In a span of three months, Ruhaan was another best friend for Sameer and Pranati. They had won the inter school sports tournament, and were awarded best player trophy too.

Ruhaan was introduced to Mundit and Swanjali too, but wasn't that close as he is with Sameer and Pranati. Ruhaan was nowadays always seen with Sameer and Pranati. Be it lunch time or games period or dispersal time, Sameer, Pranati and Ruhaan were always together which gave some time to Mundit and Swanjali, to bond together.

Ruhaan: Sameer! Pranati aaj nahi aayi?!

Sameer: Nahi, woh uski tabiyat kharab ho gayi hai. Toh aaj nahi aayi, aunty bol rahi thi ki agar kal tak thik nahi hoti woh, toh shayad kal bhi school nahi aayegi aur usko doctor ke paas lena hoga.

Ruhaan: Oh! Usko hua kya hai?!

Sameer: Aunty ne kuch khulke bola nahi. Main soch raha tha ki school ke baad usse mil aaun. Agar tum chaho, toh aa jaana mere saath.
Main Bhosle Sir ko kehke, tumhara outing sign kar dunga.

Ruhaan: Haan thik hai! Tum bata do, kitne baje aaoge. Main uske according ready rahunga.

Sameer: Amm...kuch panch sadhe panch pakdo. Mujhe ghar jaake aane mein do dhai ghanta lagega.

Ruhaan: Itna late....main itna time kaise wait karunga.

Sameer looked at him suspiciously, Ruhaan realised what he blurted out. His cheeks reddened and he instantly pulled off an excuse.

Ruhaan: Mere kehne ka yeh matlab tha ki, mere hostel gate 7 baje bandh ho jaata hai. Uska ghar school se ek ghanta dur hai aur traffic include karo toh aur 15-20 mins. Uske paas 10 minute baithke wapas aana padega na, 7 baje se pehle aane ko....

Sameer: Hmm.....

Ruhaan: Ek kaam karo. Tum mera outing sign kar lo. Main pehle jaake usse mil aaunga. Tum aaram se 5 baje niklo.

Sameer was about object but seeing how desperate he was to see Pranati, he didn't. Since past few weeks, he has noticed Ruhaan and Pranati behaving differently when around each other. They don't have eye contact and he has many times caught them stealing glances of each other when the other one isn't looking. He could sense mushi mushi between them, so he decided to let Ruhaan go alone and before him.

Sameer: Thik hai. Main address likh deta hun, I hope tum dhundh paoge. Nahi toh mujhe PCO se call kar dena. Main help kar lunga.

Ruhaan gave a huge smile to him, and ran excitedly towards his hostel to get an outing form. He had thought that maybe Sameer would convince him to go to Pranati's place with him but he didn't.

Sameer was waiting for Ruhaan, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and found Vidya standing there with a box of cream rolls in her hand.

Vidya: Hi Sameer! Dekho main tumhare liye cream roll layi hun. Tumhe pasand hai na?!

Sameer gave a small smile to her and said: Pasand nahi hai par tum layi ho, toh kha leta hun.

He picked up one cream roll and ate it, before heading to his classroom. Vidya was very happy seeing him accept her offering. Since the day she joined the school, she had a huge crush on Sameer. She wanted to be friends with him, but he never noticed her. Vidya never got the courage to confront him too, as he was one of the most popular male students in the school and there were many girls sending pink envelope to him, the other day when he opened his locker to keep the books, he saw the locker was full of red roses and chocolates. He picked them all and gave to the teachers and junior kids of kindergarten. So, she never attempted to talk to him. But now, due to Ruhaan, she got the courage to speak to him.

Sameer: Vidya, mere class ka time ho raha hai. Ruhaan ko bolna main breaktime mein aake uska outing signature karwa launga.

Vidya nodded and saw him walk inside the building.

Munna: Kya baat hai bhai! Subah subah cream roll! Kabhi apne inn do jigri yaar ke baare mein sochke, humare liye bhi kuch le aa.

Sameer: Main ghar se kha khake nahi aa raha. Field ke paas Ruhaan ki cousin mili. Usne diya. Aur agar tum dono subah subah mujhe chodke Swati aur Anjali ka peecha nahi karoge, toh mere saath tum bhi cream roll kha sakte ho!

Pandit: Kuch bhi karne bol lekin Anjali aur Swati ka peeche karne ko chodne maat bol!! Tu janta hai na, class 8 se unn dono par crush hai humara. Pranati ki dosti hai, aur tere saath unse bahut baar mile bhi hai phir bhi humne kabhi unhe itna notice nahi kiya.

Munna: Lekin uss din! Haayee! Woh pehli baar tha, jab PT sir ki drill run mujhe punishment nahi laga.

Pandit: Sach yaar! Uss din, main Anjali ko aur Munna Swati ko, dekhke aisse phisle ki abtak phisal hi rahe hai. Woh dono behen, aissa jaddu chala diye uss din hum par ki puch maat bhai!

Sameer: Tum aur tum dono ka woh sunehra din!

Sameer shook his head in disbelief and stepped into the classroom. Munna Pandit looked at each other and they too shook their heads in defeat. And sat next to him.

Munna: Tujhe ab tak kisi ladki se pyaar nahi hua na! Tabhi tu humari feelings samjh nahi pa raha. Jis din uss ladki se milega, jisse dekhte hi tere hosh udd jayenge aur tujhe duniya mein sab sundar dikhega. Uski aankhein tujhe apne jaal mein aissa phasegi, ki tu chahke bhi uss jaal se azaad nahi ho payega.

Sameer: Munna! Tune baat dil pe le li yaar! Main samjhta hun aur maine bas tum dono ki tang khinchayi ke liye aissa bola.

Sameer unzipped a compartment of his bag and brought up an air tight container. And kept it on the desk for Mundit to see.

Sameer: Ramdhari kaka ne bheja hai! Besan laddu. Tum dono ke liye. Keh rahe the ki bahut din hogaye tum dono ghar nahi gaye toh isiliye bheja hai. Specially tum dono ke liye kal shaam se lage pade the, isse banane mein. Mujhe kaha hai ki pehle tum dono khaoge phir jaake main laddu ko haath laga sakunga.

Pandit: Aha haha haha ha! Kya khushboo hai!! Sach yaar Sameer! Tera ghar kisi jannat se kam nahi hai. Itna swadist aur khushbudar khana milta hai roz, itne pyaare Dadaji hai aur Uncle toh tujhe bilkul nahi dante! Bas.....

Sameer: Vishakha Aunty aur unke bhai bhabhi hai uss ghar mein, jinke wajah se main chain se jee nahi sakta. Jo dard unhone mujhe diye hai, main kabhi nahi bhul sakta! Bas Devang bhaiya hi hai ek acche unn teeno mein.

Munna: Haan, woh hai kahan?! Tu keh raha tha ki Master's ke liye bahar gaye the, aur wapas aane wale hai.

Sameer: Kaha toh unhone bhi kuch aissa hi tha. Par wahan unhe ek acchi job mil gayi hai, toh woh wahan 2 do saal ka work experience leke aayenge yahan.

Pandit: Sahi hai!

Their conversation came to a full stop, when they saw their English teacher coming in. The whole day went like a gush of wind. As soon as the last bell rung, Ruhaan sprinted out of his class and entered his hostel room. Getting ready in about 15 minutes, he waited outside for a kali peeli taxi or a rickshaw. It felt like an eternity has passed, and still no rickshaw stopping by. He was about to give up and call Sameer when he saw a rickshaw stopping infront of him. He smilingly gave the address and now he was on his way to Pranati's house.

Chanting prays, he rung the bell under the medium sized nameplate of "BANSALS". After an interval of few seconds, the door opened. And middle aged woman dressed up in light yellow ochre saree, her hair tied into a knot on her nape, with all signs of marital status was looking at him confusedly. Ruhaan assumed her to be Pranati's mother.

Lady: Ji?!

Ruhaan: Namaste Aunty! Main Ruhaan, Pranati ka dost.

The lady's face broke into a smile and she warmly welcomed him inside. He asked him to sit on sofa, and gave him a glass of water.

Pranati's mom (PM): Sameer ne thodi der pehle call karke inform kiya tha ki tum aane wale ho. Waise tum thode bade lagte ho Sameer aur Pranati ke age se....

Ruhaan: Main actual mein bhi unka senior hun. Bas ek saal. Hum teeno school ke badminton team mein hai. Wahan dosti huyi.

PM: Oh! Waise tum kahan se ho beta?! Aur ghar mein koun koun hai?

Ruhaan: Hum Kolkata ke origin se. Aur ghar mein meri Mummy hai aur main hun. Papa ki bahut pehle death hogayi.

PM: Oh...toh tum aur tumhari Mummy abhi Mumbai mein ho.

Ruhaan: Ji nahi! Main yahan hun, Mummy Nagpur mein posted hai. Mujhe sports quota mein yeh hi school mila.

PM: Accha accha! Tumhari mummy job kya karti hai beta?!

Ruhaan: Ji woh government official hai. Custom and good services mein.

PM: Oh good good!

Ruhaan: Amm....aunty...woh Pranati.....kaise hai?

PM: Arrey main tumse baatein karne mein bhul gayi ki tum aaye kyun ho. Woh abhi thodi better hai. Andar so rahi hai. Tum chaho toh uske pass jaake baith jao. Thodi der mein uth jayegi. Main tumhare liye kuch nashta lati hun.

Ruhaan was guided to Pranati's room. It was small room yet was very warm and comfy. The walls were painted pale blue color and had lots of photo frames on the wall adjacent to the main door, with a small chest of drawers. The wall on his right side had a small window and her bed was put there on which she was sleeping peacefully covered with a thick comforter.

Checking the rest of the room was out of question now, as he was now stepping towards her stealthily. Grabbing the chair on the left side, infront of her study table, he sat looking at her calm face.

She looked like a small kid while sleeping, peaceful and innocent. He could hear light snoring which made him chuckle as she was the first girl he saw who has a habit of snoring. Few tendrils of her hair feel on her face, which he shifted with the tip of his fingers. When his cold fingers touched her warm cheekbones, she stirred in her slumber and slowly opened her eyes sensing some gaze on her.

Due to sleeping for so long, it took some time for her eyes to see clearly. She could see a hazy Ruhaan, which she thought was an illusion till she saw him clearly, smiling warmly at her.

Pranati: Ru... ruh....Ruhaan! Tu...tum ya...yahan!!

She sat up straight immediately and weaved her fingers cross her hair to set them right. Ruhaan grinned sheepishly and kept his palm on her which were still tangled with her hair.

Ruhaan: Messy look mein aur bhi zyada khubsurat lagti ho.

Pranati blushed and looked down.

Ruhaan cleared his throat to clear the awkwardness, and he just create due to his unmindful comment and that got her blushing.

Ruhaan: Tumhari tabiyat kaisi hai ab?! Better feel ho raha hai?

Pranati: Ammm....itna nahi par thoda sa better hai.

Ruhaan: Kya hua hai tumhe? Kal shaam ko puri acchi thi. Mujhe badminton mein harraya bhi tumne.

Pranati fidgeted the comforter and said: Mere cycle aaj shuru huye aur zyada painful hai. Isliye aaj main school nahi gayi......

Ruhaan was mortified with her direct answer, and not getting what to say he chose to remain silent.

Pranati: Waise....tumhe kaise pata chala ki main thik nahi hun.

Ruhaan: Sameer ne bataya.

Pranati: Oh...waise tum akele aaye ho?

Ruhaan nodded.

Pranati: Kyun?! Tum Sameer ke saath bhi aa sakte the.

Pranati wanted to hear that he came alone to spend some alone time with her, without any third person and that's what she got.

Ruhaan: Kyunki main wait nahi kar paya tumhe dekhe bina. Mujhe tumhari chinta ho rahi thi, aur....aur....main tumhare saath kuch akele mein time spend karna chahta tha. Without any disturbance. Especially without Sameer. Woh saath hota hai toh tum uske saath hi baat karti rehti ho......

Pranati: Kisiko jalan hoti hai?

Ruhaan: Haan....

Pranati: Kyun!!?? Main tumhari koun hun? Ek dost hi na.

Ruhaan came dangerously closer and whispered huskily: Tum sirf meri dost nahi ho. Tum usse zyada ho! Aur tum meri kya ho, woh tum meri aankhon mein dekho. Jawab mil jayega.

"Ahem ahem"

Pranati and Ruhaan's intense eyelock was disturbed hearing the cough. And their eyes went to the door where Sameer stood with a smirk on his face.

Pranati: Sameer! Tu wahan khada kyun hai!? Yahan aa!

Sameer: Woh kya hai na! Tum dono ka woh pyaara moment chal raha tha toh mujhe interrupt nahi karna tha. Isliye andar nahi aa raha tha. Par bahar bhi khada nahi reh sakta, Uncle Aunty puchte na ki main darwaze ke paas khade rehkar kya kar raha hun....

Ruhaan: Tu...tu....tum baad mein aane wale tha na. Toh itni jaldi kaise aagaye....

Sameer: Ghadi ki ore dhyan dijiye Ruhaan Ji! 6 bajne wale hai. Aur maine 05:30 ko aane ka hi bola tha.

Ruhaan: Arrey baap re! Mujhe nikalna hoga nahi toh hostel gate bandh ho jayega.

Reluctantly he left Pranati's house, after saying bye to her for ten times, and after each bye he would issue a new instruction.

Sameer: Chala gaya woh! So ma'am, look back to the pavilion. And please do the honours to let me know what's going on?

Pranati: Nothing is going on....

Sameer: Mujhe buddhu samjha hai?! Tum dono jis tarah se ek dusre ko dekhte ho na, saaf saaf nazar aata hai ki kuch kuch hota hai wala scene chal raha hai.

Pranati: We're just friends yaar. Aur tu janta hai....aur kya bakwaas kar raha hai. Kya alag baat hai hum dono ki nazar mein? Jaise main tujhe dekh rahi hun, waise hi usko dekhti hun.

Sameer: Oh please! Bhul maat! Tu aur main KG se saath mein hai. Tujhe acche se janta hun, utna jitna tu khudko nahi janti! Tu usse pasand karne lagi hai na?

Pranati knew that there is no more scope of finding her feelings from Sameer. And blushingly she nodded.

Sameer smiled and poked her temple with his finger.

Sameer: Woh bhi tujhe pasand karta hai. School mein bawla hogaya tha tujhe na dekhke. Badminton court mein service thik se nahi kar raha tha aur toh aur aaj ke practice matches haar gaya. Pata hai, jab maine usse kaha ki main usse apne saath yahan la sakta hun. Uski aankhein chamak uthi aur jab maine usse tera address diya, uff! Uske sukhe huye patte jaise shakal ne aissa rang badla, puch maat. Uska chehra phool ki tarah khil utha, nahi toh pura din bhoot banke ghum raha tha school mein.

Pranati: Sach!?

Sameer: Haan! Ab yeh sab chod, jaldi se sahi ho jaa! School jaake usse baat kar lena iss baare mein.

Pranati nodded her head slowly, thinking about the moments she had spent with Ruhaan today, until Sameer came. Sameer chuckled seeing her lost, and peeled some oranges for her.

Sameer: Eh! Sapno ki duniya se nikal. Yeh le, orange kha aur aaram kar. Phirse Ruhaan ki duniya mein kho maat jaana!

Pranati smiled sheepishly and ate one piece of orange. After sitting with her for sometime, Sameer went back to home.

For the next two days, Pranati was at home and Ruhaan used to call her in the evening or send some chocolates through Sameer with small notes of get well soon. These small gestures swelled Pranati's heart, and used to get her blushing.

On the third day, the school was quieter than normal day, because it was a Saturday. And very less students come school on my weekend. She was passing through the ground, when a small girl came and told her to go to the badminton court as Coach ma'am is calling her. Pranati ruffled the girl's hair and thanked her.

Pranati: Arrey yahan toh koi nahi!

Seeing an empty court, Pranati was confused but then she realised that it was just the beginning of the day and usually students don't come here so soon. So she walked till the coach room, but found that place empty too. She scratched her head, and turned around to leave. When she saw someone standing, holding few badminton racquets infront of it's face. Some colorful sticky notes very stuck to the stringed area. She walked closer and started removing the sticky notes one by one and read them.

1. Tum sa na koi pyaara, koi massom nahi hai.

2. Tum jaan ho meri, tumko yeh maloom nahi hai.

3. Pranati Bansal! I

4. Really

5. Really.

The last racquet's sticky note was empty, but before she could look up, she was pulled forward and got crushed into a strong built front of a guy. She had closed her eyes tightly in fear, and slowly opened them when she felt the fingers of the guy creeping up over her school shirt, and lingering on her hair.

Her face got burnt in shyness, when she found the most deep and black pair of orbs looking at her with love and affection. He was none other than Ruhaan. Who was smiling seeing her red.

He leaned forward and whispered huskily in her ears: 6th note mein kya likha hona chahiye tha, janna nahi chahogi?!

She shyly nodded her head in no, as she was always aware of what was to be written on the 6th note. He pulled her little closer, his minty breath hitting her skin, which was melting her into a pool, and her legs were wobbly, it was just because Ruhaan had his arms tightened around her, she was standing straight.

Ruhaan: Pranati! I love you. I really really love you. I don't know how but I do. Pehli baar jab maine tumhe dekha tha tabse, tumhari ek jhalak mujhe pagal ban deti hai. Yeh teen din, tumhe dekhe bagair maine kaise kate hai yeh sirf main aur mera dil janta hai. Tum baaki ladkiyon se bilkul alag ho, tum passionate ho but saath mein patient bhi ho, tum fearless ho par apno ke liye fikar bhi karti ho, tum innocent ke saath saath strong bhi ho. Aissa kuch nahi hai, jo tum haasil nahi kar sakti. Tum mein jeetne ka jazba hai, tum mein jeene ka jazba aur tum I know sab kuch achieve kar sakti ho. Aur main, tumhare saath har uss kadam par saath rehna chahta hun. Main chahta hun ki duniya mein sabko mein yeh garv se keh sakun, yeh ladki meri zindagi hai. Main tumhe woh har khushi dena chahta hun jo tum deserve karti ho. Tumhe woh saara pyaar dena chahta hun jiski tum haqdar ho. Main tumhe chahta hun....

Pranati: Ruhaan......

Ruhaan: Ssshhhh! Kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumhari aankhon ne mujhe sab kuch keh diya hai. Par phir bhi, tum apna waqt lo, aur batao. Agar tum humari iss dosti ko bas dosti rakhna chahti ho toh koi baat nahi. Par agar usse aage le na chahti ho, toh main bahut khush hunga.

He loosened his grip on her, and stepped back. He was arranged everything, and getting things at their place as sooner students and coach ma'am will be coming here for practice. Pranati stood there thinking about what to answer and how to put it. She looked up at the person who few moments ago, kept his heart open infront of her, and she could see he was sincere about each and every word, he spoke.

She stepped forward and turned him around, pulling his collar, she put her lips on his, and took him into a surprise by sucking out all the oxygen he had.

After breaking off the intense liplock, Pranati looked deep into his eyes, and said: Does this answer your question?!

Ruhaan grinned sheepishly and pulled her closer by her waist and holding the back of her neck, kissed her once again. They continued attacking on each other, till they could hear footsteps.

Alarmingly, they got separated and sneaked out of the coach room through the back door, which opened to the cricket field. While their way back to class, both of them weren't looking at each other as they just realised that they had their first kiss few moments ago, in the coach room. And it was one hell of a kiss, maybe it was because of the excitement of getting caught by any student or worst their coach ma'am.

They were just walking straight when they heard Sameer calling them from behind.

Sameer: Tum dono kahan the?! Jabse aaya hun dhundh raha hun tujhe Pranati!

Pranati: Woh, main washroom mein thi. Phir jab bahar nikli toh Ruhaan mila. Usse badminton court ki chabbi coach ma'am ko deni thi. Lekin woh aayi nahi hai, toh hum wapas class ja rahe the.

Sameer: Accha accha. Teri tabiyat ab thik hai na?? Main aaj bike leke aaya hun, kabhi bhi tujhe thoda ajeeb lage. Foran mere paas aa jaana, main tujhe ghar le jaunga. Teri class teacher aur Principal Sir ki permission dono hai mere paas.

Pranati was overwhelmed seeing Sameer's concern for her and she hugged him tightly in happiness. Sameer chuckled and ruffled her hair a bit. And unhugged her after dropping a small peck on her head.

Sameer: Waise tum dono ko kya hua hai? Shakal badi khilikhili lag rahi hai. Kahin propose toh nahi kar diya ek dusre ko 😜😂

Ruhaan and Pranati widened their eyes, as they were shocked hearing Sameer. They had thought nobody saw what commenced in the court but they didn't know that Sameer was just pulling their leg oblivious to the fact that his wild guess was turned into a reality. Seeing the color drained from their faces, Sameer was stupefied.

Sameer: Don't tell me! Mera mazak sach hogaya hai!? Tum dono.....tum dono relationship mein ho!!??

Ruhaan and Pranati looked at their feets and lowered their heads. Sameer understood what they meant, and pulled both of them in a hug.

Sameer: Woow! Congratulations yaar!! Mujhe laga hi tha tum dono ke beech kuch chal raha hai. And see, I was right. Toh party kab de rahe ho tum dono??

Pranati furrowed her brows and asked: Kaisi party?!

Sameer: Arrey mere do yaar ab saath hai, ek dusre se pyaar karte hai. Isse badi khushi ki wajah kya ho sakti hai aur iss khushi ki wajah ko celebrate karne ke liye maine party mangi. Koi galat baat thodi ki!?

Pranati and Ruhaan's cheeks heated up and they looked at each other. Seeing the other person blushing too, both of them started to blush more and their cheeks turned deeper shade of red.

Before Sameer could tease them about the red shade of their fair cheeks, the school bell rung indicating the start of the first period.

Sameer: Love birds! Class shuru hone wala hai. Chaliye.....Break mein gutargu kar lena 😜

Pranati held his hand and said: Sameer, meri ek baat manega?! Abhi ke liye kisi ko pata nahi chalna chahiye ki main aur Ruhaan relationship mein hai.

Sameer: Kyun?

Ruhaan: Hum chahte hai ki pehle ek dusre ke saath thoda time spend kare, see loving each other is different and staying with each other is different. We still are two different personalities, agar humare beech things don't go right and we end it off, it will break everyone. So....

Sameer: Ok ok! I understood. Aur waise bhi it should be you two, who should tell others that you have fallen in love with each other and are now boyfriend girlfriend. Not me.

Sameer put his hands in his pocket and left them, Ruhaan and Pranati looked at each other.

Ruhaan held her hand and said: Lunch time mein milte hai canteen mein....

Pranati nodded and she too left for her class.

It was now lunchtime, and before going to canteen, Sameer and Pranati went to badminton court because Coach ma'am had called all the team members as she wanted to announce something important.

Coach: Team! As you know, we will be having interstate badminton competition after two months, and like always 10 players would be selected of which three are already decided. They are Sameer Maheshwari, Pranati Bansal and Ruhaan Roy Choudhry. Rest seven players would be selected by the team leader. And the team leader is.......any guesses?!

All the students looked at each other in confusion, seeing their confused faces Coach ma'am chuckled and announced the name.

Coach: The team leader is Pranati Bansal so starting from tomorrow, the selection would start and by the end of this week, we will have our team. So all the best everyone! Disperse for lunch.

After coach ma'am left, few students came and congratulated Pranati for being the lead. But some students started bad mouthing her.

Student 1: Haan haan, kyun nahi banti team leader, Sameer aur Ruhaan ki khas jo hai. Aur Sameer toh iss school ke advisory board member ka bhanja hai.

Student 2: Exactly! Kuch toh benefit hona chahiye na Sameer ki dost hone ka.....

Student 3: Lekin bhai, dono ki dosti bahut zyada gehri nahi lagti. I mean, jab dekho tab chipke rehte hai saath mein. Kahin yeh log......hmmm hmmmm........

These comments boiled Sameer's blood, and his eyes were bloodshot red. Enraged with anger, he pounced on the three boys and held two of the boys' collar.

Sameer: Kya kaha tumne!? Benefit!? Pranati aaj team leader meri dosti ke wajah se nahi balki apni kabiliyat ke wajah se bani hai! And usmein talent kitna hai yeh sab jante hai. Shak hai toh abhi uske saath khel ke dekh lo!! Hai himmat kisi mein?

Student 2: Sameer! Maana Pranati talented hai. Par uska tumhare saath 24 ghante rehna. Jahan tum, wahan woh. Tum dono ko humne kae baar school mein openly hug karte dekha hai uska kya!?

Student 3: Bahut baar tum dono akele ek dusre ke ghar par bhi hote ho. And come on, both of you are good looking, aissa ho hi nahi sakta ki tum dono ke beech se.......

Sameer couldn't control and raised his fist, and it hit the boy's square jaw. He straddled on top of the boy, and held his throat in tight grip.

Sameer: You bastard! How dare you!?? Itni ghatiya soch tere mann mein aaya kahan se?!

Sameer was so much angry on that boy that he couldn't realise that he was knocking air out of him by strangulating him. The other boys noticed it and separated both of them.

That day, everyone saw a dangerous side of Sameer. His eyes were red, and had this scary aura. Which sent shivering to everyone present there.

Sameer: Aage se agar maine kisiko bhi Pranati ya kisi bhi ladki ke baare mein aissi baat kehte suna. Toh aaj iss Nikhil ki tarah usse zinda nahi chodunga.

Sameer went near Pranati, who was shaking after hearing all the accusations and witnessing Sameer fighting for her dignity. He walked her out and took her to the canteen. Even though he was still angry on the filthy students but seeing Pranati's quivering lips and shivering body, he calmed down. He got two Pepsi for them and made Pranati drink one.

Pranati: Sameer! Tu...tune aaj uss ladke ko almost maar hi daala tha. Tune aissa kyun kiya?!

Sameer: Aur kya karta bol? Woh tujhe characterless bol raha tha. And you know very well, tu mere liye kitni important hai.

Pranati: Par Sameer....chal jo hua usse jaane de. You promise me ki tu aage se kabhi bhi aisse maar pitth nahi karega. Aaj tera jo roop dekha usse main bhi darr gayi thi.

Sameer: Waada! Aaj ke baad main yeh galti phir kabhi nahi karunga. Lekin agar phir kisine bhi tere saath aissi badtameezi ki, toh main peeche nahi hatunga. Tere liye, main uss insaan ko hospital pahucha dunga. Chahe woh koi bhi kyun na ho.

He saw she was about to say something, so he interrupted her.

Sameer: Tujhe meri kasam. Tu mujhe adverse condition mein nahi rokegi. And I am sure agar aaj mere saath Ruhaan hota toh woh bhi yeh hi karta!

Ruhaan: Kya main bhi karta?!

Pranati and Sameer turned around to find a confused Ruhaan with a tray in his hands. Sameer shifted and made a place for Ruhaan to sit. And shifted to the opposite chair.

Pranati: Kuch nahi....woh aaj coach ma'am ne mujhe badminton team ka lead banaya toh, Sameer ne khush mein mujhe party dene ka socha toh woh hi bol raha tha....tum hote toh tum bhi yeh hi karte.

Ruhaan: I am sorry Jaan....main court nahi aa paya.

Sameer choked on his Pepsi hearing Jaan from Ruhaan, he widened his eyes in shock and was starring at Ruhaan. So was Pranati, she was equally flabbergasted.

Ruhaan: Kya!? Tum dono mujhe aisse kyun dekh rahe ho?!

Pranati: Tum.... tumne abhi kya kaha mujhe?

Ruhaan: Jaan.

Pranati: Ruhaan!? Hum.....hume ek din bhi nahi hua hai relationship mein aur tum.....

Ruhaan inched closer and whispered in her ears huskily: Toh kya hua?! Tum pehle din se meri jaan ban chuki ho....Waise bhi pehle din mein hi toh humne itna deep aur passionate kiss bhi kiya tha. Tab tumhe koi problem nahi hua.....

Pranati's cheeks coloured and seeing this, Sameer realised that it maybe something personal and he decided to leave them alone. He excused himself and went to Mundit.

After lunch was over, Ruhaan and Pranati went back to their classes. Ruhaan asked Pranati to meet him near the secret backdoor of the hostel which wasn't known to anyone except for the couples of school before going home.

Keeping her promise, Pranati sneaked in, and was now standing near the back door which was guarded by thick mahogany trees which blocked the area from the windows of hostel and the school.

She was desperate to see him, and was about to leave thinking that he forgot to meet her, when a strong pair of arms pulled her behind the tree. She crashed into his arms and was now looking straight into his eyes. He caressed her cheeks with the back of his fingers, and traced them to her luscious lips. He rubbed her lower lip with his thumb, and inched towards her. Pranati closed her eyes, and felt his lips colliding with her slowly and once it did, it wasn't slow anymore. It didn't feel like it was their second kiss. It was so intense. His hands were roaming everywhere. He tried touching her raw skin, but due to the school uniform, all he could touch was her nape and her arms. Pranati was confused about how to react to his touching and all she did was tug his hair and respond to his kiss.

When they were done, and were gasping oxygen. Ruhaan tightened his arms around her waist and nuzzled in her hair.

Ruhaan: Mann nahi kar raha ki tumse dur rahun. Par tumhe chodna padega.....Nahi toh aunty ko chinta hogi tumhari.

Pranati was so lost in his touch, and all she did was nod her head. After one more round touching and kissing, Ruhaan carefully sneaked her to the main gate of the school and found Sameer waiting near the gate.

He smiled at the new couple and signalled Pranati to join him in the car, he will drop her home.

The drive was silent as Pranati didn't know what she should say to Sameer. Sameer smiled at her and whispered in her ears: Sharma maat! Main tera dost hun. Aur ab se roz tu mere saath ghar aa jaana. Aunty se baat kar li hai maine.

Pranati smiled at him and gave a small hug to him.