"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 20

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Aditi's Perspective

The math class had dragged on longer than usual, with my doubts about a particularly tricky problem keeping me behind after everyone else had left. By the time I packed up my things, the classroom was almost empty. I glanced at the clock and hurried out, feeling the weight of the morning's unresolved feelings pressing on me.

I was just about to turn the corner when Sunita Ma'am stopped me in the hallway. Her stern expression made me pause.

"Aditi," she said, her tone firm but not unkind, "I need you to do something for me. I need the list of all 16 boys from classes 9th to 12th who are participating in the inter-house boxing championship this Saturday. It should be with PT Sir. Could you get it from him and bring it to the staff room before you leave?"

I nodded quickly, trying to ignore the dread at the thought of heading into the gym. The smell of sweat and the cacophony of punches and grunts were less than inviting. "Sure, Ma'am. I'll get it right away."

As I walked towards the gym, I mentally prepared myself. Ugh, the place is going to stink. Why did Ma'am have to pick the worst time for this? And of course, Kabir will be there too. Great, just great.

When I reached the gym, the sound of punching bags being hit in rapid succession filled the air. I took a deep breath and stepped inside, trying to ignore the tangy smell of sweat. The boys were scattered around, some practicing their punches on the bags, others chatting and stretching.

I scanned the room for PT Sir, who was standing by the side, watching the practice with an evaluative eye. I approached him and cleared my throat to get his attention.

"Sir, Sunita Ma'am asked me to get the list of all the boys participating in the boxing championship this Saturday. Could I have it, please?"

PT Sir nodded and handed me a clipboard with the names listed. "Here you go, Aditi. Make sure it gets to the staff room promptly."

"Thank you, Sir," I said, taking the clipboard. I turned to leave but was stopped in my tracks as Jai appeared out of nowhere, blocking my way. His sudden appearance made my heart skip a beat. I hadn't expected to see him here, and the tension between us was still fresh.

"Hey, Aditi," Jai said, his tone forced casual. "What are you doing here?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Just picking up a list for Sunita Ma'am. Why?"

Jai's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the clipboard in my hands. "So, you're hanging around the gym now? I see you're getting pretty close to Kabir these days."

I raised an eyebrow, my patience wearing thin. "What's that supposed to mean, Jai?"

He shrugged, trying to maintain an indifferent facade. "It's just... you know how it is. People talk. I'd hate to see you getting caught up in something you might regret."

I crossed my arms, my tone cold. "You don't get to dictate who I can or cannot be friends with. Kabir and I are just friends. I don't need your approval or your warnings."

Jai's face reddened slightly, a mixture of frustration and hurt crossing his features. "I'm just trying to look out for you, Aditi. I don't want you to end up in a mess."

I shook my head, my voice icy. "And I don't need you looking out for me. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself. If you're so concerned about me, maybe you should focus on your own life and let me live mine."

Jai looked taken aback, his expression shifting between anger and sadness. "Fine. If that's how you want it. But don't come crying to me if things don't turn out the way you expect."

"Don't worry, Jai," I said, my voice firm. "I won't be crying. I'm handling things just fine. Now, if you don't mind, I have a job to finish."

As I wrapped up my conversation with Jai, feeling the sting of his words still lingering, I was eager to get away and put the interaction behind me. But before I could take another step, I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

"Aditi!"

I turned, my irritation still simmering beneath the surface, only to find Kabir striding towards me with a confident, easygoing smile. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine ad, and for a moment, my breath caught in my throat. His shirt clung to his body, revealing the toned muscles of his abs with every movement. The sight was almost too distracting—each ripple of his physique seemed to press against the fabric, accentuating his athletic build. His casual demeanor and the way his shirt fit so perfectly against his torso made him look effortlessly hot.

As he got closer, the warmth of his presence seemed to radiate through the cool gym air. I couldn't help but be drawn to the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders and narrow waist, each movement of his arms subtly emphasizing his strength. His confidence was palpable, and it only seemed to enhance his already impressive physical presence.

Kabir stopped right in front of me and, without missing a beat, reached out and gently placed his fingers under my chin, tilting it up so I was forced to meet his eyes. The touch was unexpectedly intimate, sending a shiver down my spine.

"My eyes are up here, Frosty," he said, his voice low and teasing. His gaze locked with mine, holding me in place as if daring me to look away.

In that moment, the rest of the world seemed to blur around us. The way he stood there, so close, his fingers lightly brushing my skin, made my pulse quicken. I was acutely aware of every detail—the warmth of his hand, the intensity of his gaze, and the way his body seemed to radiate an undeniable magnetism. The familiarity of his teasing smile, combined with the undeniable allure of his physical presence, made it difficult to focus on anything else.

His touch was gentle yet firm, and as I met his eyes, I could see the playful glint in them, hinting at the mischief that always seemed to accompany him. Despite my earlier frustration, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. His presence had a way of breaking through my defenses, and in that moment, I found myself feeling a strange mixture of warmth and bewilderment.

"Right," I managed to say, my voice softening as I looked into his eyes. "What was it you needed?"

Kabir's grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect he had on me. "I just realized I forgot to add my surname to the list. Mind if I fix that?"

I nodded, trying to regain my composure as I handed him the clipboard. But even as I watched him scribble his name, my mind was still wrapped around the image of him—his shirt pressed against his abs, the way his confidence seemed to fill the room. It was hard not to be affected by his presence, and as he finished writing and handed the clipboard back to me, I couldn't shake the lingering impression of just how attractive he looked.

As Kabir turned to leave, he shot me one last playful glance over his shoulder, and I found myself staring after him, trying to ignore the fluttering feeling in my chest. The encounter had left me feeling both flustered and strangely exhilarated, and I knew I would have to sort through these emotions later. For now, I focused on the task at hand, trying to shake off the distraction and get back to my day.