As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the small town, Vaaghmika sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. The kiss with Atharva replayed in her mind like a favorite song, each note stirring up a mix of excitement and confusion. How could a single moment shift her entire perspective? She sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her chest.

The next day at school, the atmosphere was electric with the whispers of her classmates. The hallways buzzed with excitement, but for Vaaghmika, it felt like a pressure cooker of expectations. As she stepped into her math class, she caught sight of Atharva leaning against the lockers, radiating confidence. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he flashed that signature grin that made her heart flutter. But just as she approached him, Rohan appeared, exuding a charm that made it impossible for anyone to ignore him.

“Hey, Vaaghmika! Ready for the big game this weekend? I hear you’re quite the trivia whiz,” Rohan said, his voice smooth and inviting.

Atharva’s expression darkened slightly, but he masked it with a smirk. “Yeah, the trivia game is going to be epic. Just don’t let the pressure get to you, Rohan,” he shot back, a playful challenge hanging in the air.

Vaaghmika felt the tension simmer between the two boys, and with each passing moment, she sensed the stakes rising. “I’m just excited to hang out with everyone,” she said, attempting to diffuse the situation, but her words fell flat in the face of their rivalry.

As the day progressed, she found herself increasingly distracted by Rohan’s magnetic presence. He was charming and funny, always surrounded by friends, and he seemed genuinely interested in her. During lunch, he slid into the seat across from her, and she couldn’t help but smile as he shared a hilarious story about his latest soccer match.

Meanwhile, Atharva sat at the adjacent table, stealing glances at her, his expression a mixture of admiration and frustration. The playful banter between him and Rohan intensified, each boy trying to outdo the other, while Vaaghmika felt like a pawn caught in their game.

That evening, during the dinner gathering at her house, the tension reached a boiling point. Meera aunty and Riya aunty exchanged knowing looks as the boys continued to vie for Vaaghmika’s attention. It was during the trivia game that things took an unexpected turn.

“Okay, next question!” Vaaghmika announced, trying to keep the atmosphere light. “What is the capital of France?”

“Easy! Paris!” Rohan shouted, grinning widely, clearly enjoying the spotlight.

“Actually, it’s the city of love,” Atharva interjected, his voice teasing, “which makes sense since you seem to be falling for it.” His gaze was locked onto Vaaghmika, and she felt her cheeks flush.

The game continued, but Vaaghmika couldn’t shake the feeling of being torn between the two boys. They were both charming in their own ways, and she was starting to see different sides of them—Atharva’s genuine affection and Rohan’s magnetic confidence.

After the game ended, both boys lingered around her, each trying to win her over with their jokes and stories. Vaaghmika felt overwhelmed by their attention—each word they spoke was like a thread weaving her heart into a complicated tapestry of emotions.

“Vaaghmika,” Rohan said softly, leaning closer, “I know we just met, but I really like you. Would you want to go to the movies this weekend?”

Before she could respond, Atharva jumped in, “Come on, it’s a group thing! We can all go together, right?” His tone was light, but the underlying tension was palpable.

Vaaghmika’s heart raced as she looked between them, feeling the weight of the decision looming over her. “I... I’ll think about it,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

As the evening drew to a close, Vaaghmika found herself standing in her room, staring at the mirror. Reflection stared back, filled with uncertainty and longing. She knew she had to make a choice, but the thought of hurting either boy felt unbearable.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from Atharva: “Hey, I was thinking we could talk later, just the two of us? There’s something I want to share.”

Vaaghmika’s heart skipped a beat, and she realized that the unexpected challenge was not just about the boys vying for her affection, but about her own journey of self-discovery. She had to figure out what she truly wanted before she could navigate the complexities of her heart.

With a determined breath, she typed back: “Sure, I’d like that.” As she hit send, she felt a mix of anticipation and fear. Whatever happened next, she knew one thing for sure—their story was far from over.

As she tried to sleep she woke up by a jolty dream in which Atharva kissed her again in front of Rohan Riya aunty and Meera aunty at dinner table while playing games and pang of jealousy hitting Atharva again and again .