Say you love me! ✨️

Chapter 17: A Twist in the Tale

It had been a few days since the play, and the buzz surrounding it was finally beginning to fade. Aarav and Riya's performance had been the talk of the school, with everyone praising their chemistry and acting skills. Ananya had managed to push her lingering jealousy aside, focusing on her studies and the upcoming exams. The school was settling back into its usual rhythm, and so was she—or at least, she tried to convince herself of that.

One afternoon, Ananya and her friends—Arohi, Simran, and Riya—were sitting in their usual spot near the basketball court. It was a sunny day, and after a hectic few weeks, the girls had decided to take a break and indulge in some harmless fun. They were joined by a few other classmates, and the conversation eventually turned into a game of truth and dare, a staple of their teenage lives.

“Okay, who’s next?” Simran asked, looking around with a mischievous grin.

“Riya!” Arohi called out, eyes gleaming. “Truth or dare?”

Riya rolled her eyes playfully but smiled. “Truth,” she said, leaning back on her elbows.

Simran leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “So, tell us, Riya, do you have a crush on anyone?”

The group fell silent, all eyes on Riya, waiting for her answer. Ananya’s heart quickened just a bit, but she kept her face neutral, curious about what Riya might say.

Riya blushed slightly but grinned. “Alright, I’ll admit it. I do have a crush.”

There was a collective gasp among the girls, followed by giggles. Ananya’s heart gave a small thump, but she stayed calm. *It’s probably Aarav,* she thought, but she remained quiet.

Arohi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Who is it? Someone we know?”

Riya nodded, the blush deepening on her cheeks. “Yeah, you know him. It’s Varun Sen.”

Ananya blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Varun Sen was a classmate of theirs—tall, lean, with a quiet charm about him. He was smart, well-liked, but never someone who had stood out to Ananya, at least not in the way Aarav had.

Simran squealed. “Varun?! Oh my God, I totally didn’t see that coming! How long have you liked him?”

Riya laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “A few months, maybe. He’s just so…nice. We’ve talked a bit, and he’s really sweet but I don’t think he reciprocates...I'm quite trying to move on.”

Ananya exhaled slowly, a quiet relief washing over her. She hadn’t realized just how tense she had been until that very moment. Riya liking someone else—Varun, of all people—was not something she had expected, but it was a welcome surprise.

Ananya grinned wickedly. “So, what about Aarav?” she asked, her voice playful but with an edge of curiosity. “I mean, everyone’s been shipping you two since the play.”

Riya laughed softly, shaking her head. “Aarav? No way! He’s like my brother. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and that’s all there is to it. Besides,” she added, casting a glance at Ananya, “he thinks of me the same way.”

Ananya raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure how to process that information. Aarav had never really spoken about Riya to her, and although Ananya knew they had a long-standing friendship, hearing Riya casually dismiss the idea of anything romantic between them was oddly reassuring.

“Like a brother?” Simran echoed, clearly surprised. “But you two were amazing in the play! Everyone thought—”

Riya shrugged, cutting her off. “It was just acting. Aarav and I have always had that easy chemistry because we’re comfortable with each other. But that’s all there is to it. Trust me, there’s nothing going on between us.”

Ananya stayed quiet, processing Riya’s words. So, all those moments she’d spent feeling jealous, worrying about Aarav and Riya, had been for nothing? Aarav saw Riya as a sister? The revelation brought a strange mix of relief and confusion. If Aarav didn’t feel anything for Riya, then why had she been so jealous? Was it because deep down, her feelings for Aarav had changed in ways she wasn’t ready to admit?

Simran nudged Ananya with a playful grin. “Looks like you were wrong, Ananya. See, Riya doesn’t have a thing for Aarav after all.”

Ananya shrugged, forcing a laugh. “I never said she did. You guys were the ones shipping them, not me.”

Arohi chuckled. “True, true. But you have to admit, they did look cute together on stage.”

Riya rolled her eyes. “Okay, enough about me and Aarav. Can we move on? I’d rather talk about Varun, honestly.”

The conversation shifted to Varun, and Riya gushed a bit more about her crush, but Ananya’s mind was elsewhere. Aarav had always been a constant presence in her life, teasing her, challenging her, making her laugh in ways no one else did. He was never too close, but never far either. Now, hearing that Riya saw him as nothing more than a brother, Ananya’s perspective was shifting again. Maybe Aarav wasn’t as distant as she had thought. Maybe he wasn’t out of reach.

Still, despite the faint flutter of hope she felt, Ananya pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the present. For now, Aarav was still the same playful boy who made her want to pull her hair out with his teasing. And that was enough—for now.