The next day at school felt lighter.

Not completely normal.
But lighter.

The substitute teacher introduced herself politely, took attendance, and started teaching without unnecessary remarks.

No whispers.
No tension.

Aaradhya let out a slow breath.

Theek hai… maybe it’s over, she told herself.

During break, the whole gang gathered near the basketball court.

Mahima and Anvi were arguing about who finished the last packet of chips.

“Jhooth mat bol, Mahima!” Anvi snapped.

“Main? Please. Sabko pata hai tu hi khaati hai bukad kahiki,” Mahima shot back.

Kanika burst out laughing. Ryan added fuel to the chaos as usual.

Nakul and Ekaksh were planning a match. Reyansh and Vihaan were pretending to study but clearly gossiping instead. Advik and Arhan leaned against the railing, scanning lazily.

And Yuvaan stood slightly apart.

Not distant.

Just… observant.

His eyes automatically tracked movement around them before settling back.

Aaradhya noticed.

She pretended she didn’t.

After School

“Chalo bahar chalte hain,” Ryan declared dramatically. “Main ghar jaake padhne ka drama nahi kar raha.”

Within half an hour, they were at a café nearby.

Fries. Milkshakes. Loud arguments. Laughter.

Aaradhya was smiling again. Fully.

That’s when Advik noticed it.

Two tables away, a group of boys had been staring.

At first, just glances.

Then deliberate.

Arhan followed their line of sight.

One of the boys leaned toward his friend and muttered loudly enough—

“Dekh usko… kitni hot lag rahi hai.”

Snickers.

Another added, " Kya maal hai bhai.”

A third one laughed crudely.
“Aise hi mil jaaye toh maza aa jaaye.”

The words weren’t loud.

But they were clear.

Yuvaan had heard the first comment.

Advik heard the last one.

Arhan’s jaw locked.

Aaradhya didn’t catch the exact words—but she noticed the shift.

The air tightened.

Advik stood up slowly.

“Repeat that,” he said calmly.

The boy smirked. “Kyun? Problem hai?”

Arhan stepped forward. “Haan. Bohot badi.”

The boy chuckled again. “Itna possessive kyun ho rahe ho? Public place hai.”

That was it.

The first shove was sharp.

Chairs scraped loudly.

Someone cursed.

It wasn’t a wild brawl.

It was quick. Focused.

Anger, not chaos.

A punch landed. Another shove. A table nearly tipped.

A glass shattered on the floor.

“Bas karo!” Aaradhya shouted, heart racing.

People turned. The café manager rushed forward.

Yuvaan stepped in then—not yelling.

Just cold.

He grabbed one of the boys by the collar, leaning slightly closer.

His voice was quiet.

“Uska baare mein dobara kuch bola na…”

He didn’t finish the sentence.

He didn’t need to.

The boy swallowed.

For the first time, the smirk disappeared.

Within seconds, staff separated them.

The other boys backed off, muttering, shaken.

Advik flexed his knuckles. Arhan rolled his shoulders.

Reyansh muttered, “Cheap log.”

Mahima looked ready to throw her drink at someone.

Aaradhya felt her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

“Why?” she asked, voice shaky. “Why do you all react like this?”

Advik looked at her like it was obvious.

“Unhone line cross ki.”

“That doesn’t mean you hit them! What if you guys got hurt?”

Arhan shrugged slightly. “Kabhi kabhi zaroori hota hai.”

She turned to Yuvaan.

He finally met her eyes.

No apology.

No hesitation.

Just certainty.

“If we let one comment pass,” he said calmly, “next time they think they can say worse.”

Her throat tightened.

She hated that part of her felt… protected.

Safe.

Ryan cleared his throat dramatically. “Fries thandi ho gayi.”

Mahima smacked him. “Shut up.”

Slowly, the tension eased.

They stepped outside into the cooler air.

Advik muttered, “Logon ko tameez nahi hoti.”

Arhan added quietly, “Aage se dhyaan rakhenge.”

Yuvaan didn’t say anything else.

But as they walked, he adjusted his pace slightly—

So he was walking beside her.

Not touching.

Not obvious.

Just there.

And for the first time—

Aaradhya realized something that unsettled her more than the fight.

It wasn’t just protection anymore.

It was something deeper.

Something territorial.

Something that didn’t ask for permission.

And she didn’t know if she should be scared of it—

Or comforted by it.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hi lovelies 🤍

Chapter 6 is finally up ✨ I hope you enjoy this one! I’m still learning, so please share your honest thoughts and constructive criticism — it really helps me improve.

Thank you for being patient with slow updates because of boards 🥹 Your support means so much to me.

Let me know how you felt after reading 💕

— Author