The day unfolded with a pleasant breeze and soft sunlight streaming through the classroom windows, casting warm golden patterns on the tiled floor. The classroom buzzed with low chatter, scribbling pens, and the occasional flutter of notebook pages. Amid it all, Aashi and her friends were huddled together, deep in discussion about the upcoming interschool competition auditions.

"So, kis category mein participate kar rahe ho sab?" Aashi asked, absentmindedly chewing the back of her pen, her eyes flicking between her friends.

"Singing," Trishna replied quickly, barely glancing at Aashi. Her gaze remained fixed on the classroom door, clearly hoping for a glimpse of Shrey walking by.

"Aur Niyati? Tu drama mein karegi, right?" Vani chimed in, her eyes still glued to her Chemistry book as she tried to commit the latest reaction to memory.

"Haan, obviously!" Niyati grinned, leaning across the desk to peek into Trishna's lunchbox. "Waise, aaj lunch mein kya hai? Mujhe abhi se bhook lag rahi hai"

Aashi chuckled. "Dance?" she questioned though she was not sure herself.

Vani looked up for a second, raising a brow. "Koi sense nahi hai. Kashvi didi will be selected anyway-she's best at it"

"To hum inhe cheers hi kar lenge" said Aashi she realised she is not fit for any of the activities.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Shrey and Agastya were walking through the corridor of the Malhotra residence, heading toward Agastya's room, their conversation casual-until they suddenly paused outside Vedant's room. Laughter drifted through the slightly open door, followed by a line that made them both freeze.

"I still can't believe Aashi likes bhaiya!" Vedant exclaimed, clearly amused.

"Haan! I mean, they're so different," Vihaan added with a laugh. "Bhaiya ka focus sirf padhai pe hota hai, aur Aashi ka... har jagah except padhai!"

Shrey's eyebrows shot up in amusement as he glanced at Agastya, whose expression had shifted from calm to completely stunned.

"Looks like Kashvi was right after all," Shrey smirked, crossing his arms.

"Shut up, yaar," Agastya muttered, but the faint blush creeping up his cheeks betrayed him.

"Aha! Toh ab janab sharma rahe hain?" Shrey teased, nudging him playfully.

Agastya rolled his eyes, trying to shake it off. "Are aisa kuch nahi Iss age mein attraction is normal . In couple of weeks she'll be over it."

His words sounded firm, but the slight hesitation in his voice gave him away. Even as he dismissed the idea aloud, the thought lingered stubbornly in his mind.

Agastya lay on his bed later that evening, his arms behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above him. The soft hum of the blades did little to quiet the whirlwind in his mind.

She likes me?

Vedant's words echoed over and over, refusing to fade.

He shut his eyes tightly, trying to will the thought away, but all it did was bring her face to the front of his mind-her expressive eyes, that infectious carefree laughter, the way she reacts on every little incident.

He got up from the bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration, and turned to his textbooks in a desperate attempt to distract himself. The neatly highlighted pages stared back at him, but the words blurred into meaningless lines. No matter how hard he tried to focus, his mind kept drifting back to her. The thought of Aashi liking him clung to his thoughts like a stubborn shadow-uninvited, unexpected, yet impossible to ignore.

-------------------------------------------------------------

As Shrey stepped into the school premises, he was greeted by the usual hustle and bustle of students, the corridors alive with chatter and laughter. But today felt different. As he walked past his classmates called out cheerful wishes-"Happy Birthday, Shrey!"-making him smile, as he replied to each one of them .

Amidst the crowd, he spotted Kashvi and Agastya weaving their way toward him. They joined in the chorus of birthday wishes, their presence adding warmth to the moment.

"Toh finally 18 ka ho gaya tu," Agastya teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Umeed hai ab thoda toh mature ho jaayega."

Kashvi let out a soft chuckle. "Shrey aur maturity? Iss janam mein toh mushkil lagta hai!"

While Shrey just grinned at them ad if complimemted.

Now Shrey continued on his way, his friends falling in step beside him as they headed to class. He seemed to be in a hurry, as though something important awaited him.

As he finally reached the classroom, he slid his hand into the space beneath his bench. His fingers brushed against something soft-and familiar. Gently, he pulled out a small bouquet of tulips, wrapped with care, and a neatly folded letter tucked alongside. A smile crept onto his lips, unbidden but genuine.

"So... is saal bhi aagaya letter," Kashvi remarked, her tone laced with curiosity and intrigue.

" Who is she yaar? She is been sending you letters since we were in 9th grade." Replied Agastya as if impressed.

Shrey's fingers brushed over the letter with a gentleness that spoke volumes, as if he were holding something truly precious. He still remembered the first time he'd found one-on his birthday in 9th grade. Shocked, surprised, and utterly clueless, he had spent days wondering who could've sent it. But since then, without fail, a letter had appeared every year on this very day. And somewhere along the way, what began as surprise turned into quiet anticipation. No matter how much he tried to resist, a part of him always waited for it.

His gaze fell on the small Happy Birthday note delicately stuck to the bouquet. A soft smile tugged at his lips, warm and unguarded. With a mix of excitement and familiarity, he carefully unfolded the letter, his heart beating just a little faster.

Happy birthday Shrey

I tried to resist sending this letter like every year but then I could not control myself.

So it is the time of the year again to send you this letter.

And this time I have confession to make I have always admired you from a distance and thought that I have a crush on you which will fade with time but then I realised that I have fallen in love with you.

Yes I am in love with you Shrey.

Suddenly his heart skipped a beat and his breath hitched.

He cannot believe that there was a stranger who was in love with him.

And as much as I tried to control my feelings I could not. You have now become an insperable part of me.

---

Happy Birthday, Shrey.

I tried-truly tried-not to send this letter this year. I told myself I wouldn't. But I failed,once again just like every year.

It's that time of the year again... the day I always find an excuse to write to you.

But this time, I have a confession to make.

For years, I thought it was just a harmless crush-something that would fade with time. I watched you from a distance, smiled at your laughter, and admired your presence quietly.

But somewhere along the way, it changed.

And I realised that I have fallen in love with you, Shrey.

Yes Shrey Kapoor I am in love with you.

As he read those words, Shrey's heart skipped a beat. His breath hitched, eyes frozen on the page. He couldn't believe it-somewhere out there was someone who had been silently loving him all these years.

You cannot believe it right neither could I. You've become a part of me I can't separate from, no matter how hard I try.

And this letter... is just a piece of everything I feel, but still can't say out loud.

But it is your last year in this school and maybe my last letter to you.

As Shrey read those words, a sudden wave of realization crashed over him.

This really was his last year here.

And with that came a sinking feeling-what if he never found out who had written these letters all along?

What if this was truly the end of the quiet connection he had come to cherish over the years?

The thought of never knowing the face behind the words...

It hit him harder than he expected.

I don't know if, over all these years, you ever felt anything for me.

Maybe you didn't.

Maybe I've just been a nameless presence in the background of your life.

But still... with a little hope in my heart, I'm writing this.

If even a tiny part of you wants to know who I am-

then here's a hint:

I'm from Class 11th, Science.

So now I will like to take your leave....

- A girl who is madly in love with you

As Shrey read the final lines, a wave of surprise washed over him-but along with it, a flicker of hope lit up in his chest.For the first time, he had something more than just words-he had a clue. A chance.

Someone out there loved him deeply, silently, and maybe... just maybe, he could find out who she was.

And if fate was kind enough, perhaps this wasn't just the end of a letter-but the beginning of a story he could call his own.

_______________________

________________

Meanwhile, on the other side in her classroom Trishna sat nervously, her brows knit in worry as she leaned closer to her friends and whispered,

"Yaar, mujhe apni class nahi batani chahiye thi... what if he doesn't like me back?"

Her voice trembled slightly. "Meri hopes toot jaayengi. I don't think I can handle that."

Her eyes darted toward the classroom where Shrey sat, unaware of the storm she was battling within. For years, she had hidden her feelings behind anonymous letters-but today, she had taken a step closer to the truth on her friends suggestion... and the fear of rejection now loomed large in her heart.

"Are tension mat le risk hai to ishq hai" replied Aashi teasingly .

But instead of laughing, the other three girls just stared at her with blank expressions.

Realizing the moment needed more comfort than jokes, Vani placed a gentle hand on Trishna's shoulder.

"Don't worry, yaar. Agar tune nahi bataya hota, toh baad mein regret hota that you never even tried. Now, at least you'll know-if there's something in his heart too... or not"

And as Trishna looked at her friends-at their reassuring smiles and comforting words-she felt a small wave of calm wash over her.

Maybe Vani was right.

Maybe, just maybe... this was the beginning of something beautiful.

Something that could change her life in ways she had only dared to dream.

__________________________________________

________

Kashvi and Agastya watched Shrey, who sat there frozen, his eyes glued to the letter, a soft, dazed smile playing on his lips. It was the kind of smile someone wears when the world suddenly feels a little more magical.

It was as if he had just won a  lottery.

"Kya hua?" Kashvi asked, clearly amused. "Is baar apna naam likh diya kya usne?"

Her voice pulled him out of his trance, but the dreamy look in his eyes lingered.

“Nahi… but she gave a hint,” Shrey murmured, eyes still fixed on the letter, reading it for what felt like the tenth time.

“What hint?” Agastya leaned in, curiosity piqued.

“She’s from 11th Science,” Shrey replied, his voice low and thoughtful, as if he himself wasn’t sure what to do with that information.

Agastya let out a whistle. “Wow. So ab kya karega aage? 11th Science mein toh kam se kam 18-20 girls hongi. How are you going to find her?”

Shrey leaned back in his chair, the letter still clutched tightly in his hand. For years, the mystery had been enough the anonymous notes, the quiet affection, the tulips.

But now, for the first time, he wanted to know her name.The girl who had loved him in silence, who had poured her

heart onto paper year after year.

He wanted to know the face behind the feelings, the name behind the words that had unknowingly become a part of his every birthday.

Kashvi’s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. Without saying a word, she quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out a bundle of papers, placing them triumphantly on the desk.

Both Agastya and Shrey stared at her, visibly confused.

“Yeh sab kya hai?” Shrey asked, eyeing the stack suspiciously.

“11th ke Physics test papers hain,” Kashvi said, recalling, “Ma’am ne counting recheck karne ke liye diye the.”

Shrey blinked, still not connecting the dots. “Toh? Isse kya hoga?”

Agastya rolled his eyes, smacking Shrey lightly on his head. “Handwriting match kar sakte hain, idiot.”

He said , now catching on to Kashvi’s plan. “We have the letter. Now we just need to match the handwriting”

Shrey looked at the papers in awe, hope bubbling inside him again—maybe, just maybe, he was closer than ever to knowing her.

Three of them got to work, flipping through the test papers one by one, their eyes scanning every page for a familiar curve of a letter , similar handwriting.

Shrey watched as Kashvi held up a test paper, squinting to compare the handwriting with the letter. His gaze flicked to the name written at the top "Aashi Mehra" in clumsy, slightly tilted writing.

A mischievous grin spread across his face.

“Arey, Aashi ka kya check kar rahi hai? Usse toh koi aur hi pasand hai” he teased, nudging Kashvi with his elbow.

Kashvi chuckled, joining in his laughter, while Agastya rolled his eyes and glared at the both of them.

“Very funny,” he muttered, but the faint pink in his cheeks didn’t go unnoticed.

Suddenly, Kashvi paused, her fingers tightening around one of the test papers. Her eyes widened slightly as a victorious grin tugged at her lips.

“Mil gaya…” she whispered, a spark of excitement in her voice.

Shrey and Agastya immediately looked up, alert.

Without wasting a second, Shrey snatched the paper from her hands, his eyes darting straight to the marks—5 out of 20. He blinked. “Never mind,” he mumbled under his breath, brushing past the score.

And then his gaze moved to the top of the page.

“Trishna Bahl.”

The name echoed in his mind as his heartbeat stumbled.

A name that had once felt barely familiar.He recalled seeing her a few times in the school corridors—quiet, lost in her own world. And maybe once or twice at Malhotra’s house when she had come over for a group project.

Back then, she was just another face in the crowd.But now, Trishna Bahl felt like the only name that mattered.The girl who had loved him in silence was no longer a mystery.

Kashvi glanced at the name again and then her eyes lit up in recognition.

“Trishna? Vedant ki friend hai na? She’s sweet,” Kashvi said, a pleased smile playing on her lips, clearly delighted by the discovery.

Agastya, standing beside them, smiled too—this time, a genuine one. There was no teasing, no smirk. Just quiet happiness for his childhood friend.

___________________________________________

______________

Aashi sat cross-legged on her bed, phone in hand, eyes glued to Agastya’s Instagram profile picture on his private account. Her face scrunched in frustration.

“Aree yaar... I really want to see his other pictures too,” she whined for what felt like the hundredth time.

Across the room, Niyati was buried in her math notebook, trying hard to focus but Aashi’s voice had become background noise at this point.

“You’ve said that hundred times  in the last hour,” Niyati muttered, exasperated.

Without warning, she snatched Aashi’s phone from her hand, and before Aashi could react, her thumb tapped ‘Follow’ on Agastya’s profile.

“NIYATI! KAMINI” Aashi gasped, horrified, eyes wide like she’d just witnessed a crime.

Niyati smirked, returning to her equations. “You’re welcome.”

Aashi snatched her phone back in panic, her thumb hovering over the “Following” button, ready to undo the disaster.

“Main abhi unfollow karti hoon!” she declared dramatically.

But just as she was about to tap, her screen lit up with a notification.

Agastya Malhotra accepted your follow request.

Agastya Malhotra started following you.

Aashi froze.

Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened.

“OH. MY. GOD.” she whispered, staring at her screen like it had just declared her the winner of a lottery.

Niyati looked up, puzzled.

“Kya hua?”

“He followed me back,” Aashi said in a daze, her voice barely above a whisper.

And then, in true Aashi style, she screamed into her pillow.

While Niyati chuckled looking at her genuinely happy.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Agastya sat on his desk, casually scrolling through his phone until his finger froze mid-scroll.

A soft smile spread across his face.

Aashi  had sent him a follow request.

Without thinking twice, he tapped accept and even hit follow back before his brain could catch up with his actions.

The smile lingered—foolish, uncontrollable,as he stared at her profile picture for a second too long.

Then it hit him.

“Crap,” he muttered under his breath, blinking at the screen.

“She’s Vedant’s friend… and Abhinav jiju’s sister. That’s the only reason I followed her back,” he said aloud, trying to reason with himself.

But no matter how many times he repeated it, he couldn’t convince the part of his mind that was already way too curious about Aashi.

____________

_______

Today was the day of auditions for the interschool singing competition. The auditorium buzzed with energy—students chatting nervously, a few warming up their voices, while others whispered words of encouragement.

Trishna stood on the stage, a mic gripped tightly in her hands. Her palms were slightly sweaty, her heart pounding as the stage fear gripped her.

Her friends sat in the front row, cheering her on, flashing thumbs-ups and wide smiles.

She took a deep breath, scanning the crowd as she mentally debated her song choice.

And then her eyes shifted toward the door—just in time to see Shrey walk in.

For a moment, everything else faded. Her heart skipped a beat as he casually entered, unaware of the fluttering chaos his presence brought with him.

And with a soft, bittersweet smile tugging at her lips, Trishna began her performance.

"Tu khwaab hai agar koi,

chahoon kabhi toote naa

Ruthe bhale zindagi,

tu par kabhi ruthe naa"

Her voice echoed through the auditorium—hauntingly beautiful, dipped in a quiet ache that made even the loudest hearts fall silent.

There was something raw, something heartbreakingly real in the way she sang. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice trembling slightly with every word, as if the lyrics weren’t just notes—they were her truth.

From the corner of her vision, she saw Shrey.

And for a fleeting moment, it felt like he was the only one in the room. The only one who mattered. The only one who would never know how deeply he was loved.

Jhootha lage jahaan,

tum sahee ban gae

Din-raat, kya subah,

tum sabhee ban gae

She sang looking at the audience but her heart was still focused on only one person. Even in a room full of people, it was always him.

She wondered how it happened—how someone could take over your heart so completely, so silently, without asking for permission.

She had fallen for him.

In every way possible.

And now, she was singing her truth even if he never knew it was about him.

Haan, hansee ban gae, haan, nami ban gae

Tum mere aasamaan, meri zameen ban gae

Haan, hansee ban gae, haan, nami ban gae

Tum mere aasamaan, meri zameen ban gae

Her voice trembled slightly, the words slipping out like confessions wrapped in melody.

In that moment, every line she sang wasn’t just part of the song—it was a reflection of her heart.

A heart that beat just a little faster every time he was around.

She remembered how he had unknowingly become her whole world.

How just one smile from him could light up her darkest days.

How his presence—silent, unaware, and effortless—had become her comfort, her chaos, and her calm, all at once.

The love she held for him was never loud. It didn’t demand to be noticed.

But it was there deep, constant, and unwavering.

A love that hurt quietly but bloomed beautifully.

And as she stood under the spotlight, baring her soul through a song, she knew… even if he never looked her way, she would still love him just the same.

Kehtee hai duniyaa muje ek tarfaa aashiq tera

Chaahoon tuje door se, itana to haq hai mera

Kehtee hai duniyaa muje ek tarfaa aashiq tera

Chaahoon tuje door se, itana to haq hai mera

Her voice quivered, laced with raw vulnerability. Tears welled in her eyes, no longer held back by strength but carried forward by truth.

As the final lines slipped from her lips, she dared to look at him—really look at him.

And for the first time, he was already looking back.

His eyes held something unfamiliar.

Recognition.

Surprise.

And something softer… something that made her heart ache even more.

He saw it now—the pain etched in her gaze, the love layered beneath every trembling note she had sung.

The secret she had hidden for so long, now laid bare in front of him .

But what she didn’t know… was that the mystery had already been solved.

That her secret was no longer a secret.

And her one-sided love might not remain unrequited after all.

As the final note faded, the auditorium erupted into thunderous applause.

Cheers echoed off the walls, but amidst the claps, one meant more than the rest—Shrey's.

He stood there, his hands moving almost instinctively, eyes fixed on her.

There was a strange swell of pride in his chest.

He didn’t know why it mattered so much.

But it did.

She did.

Trishna descended the stage, her heart still racing, her emotions barely in check. Her friends wrapped her in hugs and praises, but her eyes… they searched only for one face.

And there he was—standing a few rows back, still looking at her like she’d just become a song he never knew he needed to hear.

She met his gaze one last time.

And in that fleeting moment, something passed between them—unspoken, tender, and electric.

Then she turned back to her friends, but a small hope bloomed quietly in her chest.

Maybe... just maybe... the story was about to begin.

___________________

_________

Aashi sat in her classroom, pretending to focus on the notes in front of her, but her eyes betrayed her drifting again toward the corridor.

There stood Agastya, casually talking to Kulvi.

Her eyes narrowed just slightly when she noticed Kulvi leaning in, placing her hand lightly on Agastya’s shoulder.

Aashi’s grip on her pen tightened.

But what caught her attention even more was him—the way Agastya subtly shifted, inching a bit away before continuing the conversation.

Aashi was now full-on throwing daggers with her eyes in Kulvi’s direction, barely blinking as she watched Agastya chuckle at something Kulvi said. Her glare intensified.

In her fuming state, she unknowingly jammed her pen down—right on Vedant’s hand, who was sitting beside her.

He yelped in pain withdrawing his hand.

Aashi looked at him with a sheepish smile, “Sorry yaar, mera dhyan nahi tha”

Vedant rubbed his hand dramatically, then followed her line of sight towards the corridor. His eyes landed on Agastya and Kulvi, and then slowly shifted back to Aashi with a knowing smirk.

“Haan haan, pata hai... teri aashiqui ke chakkar mein har baar main hi phasta hoon.” He shook his head in fake disappointment.

Aashi frustrated  jabbed her pen into Vedant’s hand again—this time with extra force.

"Ouch! Abey pagal hai kya!" Vedant yelped, clutching his hand in exaggerated pain.

Fuming, he leaned forward to yank Aashi’s ponytail in revenge, but she swiftly leaned back just in time. His hand missed the target completely and ended up grabbing another ponytail instead—Vani's.

Time froze for a second.

And then she looked at him with murderous eyes while he left her hairs quickly.

" sorry sorry galti se ho gaya" replied Vedant clearly scared.

"Galti to abhi mai bataati hu" said Vani as she smacked his head with her Mathematics text book while he yelped in pain again.

" Ye Kahaan fasaa diya mujhe bhagwaan" said Vedant dramatically now rubbing his head.

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