🎵 Song: Heeriye – Instrumental Version

"A bet is easy to make...

Until the winner is a mischievous red flag.

Then...

the punishment becomes unforgettable."

The next morning...

Aarohi entered the school with one thought running through her mind.

"What exactly is the punishment?"

She had barely slept properly.

Every time she closed her eyes...

She remembered Reyansh's confident smirk.

"Be ready for your punishment."

She sighed.

"What is wrong with him..."

Beside her...

Mehak noticed immediately.

"You've been thinking about it since yesterday, haven't you?"

Aarohi looked innocent.

"Thinking about what?"

"The punishment."

"I am not."

"You are."

"...Maybe a little."

Mehak laughed.

"I don't trust Reyansh Malhotra."

"Neither do I."

"And that's exactly why I'm excited."

Aarohi gave her a helpless look.

"You're enjoying this way too much."

Meanwhile...

Class 10-B.

Arjun watched Reyansh spinning a football on one finger.

"So..."

"Have you finally decided?"

Reyansh smirked.

"Oh, yes."

Arjun looked interested.

"What is it?"

"You'll see."

"Is it bad?"

Reyansh shrugged.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On whether she's my Senior..."

"...or my prisoner."

Arjun burst into laughter.

"You're evil."

"I prefer..."

He caught the football effortlessly.

"...creative."

Lunch Break.

The corridors became crowded once again.

Students rushed toward the canteen.

Some stood near the notice boards.

Others gathered around the basketball court.

Aarohi and Mehak had just stepped out of their classroom.

Before they could take another step...

Someone stood directly in front of them.

Aarohi looked up.

"...You."

Reyansh smiled.

"Me."

Mehak sighed dramatically.

"I suddenly remembered..."

"I have work."

Aarohi grabbed her wrist.

"No."

"You're staying."

"No chance."

Mehak gently removed Aarohi's hand.

"Good luck."

Within seconds...

She disappeared into the crowd.

Aarohi stared after her.

"Traitor."

Reyansh couldn't stop smiling.

"So..."

"My Senior."

She folded her arms.

"What now?"

He leaned casually against the wall.

"Ready for your punishment?"

She looked straight into his eyes.

"I'm listening."

He pretended to think for a few seconds.

Then...

A slow grin appeared.

"For the next..."

He deliberately paused.

"...seven school days..."

Aarohi already knew this wouldn't end well.

"...you'll sit in the front row during every football match I play."

She blinked.

"...What?"

He continued as if reading school rules.

"You will cheer every time I score."

Aarohi stared.

"And..."

He smiled innocently.

"...after every victory..."

"...you'll come to me personally..."

"...look me in the eyes..."

"...and say exactly three words."

She narrowed her eyes.

"What three words?"

He folded his arms proudly.

"You were amazing."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Aarohi simply stared at him.

Then...

"...You're joking."

"I'm not."

"This is the punishment?"

"Yes."

"It's ridiculous."

"I know."

"It's childish."

"Probably."

"It doesn't even make sense."

"It makes perfect sense."

"How?"

"Because..."

He leaned slightly closer.

"...I made the rules."

Aarohi couldn't believe him.

"So if I don't?"

Reyansh smiled sweetly.

"Then the punishment doubles."

She blinked.

"Doubles?"

"Hmm."

"Fourteen days."

"What?!"

"And..."

He looked very serious.

"...you'll also have to clap."

"I was already clapping!"

"Exactly."

"Now you'll clap louder."

She looked at him in complete disbelief.

"Reyansh Malhotra..."

"...are you serious?"

He nodded confidently.

"Completely."

Aarohi let out a deep sigh.

"I regret making that bet."

"You should."

"I thought you'd ask for chocolates."

"No."

"Notes?"

"No."

"Homework?"

"No."

She looked genuinely confused.

"Then why this?"

He smiled.

"Because chocolates disappear."

"Homework ends."

"But..."

He looked directly at her.

"...watching my Senior cheer for me..."

"...sounds much more interesting."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"W-What?"

He immediately changed his expression.

"I mean..."

"...it's a better punishment."

She wasn't convinced.

Just then...

A group of boys from Class 10 walked past.

One of them smiled.

"Captain!"

"Practice after school?"

Reyansh nodded.

"Yeah."

Then, without taking his eyes off Aarohi, he replied,

"My Senior will be watching."

The boys looked at Aarohi.

Then at Reyansh.

Then exchanged knowing smiles before walking away.

Aarohi wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

She looked back at him.

"What if I refuse?"

"You won't."

"Why?"

"You keep your promises."

She opened her mouth to argue...

Then stopped.

Because he was right.

She had given her word.

Reyansh slowly extended his little finger.

"Deal?"

She looked at it.

"You already won."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"I want official confirmation."

Aarohi rolled her eyes.

"You're unbelievable."

"So I've been told."

Still...

She hooked her little finger with his.

"There."

"Happy?"

"Very."

Just when she thought the conversation was over...

Reyansh bent down slightly.

Close enough that only she could hear.

His voice dropped to a teasing whisper.

"And one more thing..."

She swallowed nervously.

"...What?"

"If someone else scores..."

"...don't clap that much."

She frowned.

"Why?"

He smiled.

"Save your loudest cheer..."

"...for me."

For two whole seconds...

Aarohi forgot how to breathe.

Her face turned a deep shade of red.

"W-What kind of request is that?"

"The winner's request."

"You're impossible."

"And you're blushing."

"I am not!"

"You are."

"I-It's hot."

He looked around the air-conditioned corridor.

"Really?"

She glared at him.

"Stop teasing me."

He laughed.

"I can't."

"Why?"

He looked at her with that same infuriating smile.

"Because your reactions are my favorite part of the day."

Her eyes widened.

Before she could recover...

The lunch bell rang.

Students began returning to their classrooms.

Reyansh started walking backward down the corridor.

He pointed at her playfully.

"Seven days."

Aarohi sighed.

"Seven days."

"Front row."

"I know."

"Three words."

"I know!"

"What are they?"

She looked around to make sure no one was listening.

Then muttered under her breath,

"...You were amazing."

He cupped a hand behind his ear dramatically.

"I can't hear you."

She glared.

"I'm not saying it now."

He laughed.

"I'll collect it after my next win."

With one last wink...

He turned around and walked away.

Aarohi stood frozen in the middle of the corridor.

Mehak, who had secretly watched everything from around the corner, finally walked over.

"So..."

"How bad is it?"

Aarohi covered her face.

"For seven days..."

"I have to cheer for him..."

"And after every victory..."

"I have to tell him..."

"'You were amazing.'"

Mehak was silent for exactly three seconds.

Then she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Oh my God!"

"He's actually insane!"

Aarohi groaned.

"I know!"

From the first-floor railing, Kabir and Anaya had watched the entire conversation.

Kabir pumped his fist proudly.

"My Bhai's punishment is legendary!"

Anaya giggled.

"My Didi is going to blush for seven whole days."

The two little cupids exchanged a victorious high-five.

Operation Cupid had just entered its most entertaining phase yet.

End of Chapter 24 💙⚽