🎵 Song: Kho Gaye Hum Kahan – Baar Baar Dekho (Instrumental)

"Sometimes...

one small notification...

can make your heartbeat louder than a phone ringtone."

The evening sky had turned shades of orange and pink.

After returning from school, the Sharma house settled into its usual peaceful routine.

Rajeev was reading the newspaper in the living room.

Nandini was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Anaya sat on the floor, trying to finish her homework while humming random songs.

Aarohi had completed her schoolwork earlier than usual.

After taking a shower and changing into a comfortable lavender night suit, she sat on her bed with a cup of hot chocolate beside her.

For the first time that day...

She finally picked up her phone.

A notification appeared immediately.

📩 Mehak Kapoor started following you.

A smile spread across Aarohi's face.

"She found my account already."

She accepted the request without a second thought and followed Mehak back.

Within seconds...

A message popped up.

Mehak 🤍

Found you! 😂

Aarohi laughed softly.

She quickly typed back.

Aarohi 🌸

That was fast.

A reply came almost instantly.

Mehak 🤍

I told you we'd annoy each other after school too.

Aarohi smiled.

She had made a genuine friend in such a short time.

It felt nice.

Just as she was about to lock her phone...

Another notification appeared.

📩 reyansh_malhotra started following you.

Her thumb froze.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

"Reyansh...?"

For a second, she wondered if it was someone else.

Curious, she opened the notification.

It was indeed Reyansh's account.

The profile picture showed him standing beside a football field with his hands in his pockets, looking away from the camera.

His bio was surprisingly simple.

"Less talk. More action."

Aarohi stared at the screen for a few moments.

"He... followed me?"

Before she could process that...

Another notification appeared.

📩 arjun_khanna started following you.

She immediately recognized the name.

"That's his best friend..."

She remembered the boy who was always with Reyansh in school.

Now both of them had sent follow requests.

At the same time...

Inside the Malhotra Mansion...

Reyansh was lying comfortably on the sofa in the family lounge, scrolling through his phone.

Arjun sat beside him with a packet of chips.

"So..."

Arjun said casually.

"You sent her a follow request?"

Reyansh didn't even look up.

"Hmm."

"And?"

"And what?"

"She accepted yet?"

"Not yet."

Arjun smirked.

"What if she ignores it?"

Reyansh finally looked at him.

"She won't."

"So confident?"

"We're neighbours."

"Our families know each other."

"It would be awkward if she ignored it."

Arjun laughed.

"Fair point."

Then, with a mischievous grin, he unlocked his own phone.

"I'm following her too."

Reyansh raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Arjun shrugged.

"Because she's going to be around."

"Might as well know my friend's neighbour."

Reyansh simply shook his head.

"Do whatever you want."

Back in her room...

Aarohi was still staring at the screen.

"Should I accept?"

Her finger hovered over the button.

"It would be rude not to..."

"He's our neighbour now."

"And our parents are friends."

Taking a small breath...

She accepted Reyansh's follow request.

A second later...

She accepted Arjun's too.

Then, after a moment's hesitation...

She followed both of them back.

The moment she locked her phone...

A tiny smile appeared on her face.

She didn't even realize it.

Across the street...

Reyansh's phone vibrated.

Aarohi Sharma accepted your follow request.

Another notification followed.

Aarohi Sharma started following you.

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Arjun noticed immediately.

"There it is."

"What?"

"That smile again."

Reyansh looked genuinely confused.

"I smiled?"

"You've been doing that a lot these days."

"I think you're imagining things."

"Hmm."

Arjun leaned back with a grin.

"I'll let you stay in denial."

Reyansh rolled his eyes, but he didn't deny checking Aarohi's profile.

It was simple.

A few pictures with her family.

Some sunsets.

Books.

Flowers.

A photo of the blue evening sky from her balcony.

He quietly smiled.

"That suits her..."

He locked his phone without liking any post.

"Stalking already?"

Arjun teased.

"I just opened her profile."

"Sure."

"I did."

"I totally believe you."

Meanwhile...

In the Sharma house...

Aarohi's phone buzzed one last time.

Mehak 🤍

By the way... I saw someone else followed you too. 👀

Aarohi's eyes widened.

She quickly replied.

How do you know?

Almost instantly...

Mehak 🤍

Mutual followers exist, Miss Sharma. 😌

Aarohi smiled helplessly.

Somehow...

It felt like her peaceful life had become a little more... interesting.

And all because of one mischievous junior...

who somehow kept finding new ways to enter her day.

End of Chapter 16** 💙📱**