Destiny|| A Rutkarsha Story

16.

कोरा कागज़ था ये मन मेरा
लिख दिया नाम इसपे तेरा

~•~

Utkarsha found herself smiling more these days. It wasn’t just because of Navya’s endless teasing or the warmth of her family—it was him. Ruturaj Gaikwad. The boy with a kind smile, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and a knack for making her heart race.

She often caught herself thinking about him. His jokes, his easy laughter, and the way he looked at her like she was the only one who mattered.

Sitting by her window one evening, she let her thoughts drift.
“I love how Rutu always makes me laugh. The way he teases me, his kindness—it’s so... him. How does he do it?”

The next day at Navya’s house, Ruturaj was waiting in the backyard, his cricket bat in hand. As always, Navya wasted no time teasing her.

“Utkarsha,” Navya smirked, “you’re here again. Should I pretend this visit isn’t about Ruturaj playing cricket here every day?”

Utkarsha blushed, crossing her arms. “Shut up, Navya. I came to see you, not him.”

“Sure, sure,” Navya teased. “And if he wasn’t here, you’d still come over, right?”

Utkarsha rolled her eyes, but her heart betrayed her with its quickened pace.

“Hey, Utkarsha!” Ruturaj called out, waving. “Want to learn how to play? I can teach you a perfect cover drive.”

“Really?” she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and excitement. “I’ve always wanted to learn!”

“Then let’s get started!” he grinned.

Ruturaj was patient, walking her through the basics of batting and helping her position her hands on the bat. Their laughter filled the air as he gently teased her every time she missed the ball.

“Come on, Utkarsha,” he chuckled. “You can’t let the ball win!”

“I’m trying, okay?” she shot back playfully, determined. She adjusted her stance, and with a swing, the ball flew across the backyard.

“Yes!” she cheered, raising the bat in triumph. “Did you see that?”

Ruturaj clapped, genuinely impressed. “Wow, nice shot! You’re a natural.”

Navya watched from the sidelines, her smile widening as she saw the way Utkarsha lit up around him.

“They’re so good together,” Navya thought. “Rutu makes her so happy.”

After their cricket session, as the sun began to set, Ruturaj insisted on walking Utkarsha home. It had become a routine by now, one that Utkarsha cherished.

“Thanks for playing today,” Ruturaj said as they strolled down the quiet street. “You’re really fun to be around.”

Utkarsha’s cheeks warmed at his words. “Thanks, Rutu. I had a blast. You’re an amazing teacher.”

Ruturaj chuckled softly. “Only because I had such a dedicated student.”

As they neared her house, Utkarsha felt a familiar pang of regret. She never wanted these moments to end.

“See you tomorrow?” Ruturaj asked, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than necessary.

Utkarsha smiled, her heart full. “Definitely.”

When she walked inside, her thoughts were filled with him. With his smile, his laughter, and the way he made her feel like she was the most important person in the world.

“I think I’m falling for him, even more” she admitted to herself.