🎵 Song: Nazm Nazm – Bareilly Ki Barfi (Instrumental)

"Some meetings are planned...

The best ones are accidents."

The lunch bell echoed across St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School.

Within seconds...

The peaceful corridors transformed into a lively chaos.

Students hurried towards the canteen.

Some rushed to the basketball court.

Others gathered in small circles with their lunchboxes.

Inside Class 11-A...

Mehak closed her notebook.

"Finally!"

"I'm starving."

Aarohi laughed softly.

"You say that every day."

"Because I am starving every day."

The two girls walked towards the canteen, chatting about their English assignment.

The canteen was already crowded.

Students stood in long queues while others searched for empty tables.

"I'll get us two cold coffees."

Mehak said.

"You wait here."

"Okay."

Aarohi nodded.

She quietly moved to one side, waiting near the juice counter.

At the exact same moment...

The junior boys entered the canteen.

Reyansh walked in with Arjun and two other friends.

His tie was already loose despite it being only lunchtime.

Arjun shook his head.

"You really don't know how to wear a uniform."

"I do."

"You just don't like wearing it properly."

"Exactly."

The boys laughed.

"Bro, samosas?" one of the boys asked.

"Obviously."

Reyansh replied.

"No lunch is complete without them."

The group split up to collect different snacks.

Meanwhile...

Mehak finally got the drinks.

"Aarohi!"

She called from across the crowd.

"Catch!"

Without thinking...

Aarohi turned around.

She instinctively walked backward to reach Mehak.

Unfortunately...

Someone else was walking in the opposite direction.

THUD!

Both of them collided.

A paper cup slipped.

Cold coffee splashed onto the floor.

"Oh!"

Aarohi immediately stepped back.

"I'm so sorry!"

The familiar chuckle made her freeze.

"You really like bumping into me."

She slowly looked up.

Reyansh.

Again.

Standing right in front of her.

One eyebrow raised.

The corners of his lips curved into an amused smile.

Aarohi sighed dramatically.

"You're impossible."

"You've said that before."

"Because it's true."

"So..."

He folded his arms.

"This is becoming a habit."

She looked confused.

"What is?"

"Bumping into me."

"I don't do it intentionally."

"Hmm..."

"I don't know..."

He pretended to think.

"The evidence says otherwise."

She folded her arms too.

"What evidence?"

"This is the second time."

"That proves nothing."

"It proves everything."

"It proves the school is crowded."

"It proves fate likes me."

Aarohi stared at him.

"...You're unbelievable."

He grinned.

"I've heard that too."

Just then, one of the canteen staff members approached.

"It's alright, beta."

"I'll clean this."

Aarohi immediately apologized.

"I'm really sorry."

"It's okay."

Reyansh bent down and picked up the fallen paper cup before handing it to the staff member.

"No worries."

"We'll move."

The staff member smiled thankfully.

Mehak finally reached them.

"Oh my God!"

"What happened?"

Aarohi looked embarrassed.

"I bumped into him."

Mehak looked at Reyansh.

Then at Aarohi.

Then silently sighed.

"Again?"

Reyansh looked at Aarohi with the same teasing smile.

"So..."

"My senior."

She already knew what was coming.

"What?"

"You owe me."

Her eyes widened.

"For what?"

"You spilled my coffee."

"You walked into me!"

"You walked backward."

"You walked forward."

"So we're both guilty?"

"...Maybe."

He smiled.

"I'll accept that."

Aarohi couldn't help smiling too.

"Good."

For a brief second...

Neither of them realized...

They were smiling at each other in the middle of the crowded canteen.

"Reyansh!"

Arjun called from a nearby table.

"Come before someone finishes the samosas."

"I'm coming."

Reyansh looked back at Aarohi.

"I'll let you go this time."

She smiled softly.

"How generous."

"I know."

With one last teasing smile...

He walked away.

As soon as Reyansh sat down...

Arjun leaned forward.

"Who was she?"

Reyansh casually opened a packet of ketchup.

"My neighbour."

Arjun frowned.

"The one your parents met?"

"Hmm."

"The same girl?"

"Yeah."

Arjun looked toward Aarohi, who was now sitting with Mehak.

"So..."

"Why do you two keep meeting everywhere?"

Reyansh shrugged.

"I have no idea."

Arjun smirked.

"Sure."

"I'm serious."

"So tell me."

"What's her story?"

Reyansh leaned back in his chair.

"Her name's Aarohi Sharma."

"She shifted into the house opposite ours last week."

"Our dads are best friends from college."

"My family invited them for dinner."

Arjun listened quietly.

"She's in Class 11."

"My senior."

He made a face after saying the last word.

Arjun burst into laughter.

"You still can't digest that?"

"Not at all."

"She's one year older than me."

"And shorter."

"Life is unfair."

Arjun laughed even harder.

"So that's why you keep calling her 'Senior.'"

Reyansh nodded.

"Exactly."

He continued,

"She's... different."

Arjun looked at him curiously.

"Different how?"

Reyansh thought for a moment.

"She's quiet."

"Very shy."

"Argues only when I tease her."

"And..."

He unknowingly smiled.

"...she has these weird blue eyes."

Arjun noticed the smile immediately.

"Oh ho..."

"What?"

"You smiled."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I was just talking."

"Hmm."

Arjun leaned back with a knowing grin.

"If you say so."

Reyansh simply rolled his eyes.

Completely unaware...

That every time he spoke about Aarohi...

His expression softened just a little.

And his best friend had already begun noticing the change.

Across the canteen...

Mehak quietly watched Reyansh laughing with Arjun.

Then she looked at Aarohi, who was still trying to calm her racing heart after yet another unexpected encounter.

A mischievous smile appeared on Mehak's face.

"This story..."

"is getting more interesting every day."

End of Chapter 14 💙🍽️