CHAAHAT: Ek Ehsaas Dosti Se Badhkar

Chapter -10

Author's POV-

Suhana had no other choice, so she took the assignments from Ankur with a forced smile.

Ankur then sat down next to Aashna and whispered in her ear with a subtle smile, "Assignments are a small thing, but if she asks me, I'd even write her name on my heart."

Aashna looked at Ankur in surprise. Ankur chuckled and looked down, while Aashna felt uncomfortable seeing her best friend behave this way. She couldn't bear to see him so smitten.

Then, an idea struck her. She noticed Ankur was distracted, so she quietly put her own assignments in his bag.

Ankur, still lost in thought, didn't notice Aashna's sneaky move. Aashna tried to act normal, but her heart raced with excitement.

Suhana, oblivious to the tension,
her mind racing with uncertainty. She had forgotten to do her own assignments, and now she was torn between gratitude and guilt. Should she accept his help or insist on doing her own work? She looked up at Ankur, who was watching her with a reassuring smile.

"Hey, it's okay, Suhana. I've got your back," Ankur said, his voice low and encouraging. "Just take it and don't worry about it, okay?"

Suhana hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth between the assignments and Ankur's face.

Suhana took a deep breath and nodded, her fingers closing around the assignments as if they were a lifeline. "Thanks, Ankur. I owe you one."

Just then, the teacher arrived, and everyone stood up to wish him good morning.

The teacher gestured for them to sit down and asked, "Has everyone completed their assignments?"

The entire class responded in unison, "Yes, sir!!!" except for Aashna and Suhana.

Ankur looked at them and asked, "Hey, you two have the assignments, right? Then why didn't you speak up?"

Aashna and Suhana exchanged nervous glances. Then Ankur said with a chuckle, "And look, I don't have the assignments, but I still said yes, sir!" He burst out laughing.

Aashna was caught in the middle, perhaps feeling a mix of emotions - loyalty to her friend, guilt for not speaking up, and amusement at Ankur's antics.

The teacher's presence adds a layer of tension, as the students try to navigate their relationships and responsibilities.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile on his face. "Ankur, you're quite the jokester, aren't you? But let's get serious. Suhana, Aashna, can I see your assignments, please?"

Suhana's heart sank, and she hesitated, her eyes darting to Ankur, who was still grinning. Aashna, sensing her friend's distress, spoke up. "Sir, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Suhana and I were just, uh, discussing our assignments..."

The teacher's expression turned stern. "Enough, Aashna. I want to see the assignments. Now."

Suhana reluctantly handed over the papers, her face burning with embarrassment. Ankur's grin faltered, and he looked away, his eyes fixed on some distant point.

The teacher scanned the assignments, his expression unyielding. "Suhana, these are Ankur's handwriting and notes. Where is your own work?"

Suhana stood still, unable to answer, her eyes fixed on the floor.

Ankur, sensing her tension, interrupted, "Sir!! Actually, I helped her out with the assignments. She was having difficulty with some questions, so I offered to do them for her."