Whispers of Love

11:: A Gentle Smile

PHASE I
Chapter 11:: A Gentle Smile

AUTHOR

The next day, Tanvi entered the classroom silently, her eyes cast down. She made her way to her seat, trying to go unnoticed.

As she sat down, a familiar voice broke the silence. "Tanu, can I sit beside you today?"

Tanvi's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Aayush standing beside her, a sweet smile lingering on his face. The nickname "Tanu" only he used, made her feel special.

She smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Of course, Aayush."

Aayush sat down beside her, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Hey, how's it going? You okay after yesterday?"

Tanvi nodded, feeling grateful for his concern. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

As the teacher began the lesson, Aayush leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was thinking, we could study together for the exams. You know, help each other out."

Tanvi's heart fluttered at the suggestion. Spending more time with Aayush sounded like a dream come true.

But just as she was about to agree, a voice echoed in her mind - her grandfather's voice, warning her about getting close to Aayush.

Tanvi hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to spend more time with Aayush, but she knew her grandfather would never approve.

Aayush noticed her hesitation and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, what's wrong? I thought it would be fun to study together."

Tanvi sighed, trying to come up with an excuse. "I don't know, Aayush. I have a lot of work to do, and I don't want to distract you."

Aayush chuckled. "You could never distract me, Tanu. Besides, I think we could help each other out. We're in the same class, after all."

Tanvi smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. She wanted to say yes, but she was scared of what her grandfather would say.

Just then, the teacher assigned a group project, and Tanvi's heart sank. She knew she would have to work with Aayush now, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it.

The teacher announced that the project would be a presentation on a historical topic, and Tanvi's heart sank. She knew she would have to work closely with Aayush, and she wasn't sure if she could handle it.

As the class began to discuss their topics, Aayush turned to Tanvi with a smile. "Hey, want to work together on this project? We could do something on the Mughal Empire."

Tanvi hesitated, unsure of what to say. She wanted to work with Aayush, but she was scared of getting too close.

But before she could respond, her grandfather's voice echoed in her mind. "Stay away from Aayush. He's not good for you."

Tanvi took a deep breath and tried to push the voice away. She wanted to make her own decisions, not be controlled by her grandfather's rules.

"Okay, sure," she said finally, trying to sound casual. "The Mughal Empire sounds like a good topic."

Aayush grinned, and Tanvi's heart skipped a beat. She knew she had made a mistake, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted to be around Aayush, even if it meant going against her grandfather's rules.

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