Hua Hai Aaj Pehli Baar

Chapter 5

ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ᴍᴀɴꜱʜᴀ'ꜱ,
ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪꜰᴜʟ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ.
ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ
___________________

In the quiet classroom before assembly, Vanya, Evara, Roohi, and Iyaana were sitting in their usual seats, chatting lightly about their day. The hum of anticipation for the assembly was palpable, mingling with the soft rustle of papers and the occasional glance at the clock.

Evara glanced at her watch and then at her friends. "Hey, main thodi der ke liye library ja rahi hoon. Tum log yahin wait karo, thoda research karna hai."

Vanya and Roohi nodded, while Iyaana offered a noncommittal shrug. "Okay, Evara. Jaldi aana."

With a quick smile and a wave, Evara gathered her books and slipped out of the classroom, making her way to the library. As she walked down the empty corridors, the silence grew more pronounced, broken only by the distant sound of students' footsteps and the occasional echo of lockers closing.

Reaching the library, Evara pushed open the heavy wooden door. The scent of old books and polished wood greeted her as she stepped inside. The library was deserted, the rows of bookshelves standing like silent sentinels. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow on the neatly arranged tables and chairs.

Evara walked through the aisles, the soft thud of her footsteps the only sound. She moved with purpose, her eyes scanning the shelves for the books she needed. The tranquility of the empty library was a welcome contrast to the buzz of the classroom.

Evara stood on tiptoe, her fingers just brushing the edge of a book perched high on the top shelf. The book, a rare and elusive volume she had been eyeing for days, seemed determined to stay out of reach. She shifted her weight, stretching as far as she could, but the book remained stubbornly out of grasp. Her frustration was growing, mingling with the embarrassment of her futile attempts.

Just then, the library door creaked open, and Riaan walked in, his eyes scanning the quiet room. His gaze fell upon Evara, who was now precariously balancing on a wobbly stool, her fingers straining to touch the book. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he observed her struggle.

Riaan approached with a casual confidence, his footsteps barely making a sound. "Need some help there?" he asked, his voice warm and teasing.

Evara, startled by his sudden appearance, lost her balance slightly and had to grab onto the shelf to steady herself. She looked down, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. "Oh, hi, Riaan. Yeah, this book seems to have a personal vendetta against me."

Riaan chuckled softly, stepping closer. "Let me give it a try." He reached up effortlessly, his hand closing around the book with ease. As he pulled it down and handed it to Evara, their fingers brushed briefly.

The touch sent a jolt of electricity through Evara, and she looked up into Riaan's eyes, her heart skipping a beat. "Thanks," she said softly, trying to mask her nervousness with a casual smile.

"No problem," Riaan replied, his gaze lingering on her. "I'm glad I could help. What's so special about this book anyway?"

Evara took the book from him, her fingers still tingling from their brief contact. "It's for a project. I just really needed this one for some research."

Riaan nodded, his eyes still on her with an interested glint. "Well, if you need any more help-or a more comfortable way to reach high shelves-you know where to find me."

Evara laughed softly, her shyness melting away in his presence. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again, Riaan."

As Riaan gave her a friendly nod and turned to leave, Evara watched him go, her thoughts a whirlwind of mixed emotions. The moment had been brief, but it was enough to leave her with a fluttering heart and a new, unexpected warmth in the library's otherwise quiet atmosphere.
____________________________