A  where she was assigned duty for assembly.

Inside, the students were still moving about noisily, chairs dragging and bags thumping against desks. In the middle of it all stood Saransh, the Head Boy, already in command. His posture was straight, hands clasped behind his back, eyes sharp. The air around him seemed disciplined, almost military.

"Girls, make a proper line for assembly ." Sara announced as she stepped inside, her voice clear and confident.

"First, the boys will go out. Then the girls. Got it?" Saransh instructed firmly.

Their eyes met briefly—Sara gave him a small nod in agreement. It was quick, professional, almost formal. Two leaders sharing the same space, balancing authority without a word more than necessary.

For now, there was no clash. But soon enough, there would be. 

The boys filed out quickly in neat lines, Saransh following behind them like a silent commander.

Meanwhile, the girls were busy in their own little world—dusting powder on their faces, applying lip gloss, and fussing endlessly over their hair.

Sara stood at the front with her arms folded, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. Finally, she spoke, her voice calm but edged with authority.

"Tum log jo saj-savar kar ke jaa rahi ho na, tumhe koi celebrity dekhne nahi aa raha, samjhi?" she said firmly, though her tone still carried a touch of amusement. "Agar Shalini ma'am ne dekh liya na, toh aisi punishment milegi ke nani yaad aa jaayegi."

Some of the girls immediately froze, their lip gloss caps still open. A couple of them exchanged worried glances.

Sara's lips curved into a sweet smile as she added softly under her breath, almost like a secret meant only for herself, "In sab se hoor ki pari toh nahi lagogi... lagogi toh waise hi jaise shakal hai."

It wasn't meant to be cruel—just an honest mutter, because for days now the girls had been overdoing their little makeup rituals. And as Head Girl, Sara felt it was her responsibility to keep things in check. Overdressing wasn't just unnecessary; it was against school discipline.

Still, there was a twinkle in her eye, because no matter how strict she sounded, Sara had her own way of mixing discipline with humor. 

After the girls finally put their powders and lip glosses away, Sara clapped her hands once. "Chalo, ab seedhe line mein. No talking, no giggling."

The girls shuffled into two neat rows. With a final check, Sara signaled them to start moving out. Side by side, Sara and Saransh walked along the corridor, making sure every class lined up properly.

By the time they reached the assembly ground, the entire school was buzzing with chatter. Students stood class-wise, rows stretching across the wide courtyard. Teachers patrolled here and there, their sharp eyes scanning for any sign of mischief.

Sara adjusted her crisp white shirt and navy-blue pants, making sure her badge caught the morning sunlight just right. 

"Aaj assembly kaun karega...?"

The sudden voice behind her made Sara turn. Saransh had appeared silently, stepping onto the stage with his usual confident stride. He came to stand beside her, tall and composed, his presence almost overwhelming. For a split second, Sara's heart skipped a beat. A faint red hue crept onto her cheeks before she quickly lowered her gaze to the diary in her hands.

"11th class," she answered, flipping through the neatly written pages. Without another word, she handed the diary over to him.

Saransh raised his eyebrows slightly as he scanned the page. "Names of students?"

Sara hummed in response, leaning a little closer so he could read.

"Thought of the day... Garvita bolegi?" His tone carried a hint of surprise.

"Haan," Sara replied casually, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "She asked me to write her name, so I did."

Saransh looked at her for a moment, as though trying to read if she was being too lenient. Sara, however, kept her face calm, pretending not to notice the silent judgment in his eyes.
Just then, the Principal stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.

"Good morning, students!"

A thunderous response came from hundreds of voices: "Good morning, ma'am!"

"Ab ye aadha ghanta lecture degi, yaar. Mujhe toh nahi pata itni dhoop mein kaise khade rahenge," Pranav groaned, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. A chorus of agreement rose from around him, the students nodding and muttering their frustration.

Their Biology teacher, Aliya ma'am, who stood nearby with her files pressed against her chest, simply smiled at their complaints.

"Vahi toh," Sanchi muttered, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Aur pata nahi ye do namune itne pyaar se sunte hain na, jaise koi poem suna rahi ho... jahil aurat kahin ki." She jerked her chin toward the front where Sara and saransh  were still listening with admiration, as though every word was golden.

Anwesha bit her lip to stop her laugh, while Riha clapped a hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles.

Before the group could burst out louder, Aliya ma'am's soft but firm voice cut through. "Chup ho jao sab ab. Principal ma'am dekh lengi."

Instant silence. No one dared argue. Even in their mischief, they all knew Aliya ma'am had a way of scolding that didn't need volume; just her eyes were enough.

Everything went perfectly. After the prayer, the entire school stood in attention as the pledge began, voices rising together in perfect unison:

"India is my country.
All Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I love my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.
I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall give my parents, teachers and all elders respect, and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion.
In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness."
"JAI HIND JAI BHARAT ." 

The words echoed across the courtyard with discipline and pride.

Next, Garvita stepped forward confidently, holding the microphone. "Good morning everyone. Today's thought of the day is — 'Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.' Thank you."

Her voice was clear, her delivery crisp. The teachers on stage nodded approvingly.

Sara felt a wave of relief and pride wash over her. Perfect. This is exactly how an assembly should be.

When the program ended with the national anthem, Saransh leaned slightly toward Sara and muttered, "Not bad."

Sara smirked, adjusting her badge. "Of course. I was in charge."

For a fleeting second, it almost felt like teamwork. But deep inside, both knew the real rivalry hadn't even begun.

"Abhi hum rukenge. Dress aur ID cards dekhne honge," Saransh informed her in his usual no-nonsense tone. Sara just nodded in agreement.

A small group of boys and girls stood huddled near the corner, looking guilty they had forgotten their ID cards.

Sara turned and stopped Anwesha, Riha, and Sanchi just as they were about to leave. "Ruko, tum teeno."

Riha folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Kyu bhai? Dikh nahi raha, hum ID card pehen ke aaye hain? Dimag se andhi ho gayi kya?"

Sara gave her an exasperated look. "Tu aadhi pagal hai kya? Maine isliye nahi roka, paglet. Mujhe paani ki bottle chahiye. Upar se le aana."

The three of them exchanged looks, mentally slapping themselves for jumping to conclusions. "Ohh..." they muttered in unison before trotting off.

Just then, a girl from Class 12 tried to slip past quickly, hoping to escape notice—her ID card was missing. She almost made it to the side gate when Sara's sharp voice rang out.

"Saumyaa didi, rukiye!" Sara stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Aap ID card lekar nahi aayi ho toh aap yahin rukiyega, please."

Caught red-handed, Saumyaa froze in place, cheeks turning red as the other students giggled quietly. Sara's calm but firm tone left no room for excuses.

Saumyaa fidgeted, clutching her notebook. "Sara, please... is baar chhod do. Main kal se pakka ID card le aungi. Waise bhi main twelth ki hoon, koi bachi thodi na."
Sara crossed her arms, trying to maintain her usual composure. But as Saransh's presence loomed nearby, she felt her heart skip a beat, and a faint warmth crept up her cheeks. Don't melt now, she told herself.

"Class chhoti ho ya badi, rule sabke liye same hai," she said firmly, though her voice betrayed just a hint of hesitation. "Agar Head Girl hoke main hi ignore kar dungi, toh phir main yahan khadi kyun hoon?"

Saumyaa pouted dramatically, trying one last time. "Ek baar..."

Sara hesitated for a moment, her voice softening as she looked at Saumyaa's pleading eyes. Don't let her slip past... she thought, feeling her resolve wobble slightly.
Before she could weaken further, Saransh stepped closer, his posture calm but commanding. "Sara," he said in a firm tone, not raising his voice, "Rule sabke liye same hai. Don't let anyone take advantage."

Sara blinked, the strength in his voice steadying her. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "Right... sorry, didi. Rule is rule. Aapko yahin rukna hoga."

Saumyaa sighed, realizing she wasn't going anywhere, and stepped aside.

Sara let out a quiet breath, thankful for Saransh's presence. She still felt a flutter in her chest, but his firm, silent support had stopped her from melting entirely.

Saransh gave nothing away no smile, no nod. Just a small glance, enough to remind her that the rules came first, always.

Anwesha, Riha, and Sanchi returned, each holding a water bottle for Sara. "Lee Sara," Anwesha said, handing it over.

Sara took it gratefully, still a little flustered from the earlier incident.

"Hogya yaa reh gaya ." Sanchi asked as she leaned on wall 
"Hogya bas principal office jaana hai mam ne bola hai ." She informed them 
"Achha , bataiyoo kya bolegi voh bhuddhi ." Anwesha said rolling her eyes as the principal always picked their class .
"Haan , okay ." Sara drink water from bottle and handed them 

Riha tilted her head, curiosity written all over her face. "So... what happened? You were stopping Saumyaa, and then Saransh came...?" She waved her hands vaguely, trying to describe it.
Sanchi and Anwesha leaned in, eager for Sara's reply. "Yeah, tell us! You hesitated a bit, didn't you?" Sara nodded in response 
Anwesha, Riha, and Sanchi fell in step beside her. "So... that was intense," Anwesha whispered

Sara shrugged, trying to sound casual. "It's part of the job. Everyone needs to follow the rules."

Riha tilted her head. "But... Saransh helping you like that...."

Sara's cheeks tinged pink for a moment, and she quickly looked away. "It's nothing," she said, trying to sound firm.

Sanchi smirked knowingly. "Sure, nothing. Got it."

The three friends giggled quietly as they walked down the corridor, careful not to draw attention from the teachers on duty. Sara, meanwhile, felt a strange mix of relief and lingering fluster from the morning's events. Her first assembly duty was over, and she had managed it well but she couldn't deny that Saransh's presence had made it more... complicated than she expected.

"Alright," Sara said finally, taking a deep breath. "Now, back to class. Zero period lagega. We've got Biology first, and I don't want anyone late."

Riha groaned dramatically. "Bas yahi bacha tha... subah-subah Biology. Zero period bhi!"

Sanchi rolled her eyes. "Oh please, it's not that bad. Waise bhi Aliya ma'am itni strict nahi hain."

Anwesha smirked. "Haan, tum dono ko toh sirf complaint karna aata hai. Chalo chalo, warna phir se Sara Head Girl mode on kar degi."

Sara shot her a mock glare, though a small smile tugged at her lips. The group quickened their pace, the corridor buzzing with footsteps and chatter as students streamed back to their classrooms.

Some periods dragged on, painfully boring, while a few turned out to be surprisingly interesting. Time slipped by, and finally the lunch bell rang.

The moment it echoed through the corridors, chaos broke out desks rattled, bags unzipped, and within seconds, the entire classroom was filled with the smell of food. Everyone eagerly opened their lunchboxes, the sound of foil tearing and tiffins clicking open mixing with laughter.

"Finally!" Riha exclaimed, pulling out her parathas. "Sach mein, agar sir ek aur minute le lete na, toh mere pet se chuhe kud ke bahar aa jaate. Bohot bhookh lag rahi thi mujhe."

"Same yaar!" Sanchi agreed, taking a bite of poha straight from Sara's lunch. "Aur upar se in sir ki aankhein bilkul cheel jaisi hai. Inke period mein toh chhupke se khana bhi possible nahi. Kash lunch se pehle Chemistry wale sir ka period hota toh voh toh kuch nahi kehte. Unke class mein aaram se kha bhi lete."

Sara raised her eyebrows but stayed quiet as Sanchi shamelessly stole another bite.

"Tu kya laayi hai, kutti?" Sanchi asked, opening her own lunchbox. She sighed. "Meri mummy ne sirf achar aur parantha rakha hai."

"Same, same!" Anwesha laughed, mimicking her mom. "Meri mummy toh bol rahi thi 'Itne din se bahar ka kha rahi hai, ab ghar ka kha. Nahi toh fir pet mein dard hoga toh mere paas mat aana!'"

Everyone burst out laughing at her perfect mimicry.

"You are right, bhai," Sara sulked, resting her chin on her palm. "Mera toh sir dard ho raha hai. Aaj subah voh mere kutte bhai ne late kar diya, toh main chai bhi nahi pee paayi."

"Aww, Sara baby!" Anwesha cooed, pulling her into a side hug while Riha and Sanchi giggled at the scene. 

Just then, Saransh, Agastya, and Pranav walked into the classroom, still engrossed in their own conversation. Their laughter echoed as they made their way to the last row, lunchboxes in hand.

"Bhai, samajh na... yeh main nahi kar sakta," Saransh muttered to Pranav, dropping onto the bench. Agastya followed, curious about what nonsense was brewing now.

"Bhai, tu mera dost hai ya dushman? Apne bachpan ke dost ke liye itna bhi nahi kar sakta?" Pranav whined dramatically, clutching his chest like a TV serial hero.

Agastya groaned. "Yeh pakka koi bewakoofi karne ki keh  raha hoga ."

And sure enough, Saransh snapped, "Tu pagal hai kya? Main kaise jaake Shreyansh sir ko bol du 'Battameez, chaddar ki kameez, lohe ka pajama, bandar tera mama'?" His voice rose in exasperation.

Agastya burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach. "Bhai, thank god tujhse bola! Agar mujhse bolta na, toh main sharam ke maare school chhod deta!"

Pranav pouted, folding his arms. "Haan haan, tum dono dost hi kya ho... mujhe toh tumhari zindagi se delete hi kar do."

Saransh and Agastya exchanged a quick look, then smirked in sync. "Aww, princess treatment chahiye kya tujhe? Chal nikal yaha se, nautanki!" Both of them hit him lightly on the head together, making Pranav yelp while the both laughed at his fake yelp .

"Achha suno, ye sab chhodo," Pranav lowered his voice suddenly, leaning closer to Saransh. "Abhi fest hoga naa kuch dino mein... secret planning chal rahi hai. Tujhe toh pata hoga na?" He nudged Saransh with raised eyebrows, as if expecting inside information.

Saransh gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Head boy hoon, principal nahi, jo mujhe sab kuch pata hoga."

Agastya smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "Bhai, tu bolta nahi, par  tujhe sab kuch pata hai. Bas batata nahi humein." 

"Gaddar hai ye bhai, bohot bada gaddar," Pranav made a face, shaking his head dramatically. "School wale konsa tujhe paalte hai jo tu unki sab baat maanta hai? Do waqt ki roti ke liye chamcha ban gaya buddhi ka."

Agastya smirked, seizing the moment. "If 'Munna badnaam hui... buddhi ke liye' had a face, it would be Neta ji."

Both of them burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs, while Saransh just glared at them with those sharp eyes the kind that could silence an entire row of juniors. But that only made them laugh louder, shamelessly.

"Tu pagal hai kya? Neta ji kyun bolta hai? Yaha koi sun gaya toh bawal ho jayega," Saransh said, still snickering. "Mera baap mujhe zinda dafan kar dega agar yeh jo tum dono bol rahe hain 'principal ke tukdo pe palta hai' waali baat. Nahi bhai, main apne baap ke tukdo pe paalā hua hoon, woh mujhe ek laat maar ke property se bedkhal karke beghar kar dega. Aur waise bhi main chhota beta hoon, kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega." 

Agastya and Pranav laughed so hard that half the class turned to stare at them like they were watching ghosts. Neither cared.

"Oyee, voh Mr. Batra ka homework kiya kya?" Agastya asked suddenly, gulping down water in between his laughter.

Saransh raised an eyebrow. "Kya lagta hai kiya hai ya nahi?"

Agastya smirked knowingly. "Bilkul nahi."

"Bingo." Saransh leaned back with a victorious look, making Pranav slap his forehead. 

The guard stormed toward Pranav, glaring as if he had caught him committing a crime.
"Tum samajhte kya ho apne aap ko? Yeh principal madam ka personal garden hai! Har waqt warning lagti hai phool todhne pe, aur tum..." he wagged his stick threateningly.

Pranav panicked, hiding the flower behind his back. "Arre bhaiya, mazaak tha! Main toh bas dekh raha tha kitna delicate hai..."

"Delicate ka baccha! Abhi principal madam ko bulata hoon—" the guard huffed.

Before the situation got worse, Agastya stepped in quickly. "Arre guard ji, chhod do na. Ye thoda... pagal hai. Homework bhi nahi karta, toh phool kya khak todhega."

Anwesha added sweetly, joining her hands in mock pleading. "Bhaiya, maaf kar do na. Waada hai agli baar ise school ke poore garden ki security guard duty de denge. Aap free ho jao."

The guard eyed them suspiciously, but Saransh finally stood up, voice calm and commanding. "Main head boy hoon. Main dekh lunga. Aapko pareshaan hone ki zarurat nahi hai."

The guard grumbled but backed off, muttering something about "naye bacche aur unki nautanki."

As soon as he left, Pranav let out a huge sigh of relief. "Bhai... tu na hero hai. Agar tu na hota, toh meri aaj phoolon ke saath aarti ho jaati."

The group burst into laughter as their car finally pulled up.

Sara was in her room, earbuds plugged in, dancing peacefully to the beat of "Dhadhang Dhang." Her steps were carefree, her smile brighter than ever, as she twirled around the room.

"Teri-meri yeh jodi jamegi, apne love ki kahani banegi..." she lip-synced dramatically, pointing to her mirror like it was her stage.

She didn't know that right outside the door, her younger brother was peeking in with a mischievous grin. Holding up his phone, he quietly recorded the entire performance, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

As soon as Sara struck her final pose, her brother smirked, whispering, "Perfect shot."

Without wasting a second, he opened the WhatsApp group he had once spotted on Sara's phone—a group filled with her close school friends. With an evil grin, he hit send.

"Ab maja aayega..." he murmured, watching the video upload, his laughter muffled but wicked.

Sara's phone kept buzzing non-stop. She peeked at the screen again—now two more names had popped up in the group.

Kabir added
Aarav added In pagalpanti ke shikar

Sara's soul left her body. Bas, ab toh khudaa bhi nahi bacha sakta.

Riha: Item girl spotted 😏🔥
Sanchi: Nach Baliye contestant in the house 💃
Anwesha: Chameli mode on, floor ka dhyaan rakhiyo 🤭

Pranav: Head girl ke hidden talents finally out 😂
Agastya: Bhai, main toh shocked hoon. Ye hai hamari seedhi-saadhi head girl?🤯
Saransh: 😶"

Kabir: Bhai, yeh toh full-on dance reel material hai. Insta pe daal doon kya?
Aarav: Daal! Likes udh jaayenge. Caption bhi ready hai — 'Dhadhang Dhang wali Sara didi' 🤣

Sara: SHUT UP sab ke sab warna kal sabki waat laga dungi 😡

Riha: Chill item girl, ab toh school mein tumhara grand entry 'dance walk' hone wala hai.
 Sara groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow as she threw her phone aside.

"Saala kutta, traitor kahin ka! Aaj ke baad kabhi dance nahi karungi," she cried, her voice muffled against the fabric.

Just then, her brother flopped onto the bed beside her with zero guilt. "Kisine mujhe yaad kiya kya?" he teased, waving a chocolate in front of her sulking face. With the other hand, he placed her favorite banana shake carefully on the nightstand.

Sara peeked out from under the pillow, glaring at him with red, teary eyes. "Meri izzat ka band baaja baja diya tune... aur tujhe hasi aa rahi hai?"

He grinned shamelessly. "Haan. Kyunki tujhe dance karte dekhna hi comedy show ka bonus episode tha. Aur abhi tu mujhe maarne wali hai, woh toh blockbuster hoga."

Despite herself, Sara let out a half-sob, half-laugh, snatching the chocolate from his hand.

"Achhaa, sorry... mujhe nahi pata tha usme ladke bhi hain," he said quickly, his tone softening. "Varna apni handsome shakal ki kasam kha ke kehta hoon, kabhi nahi bhejta. Meri behen ladko ko dikhane ke liye thodi hai."

His words, half-serious and half-dramatic, wrapped around her like a shield. For a second, Sara just stared at him, her anger flickering into guilt. He might be annoying, irritating, and the root of her embarrassment, but he was also the first to protect her—even from his own mistakes. 
Sara hugged him tightly, whispering, "Ab to nahi karoge...?"

"Bilkul bhi nahi, Star. Maaf karde," her brother promised, hugging her back.

"Okay... last time." She pointed a stern finger at him, and he nodded eagerly like a guilty puppy.

"Chal, ro mat ab. Shake pi le aur thodi der so ja, thak gayi hogi madam," he said warmly, handing her the shake.

She nodded cutely, sipping quickly, and then placed the glass in front of his mouth. "Tu bhi pee le thoda."

"Naa, Star. Mera pet bhara hua hai... pee le beta," he chuckled, lying down on her bed.

Sara finished her shake, switched off the light, and curled beside him. Within minutes, she was fast asleep, her arm loosely draped around her brother—the safest place she knew

In the evening, the weekend mood was already set.

"Namaste aunty," Saransh greeted politely, folding his hands as he stood at the door. "Ham Sara ko lene aaye hain... socha sab milke ghoomne chalein. Waise bhi kal Sunday hai."

Sara's mom's face lit up. She blessed him fondly, and the others—Agastya, Pranav, Riha, Sanchi, Kabir, and Aarav—quickly followed his step, earning their share of blessings too.

"Namaste beta, baitho. Main sabke liye chai–nashta laati hoon," Sara's mother said warmly, though she didn't notice Anwesha slipping aside to talk with her father.

They all settled on the sofa, chatting quietly, waiting for Sara and her mom

Sara came out, still half-asleep, wearing an oversized T-shirt and loose shorts, hair messy in a ponytail. Adhrit carried her on his back like a toddler, and she whined,

"Bhaiyaaa... neend aa rahi hai, sona hai..." burying her face into his shoulder.

"Mummy ne cheela banaya hai, kha le. Fir homework bhi karna hai," Adhrit said, gently putting her down. She rubbed her eyes, tugging at the hem of her T-shirt absentmindedly, still not realizing her friends were watching.

Adhrit finally noticed them and his jaw tightened. "Yeh iske dost ladkiyon se zyada ladke kyu hain..." he muttered under his breath, glaring at the boys like a protective hawk.

"Star, tere dost aaye hain. Ja, baad mein sona," he said firmly, nudging her toward the sofa.

Sara blinked, finally realizing everyone's eyes were on her. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she tugged at her oversized T-shirt, trying to look composed.

But none of them said a word. Not Pranav, not Agastya, not even Riha or Sanchi. They all exchanged silent smiles, quietly respecting the fact that this was Sara's home.

Her mother walked in just then with a tray full of tea and steaming hot cheelas. "Lo baccho, sab garam garam khalo."

Adhrit sat right beside Sara, still glaring occasionally at the boys as if daring them to say something. Meanwhile, Sara pretended to focus on arranging plates, though her pink cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
Sangini's eyes suddenly lit up as she noticed Anwesha.

"Arre... Anu beta! Tum yaha kab aayi?" she asked warmly, placing the tray down in excitement.

Anwesha immediately stood up with a smile. "Bas aunty, kuch din pehle hi shift hue hain. Socha Sara ko surprise doon."

"Wah... kitne saal ho gaye tumhe dekhe. Bilkul pehle jaisi ho," Sangini said affectionately, patting her cheek before blessing her.

"Aree aunty, aap bhi toh bilkul young ho," Anwesha winked playfully, and everyone laughed.

"Sara, jaa ready hoja, ghumne chal rahe hain," Riha said suddenly, making everyone look at her.

Sara was about to reply when Adhrit cut her off sharply, "Meri behen ladko ke saath nahi jaayegi."

"Bhaiyaaa..." Sara called in a sweet, pleading voice.

"Achha... kuch nahi, keh rahi ho. Ja rahi hoon," he said finally, folding his sleeves and heading outside with a determined look.

Meanwhile, Sanchi was watching him in awe, completely lost in him. Her thoughts were interrupted when Adhrit called out loudly, "Main jaa raha hoon, mummy! Bahar hoon, 1 ghante mein vapis aata hoon."

"Thik hai, jaa... pure din awaragardi karwa lo," Sangini said sarcastically, but by then Adhrit was already out of the door.

Turning back to her friends, sara smiled lightly. "Tum log khao, tab tak main change karke aati hoon." With that, she slipped away toward her room.

Everyone began chatting among themselves, laughter and small talks filling the cozy living room. Riha was already munching on cheela, Pranav and Agastya argued over who got the bigger piece, while Kabir and Aarav looked around, taking in the warmth of Sara's home. Anwesha, still glowing from Sangini's welcome, kept answering Sangini's endless questions about her family.

Sara walked in, adjusting the puffed sleeves of her lavender-blue top. Instantly, the room shifted.

"Wah wah, madam! Lag rahi hai full heroine," Pranav whistled, earning a smack from Riha.

"Sach mein, Sara... tu bohot pyaari lag rahi hai," Sanchi said sincerely, her eyes wide with admiration.

"Bhai, main toh keh rahi hoon, iske liye alag fan club banana padega," Agastya grinned.

Kabir and Aarav, usually quiet, nodded in agreement. "You look really nice," Aarav added simply, while Kabir smiled.

Sara blushed at all the attention, trying to wave it off with an awkward laugh. "Bas bas, itna bhi kuch nahi hai..." she mumbled, her fingers nervously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

But while everyone showered her with compliments, Saransh stayed silent. His gaze was steady, intense—because for him, "beautiful" wasn't enough. Where they saw a friend dressed up, he saw a masterpiece, colours spilling into life in ways only he could understand.

And that silence, heavy and unspoken, meant more than all the words in the room

Sara twirled a little when Riha teased her, brushing it off with her soft laugh. Everyone was still showering her with compliments, but amidst the noise, Saransh's lips parted ever so slightly.

Almost unconsciously, the words slipped out in a hushed murmur, "Tu es une belle bulle."

The phrase echoed like paint strokes across a canvas. To him, Sara wasn't just pretty in lavender blue and denim. She was fragile yet radiant, like a bubble that carried the whole spectrum of light within its fleeting existence.

The room stilled for a second. Everyone blinked at him, confused.

Sara tilted her head, brows knitting in curiosity. "Excuse me? Konsi language mein gaali di hai?"

And just like that, the dam broke. The entire room erupted into laughter—Riha nearly choking on her juice, Sanchi clutching her stomach, Pranav falling off the sofa.

Saransh's jaw tightened, his ears turning crimson as he ran a hand through his hair, muttering, "Gaali nahi thi..."

But his words were drowned out in the chaos, the laughter echoing louder than the truth.

In the corner, only Agastya smirked knowingly—because he alone had understood what Saransh really said.

"I know what you mean , i need an explanation with valid reason and all details." 
Saransh just shot him a glare and give him"what i don't know anything " look
'vahi jo tune sabke saamne laila ka majnu banke apne iss not so sweet jubaan se pata nahi kya jehreel ugal diya iss jehrili naagin jesi aurat ke liye ' My subconscious mind muttered 

'But man why is this naagin is that much prettyy' I said to him
'kyukii-' My subconscious mind stopped 
'kyuki'i waited for him to complete 
"kyukii hogya hai tujhko to pyaar sajna ' He muttered mocking me 
'what the hell man , it's not even like that 
'laakh karle tu inkaar sajna ' He continue to sing 
'Just fucking shut up'
'okay owner but still you fell for your bubble oopss ' he again mocked me 
"JUSST SHUT THE FUCK UP " I shouted and everyone looked at me like they saw a ghost 
And i know i am doomed.