🎵 Song: Pehli Dafa – Instrumental Version

"Sometimes we wait for something to end...

Only to realize we were enjoying it more than we expected."

The seventh day arrived.

The last day of Reyansh Malhotra's so-called "punishment."

For the past week...

Aarohi had followed every single rule.

✔ Front row during his matches.
✔ Loud cheers whenever he scored.
✔ Three magical words after every victory.

"You were amazing."

At first...

She had thought it was the most ridiculous punishment ever created.

But somewhere between the teasing...

The smiles...

The little arguments...

And the moments where Reyansh looked for her in the crowd first...

It had become a routine.

A strange little routine.

Morning at the Sharma house...

Aarohi stood in front of her mirror, fixing her school tie.

Anaya entered her room and immediately noticed her sister's expression.

"Didi?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you look sad?"

Aarohi looked surprised.

"Sad?"

"Yes."

"Why would I be sad?"

Anaya shrugged.

"I don't know."

"But usually when something annoying ends..."

"People become happy."

Aarohi looked away.

"It was just a punishment."

Anaya smiled knowingly.

"Of course."

"Just a punishment."

Aarohi looked at her suspiciously.

"Why are you smiling?"

"No reason."

Anaya quickly ran away before Aarohi could question her.

Across the street...

Kabir entered Reyansh's room.

"Bhai."

Reyansh looked up from his books.

"What?"

"Today is the last day."

He knew exactly what Kabir meant.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly.

"I know."

"So?"

"So what?"

"You're not going to miss it?"

Reyansh looked away.

"No."

Kabir raised an eyebrow.

"Liar."

"I am not."

"You've been checking the clock since morning."

"I have not."

"You have."

Reyansh threw a pillow at him.

"Go away."

Kabir laughed.

After School

The football ground was more crowded than usual.

Everyone knew this was the final practice match before the district selections.

And everyone wanted to see Reyansh play.

Aarohi walked toward the stands with Mehak.

Mehak looked at her.

"Last day."

Aarohi nodded.

"Yes."

"How do you feel?"

Aarohi immediately answered.

"Relieved."

Mehak smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you walking slowly?"

Aarohi looked down.

"I am not."

"You are."

Aarohi ignored her.

The match began.

From the very first minute...

Reyansh played like he had something to prove.

Fast passes.

Perfect control.

Sharp attacks.

The crowd cheered every time he touched the ball.

But...

Every few seconds...

His eyes moved toward the front row.

Checking.

Making sure.

She was there.

Arjun noticed.

"You know..."

"What?"

"You don't need to check."

"Check what?"

"Whether she is there."

Reyansh continued playing.

"I wasn't checking."

"Sure."

"I was just looking at the crowd."

"The crowd sitting exactly in the front row?"

Reyansh ignored him.

Halfway through the match...

Reyansh scored.

The crowd exploded.

"GOAL!"

His teammates celebrated.

But Reyansh didn't celebrate immediately.

He turned toward the stands.

Aarohi was clapping.

This time...

Without hesitation.

Without remembering the punishment.

She was genuinely cheering.

A small smile appeared on his face.

The final whistle blew.

Class 10 won.

Again.

The students cheered.

The team celebrated.

And Aarohi knew...

The moment had arrived.

After the match...

She walked toward him.

Reyansh was standing near the field, waiting.

The moment she reached him...

He smiled.

"So..."

She sighed.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't look so happy."

"Why?"

"Because today is the last day."

He became quiet for a second.

Then smiled again.

"Exactly."

"The last day."

Aarohi crossed her arms.

"You planned this punishment only because you wanted someone to cheer for you."

"Maybe."

"You're impossible."

"I know."

He looked at the empty front row of the stands.

Then back at her.

"You followed every rule."

"Obviously."

"A little too seriously."

"You made the rules."

"I know."

Then his expression turned playful again.

"But..."

Aarohi immediately became suspicious.

"But what?"

He stepped slightly closer.

"Today..."

"You have to cheer the loudest."

She blinked.

"What?"

He pointed toward the field.

"Last day."

"Final chance."

"So?"

"So I want my best cheer."

Aarohi stared at him.

"Reyansh."

"Hmm?"

"This punishment is already ending."

"I know."

"Then why are you adding new rules?"

"Because..."

He smiled.

"...I can."

She shook her head.

"You are seriously unbelievable."

"Say whatever you want."

He leaned slightly closer.

"But today..."

"Don't sit quietly."

"Don't give me a small clap."

"Cheer properly."

Aarohi looked at him.

"Why?"

For a second...

His teasing expression softened.

Then he whispered—

"Because after today..."

"I won't have an excuse to look for you in the crowd."

Aarohi went completely silent.

The playful answer she expected...

Never came.

Instead...

For the first time...

She saw something different.

Not the arrogant Reyansh.

Not the boy everyone feared.

Just...

Reyansh.

Before she could respond...

He immediately returned to his usual smirk.

"Don't get emotional, Senior."

Her eyes widened.

"I wasn't!"

"You were."

"I was not."

"Your face says otherwise."

She looked away.

"You're annoying."

"And you're still here."

She had no answer.

The match ended with the team celebrating.

But this time...

Aarohi's cheer was different.

It wasn't because of a punishment.

It wasn't because of a bet.

She actually wanted to cheer.

And when Reyansh scored one final goal...

Her voice joined the crowd.

"Louder than everyone else."

Exactly like he asked.

After the match...

He walked toward her.

A satisfied smile on his face.

"So..."

Aarohi already knew.

"Don't ask."

He laughed.

"Three words?"

She sighed.

Looked at him.

And smiled.

"You were amazing."

This time...

She didn't whisper.

She didn't look away.

She said it clearly.

For a moment...

Reyansh didn't tease her.

Didn't make a joke.

Didn't give her another nickname.

He simply smiled.

Because somehow...

The last day of the punishment felt less like an ending...

And more like the beginning of something new.

From far away...

Kabir and Anaya watched proudly.

Kabir whispered,

"Seven days completed."

Anaya smiled.

"But I think the punishment worked on both of them."

Kabir nodded seriously.

"Operation Cupid is successful."

They gave each other a high-five.

That night...

Aarohi stood on her balcony again.

And across the street...

Reyansh stood on his.

Neither of them mentioned the punishment ending.

Because both knew...

They would miss it.

End of Chapter 28 💙🌊