Rudra's POV

Training time had officially begun. The commando stood before us, his voice sharp and commanding as he laid out the rules and regulations. We were starting with the basics-parade training. Honestly, it wasn't rocket science; just lift your leg, align with the rhythm, and keep moving. Most of us were catching on pretty quickly, as if we'd been doing this for years.

Except Kunal.

He was a disaster. While everyone else lifted their right leg in sync, there he was, confidently raising his left leg. I was standing behind him in the height-wise lineup, and the view was just... hilarious.

"Bhai, kya kar raha hai? Sab log right leg utha rahe hain, aur tu left? Tere liye alag function chal raha hai kya?" I whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

("Bro, what are you doing? Everyone's lifting their right leg, and you're lifting your left? Are you having a separate function?")

Aarav, standing in the adjacent line, couldn't help but join in. "Ulta paida hua hoga, isliye ulte kaam kar raha hai!" he added, trying to suppress his laughter.

("He must've been born reversed; that's why he's doing everything backwards!")

Kunal shot both of us a glare, but before he could retort, the commando's sharp voice rang out.

"Tum peeche waale! Baat kar rahe ho? Bahar aao!"

("You at the back! Talking? Step forward!")

Oops. Aarav and I exchanged a look, trying to hide our grins as Kunal reluctantly stepped out of line. The commando made him stand in front of everyone and perform the parade while facing us. It was awkward for him, but absolutely hilarious for us. Aarav and I were struggling not to laugh, biting our lips and looking away to avoid catching the commando's attention.

When Kunal was finally allowed back into line, he didn't forget to glare at us one more time. But honestly, it was worth it.

Mrunali's POV

The parade session was grueling. We had been standing and marching for over half an hour, and my legs were starting to protest. I glanced around and couldn't help but roll my eyes at the three idiots-Kunal, Aarav, and, of course, Rudra.

One of them (obviously Kunal) was still stuck doing the parade facing us as punishment for talking. I mean, seriously, how hard is it to keep your mouth shut? I thought Kunal had a brain, but clearly, all three of them are cut from the same cloth.

After what felt like an eternity, the commando finally switched things up. Now we were going to practice marching while walking. Surprisingly, I was doing pretty well. Maybe this was one thing I didn't completely suck at.

We stopped marching, standing at ease as the commando scanned the group.

"You there! Come here," he barked, pointing directly at me.

My heart skipped a beat. Did I mess up? What did I do wrong?

With shaky legs and a pounding heart, I stepped forward, saluting him and standing straight.

"You are doing the perfect parade," he said in a tone that carried both praise and authority. "You're chosen as the guide or lead of the parade."

Wait. What? Did he just say perfect? Me? I was in shock. But I couldn't let it show, so I gathered my courage and shouted a loud, "Yes, sir!"

As I turned to face the rest of the group, the reactions were mixed. I could hear whispers-some supportive, but many laced with jealousy or irritation. It wasn't hard to notice the ones who weren't happy about my selection. But I wasn't going to let their opinions get to me.

What caught my attention, though, was the small group of people who were smiling proudly-my girls, Sara and Simran, giving me thumbs-ups. Then there were the three idiots, clapping and cheering obnoxiously like I'd won a gold medal or something.

And Rudra.

He was clapping harder than anyone else, a smug grin plastered on his face. Was that... enthusiasm? For me? Aren't we supposed to be enemies? Or rivals at best?

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts aside. Whatever it was, I'd deal with it later. For now, I had a parade to lead.

Rudra's POV

Watching Mrunali lead the group stirred something inside me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it made me... happy? Strange, considering we'd only met a few days ago. Yet, it felt like we'd known each other forever.

After the parade practice, we were given a one-hour break. Kunal and Aarav dashed off to play basketball. How those two had the energy to play after such an exhausting session was beyond me. I, on the other hand, decided to grab some water.

As I reached the water station, I spotted Mrunali there, drinking water like she'd been wandering through a desert for years.

"Congrats," I said casually, picking up a glass.

She turned around, her brows furrowed. "Kisliye?" she asked while rinsing her glass.

("Why?")

"Guide jo ban gayi ho," I replied, taking a sip from my glass.

("You have become a guide now,")

"Huh! Of course banungi. Main thodi na vampire hoon!" she shot back with a smirk. "Vaisay bhi, I take my work very sincerely." She placed her washed glass on the shelf with a flourish, clearly proud of herself.

("Huh! Of course I will. I am not a vampire!")

("Also, I take my work very sincerely.")

"Accha, agar kaam karna itna hi pasand hai, toh ye bhi dho do," I teased, handing her my glass before darting away.

From behind, I could hear her shout my name angrily, but I didn't stop. I was grinning too hard to care.

Deciding to skip the madness, I wandered off to the garden, my guitar in hand.

The moment I sat down, the sky caught my attention. It was an endless, peaceful shade of blue. A memory from today surfaced-Mrunali and me, sitting on the bench, sharing her earphones, listening to Blue by Yung Kai.

"Yeh mera sabse favorite gana hai," she had said with such excitement, her eyes gleaming as the song played. Even now, I could vividly remember how she hummed along, completely immersed in the melody.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled to find the song. The lyrics began, soft and mesmerizing:

"Your morning eyes, I could stare like watching stars
I could walk you by, and I'll tell without a thought..."

I smiled, letting the music fill the silence around me. The words were like her-simple yet captivating. I picked up my guitar, searching for the chords. It wasn't hard to figure out, but the connection I felt with this song was unexpected.

"Would you mind if I took your hand tonight?
Know you're all that I want this life..."

I strummed softly, matching the rhythm. It was strange-how had a song that wasn't even mine started feeling so personal? Maybe it was because of her. She gave meaning to every note, every lyric.

"I'll imagine we fell in love,
I'll nap under moonlight skies with you..."

As the melody blended with the gentle rustle of leaves, I couldn't help but picture her. That sharp tongue, her stubborn smile, the way she carried herself like she didn't care what the world thought. But she cared. I knew she did.

"I think I'll picture us, you with the waves,
The ocean's colors on your face..."

I stopped playing for a moment, leaning back against the tree. The blue sky above felt endless, just like the questions swirling in my head. What was this feeling? Why did it seem like her voice, her presence, was everywhere?

"Will you be forever with me?"

I sighed, letting the last chord linger in the air. If the universe had a way of weaving people into each other's lives, maybe it wasn't a coincidence that this song had brought us closer.

One thing was clear-Blue wasn't just a song anymore. It was a piece of her, and now, a piece of me.

Mrunali's POV

"Rudra!" I yelled angrily but couldn't hold back a laugh. He always managed to get under my skin, yet somehow, he was annoyingly... perfect. Cute, smart, and way too confident. While doing the parade earlier, my eyes kept drifting toward him. He was so focused, so precise-better than me, if I had to admit it. But what puzzled me most was why I couldn't stop watching him.

After the practice, Simran and Sara were called to the office by the commando for something. Left alone, I decided to head to the garden for some peace. I grabbed my phone and earphones, hoping to lose myself in music for a while.

But as soon as I reached the garden, I froze. There he was, Rudra, sitting under a tree. That wasn't the surprising part. What truly caught me off guard was the fact that he was playing my favorite song, Blue by Yung Kai, on his guitar.

I couldn't believe my ears. The soft strums, the way his fingers moved on the strings-it was as if he was trying to learn the song. My song.

"Your morning eyes, I could stare like watching stars
I could walk you by, and I'll tell without a thought..."

The lyrics floated through the air, pulling me closer. Why was he doing this?

I stood there, watching him, a strange mix of emotions flooding me. Happiness, surprise, and something else I couldn't name. It felt... nice. Like there was someone out there who noticed the little things about me.

But why did it have to be him? Why Rudra?