As the bell rang, signaling the end of another school day, the hallways buzzed with students rushing to their next destinations, laughter echoing off the walls. Vaaghmika stood by her locker, organizing her books, but her mind was elsewhere. The encounter with Rohan still lingered, and she couldn't shake the feeling of confusion that had settled in her gut.

“Aren’t you coming?” Atharva’s voice broke through her thoughts. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression a mix of impatience and concern. “I thought we could grab a snack before heading home.”

“Yeah, just a second,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I’m just… thinking.”

“About what? Rohan?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing, yet there was an edge of seriousness beneath it.

“Maybe,” she admitted, biting her lip. “He seems really nice, and he’s… confident.”

“Confident, huh? Is that the new standard now?” Atharva’s voice was playful, but his eyes were earnest, searching hers for reassurance.

“Look, I just want to figure things out,” she said, frustration creeping in. “You kissed me out of nowhere, and now there’s Rohan. I need time to think about what I want.”

Atharva’s expression softened, and he pushed himself off the wall, stepping closer to her. “I get it. But just know, I’m not going anywhere. I like you, Vaaghmika. More than I probably should.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “And I’m not going to let some new guy swoop in and take you away.”

Vaaghmika looked up at him, her heart fluttering at his words. “I’m not saying I’m going to run off with Rohan. I just… need to understand where we stand. This is all so new to me.”

Before Atharva could respond, a loud cheer erupted from the nearby soccer field, where students were gathering to watch the afternoon practice. Rohan’s voice stood out among the crowd, calling out to his teammates, his laughter infectious.

“See what I mean?” Atharva grumbled, his expression darkening. “He’s just trying to show off.”

“Maybe he’s just being friendly,” Vaaghmika countered, though she could feel the tension building between them.

“Friendly or not, it’s irritating,” Atharva replied, running a hand through his hair. “Let’s just go. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

With a reluctant nod, they walked out together, the tension still thick between them. As they crossed the parking lot, Vaaghmika spotted Meera aunty chatting with Riya aunty, who waved enthusiastically when she saw them.

“Hey, you two! We were just talking about dinner plans,” Riya aunty called out, her voice bright. “Why don’t you both come over? We can have a little get-together!”

Atharva’s face lit up, but Vaaghmika hesitated. “I don’t know… I have some homework to finish.”

“Oh come on, just one evening! You need to unwind a bit,” Meera aunty chimed in, her tone persuasive.

Vaaghmika exchanged glances with Atharva, who was already nodding eagerly. “It’ll be fun, Vaaghi. I promise,” he added, his smile genuine.

With a sigh, she relented. “Okay, fine. But just for a little while.”

As they drove to Riya aunty’s house, the atmosphere was lighter, but the undercurrents of their earlier conversation lingered. When they arrived, the warm scent of spices greeted them, and soon they found themselves surrounded by laughter and chatter.

Amid the comfortable chaos, Vaaghmika felt a sense of normalcy return. She and Atharva helped set the table, exchanging playful banter, their earlier tension slowly dissipating. But as they settled down to eat, Vaaghmika noticed Rohan enter the house, a confident smile on his face as he greeted everyone.

“Hey, I heard you were having a get-together. Mind if I join?” he asked, his eyes landing on Vaaghmika.

“Of course, the more the merrier!” Riya aunty replied, motioning him to sit.

Vaaghmika felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She glanced at Atharva, who was suddenly quiet, his expression shifting from playful to guarded.

As the evening wore on, the conversation flowed easily, but a subtle tension simmered beneath the surface. Rohan was charming, engaging with everyone, but it was clear he had taken a particular interest in Vaaghmika.

“Vaaghmika, what do you say we team up for the trivia game later?” he suggested, leaning in closer, his tone inviting.

Atharva cleared his throat loudly, drawing attention to himself. “Actually, I think Vaaghmika and I were going to team up. Right, Vaaghi?” His tone was casual, but there was an unmistakable challenge in his eyes.

Vaaghmika felt her heart race, caught in the middle of this unexpected rivalry. “Um, yeah. We should stick together,” she said, trying to diffuse the tension.

Rohan shrugged, unfazed. “No problem, just thought it would be fun.”

As the game progressed, the playful competition heated up, but the atmosphere felt charged. Vaaghmika found herself caught in the whirlwind of emotions—Atharva’s protectiveness, Rohan’s charm, and her own uncertainty.

When the evening finally came to an end, and they all said their goodbyes, Vaaghmika couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The kiss with Atharva had opened a door she wasn’t sure she was ready to walk through, and Rohan’s arrival had only complicated things further.

As she climbed into the car with Atharva, silence fell between them. He glanced at her, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes. “You okay?” he asked softly.

“I’m just… processing everything,” she replied, feeling the weight of their earlier conversation resurface.

He nodded, his expression serious. “You don’t have to choose right now, you know. Just take your time.”

But as they drove home, Vaaghmika couldn’t shake the feeling that choices were coming, and soon she would have to confront her feelings for both boys. The night stretched ahead of her, filled with uncertainty and the promise of new beginnings, leaving her heart racing for reasons she couldn’t quite understand.