Amar's farmhouse was buzzing with life as the party kicked into full swing. The sprawling lawn was lit with fairy lights, casting a soft glow over the scene. Music blared from speakers strategically placed around the space, creating the perfect atmosphere for a college party. Groups of students milled about, some by the pool, others near the bonfire, while others hung around the snack table, laughing and enjoying the night.

The gang had gathered near the back patio, where Amar had set up a makeshift game area. Red solo cups were scattered everywhere, and a large bowl sat in the middle of the table, filled with folded slips of paper. People were lounging on beanbags, chatting, and sipping drinks.

Vansh leaned against the patio railing, his eyes occasionally wandering over to Sam, who was laughing at something Zada had said. He hadn't realised how drawn he was to her until recently, but the more time they spent together, the harder it was to ignore. Tonight, she looked especially stunning, her hair loose and her smile infectious. His gaze lingered a bit too long, and Zahir, who was standing next to him, elbowed him with a knowing grin.

"Dude, you have been staring at her all night," Zahir teased. "You are gonna make it obvious."

Vansh rolled his eyes, brushing it off.

"I am not staring," he muttered, though his eyes flicked back to Sam for a split second.

Before Zahir could respond, Amar jumped up onto a chair, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, everyone! It's time for some games!" he announced, grinning widely. "Who is in for a little bit of fun?"

A chorus of cheers erupted, and Amar grabbed the bowl of paper slips.

"We are gonna play 'Truth or Dare: Double Trouble.' The rules are simple. You pick a partner, and each team gets either a truth or a dare, but the catch is—you both have to answer or complete it together."

Zada perked up at the sound of the game. "Oooh, this is gonna be fun!" she said, clapping her hands. "Come on, everyone, pair up!"

Almost instinctively, Vansh found himself walking toward Sam, and when she glanced his way, he shot her a casual smile.

"Wanna team up?" He asked, trying to keep his tone light.

"Sure, let's see if you can handle the dares." Sam gave him a playful smile, her eyes sparkling.

As pairs began to form, Amar started calling out team names seeing them pairing up themselves.

"Vansh and Sam! You guys are up first!" Amar said.

The group gathered around the game area, eagerly waiting to see what Vansh and Sam would pull from the bowl. Vansh reached in and grabbed a slip, unfolding it to reveal their challenge.

"Dare: Share the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in the last year," he read aloud, grinning.

"Oh, this is gonna be good. Okay, you go first." Sam's eyes widened, but she quickly laughed.

Vansh scratched the back of his neck, chuckling.

"Alright, so... last semester, I walked into the wrong lecture hall and didn't realise it until halfway through. I thought the professor was talking about some advanced topic I just didn't understand, but then I noticed everyone around me was giving me weird looks. Turns out, it was a third-year psychology class, and I am a business major." He laughed, his face slightly red as he recalled the moment. It was so embarrassing.

The group erupted into laughter, and Sam shook her head, still giggling.

"That's pretty bad," she admitted, then paused for a moment, biting her lip as she thought about her own story. "Okay, mine's worse. And it's a bit personal. There was this guy. I liked him very much. But he always saw me as a good friend. It started getting painful when he fell in love with someone else. And on a rebound I tried to kiss someone else. Someone who knew about my feelings for this other guy. It was an impulsive thing to do, but now when I think about it, I feel so embarrassed. " She cringed at the memory.

"That's bad. I hope you are over it now.."

"Yup! Moved on completely. He is crazily in love with the other girl. She is too. I don't have much of a role there." Sam smacked his arm playfully.

"Alright, you guys survived the dare. Next up!" Amar clapped his hands.

As the game continued, Vansh found himself more and more drawn to Sam. The way she laughed, how she didn't take herself too seriously—it was refreshing. The atmosphere was relaxed, and Vansh realised just how much he enjoyed being around her.

After a few more rounds, people started moving away from the game to dance or grab more drinks, but Vansh and Sam stayed where they were, still talking.

As the game wound down and people began drifting towards the dance floor, Vansh found himself sitting beside Sam, still chuckling over their shared embarrassing moments. The warm atmosphere of the party surrounded them, but his focus was entirely on her—her smile, her laugh, the way her eyes sparkled in the dim light.

The music shifted, transitioning from the upbeat party tunes to a slower, more intimate rhythm. People began pairing off on the dance floor, swaying to the smooth beats. Vansh glanced at the crowd, then back at Sam, his heart beating faster as an idea formed in his mind.

"Wanna dance?" He leaned a little closer, his voice softer now.

Sam raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin playing on her lips.

"Sure, why not?" She said, shrugging playfully. She stood up, offering her hand to Vansh, and he gladly took it, feeling a spark of anticipation as their fingers intertwined.

They made their way to the dance floor, finding a spot under the soft glow of the fairy lights. The music wrapped around them, and Vansh gently placed his hands on her waist, while Sam's arms looped around his neck. At first, they swayed to the rhythm, keeping things casual, laughing lightly at the occasional misstep or bump.

But as the minutes passed, the playful atmosphere between them shifted. Their movements slowed, becoming more synchronised, more intentional. Vansh's hands slid further around her waist, pulling her a bit closer, while Sam's fingers found their way into his hair, sending shivers down his spine.

Their eyes locked, and everything else—the music, the people, the party—faded away. It was just the two of them, standing so close that Vansh could feel her breath on his skin. Sam looked up at him, her smile fading into something more serious, more intense.

Vansh's heart pounded as he brought a hand up, gently tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed her cheek, and she leaned into the touch ever so slightly, her eyes never leaving his. The warmth of her skin under his fingers made his pulse race, and without thinking, he leaned in, closing the distance between them.

Sam didn't pull away. Instead, she closed the gap, her lips meeting his in a slow, soft kiss. Time seemed to stop as they stood there, locked in that intimate moment. The kiss deepened, and Vansh's arms tightened around her, holding her close as if he was afraid she might slip away.

Sam responded just as eagerly, her fingers curling into the back of his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss was slow but full of desire, as if they'd been waiting for this moment all night, maybe even longer. Their surroundings dissolved into a blur of lights and music, the world reduced to the electric connection between them.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other, both of them breathing a little heavier, their hearts pounding in sync. Sam smiled softly, her thumb brushing across Vansh's cheek as they caught their breath.

"Well," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the music, "I didn't see that coming."

"Neither did I... but I am glad it happened." Vansh chuckled, his forehead still pressed to hers.

"Me too." Sam's lips curved into a playful smile.

Sam excused herself from Vansh, feeling the excitement still thrumming through her veins.

"I am going to grab a drink," she whispered with a smile, brushing her fingers lightly against his arm before turning away. Her mind was racing, her lips still tingling from the kiss. As she made her way across the crowded patio to the drink table, she could still feel his gaze following her.

She grabbed a cup and quickly poured herself a drink, taking a large gulp to calm her racing heart. She had barely set the cup down when she sensed someone step up beside her. Sam turned, half-expecting it to be Vansh again, but instead, she found herself face-to-face with Khushi— Vansh's twin sister.

Khushi's sharp eyes seemed to scan Sam, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. Sam squirmed slightly under her gaze, wondering if Khushi had seen the kiss. 'Had she been watching?' The thought made her nervous, but she did her best to keep her cool.

"You want something?" Sam asked, trying to keep her voice light and casual, though her nerves were getting the best of her.

Khushi's smirk widened as she crossed her arms.

"If you end up hurting my brother, Sam my darling," she began, her tone mockingly sweet, "I will break your nose." Her words were laced with a teasing threat, but before Sam could respond, Khushi flashed her a wide grin. "Just a friendly warning."

With that, Khushi turned on her heel and walked off, leaving Sam standing there, momentarily stunned. Sam blinked, trying to process what had just happened. 'Break my nose?' It took her a second to realise Khushi had been half-joking... half, being the key word.

A soft laugh bubbled up in her chest, and before she knew it, she was laughing out loud. She shook her head, amused by the warning and even more by Khushi's unapologetic boldness. 'Well, I guess that's what having a protective twin sister is like.'

Still grinning to herself, Sam glanced back over to where Vansh stood, his face lighting up as Khushi walked over to him. She could see Khushi throwing an arm around her brother's shoulder, probably teasing him about the kiss. The whole scene made her smile even wider.

This night just keeps getting better and better.

A/N

A solo chapter dedicated to Vansh and Sam. All the characters in this book get a pair. I won't leave anybody single and depressed...lol

Please do vote and comment...

Love,

SF❤️