The school day began, and the students ran to the entry gate, eager to get inside. Golu and Meethi were soon sitting in their classroom. Meethi, once again, took the same seat as the previous day, which infuriated Golu. He glared at her and banged his desk in frustration.

"Bahot smart banti hai ye Meethi ki bachhi. Isko sabak sikhana padega," he swore under his breath.

"Students, apni Hindi textbooks nikaalo," said the teacher, catching everyone's attention.

"Hmm, aaj hum chhand ki vyakhya karna seekhenge," she announced.

"Arey, ye toh bahot aasan hai," Meethi thought confidently.

The teacher scanned the classroom and then said, "Meethi, chalo pehla chhand padho."

"Ab dekhte hain kya karti hai ye chhipkali," thought Golu, crossing his arms and watching intently.

Meethi stood up and began reading aloud. Her voice was clear and steady, and she read the chhand flawlessly. The teacher's face lit up with approval.

"Very good, Meethi! Chalo, ab iski vyakhya karo," she encouraged.

Meethi smiled and proceeded to explain the chhand with confidence and clarity. Her explanation was so well-delivered that it earned her a round of applause from her classmates.

Golu watched in disbelief, his anger simmering as Meethi basked in the praise.

"Bahot achhe, Meethi, baith jao," the teacher praised.

Golu glared at her, thinking, "Bahot zyada smart banti hai." His mind was consumed with thoughts of how to take revenge on Meethi, and he paid little attention to what was happening in the class.

The teacher then called out, "Golu, ab agala chhand tum padho."

Lost in his own thoughts, Golu didn't realize the teacher was addressing him.

"Golu!" The teacher's voice rose, snapping him back to reality.

"Yes ma'am," he stammered as he stood up.

"Kahan khoye huye thay? Agla chhand padho," she instructed.

Golu glanced at his book, completely clueless about where the next chhand started. He stared at the pages in confusion.

"Golu, padho agla chhand," the teacher repeated, impatience creeping into her voice.

He started reading something randomly, hoping it was correct. The teacher gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Achha, ab iski vyakhya karo," she said.

Golu looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Vo, ma'am, vo..." he mumbled, struggling for words.

The teacher, losing her patience, threw a chalk at him. Meethi couldn't suppress her laughter, which only made Golu angrier.

"Dhyan kahan rehta hai tumhara, Golu? Ek toh galat chhand padhte ho, aur jo padha hai uski vyakhya bhi nahi kar paate ho! Class mein fail ho jaoge," she scolded him.

"Sorry ma'am," Golu apologized, holding his ear, feeling humiliated. Meethi's laughter echoed again in his ears, and he shot her a venomous glare.

"Sorry ma'am? Dhyan do class mein, baith jao," the teacher said curtly.

As Golu sat down, he fumed silently, "Huh! Sab is chuhiya ki wajah se hua hai. Isko toh main sabak sikha ke rahunga." He slid into his chair, already plotting his next move against Meethi.

On the other side of town, Ishika was busy in the shop when the telephone rang.

"Hello!" she answered.

"Kaisi hain aap, Ishika?" came the reply.

"Kaun?" she asked, puzzled.

"Main," said the voice on the other end.

"Main kaun?" she asked again, growing curious.

"Arey baba, main," he repeated.

"Main kaun, Pradhanmantri?" she retorted sarcastically.

"Aap chaahein toh bana bhi sakti hain," he replied with a chuckle.

"Dekhiye, aapko agar time pass karna hai toh main phone rakh rahi hun," she said, her patience thinning.

But the person quickly interjected, "Arey, aap phone rakh dengi toh mere dost ki shaadi ke liye mithaiyon ka order kaun lega?"

"Toh seedha seedha ye nahi keh sakte thay ki order dena hai?" she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Aji, main dar raha tha na," he said, sounding playfully sheepish.

"Kis baat ka dar?" she asked, intrigued.

"Kahin agar main directly order dene aa jaun toh aap mujhe fir galat samajhke daatne na lage," he teased.

Ishika finally recognized the voice. "Oh, aap!" she sighed.

"Badi jaldi pehchaan liya aapne," Naman commented, smiling to himself.

"Main sirf important logon ki aawaz pehchaanti hun," Ishika replied, teasing him back.

"Oho! Tab toh main itna khush kismat kahan," he responded with a laugh.

"Achha, mazak chhodiye. Bataiye kaise phone kiya aapne?" Ishika said, now genuinely curious.

"Vo darasal..." Naman hesitated, searching for a reason. He had wanted to talk to Ishika but didn't know what excuse to make.

"Vo aapko abhi bataya na, order dena tha," Naman said, trying to sound confident.

"Order kisliye?" Ishika inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Vo..." Naman hesitated again, searching for an excuse. His eyes fell on his friend Vihaan, who was sitting next to him. "Mere dost ki shaadi hai toh uske liye order dena hai," he said quickly.

"Haan toh bataiye," said Ishika, waiting for details.

"Nahi, main wahin shop par aake hi order deta hun," he replied, buying himself more time.

"Thik hai, jaisi aapki marzi," Ishika replied and disconnected the call.

Vihaan stared at him, puzzled. "Kiski shaadi hai bhai?"

"Kuchh nahi," Naman muttered. "Tu chal, tujhe mithai khilwaake laata hun."

"Achanak se mithai?" Vihaan asked, peering at him with suspicion.

"Haan, chal na," Naman said, pulling him by the shoulder and taking him along.

Ishika was in the shop, busy taking orders, when her father called out to her.

"Ishika puttar," her father said.

"Ji Bauji?" she responded, looking up from her work.

"Main zara bazar jaake aata hun, dukaan da dhyaan rakhi," he instructed.

"Ji Bauji," Ishika replied, watching as her father left the shop.

She continued arranging the boxes, feeling a tug on her hand. She looked up to see Naman standing there, a wide smile appearing on her face.

"Naman, aap, aaiye na," she said, insisting he come inside.

"Chhotu!" she called out to the boy who worked in the shop. The boy came up to her promptly. "Chhotu, jaldi se sahab ke liye..." she paused when she noticed Vihaan standing next to Naman. "Chhotu, sahab aur sahab ke dost ke liye do lassi leke aa," she instructed.

"Arey nahi nahi," Naman interrupted.

"Nahi kya? Dekhiye, pichli baar maine galti se aapko bahot kuch suna diya tha isiliye is baar aap mujhe please ye karne deejiye," she requested.

"Achha thik hai," Naman relented.

Chhotu went out to get the lassi for the two. Ishika led them inside and they took a seat at a table.

"Baaki sab ghar mein kaise hain?" Ishika asked.

"Sab thik hain," Naman replied, then inquired, "Meethi ko naya school pasand aaya?"

"Umm, pehle din toh kuchh pareshan hui thi, par adjust kar legi," she said.

"Hope so, aur nahi bhi ho na toh Golu hai na, Meethi ko koi bhi takleef ho na us se kahiye vo Golu ko bataye, pure class ka dada hai vo, uske toh teachers bhi us se darte hai," he replied. Ishika laughed at this.

"Toh matlab dadagiri karta hai pure class mein? Zaroor aap hi ne sikhaya hoga," she said teasingly.

"Bilkul nahi! Mere jaisa toh bilkul nahi hai vo, ye sab usne khud adapt kiya hai, apni hukumat chalata hai mujhpar," he said, making Ishika giggle.

"Darasal Golu bahot pyaar karta hai mujhse isliye, haq ke saath apni manamarzi karwata hai," he explained.

"Meethi bhi mujhe bahot pyaar karti hai, shararti vo bhi kam nahi hai, bas maa ki chhavi kahin na kahin mujhmein dhundhti hai, usne toh maa ko thik se dekha bhi nahi," she said, her voice tinged with emotion as she remembered their mother.

"Ishika ji, aapki maa, kaise...?" Naman asked gently.

"Meethi ke janam ke baad unhe kaafi health issues aate gaye aur..." Ishika's voice trembled as she tried to continue. Her eyes filled with tears, revealing the deep pain she carried. Naman could see the sorrow etched in her expression and quickly held her hand, stopping her from reliving the painful memory.

"Kuchh aur baat karte hain," he suggested with a kind smile.

Ishika nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Arey haan, bataiye kiske liye order dena tha aapko?" she asked, trying to shift the conversation.

"Mujhe vo order..." Naman began, but was interrupted by Chhotu, who arrived with the lassis. They took the glasses and started sipping the refreshing drink.

"Arey waah! Ye toh sach mein kamaal hai," Naman exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.

"Pasand aai aapko?" Ishika asked, smiling.

"Bahot," he replied with genuine appreciation.

Ishika's smile widened. "Arey, aapne bataya nahi, order kiske liye dena tha?"

"Haan vo... ye," Naman said, placing a hand on Vihaan's shoulder. "Ye Vihaan, iski shaadi hai."

Vihaan coughed, almost choking on his lassi. He stared at Naman in astonishment.

"Aaram se bhai, aaram se. Nahi shaadi hai, tu nervous hai, par aaram se," Naman said, trying to calm him. Vihaan passed an awkward smile to Ishika.

"Kya kya mithaiyan chahiye hongi Vihaan ji?" Ishika asked, amused.

"Ji vo... vo..." Vihaan stammered, clearly uncomfortable.

"Main batata hun," Naman interjected. Ishika started to note down the order as Naman began listing items. "Aa... 10 kilo imarti, 12 kilo laddu—boondi aur besan dono ke, 15 kilo kalakand aur vo..."

Ishika couldn't hold it any longer and burst into laughter. Vihaan hid his face in his hands, deeply embarrassed. Naman looked at both of them, completely confused.

"Kya hua aap dono has kyu rahe hai?" he asked.

"Kyuki aapki chori pakdi gai," Ishika replied, trying hard to stifle her giggles.

"Kya matlab?" Naman asked, bewildered.

"Matlab, Vihaan ki shaadi kam se kam abhi toh nahi ho rahi, Naman," she explained, her laughter ringing through the shop.

He looked at her, stunned. "Aap kaise...?"

"Main Vihaan ko jaanti hu, Naman. Isliye jab wo aapke saath aaya toh maine usay kuchh nahi puchna," she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Naman covered his face out of embarrassment, but soon he too was laughing at the situation. The laughter was contagious, and soon all three of them were chuckling, the tension of the moment completely dissolved in the shared humor.

"Lekin tum dono ek dusre ko jaante kaise ho?" Naman asked, turning to Vihaan. "Aur jaante ho toh tune bataya kyun nahi Vihaan !"

"Arey, tu mujhe kuchh bolne ka mauka dega toh main kuchh bolunga na," Vihaan replied, slightly exasperated.

"Aur Naman, Vihaan mere ghar ke paas mein rehta hai, kaise nahi jaanega," Ishika added with a chuckle.

Naman's face turned red with embarrassment as he realized his blunder. "Kya Ishika ji aap bhi!" he said, trying to laugh it off.

"Ab chalein ya kisi aur ki bhi shaadi karani hai?" asked Vihaan, smirking.

Naman nodded, and they headed out of the shop. Vihaan walked ahead, while Naman was about to step out when Ishika called out to him.

"Naman!"

"Haan?" he replied, turning back to her.

"Agli baar mujhse milne ka mann ho toh koi aur achha bahana lana..." she said with a teasing smile.

Naman just smiled and nodded at her, but before he could leave, Ishika stopped him again.

"Koi bahana na ho tab bhi aa sakte ho," she added softly.

Naman's heart fluttered at her words. It was the first time he realized how much he enjoyed spending time with her. She was slowly carving a place in his heart, and he couldn't help but feel a growing fondness for her.

THE RAICHAND MANSION

When Naman stepped inside, he heard a voice and turned around.

"Beta Naman, kahan se aa rahe ho?" asked Mr. Raichand.

Naman knew that his father disapproved of his visits to the Chandni Chowk street. He also knew that he couldn't lie looking into his father's eyes.

"Vo Dad, main Vihaan se milne gaya tha," he informed him.

Mr. Raichand sighed and stared at him. "Naman, maine kitni baar tumse kaha hai, vahan mat jaaya karo, is ladke se zyada dosti mat rakho lekin tum sunte hi nahi," he said.

"Dad...wo mera dost hai, please," Naman requested softly.

"Aise dost kyun rakhte ho tum? Tumhein pata hai mujhe ye sab pasand nahi," Mr. Raichand questioned.

"Dad..."

Before Naman could argue further, he heard a voice from behind and the little guy entered the house murmuring something.

"Aaj ka toh din hi kharab hai, yahan Dad bhai ko daat rahe hai aur vahan teacher ne mujhe daata," said Golu just as he came in.

Mr. Raichand peered at him and said, "Daant toh aap roz hi khaate hain apni teacher se apni sharaton ki wajah se."

Golu made a face, folded his arms, and sat on the couch. "Aaj galti meri nahi thi..." he replied.

"Ab kya hua?" asked Naman.

"Vo ladki! Uski wajah se hua sab, Golu usay chhodega nahi," he swore annoyedly.

"Ab kya kiya usne?" asked Naman.

Golu narrated the entire incident to him, surprising Naman.

"Is baar bhi galti teri thi Golu, tujhe padhai mein dhyan dena chahiye na," he said sweetly.

"Nahi! Galti uski thi, uski thi, uski thi!" Golu shouted.

Naman looked at Mr. Raichand helplessly. Mr. Raichand gestured to him that he would explain to Golu.

"Lekin Pa, aap kyun bhai ko daat rahe thay?" Golu asked innocently.

"Daat nahi raha tha, samjha raha tha. Aur haan, ab aap bina behes kiye seedha andar jayenge, haath mu dhoyenge aur fir kapde badal ke neeche aayenge," Mr. Raichand said.

Golu tried denying but Mr. Raichand stared at him, and he had to go.