ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴇᴀᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏꜱ

.Together Again༊˚

AUTHOR'S POV:

Nidhi said, "We should inform the teacher."

Avni shook her head. "It's fine. She might not have done it intentionally."

Ishan, still kneeling beside her, looked up and said, "We'll deal with this later."

Aaron asked, "Can you walk?"

Avni tried to stand but stumbled. Luckily, Ishan caught her before she could fall. He lifted her into his arms again and carried her to the parking area. He helped her onto his bike, then took his seat. Nidhi handed them their backpacks, and Ishan started the bike.

Avni said, "You didn't have to do all this."

Ishan replied, "Hold on tight."

He suddenly jerked the bike forward, making Avni lean in and grab his shirt for balance.

In a few minutes, they reached Avni's house. Ishan parked his bike, then gently lifted Avni into his arms and carried her to the front door. She unlocked it with her keys, and he carefully placed her on the couch.

Avni asked, "Want some water?"

Ishan shook his head with a smile. "Next time. Bye. And take care, Miss Einstein."

Avni watched as Ishan turned to leave, his playful nickname still lingering in her mind. Just before he stepped out the door, she called out, "Ishan!"

He paused, glancing back at her with a curious expression. "Yeah?"

"Thank you," Avni said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

Ishan gave her a reassuring smile. "You're welcome. Just focus on getting better now."

With that, he left, closing the door gently behind him. Avni leaned back against the couch. She couldn't help but smile at how Ishan had taken care of her without a second thought.

As she rested, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Nidhi: "Hope you're feeling better. Let me know if you need anything!"

Avni replied with a quick "Thank you! I'm okay now, just resting."

She set her phone aside and closed her eyes, replaying the day's events. Despite the pain from her fall, there was an undeniable sense of comfort in knowing that she had friends who truly cared about her.

Before long, Avni drifted off to sleep, still clutching Ishan's jacket that he had wrapped around her earlier, the scent of him lingering faintly.

She woke up after 2-3 hours and slowly made her way upstairs to get changed. With no energy left to go downstairs again, she ate some leftover snacks from her desk that had been there since the previous night's study session.

After eating, Avni sat down on her bed and checked her phone.

There was a message from Nidhi: "How are you feeling?"
"Are you studying?"
"You better not."
"Sleeping?"

Avni quickly replied, "I was sleeping. Don't worry."

Then she saw a message from Ishan: "Studying?"
"Sleeping?"
"Ate something?"
"Why aren't you responding?"

She then replied, "Was sleeping."

Ishan quickly replied, "Ate?"

Avni replied, "Yes."

Ishan responded, "Good. Rest up and get better soon."

Avni replied, "Thanks, I will."

She then set her phone aside and tried to relax, but instead slept. Soon, her parents arrived home. When they called her and received no response, her mother went to her room and found Avni sleeping.

She asked, "Avy? What happened? Are you sick?"

Avni woke up from the sound and replied, "I'm fine, just got some scratches. I fell at school."

Her mother said, "Don't come downstairs. I'll bring dinner to your room."

Avni nodded and settled back into bed.

The next day, Avni woke up feeling a bit better. The pain in her scratches had lessened, but she still moved carefully. She took a bath and then changed the bandages. After a quick breakfast, she went to the bus stop. Ishan was already there with his bike. Avni walked towards him.

Avni asked, "What are you doing here?"

Ishan replied, "Waiting for you."

Avni asked, "What?"

Ishan replied, "I knew you wouldn't skip school, so I thought I'd drop you."

Avni replied, "I'm better now. I can take the bus. Don't worry."

Once Avni was seated, Ishan handed her a helmet. "Wear this," he said with a slight smile.

Avni put on the helmet, adjusting the straps. "How sure were you that I would agree to go with you? You even brought a helmet along."

Ishan started the bike and replied, "I just knew. Now, hold on tight, Miss Einstein."

Avni wrapped her arms around his waist as they sped off toward the school. The ride was refreshing, with the morning breeze gently brushing against them.

When they reached the school, Ishan parked the bike and helped Avni off. She removed the helmet and handed it back to him.

Ishan took the helmet, putting it away, and said, "Let's go."

Avni nodded, and they headed toward the school building together.

They reached their classroom and took their seats.

Nidhi asked, "You two arrived together today?"

Avni quickly replied, "We just met at the school gate."

Ishan glanced at Avni but decided to play along. "Yeah," he said.