The days pass a real quick, Vidhi got well and started going to school, it has been 15 days and was trying to be more friendly with Rehaan too.

"Bhai, bas jaldi se April khatam ho Aur results aa jaeye" Vidhi said, as the class gets over but as she saw, Rehaan and Aayush were busy with themselves.

(April should end early and results should come already)

"Aayuuu" Vidhi said, smacking his shoulder when he winced.

"Ouch, kya hai?" Aayush asked, looking at her.

(What is it?)

"Main kuch keh rahi hu tujhe?" Vidhi asked. "Tu sun kyu nahi raha hai? Ignore kar raha hai mujhe tu?"

(I'm telling you something, are you even listening?)

"Yaar Vidhi, tune kuch padhai ke baare mein kaha ho ga, abhi main kya hi sunu?" He said disinterested but changed his way of talking as soon as he looked at her. "Yaar sorry, main usse baat kar raha tha, bol"

(Vidhi, you'll be talking something related to studies, what should I actually listen?) (I'm really sorry, tell me)

"Tujhe kya main boring lagti hu?" She asked looking concerned, when Aayush shook his head negatively.

(Do I sound boring to you?)

"No Vidhi, trust me mera dhyan uski baato mein tha nahi to main aisa nahi bolta, trust me tu abhi bhi meri priority hai" Aayush said explaining her, Vidhi had a bad habit of over thinking about everything; to keep her calm, he had to convince her.

"Vidhi, tu na isse chood tu apna ideal type bata?" Rehaan asked as he pushes him beside, when Aayush's face darkened. Anger was visible in his eyes, when Rehaan gave him a smirk. "Fir teri setting karwa dunga, fir tujhe iski attention ki zarurat hi nahi hogi"

"Koi Aayu jaisa" Vidhi immediately said, as she looked in his eyes, Aayush raised a frown.

(Someone like Aayu)

"Kya boli?" Aayush asked, his cheeks fluttered red, words didn't seem to come out of his mouth.

(What did you say)

"Tere jaisa, gentlemen kind of. Jo meri baat sune, mujhe overthink karne se roke, mere liye khana banaye, jab bhi main koi galti karu to help kare, aur yeh sab unconditionally" Vidhi said, when she smiled looking at him.

"Chee, ideal type or main? Isko na sar mein bhukar ho gaya hai" He said, touching her forehead, trying to hide his wide grin, his heart was thumping so quick as she looked at him. "Now don't tell me that you like me, I'll kill you"

(Me and ideal type? I think she's still having fever)

"Hatt bevakoof" Vidhi said, taking his hand off her head.

(Get lost, idiot)

Rehaan, who was enjoying the scene, laughed looking at them.

"Jyada hasi nahi aa rahi hai kisiko?" Aayush and Vidhi pointed him,

(Isn't someone laughing way too much?)

Rehaan held up his hands in mock defense. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But seriously, you two are adorable. Tum dono hi date karlo na? Don't you like Vidhi, Aayush. Come'n bol na?"

Vidhi's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, trying to compose herself. Aayush, still grinning, shook his head. "Isse bahut cringe lag raha hoga bhai rehne de" Aayush said, pointing Vidhi, when she expressions accordingly.

(Don't do like it, she feels it cringe)

"Rehaan, tu kabhi bhi serious nahi ho sakta," Aayush said, chuckling.

(Rehaan, you can never be serious)

Rehaan shrugged. "Kisiko to mazak karna padega, nahi to dadaji aur dadi amma hai to hamare paas"

(Someone's to joke, we already have grandpa and gramdma)

As it was lunch break, the three friends continued to banter back and forth as they walked out of the classroom. Vidhi couldn't help but steal glances at Aayush, who seemed oblivious to her admiration.

As they reached the school gate, Rehaan turned to them. "Mujhe bhuk lag rahi hai, tumhe kuch thusna hai?"

Vidhi nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I'm starving!"

Aayush smiled. "Let's go."

As they walked towards the canteen, Vidhi found herself sandwiched between Aayush and Rehaan. She felt a flutter in her chest as Aayush's arm brushed against hers.

Rehaan, noticing the momentary touch, raised an eyebrow. Aayush, however, seemed completely unaware of the sparks flying between them.

Vidhi's heart skipped a beat as she wondered: Would Aayush ever realize that she knew that he has feelings for her?

Yes, Vidhi had feelings for him, since years, but could never accept them. She already knew how Aayush felt for her, but acts completely unknown.

Vidhi's POV

God damn, how long will this dumbo take? Aren't my actions obvious? Why doesn't he gets a single hint.

"Vidhi, what will you have?" He asked, when I snapped out of thoughts,

"Huh?" I asked when he repeated his question.

"Kya khana hai tujhe?" He asked, when I ordered a samosa.

(What do you want to eat?)

"Vidhi didi jii, zara aana" Rehaan said teasingly, when I rolled my eyes.

(Vidhi, come aside)

"Kya hai?" I asked when Rehaan forwards his hand.

(What is it?)

"Bikhari jaise harkate mat kar, main tab tak paise nahi dene vali jab tak uss gadhe ko hint nahi lagta main tereko ek rupaiyya bhi nahi dene vali" I raised my furrows, crisscrossing my arms looking at Aayu, who was paying for us.

(Don't act like beggars, that idiot didn't got a hint, I won't give a single penny until and unless he doesn't get a hint)

"Hai to vaise vo idiot hi na? Maine 15 din mein guess kar liya aur vo 15 saal se tere saath hai, aaj tak kabhi pata nahi laga usse" Rehaan mocked him, when I widened my eyes in anger. He has a right to roast Aayu, but still how dare he do that?

(He's such an idiot, I guessed something in 15 days, while he stayed with you for 15 years and is still clueless)

"Mujhe uski feelings ke baare mein pata hai, par main usse bata bhi nahi sakti. I try acting dumb, but koi din to aisa aayega hi jab hum dono ko confess karna padega"

(I know about his feelings, but I can't tell him. I try acting dumb, but someday we'll both have to confess.)

"To tu kya wait kar rhi hai? Ki usse magically tere feelings ke baare mein pata chal jaeye aur yeh bhi ki tujhe pata hai ki tu uske liye feel karti hai? Pagal vagal hai kya?" He asked when Aayush comes with Samosas oblivious to what we were talking.

(What are you waiting for? That he magically finds out about your feelings and also figures out that you know how you feel about him? Have you gone crazy?)

I glared at Rehaan, trying to silence him. But he just raised an eyebrow, daring me to respond.

Aayush, oblivious to our conversation, handed me a samosa and smiled. "Here, Vidhi."

I took the samosa from him, trying to play it cool. But Rehaan's words had struck a chord. Was I really waiting for Aayush to magically figure out my feelings?

As we ate our snacks, I couldn't help but steal glances at Aayush. He seemed so carefree, so oblivious to the tension between us.

Rehaan, sensing my gaze, nudged me. "Vidhi, tu kya kar rahi hai?" (Vidhi, what are you doing?)

I quickly looked away, trying to play it cool. "Kuch nahi, Rehaan." (Nothing, Rehaan.)

But Rehaan just chuckled and shook his head. "Vidhi, tu pagal hai." (Vidhi, you're crazy.)

Aayush, who had been quietly observing our exchange, finally spoke up. "Kya ho raha hai?" (What's going on?)

Rehaan and I exchanged a guilty glance, before Rehaan spoke up. "Kuch nahi, Aayush. Bas Vidhi ko samjha raha hoon ki uske feelings ko express karna chahiye."

(Nothing, Aayush. Just telling Vidhi that she should express her feelings.)

Aayush's eyes narrowed, and he looked at me curiously. "Huh?"

I stood up as I smacked Rehaan tightly. "Break khatam ho gayi hai, chal Aayu, ghar jaane ka time ho gya hai"

(Break is over, come on Aayu it's the time to go home)

"Bhai Rehaan, tu subah kuch serious drugs leke aata hai kya? Aur tu bhi, jo pura din aise ajeeb si baate karte rehte ho?" Aayush asked us, when I chuckled.

(Rehaan and Vidhi, do you consume drugs in the morning)

Rehaan grinned mischievously. "Kuch bhi, Aayush. Bas Vidhi karti hai, ab yeh to theri stock market mein paise lagane vali, hum kaha gareeb log"

I rolled my eyes, playfully hitting Rehaan on the arm. "Shut up, Rehaan."

Aayush chuckled, shaking his head. "Chalo, chalo. Ghar jaane ka time ho gaya hai." (Let's go, it's time to go home.)

But for now, I was content to just walk beside him, enjoying the warm sunshine and the comfortable silence between us.

As we reached near the driver's car, he asked if I want to go to his home and meet everyone, but my laziness came in between.

"Aayu.... Kisi aur din, main to thak gayi" I said, when he chuckled.

(No, some other day, I'm tired today)

POV Ends

-

As the school ended, Rehaan went to the class of younger section, class 9th as his mother was a teacher in the same school.

He tiredly goes into that class and sat on the last bench, when he saw Vartika there.

Rehaan didn't knew why but he felt a flutter in chest, every time he saw her. Her cheeks were always red, her dusky complexion and long black hairs adding beauty to her appearance.

She stood chatting with her friends, when Rehaan realised that she'd so many friends unlike her brother.

"Vartika!" Rehaan waved a hi to her, when she was leaving. His mother got some work last moment, so Rehaan was supposed to go back himself.

Vartika turned back, as they talked for a few minutes, until they reach outside.

Aayush was standing, waiting for his sister, when he saw Rehaan along with Vartika.

Aayush's eyes narrowed as he saw them together.

"Vartika, Rehaan?" Aayush emphasised on their names when Rehaan pats his shoulders.

"Don't get us wrong, you focus at the point you actually should" Rehaan said, when Vartika sat on Aayush's bike.

"Bhaiya, aap aisa sochte hue na bilkul ache nahi lagte, Aap aur Vidhi didi bhi to best friends ho, vaise hi vo bhi mera dost hai naya naya" Vartika explained herself, when she saw her brother silently riding the bike.

"Maine kuch kaha? Maine kisiko goli nahi mar di hai, I generally asked Vartika, because I care for both of you, but did I asked you to break off your friendship? So shut up" Aayush said,

Meanwhile, Rehaan was quite flustered by Vartika. She was the only girl to whom he was ever attracted to.

After his parents divorced, he stopped believing in love, attraction but he felt nice talking to her.

They share memes online, but her response to her every silly reel or story made him laugh a bit.

He was a funny kid at his school, trying to make his space between new people, but at home he was just a quiet kid sitting at the corner of his room.

Rehaan shook his head, chuckling to himself. He was being ridiculous. He had only known Vartika for a short time, and he was already getting sentimental.

As he walked home, Rehaan's mind wandered back to Vartika.

For Vartika, she was busy in teasing her brother.

"Bhai, aaj McDonald's le chalo" Vartika begged her brother.

(Please take me to McDonald's today)

"Tereko konsi aadat pad gayi hai? Maine ghar pe dal rice banaye hai vahi khayenge" Aayush said. "Aur mere paise abhi negative mein hai to kaha se khila du?"

"Bhaii"