The smell of chai drifted through the house. Aziza sat at the dining table, half-awake, stirring her cup though she hadn't taken a sip yet. 

Across the table, Ayaan sat quietly, tuning his guitar strings. His hair was a mess, eyes still sleepy. He hadn't said a word since sitting down, His eyes kept darting toward the sink. Last night's fork was still there, resting against a plate like it remembered everything. 

He shook his head. Stupid. It was just Maggi.

Across the room Naina stirred from her sleep, she was wrapped in a blanked like a burrito in aziza's bedroom. 

Rohan shifted, stretching like a lazy cat, in his room as he searched for his phone. Both of  them made their way out of thier rooms, gathering in the hall. 

For a moment, they both froze.
And then—
"PFFFFT—HAHAHAHAHA!"
Both burst into uncontrollable laughter, the kind that made their stomachs hurt.

"Your face—oh my God, your face!" Naina choked out between laughs.
"LOOK at your face!" Rohan doubled over, almost falling off the bed.

Rohan had "Main NONSENSE aadmi hoon" still faintly written on his cheek in blue marker.
Naina's forehead? Bold and beautiful— "I 💔 logic."

"OMG!! Yeh sab TUNE kiya hai!" Rohan jabbed a finger at Naina.

"Excuse me?? Kitne self obsessed ho didi yar aap, mujhe meri neeed pyari hai" Naina snapped, hand on her hip.

"Ye tune likha hai aur phir tera naam na aaye esliye apne upar bhi likh liyaa. Aur mai didi nhi huu chudaill" Rohan argued

"Haan? Aur tu toh din bhar nonsense bolta hai, isiliye likh diya hoga kissi bhoot!"

"Tu toh jealous hai ki tu nonsense aadmi nahi hai!"

"Main nonsense aadmi kyun banu, tujhe dekh ke hi duniya ko proof mil jata hai! Aur by the way I'm aurat jaat" 

"Waah Naina, jab bolti hai saath me 2-3 nailpoish haath me leke bolti hai" Ayaan said joining their banter.

"Haa ekdum nail polish lagane wali baatien krti hai" Aziza continued half giggling half controlling her laugh.

"Ek minute tum dono kuch zyada nhi has rahe? YE TUMNE KIYA HAINAA!!" Naina finally struck with realization"

"AZIZAAAAA!!!" Naina screeched.
"AYAAAAAN!!!" Rohan thundered, rolling up his sleeves like he was about to fight a war.

"Arrey chill, bas mazaak tha," Aziza said, hiding her laugh behind her cup.
"Mazaak? Mazaak toh ab hoga!" Naina threw her blanket like a warrior cape and lunged forward.

Rohan grabbed the nearest cushion. "Main nonsense aadmi hoon? Ab tum dono nonsense banoge!"

Aziza, giggling, backed away toward the kitchen. "RUN!"

And that was it.

The house turned into a wrestling ring.
Naina chased Aziza around the dining table, screaming, "Tere mathhe pe likhungi Main nail polish hoon!"
Rohan tried to grab Ayaan's guitar, yelling, "Yeh chord baja, main tujhe dikhata hoon rockstar!"

Aziza ducked behind the sofa, only to be caught in a tug-of-war with Naina, both pulling at a cushion.
"Chhod warna tujhe face pack bana ke chhod dungi!" Naina threatened.
"Tu khud logic se divorce le chuki hai, mujhe kya bolegi!" Aziza shot back.

Meanwhile, Rohan had Ayaan cornered.
"Last words, guitar boy?"

Priyanka aunty (Aziza's neighbour, just like a mother to Rohan and aziza) appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, eyebrow raised. The entire group froze mid-chaos.

"Subah-subah mela laga rakha hai kya?!" she scolded.
Silence. Four guilty faces.

Aziza tried, "Bas... group yoga chal raha tha."
Naina added, "Haan aunty, laughter therapy bhi."
Rohan "Aur... cushion exercise."
Ayaan strummed a soft "sorry" on his guitar.

Priyanka sighed. "Pagal ho tum sab." And walked away giggling. 

The four of them looked at each other, and burst into laughter again.

***

Monday, in college 

"yarrrrr I hate this mujhe long weekend ke baad college aana bilkul bhi nahi pasand hai!" Naina whined.

"Arey bbg tu bol toh school udhva dungi, vese bhi mere biceps ke baare me toh paata hi hoga na" Aziza said half flirting half flexing her non existent biceps.

"Haan bhen bohot bade bicep h tere" Naina said laughing.

"Itu si toh hai tu, konse bicep?" Ayaan added in a mocking tone, sitting in the chair directly in front of Aziza.

Aziza narrowed her eyes. "Ruko tum, tumhe batati hu biceps mai." She rolled up her sleeve dramatically, flexing her arm forward.

Before she could say another word, Ayaan's hand shot out. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward effortlessly, his grip firm, almost careless like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Haan, dikhao toh," he murmured, his eyes dropping to her so-called bicep.

Aziza stumbled a little at the sudden pull, her breath hitching as the distance between them shrank in an instant. She wasn't that close, not really—but close enough to feel the warmth of his hand wrapped around her skin, close enough to notice the faint scent of coffee and guitar strings clinging to him.

Her joke died on her lips.

Ayaan, completely unbothered, tilted his head, pretending to inspect her arm—but his lashes were long, his jaw sharp, and his focus so intense it made her heartbeat stumble. He was looking at her bicep, sure... but she could feel the weight of his presence everywhere.

Aziza tried to scoff, but her voice came out softer than she wanted. "Tum... bohot over ho."

Ayaan finally lifted his gaze, just for a second, and their eyes locked.
The world stilled. The air between them grew heavy, electric—thick enough to choke on.

Naina, completely oblivious, sipped on her iced coffee and said, "Bas karo tum dono, mujhe Monday blues already hain."

But Aziza barely heard her.
Because Ayaan still hadn't let go...

Aziza's pulse hammered against her wrist where his hand held her, steady and unrelenting.
She shifted slightly, half-annoyed, half-aware of every inch of space between them.

"Ayaan..." she muttered, trying to tug her hand back.

Instead of letting go, his grip only tightened—just enough to remind her how effortlessly strong he was. His thumb brushed once, slow and deliberate, over the inside of her wrist as if testing her reaction.

"Hmmm?" he asked, his tone maddeningly casual, but his eyes still fixed on her with that quiet intensity.

"Yeh biceps... invisible lag rahe hain."

Aziza glared, but the heat rising in her cheeks betrayed her. "Main tumhe invisible bana dungi," she shot back, her voice barely steady.

He chuckled under his breath, the sound low, sending a shiver straight down her spine.

And then finally, he released her. But not before his fingers lingered a second too long, brushing against her skin as if on purpose.

Aziza quickly looked away, pretending to fidget with her hair, but her heartbeat was still climbing.
Ayaan leaned back in his chair, picking up his pen like nothing happened, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

"Kya subah subah bicep bicep kare ho dono me se kissi ke nhi hai" Naina said annoyed.

Aziza kicked Naina under the table, trying to hide her own flushed face. She picked up her pen, pretending to scribble in her notebook like nothing had happened.

But Ayaan... Ayaan leaned forward again, resting his elbow on the desk, eyes never leaving her. That smirk tugged at his lips,

He lowered his voice, just enough for only her to hear.
"Bas ek baat confirm ho gayi," he murmured.

Aziza, still pretending to write, didn't look up. "Kya?"

Ayaan tilted his head, his gaze deliberately dropping to her wrist before flicking back to her eyes.
"Tumhare biceps chahe na ho..." his smirk deepened, "...lekin tumhari dil ki dhadkan bohot strong hai."

Aziza's pen slipped right out of her hand.
Her cheeks burned crimson.

Ayaan leaned back casually, flipping his pen between his fingers like nothing happend.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you all like chapter 16?

What was your Favourite part?

Don't forget to comment and vote if you liked the chapter ♡

Love you All 💋

Follow me on Instagram 🎀