Chapter 16: Games of Heart
Scene: The Sunday Outing - A Journey Begins
The Sunday sun streamed through the hostel windows, casting a golden, hopeful glow on what promised to be a perfect day of respite. In the bustling common room, the air was thick with excitement, the scent of sunscreen, and the rustle of bags being packed.
Ruhan stood by the door, car keys jingling in his hand like a promise of adventure. A wide, infectious grin was plastered on his face as he surveyed his friends. "Guys, everyone get ready, we're going out!" he announced, his voice cutting through the cheerful chaos.
A chorus of enthusiastic affirmations filled the room. "Yes, Ruhan, let's go!" everyone chimed in, a symphony of shared anticipation as they grabbed their bags and water bottles.
The group spilled out into the bright morning, piling into Ruhan's spacious SUV. There was a familiar, comfortable scramble for seats. Ruhan slid into the driver's seat, and Ishika quickly claimed the spot next to him, flashing him a bright, hopeful smile. As he adjusted the rearview mirror, his eyes lingered for a moment, catching a reflection of Nisha and Sadhya settling into the back seat together, their heads already close in whispered conversation. On the other side, Neerav and Kavya found seats next to each other, while Anvesh sat beside them, looking out the window, lost in thought. Nivan, seemingly absorbed in his phone, took the last seat, but the slight tremor in his hands betrayed the storm of revelations about Rudra, Pratham, and the masked man raging in his mind.
The car hummed to life, and they set off, the concrete city gradually giving way to lush, green landscapes. The journey was filled with boisterous laughter, loud, off-key singing to radio hits, and the easy, comfortable banter that only exists between souls who have become family. Ruhan drove, his hands steady on the wheel, but his attention was subtly divided. His gaze frequently drifted to the rearview mirror, drawn to a particular, calming smile in the back. Ishika noticed these fleeting glances but said nothing, her own smile tightening slightly, a silent ache blooming in her chest.
They finally reached the sprawling public garden, its ornate gates welcoming them with bursts of vibrant, colorful flowers. Everyone tumbled out of the car, stretching their limbs and breathing in the fresh, floral-scented air, a welcome change from the hostel's confines.
Ruhan clapped his hands together, his energy undimmed. "So, shall we go, guys?"
Ishika immediately looped her arm through his, a possessive gesture. "Yes, Ruhan, let's go," she said, trying to pull him forward, eager to claim his exclusive attention.
Ruhan, however, gently but firmly extricated his hand from her grip. "Hey, wait, Ishika, let everyone come together," he said, his eyes scanning the group to ensure no one was left behind. It was a leader's instinct, but also a friend's care.
From behind them, Nisha's calm, melodic voice chimed in. "It's okay, Ruhan, we're right behind you." Her simple assurance seemed to relax him instantly. With the group somewhat assembled, they began moving towards the garden's enchanting entrance.
Just as they passed through the main gate, Kavya piped up, "I'll be right back from the washroom, you guys go ahead."
"I'm coming with you too," Ishika added quickly, seizing the opportunity for a private conversation. The two girls broke away from the group and headed towards the restroom facility.
Scene: The Washroom - A Pact of Heartache and Hope
The moment the washroom door swung shut, muffling the cheerful sounds from outside, Ishika turned to Kavya, her expression a complex mix of genuine concern and cunning strategy.
"What was that, Kavya?" she asked, her voice low and intent.
Kavya looked genuinely confused as she washed her hands under the cool water. "What happened? What did I do?"
"Just that… you're not doing anything," Ishika pressed, leaning against the sink, her gaze sharp.
Kavya met her friend's eyes in the mirror. "Meaning?"
Ishika let out a soft, weary sigh, her own unrequited love for Ruhan lending a rare, raw sincerity to her words. "I know… you love him… Anvesh."
Kavya's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, a tell-tale blush creeping up her neck before she looked down, busying herself with her hands, avoiding direct eye contact. "No, no… it's nothing like that. Don't be silly."
"Oh, really?" Ishika countered, a knowing, bittersweet smile playing on her lips. "You think you can hide this from me? I see the way you look at him when he's not watching. I've seen it for months."
"Man, really… it's nothing like that," Kavya insisted, but her voice wavered, lacking conviction.
Ishika's expression softened, a shadow of her own painful reality crossing her features. "You know, loving someone… truly loving them, while knowing in your heart that there's no future for you and him… it's the greatest pain a heart can endure." She paused, her gaze becoming distant. "You know the outcome is only heartbreak, yet… the heart doesn't listen. It doesn't stop." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "You remember every little thing about him– the sound of his laugh, the way he says your name… everything. Even knowing that one day all this will just be memories that haunt you, you still want to live in that moment. Even if it breaks your heart over and over, still… you don't stop loving him."
Kavya looked up, her defenses crumbling completely as she saw the raw, reflected pain in her friend's eyes. Ishika leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "So, don't let your love just fade away like this. Kavya, you have to try. Try to win him."
Kavya's shoulders slumped in defeat. "(Softly) You love Ruhan, don't you?" It was less a question and more a statement of shared solidarity.
Ishika didn't hesitate, her confession stark and honest. "Yes, I do. With every beat of my heart, knowing fully well that he doesn't love me back."
"So what should I do, Ishika?" Kavya's plea was desperate, her hands gesturing helplessly. "He doesn't even look at me the way I look at him. It's like I'm invisible. And you're telling me not to let him go, to win him? How?"
A spark of strategic calculation returned to Ishika's eyes, pushing her own sadness aside. "There is a way, Kavya."
"What way?"
"Neerav."
Kavya's face went blank with shock. "What… Neerav?" The name was a surprise, an unexpected variable in her one-sided equation with Anvesh.
Ishika nodded, her plan crystallizing. "Yes. You pretend… you pretend that you have feelings for him. You'll see, Anvesh will definitely notice. He'll get jealous. And when he sees you with someone else, that's when he'll realize what he's losing. That's when he'll come to you himself."
A flicker of hope, dangerous and tantalizing, ignited in Kavya's chest, quickly followed by a wave of doubt. "Will this… will this plan actually work?"
"100%," Ishika declared with an unwavering confidence that belied the fragility of her own situation.
"But… nothing will backfire, right? I mean, with Neerav?" Kavya asked, biting her lip nervously, the morality of using their friend as a pawn dawning on her. "He's such a good guy. I don't want to hurt him."
Ishika waved a dismissive hand, her focus solely on the goal. "Don't worry, nothing will happen. It's just a little act. Once Anvesh comes around, everything will go back to normal."
A slow, determined smile spread across Kavya's face, the allure of the plan overpowering her reservations. "Okay… so from today, I'll do just that. Thanks, Ishika." The two friends shared a quick, tight hug, a pact sealed in shared heartache and hopeful scheming, before heading back out to rejoin the others, their masks of casual cheer firmly back in place.
Scene: The Garden - Races and Revelations
They found the rest of the group scattered on a sunny patch of lush green lawn. The air was filled with the cheerful chirping of birds and the distant laughter of other families. For a moment, a comfortable, peaceful silence fell upon them, each lost in their own world. Ruhan, ever the organizer, broke the silence.
"Guys, what should we do now? We can't just sit here all day."
Nivan, looking up from his phone where he had been secretly searching for "Navgarh kingdom," proposed a simple idea. "Let's have a race. See who can touch that pole over there and come back the fastest."
A chorus of playful protests erupted. "Such an easy game?" "This is for kids!" they exclaimed. But with no better ideas, everyone agreed. The simple game, they realized, was a perfect way to break the ice and bring out their competitive, childlike spirits.
Ruhan took charge. "So, let's go! Neerav, you'll go first."
One by one, they ran. Neerav sprinted with an easy, athletic grace. Anvesh followed, a bit more reserved but swift and efficient. Nisha and Sadhya ran together, their laughter echoing as they almost tripped over each other, their hands briefly clasping. Ishika and Ruhan ran side-by-side, with Ishika trying her best to keep up, her eyes more on Ruhan's profile than the finish line. Nivan ran with a focused, almost desperate determination, as if trying to outrun the ghosts of his past, surprising everyone with his unexpected speed.
Finally, it was Kavya's turn. As she started running, her mind was a whirlwind of Ishika's plan. She glanced towards Anvesh, hoping to catch his eye, to see if he was watching her. But he was looking away, engrossed in a conversation with Nivan. Distracted and nervous, her foot caught on an uneven patch of grass, and she stumbled forward, falling onto the soft lawn with a small, startled gasp.
A wave of immediate concern washed over the group. But before anyone else could even process the fall, Neerav was a blur of motion, already by her side, his face etched with genuine worry. In one fluid, almost instinctive motion, he scooped her up into his arms. Kavya, startled, instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for support. As he carried her towards the cool, inviting shade of a large, sprawling banyan tree, she couldn't help but notice the solid strength in his arms, the careful way he held her, and the deep, unfeigned concern in his eyes. She kept looking at him, a part of her acting for Anvesh's benefit, but another, deeper part feeling strangely safe and captivated by the intensity of the moment.
"Kavya! You're okay, right?" Neerav asked, his voice laced with a concern that felt too real to be part of any act.
Everyone gathered around them, their voices overlapping. "Kavya, are you okay?" "Did you hurt yourself?"
Kavya nodded, a little breathless from the fall and the sudden proximity. "Yes, I'm fine… just slipped. It's nothing."
Neerav gently set her down on a weathered stone bench under the cool, dappled shade. Almost immediately, Anvesh was there, the first to reach them with a bottle of water, his expression unreadable. "Here, drink this," he said, his voice soft but carrying a distinct, polite distance.
As Kavya took the water, Neerav knelt down in front of her, his focus entirely on her. "Let me see," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. He carefully examined her ankle, his touch surprisingly soft and professional as he gently rubbed her foot, checking for any swelling. "You have to be careful when you walk, Kavya. See, you got hurt, didn't you?" he chided lightly, but his brow remained furrowed with a worry that seemed to extend beyond ordinary friendship.
Nisha nudged Sadhya subtly, nodding towards the trio. A knowing, almost amused smile passed between them; the group's dynamics were certainly shifting in fascinating ways.
Ruhan came over, his leader-mode activated. "Are you okay now, Kavya? Do you need to sit for a while?"
Kavya, seeing Anvesh's passive presence, put on a brave face, flexing her foot demonstratively. "Yes, guys, I'm perfectly fine. Look, nothing happened at all. See?" She forced a bright smile, though her ankle throbbed in protest.
Ishika, seeing the perfect opening to advance their plan, clapped her hands together. "So, if everyone is fine, let's go eat golgappas now! That will cheer everyone up."
A unanimous, eager cheer of "Okay, let's go!" rose from the group, the minor incident forgotten in the irresistible face of their favorite street snack. They all headed towards a nearby stall, the tantalizing smell of tangy tamarind water and spicy potato filling already drawing a small crowd.
As they stood in a semi-circle around the golgappa vendor, the plates of crispy puris being passed around, Kavya saw her next opportunity. She took a perfectly stuffed, glistening golgappa from the plate and, with a deliberate, sweet smile, turned to Neerav. "Here, you try this one," she said, feeding it to him directly, her fingers brushing lightly against his lips.
Neerav was slightly surprised, his eyes widening for a second before he accepted it, his gaze locking with hers as he ate the savory morsel. A slow, appreciative, and deeply warm smile spread across his face. "It's delicious," he said, his voice soft, his gaze intent and lingering. Kavya smiled back, a calculated move in her grand plan, all the while her senses were hyper-aware of Anvesh standing just a few feet away, watching the scene unfold.
But Anvesh showed no reaction. No flicker of jealousy, no change in expression. He simply took a golgappa for himself, his attention already drifting back to the surrounding gardens, seemingly completely oblivious to the little drama of the heart unfolding right beside him.
The game was on, but the first, carefully orchestrated move had seemingly failed to register on its intended target. The pawn was in play, but the king remained unmoved. A quiet sense of frustration began to simmer beneath Kavya's hopeful facade, while Neerav's heart, unaware of the game, dared to feel a hope of its own.
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