🎵 Song: Apna Bana Le – Bhediya (Instrumental)

"Sometimes...

the smallest goodbye becomes the most unforgettable part of the day."

The final school bell echoed through St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School.

The day's classes were finally over.

Within minutes, the corridors that had been filled with lessons and lectures were now buzzing with laughter.

Students poured out of their classrooms, excited to head home.

Some rushed towards the school buses.

Others waited near the parking area for their parents.

The entire campus was alive with conversations.

Inside Class 11-A...

Aarohi carefully packed her notebooks into her school bag.

Mehak stretched her arms dramatically.

"Finally!"

"My brain officially stopped working after the last period."

Aarohi giggled.

"It wasn't that bad."

Mehak looked at her in disbelief.

"You're saying that because you're actually good at studies."

"I suffered."

The two girls laughed.

As they walked out of the classroom...

Mehak suddenly asked,

"You're going home by car, right?"

Aarohi nodded.

"Papa comes every day."

"Mine too."

Mehak smiled.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

"Bye."

The girls exchanged a quick hug before walking in different directions.

Meanwhile...

Near the junior wing...

Reyansh and Arjun were making their way toward the school parking area.

Arjun swung his bag over one shoulder.

"So..."

"Football practice tomorrow?"

"Hmm."

Reyansh nodded.

"If Sharma Sir doesn't trap us in extra classes."

"He probably will."

"We'll escape."

Arjun laughed.

"You always have a plan."

"I always need one."

Outside the school building...

Cars slowly entered the campus.

Parents waited near the main gate.

School buses lined up one after another.

Aarohi stood quietly beneath a large gulmohar tree, waiting for Rajeev.

She adjusted the strap of her school bag and looked down at her phone.

A message from Nandini had arrived.

Maa: Papa is reaching in two minutes.

She smiled and slipped the phone back into her bag.

Just then...

She heard footsteps approaching.

Before she could turn—

A familiar voice spoke behind her.

"So..."

Aarohi looked over her shoulder.

Reyansh.

He stood a few feet away with one hand inside his pocket, his school bag casually hanging from the other shoulder.

Arjun had already walked ahead, leaving him behind with an amused smile.

"You seem to appear everywhere."

Aarohi said with a small smile.

Reyansh shrugged.

"It's a small school."

"It isn't."

"For me, it is."

She shook her head, trying not to laugh.

For a brief moment...

Neither of them said anything.

The afternoon breeze gently rustled the leaves above them.

Students continued walking past, completely unaware of the quiet conversation.

Aarohi noticed Rajeev's car entering through the school gate.

"My father is here."

She adjusted her bag.

"I should go."

Reyansh nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

She took a step forward.

Then another.

Just as she was about to leave—

"Senior."

She stopped and turned around.

"Hmm?"

A playful smile spread across Reyansh's face.

He slightly raised his hand in a casual wave.

"Bye, my Senior."

Aarohi blinked.

Before she could respond...

He added with the same teasing smile,

"See you soon."

For a second...

She simply stood there.

That familiar warmth spread across her cheeks again.

A small smile escaped her lips despite herself.

She softly waved back.

"...Bye."

Then, almost shyly, she added,

"See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for his reply...

She quickly walked toward her father's car.

Reyansh watched her leave.

The smile on his face lingered for a few moments before he turned around.

"Done flirting?"

Arjun's voice came from behind.

Reyansh rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't flirting."

"Hmm."

"You've started lying too."

"I just said bye."

"You called her 'my Senior.'"

"So?"

"You've never called anyone my anything."

Reyansh had no answer.

Instead, he simply nudged Arjun's shoulder.

"Shut up."

Arjun laughed as the two boys walked toward their bikes.

A little distance away...

Two small detectives had witnessed the entire scene.

Kabir had been waiting near the junior block for Meera's car.

Anaya was standing beside Rajeev's car after spotting her father.

Both had seen everything.

Kabir slowly looked at Anaya.

"Did you hear that?"

Anaya nodded excitedly.

"He said..."

"'Bye, my Senior.'"

Kabir grinned proudly.

"And..."

"'See you soon.'"

Anaya clasped her hands together dramatically.

"My Didi smiled!"

Kabir laughed.

"My Bhai never smiles like that while saying goodbye."

The two children exchanged a knowing look.

No words were needed.

Another clue had been added to their secret investigation.

Operation Cupid was moving exactly the way they had hoped.

And neither Reyansh...

nor Aarohi...

had the slightest idea that their every interaction was being carefully observed by the two youngest members of their families.

As Rajeev's car drove out of the school gate...

Aarohi couldn't stop herself from glancing out of the window.

She saw Reyansh laughing with Arjun near the parking area.

Almost as if he sensed it...

He looked up.

Their eyes met for one brief moment.

Then both cars moved in opposite directions.

Leaving behind another ordinary school day...

that somehow didn't feel ordinary anymore.

End of Chapter 15 💙🏫