**EPISODE 12 – *"Choosing Herself"***
*Season 1 Finale*
Two days of silence.
Two days of crying.
Two days of feeling lost.
Bhanu finally stepped into school again.
Her heart beat too fast.
Her fingers were cold.
Her steps were slow.
But this time…
She wasn't running away.
She was going to end the pain.
Face everything.
And speak the truth—her truth.
Even if it broke her.
---
# **Part 1 – Bhanu & Arjun**
She found him exactly where she expected:
The rooftop.
Where he almost confessed.
Where their friendship grew.
Where their comfort once lived.
Arjun stood with his back to her, hands gripping the railing, head bowed slightly.
She took a shaky breath.
"…Arjun."
He froze.
Slowly, he turned.
His eyes were red—not fresh tears, but tiredness… heartbreak.
He didn't speak.
So she stepped closer.
Then closer.
And then she bowed her head.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, voice trembling.
"I'm sorry for everything."
Arjun's voice was quiet, fragile.
"Why did you disappear?"
She swallowed.
"I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to hurt you or him. I didn't want rumors. I didn't want attention. I didn't want to break anything."
Her voice cracked.
"And I ended up breaking everything anyway."
Arjun looked down.
"I wasn't angry," he murmured.
"I was scared."
She looked up, confused.
"Scared of what?"
He finally met her eyes.
"Scared that I lost you," he whispered.
"That maybe… I was too late."
Her heart clenched.
Arjun took a slow breath.
"I like you, Bhanu. I really do. Not because you're quiet or kind or helpful… but because when I'm with you, I feel calm. I feel understood."
He smiled sadly.
"And I know Goutam feels something too. I can see it. Everyone can."
She looked away, tears filling her eyes.
"I didn't want anyone to fight because of me," she whispered.
"We're not fighting *because* of you," Arjun said gently.
"We're fighting because of ourselves. Our jealousy. Our insecurities."
He stepped closer—carefully.
"But no matter what happens, I want you to know something."
Her breath hitched.
"You don't owe your heart to anyone."
Bhanu's eyes widened.
"I want you in my life, Bhanu," Arjun said softly.
"But not if it hurts you.
Not if it breaks you.
Not if it forces you to choose before you're ready."
He smiled… with pain hidden in it.
"I'll wait. Even if it hurts."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
She wiped it quickly and whispered,
"…Thank you, Arjun."
They stood in silence—soft, heavy, meaningful.
For the first time in days, she felt a little lighter.
---
# **Part 2 – Bhanu & Goutam**
She found him behind the sports block.
Where the rumors started.
Where he confessed without meaning to.
Where their complicated connection began.
Goutam was kicking a stone on the ground, frustrated.
He looked up sharply when he heard her footsteps.
His face changed instantly.
Relief.
Fear.
Guilt.
Hope.
All at once.
"You're back," he breathed.
Bhanu nodded slowly.
"I needed time."
He swallowed, stepping toward her.
"I regret everything," he whispered.
"The rumors, the fight, the crowd… Arjun walking away… everything."
She shook her head.
"You didn't start the rumors."
"But I didn't control myself," Goutam said with a strained voice.
"When Arjun confronted me… when I got jealous… when I let my emotions show in front of everyone…"
His voice softened.
"I wasn't thinking about how it would affect you."
Bhanu hugged her arms around herself.
"It wasn't your fault alone."
Goutam's eyes darkened with pain.
"I hated seeing you cry," he whispered.
"I hated knowing I was part of the reason."
She looked away.
"I didn't cry because of you."
He stepped closer.
"Then why?"
Bhanu's voice trembled.
"Because I felt like I was losing both of you."
Silence.
Goutam's breath caught.
His voice came out low, raw.
"I don't want to be someone you lose."
She closed her eyes.
His next words came softer, gentler than she had ever heard from him.
"I like you, Bhanu. More than I've liked anyone before.
But I don't want to force this.
I don't want to hurt you.
I don't want to be the reason you break."
She opened her eyes.
Small tears clung to her lashes.
"Then don't," she whispered.
"I'm trying," he said, voice cracking.
"But I don't know how to stop wanting you."
Her heart thumped painfully.
Goutam swallowed hard.
"But I can wait," he said.
"Even if it hurts.
Even if it drives me crazy.
Even if he's waiting too."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"I'm not giving up on you."
Her breath trembled.
She whispered:
"…Thank you, Goutam."
For once—
He didn't smirk.
He didn't tease.
He didn't flirt.
He smiled softly.
Genuinely.
The first real smile she had ever seen from him.
And it scared her.
Because she felt something.
Something unfamiliar.
Something that pulled her toward him.
---
# **Part 3 – Bhanu Chooses**
Afternoon sun fell on the campus courtyard.
For the first time ever, Arjun and Goutam stood near each other without saying a word.
Both waiting.
Both watching her.
Both hoping.
Bhanu took a deep breath.
Her hands shook.
Her heart thundered.
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not choosing anyone," she said finally.
Both boys stiffened.
"I like… both of you.
In different ways.
But right now… I don't even understand myself."
She forced herself to continue.
"I need to choose myself first.
My peace.
My heart.
My own life."
Arjun looked away, hiding hurt.
Goutam clenched his jaw, swallowing frustration.
Bhanu stepped closer to both of them.
"You are both important to me," she said softly.
"And I don't want to lose either of you."
Her voice cracked.
"But I won't be the reason you ruin your friendship.
Or fight.
Or hurt."
She exhaled shakily.
"So I'm choosing myself.
Not you.
Not him.
Just… me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Broken.
Meaningful.
Finally…
Arjun nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Goutam sighed deeply.
"I don't like it… but I get it."
She managed a tiny smile.
"Thank you."
They both looked at her—
with heartbreak,
with understanding,
and with something even stronger:
Hope.
Because for the first time…
She didn't walk away from them.
And neither of them walked away from her.
---
# **Part 4 – Season Ending Twist**
When the final bell rang, Bhanu walked out of school alone.
But halfway down the road, her phone buzzed.
One message.
From an unknown number.
> **"I've been watching you. You don't belong with either of them."**
Bhanu froze.
Her hands shook violently.
Another message popped up.
> **"I'm coming soon."**
She looked around the empty street.
Someone was watching her.
Someone she didn't know.
Someone who would change everything in Season 2.
---
# 🌙 **END OF SEASON 1**