The Unwavering Love

~CHAPTER 7~

KIARA'S POV

The cool, marble floor of the mandir felt refreshing beneath my bare feet as I stepped inside, the quiet hum of prayers creating a serene atmosphere. I had always loved the tranquility of this place, a stark contrast to the bustling world outside. Today, however, my heart was fluttering with an unusual nervousness.

As today the month of sawan has started I decided to visit the mandir to seek blessings. I stood with my eyes closed, hands folded in prayer, in usual confident demeanor softened by the sanctity of the moment.

After a few moments, I opened my eyes and turned slightly, and saw Shivansh there, standing with folded hands in from of shiva's idol but his eyes laying on me. To my surprise, he was looking right at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. My heart raced as I remembered the last messed up scene between him and my brother.

I took a deep breath and decided to talk him regarding the issue I was engrossed with and then we had few talks while sitting on stairs of entrance and ultimately he offered me a lift on his bike till college. He has gone for taking his bike from parking lot now.

After few minutes I saw him coming towards the entrance of mandir where he asked me to wait for him and he stopped his bike right in front of me and gestures me to grab a seat behind him.

To be frank my heart is racing like some bullet train right now.

"Atleast ab to smbhl kr baithna... I hope ab to nhi girogi na!" He said while laughing earning a glare from me.
(Atleast now try to sit carefully... I hope you won't fall now right!)

"Main auto kr lungi... You please go ahead." I replied while acting a bit angry. Huhh how could I let him taunt on my clumsiness.
(I'll go from an auto...)

"Haha...mazak kr rha tha main, shant miss shantt, chlo baitho ab we'll be late else." He exclaimed.
(Haha... I was just joking, calm down miss calm down, okay now sit else we'll be late)

"Bta diya kro mazak krne se pehle... So that Ill be prepared...I have a really bad rumor else." I said while sitting on his bike and he started the bike.
(Warn me before joking...)

The crisp air filled my lungs, making me feel more awake and alive than any cup of coffee ever could. I sneaked a glance at him from rear view mirror , riding beside me, his aura framed by the soft glow of the sun. My heart did a little flip.

"Waise how's preps of fresher's going hn?" he asked, his voice carrying effortlessly over the rhythmic whir of our bike tires.

"Almost done," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach. " What about yours?"

He grinned, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "I’m still in the brainstorming phase," he admitted, laughing a little. "Procrastination at its finest."

I laughed too, the sound mingling with the rustling leaves. As we turned around a traffic light, I spotted a boy standing by the roadside, a small basket of roses at his feet. He couldn't have been more than fourteen, his clothes slightly worn but his face full of hope.

"Shivansh.." I called out, pointing ahead.

He followed my gaze and slowed down, eventually coming to a stop in front of the boy. The young vendor's eyes lit up as he approached us, holding up a rose with a shy smile.

"Bhaiyaa gulaab chahiye aapko?" the boy asked, his voice soft but eager.
(Do you want roses brother?)

"Hn do dena." Shivansh replied grinning and reached his hand into his pocket, pulling out few notes to pay.
(Yes give me two.)

He took the two offered roses and gave one of them back to him, making both the boy and me amused at his action.

"Yeh ek tum rkhlo.. Hum dono ki taraf se. Chaho to kisi or ko bhi de skte ho." He said winking.
(You keep this one...from both of us. If u want you can also give this to someone else.)

I watched, this heart warming at the sight with shiny eyes. Shivansh turned to me, holding out the delicate flower.

"For you," he said offering the second flower to me, his eyes twinkling with a mix of playfulness and sincerity.

I took the rose, feeling its soft petals beneath my fingertips.

"Thank you." I said, my voice almost a whisper. "It's beautiful." I added on.

"Just like you," he replied with a wink, causing me to blush.

As we resumed our ride, I couldn't help but steal glances at the rose nestled in my hand. The simple gesture had filled me with a sense the rose a bright spot of color against the backdrop of our day, a reminder of the small, meaningful moments that defined our friendship. Meanwhile, I kept the rose in my bag.

After few minutes of travel the college campus came into view, its familiar buildings standing tall against the morning sky. The ride had been short, but every moment had felt stretched, perfect.

As we neared the parking of college, I felt a pang of disappointment. I wanted the ride to last just a little longer. I tried to descend the bike but the height of wasn't helping me at all which he deciphers. He extended his hand to help me to get down. And with his support I dismounted the bike.

"Thanks for riding with me," he said, his eyes meeting mine for a brief, electrifying moment. There was something in his gaze that made my heart flutter.

"I should be the one saying this no?.. Afterall you gave me a lift till here." I replied.

We started walking towards our class, the campus bustling with early morning energy. I could feel the day stretching out before us, filled with possibilities.

As we walked, I couldn't help but think that this bike ride was the start of something new, something wonderful.

As we approached the corridor both of our friends came running towards us. Ishu came by my side and hugged me making me squeal. And Advik comes by Shivansh's side not before giving me a high-five.

"Konsa pahad todkr aara hai tu bhaii..jis wjh se tu mujhe lift tak nhi de ska??" Advik questioned.
(Which mountain you were breaking... That you couldn't give me a lift.)

"Wo..wo main..mujhe." Shivansh stammered.
(Tha..that I..me.)

"Actually he gave a lift to me today." I interrupted, making him widened his eyes.

"Ohh.. Mana bhaii placement ke chances kam hain magr tune rapido kyu join kar liyaa!!" Advik said making me laugh.
(Ohh.. I agree brothuper there are less chances of our placements but that doesn't mean you'll join rapido.)

"Shut upp!.. Kal tujhe pickup ke sath drop bhi kr dunga, bs thk haii?" Shivansh said.
(I'll drop you tomorrow too along with pick up, okayy fine?)

"Dekh fir rapido ka business plan btara hai..." And his sentence got backfired from Advik.
(See again you are telling business plan of rapido...)

"Ahh tujhe to main bad me btata hu.. Ruk beta!" Shivansh warned while going towards his class, leaving three of us laugh.
(Ahh I'll tell you later on.. Just hold on)

"Acha girls fresher's preps ke liye you can join us at practice hall in lunch time today.. As seniors we are having some discussions today regarding it, yeahh even juniors are allowed." Advik said while leaving for his class too, earning a thumbs up from us.

And with this eventually I and ishu headed towards our class.

Next chaptr's hint: Kiara decides to dance on fresher's.
That's all for the day cuties lemme know your opinions abt the chapter in the comments... ur povs will be considered valuable. Apart from this keep reading. And plz vote guys as much as you read the story... Show some love so that i'll update happily.