**EPISODE 8 – *"The School Festival"***
The school transformed overnight.
Colorful banners hung from balconies, fairy lights wrapped around pillars, stalls lined the courtyard, and cheerful music echoed everywhere. Students ran around in excitement, carrying cardboard signs, props, costumes—each group preparing for their event.
But Bhanu?
She stood at the center of the chaos…
…feeling like she couldn't breathe.
---
## **Bhanu's Anxiety**
"Why did I agree to this…" she whispered to herself.
Her class had forced her to help at their booth—*a fortune-telling stall*. She didn't have to dress up or talk to strangers, but she *did* have to sit beside the booth and help record names.
Too many people.
Too much noise.
Too many eyes.
Her hands trembled around the clipboard.
That's when a familiar voice softened the entire atmosphere.
"Hey," Arjun said, stepping beside her. "You're early."
She looked up.
He wore a simple but neat outfit—white shirt with sleeves rolled up, hair slightly messy, and the gentlest smile in existence.
"Are you okay?" he asked immediately.
"No," she admitted quietly.
Arjun didn't hesitate.
He stepped in front of her, blocking the crowd from her view, shielding her gently with his presence.
"Just stay behind me, alright?" he said. "You don't have to face any of this alone."
Her heart softened.
This boy… always sensed her emotions before she said a word.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
He smiled. "Always."
---
## **Her World Becomes Too Loud**
Students swarmed the courtyard. The noise kept growing—laughter, shouts, music, nonstop chatter. Bhanu felt dizzy.
Arjun noticed instantly.
"Hey, slow breaths," he said, leaning close without touching her.
"Look at me."
She raised her eyes to his.
"Atta girl," he whispered, calming her. "Just me. Don't look at the crowd."
Her chest slowly steadied.
"How did you know?" she asked.
Arjun chuckled softly. "I watch you more than you think."
Her cheeks burned.
But before she could say anything—
A loud cheer erupted from the stage area.
The music club had arrived.
And leading them…
…was Goutam.
---
## **Goutam on Stage – The Unexpected Performance**
He wore a black shirt, sleeves rolled casually, guitar strapped across his shoulder. His hair was styled, but slightly messy—effortlessly attractive, the kind that made girls whisper and blush instantly.
And yes—they whispered.
"Oh my god he's so handsome—"
"I didn't know he'd perform today!"
"He looks like a celebrity!"
"Is he single?!"
Bhanu, however, stayed still.
Not because she didn't care.
But because she cared too much.
Arjun followed her gaze… and his smile faded.
"Of course," he murmured under his breath.
On stage, Goutam adjusted the mic, scanning the crowd.
Then it happened.
His eyes found her.
Instantly.
As if no one else existed.
As if the crowd blurred away.
As if the only person worth looking at…
was Bhanu.
His expression softened—just a little.
Enough to make her breath hitch.
Arjun saw it.
His chest tightened painfully.
---
## **The Performance**
Goutam played a soft melody—unexpectedly emotional, stripped down, intimate.
People swayed.
Girls squealed.
But his eyes never left Bhanu.
Not once.
Bhanu's heart raced.
*Why… why is he looking at me like that?*
*What does he want…?*
Arjun shifted beside her.
"Of course he'd look at you," he said quietly, bitterness in his voice he couldn't hide.
She turned to him, startled.
"I–I don't know why…"
"You do," Arjun whispered. "You just don't want to admit it."
Her breath caught.
Before she could respond, the song ended—and the crowd erupted in applause.
But Goutam?
He stepped off the stage immediately.
Heading straight toward her.
---
## **The Confrontation – Tension Rising**
Bhanu froze as Goutam approached.
Arjun instinctively stepped in front of her.
Goutam's eyes sharpened.
"Move," he said coldly.
Arjun didn't.
"She's overwhelmed. Give her space."
Goutam scoffed. "I'm not here to scare her."
"And I'm not here to let you confuse her."
The tension snapped like a pulled wire.
Students around them sensed it—two boys staring each other down, heat rising, jealousy intermixed with something deeper.
Bhanu stepped forward immediately.
"Stop," she pleaded softly.
Both boys instantly went quiet.
Goutam's expression shifted the moment he saw her—anger melting into something softer, gentler.
"You okay?" he asked her, voice low.
She nodded weakly.
He exhaled in relief.
Arjun looked away, hurt flashing across his face.
---
## **Later – Away from the Crowd**
Bhanu excused herself from the stall. She needed air.
The festival lights blurred, her heartbeat too loud, too fast, too confusing.
She slipped behind the auditorium, where it was quiet.
Peaceful.
But she wasn't alone.
Someone followed her.
"Should've known you'd escape," a deep voice said softly.
She turned.
Goutam stood there.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes unreadable.
Breathing slightly uneven, as if he'd walked fast to catch up.
"I'm not here to fight," he said quickly.
"I just… wanted to talk."
She hugged her arms. "About what?"
"About you," he said simply.
Her heart thudded.
Goutam looked away for a second, gathering his thoughts—something he rarely did.
"You saw my performance," he said. "And I don't know why but… I cared about that more than I should."
She blinked.
"I don't perform for attention," he continued. "I hate crowds. I hate expectations."
She stared at him, surprised.
"But when I saw you in the audience…"
His voice softened—so soft she almost didn't hear.
"…I didn't hate it."
Her breath caught.
"I used to be quiet too," he admitted. "I know what it's like to feel invisible. Or want to be invisible."
Their eyes met.
It felt like he had opened a part of himself no one else had ever seen.
---
## **Someone Watching**
But they weren't alone.
From a distance, half-hidden behind the building…
Arjun stood silently.
Watching them.
His chest tightened painfully.
He wasn't angry at Goutam.
He was scared.
Scared because he could see it now:
**Goutam wasn't just looking at Bhanu.
He was falling for her.
Hard.**
And Bhanu…
didn't seem scared of him anymore.
---
# 🌸 **END OF EPISODE 8**