TENU DEKHA🫣

Chapter 8: The Spark that Ignites

Shanaya's POV

The morning light streamed through the curtains of Shanaya's apartment, but it wasn't the sun that woke her. It was the lingering feeling of last night—the touch of Dhruv’s lips on hers, the way his hands had held her close, and the sound of his voice, soft yet commanding, calling her by her name.

She couldn't stop thinking about him, about what had happened between them. It was a night that felt like a dream, but the warmth in her heart told her it was real. She sat up in bed, replaying every moment in her mind, her lips curving into a small smile.

Dhruv.

She still couldn't believe it—how quickly things had escalated between them, how natural it had felt to be in his arms. She had spent so many nights wondering if what she felt was one-sided, if Dhruv even saw her beyond just a student. But last night had erased all doubts. The kiss, the look in his eyes—it all pointed to one undeniable truth: he felt it too.

But what now? Where did they go from here? She knew their relationship was complicated; he was still her teacher, after all. They had to be careful.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a buzzing phone. Picking it up, she saw a message from Niyati:

"So, how was your night with Dhruv, hmm? Don't think I didn't notice you two leaving together 😉. Spill the tea!"

Shanaya's heart skipped a beat. Of course, Niyati would notice. There was no hiding anything from her.

"It was… something," Shanaya typed back, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed send.

Within seconds, Niyati replied:

"Something?! Girl, we need to talk! I’m coming over in an hour."

Shanaya groaned, falling back onto her pillows. She knew there was no avoiding this conversation, especially with Niyati’s relentless curiosity.

---

Dhruv's POV

Dhruv sat in his office at the Singhania Institute, staring blankly at his computer screen. It had been hours since he dropped Shanaya off, but his mind hadn’t left that moment in the car. He had kissed her. He had crossed the line he swore he wouldn’t. And yet, he didn’t regret it.

But now, as the daylight poured into his office, reality hit him hard. She was his student. He was her teacher. The world wouldn’t understand, and he wasn’t sure if he did either.

"What am I doing?" Dhruv muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Without looking up, he said, "Come in."

The door opened, and in walked Rahil, his best friend and business partner. Rahil’s eyes were sparkling with mischief as he leaned against the doorway.

"So… I heard you left the prom with someone interesting last night," Rahil teased, raising an eyebrow.

Dhruv rolled his eyes, trying to brush it off. "What are you talking about?"

Rahil smirked. "Don’t play dumb, man. You and Shanaya. I saw you two. You looked… close."

Dhruv tensed at the mention of her name, his mind flashing back to their kiss. He tried to hide it, but Rahil knew him too well.

"Okay, fine," Dhruv sighed. "Something happened. But it’s complicated."

Rahil laughed, taking a seat across from him. "Complicated? Of course, it’s complicated! She’s your student. But… is it worth it?"

Dhruv hesitated, his mind swirling with thoughts. Was it worth the risk? The potential scandal? The questions? And yet, when he thought about her—about the way she looked at him, the way she made him feel—he knew his answer.

"Yeah," Dhruv finally said, his voice firm. "It’s worth it."

Rahil nodded, his smile softening. "Then you’ve got your answer, bro. But tread carefully. You know the stakes."

---

Shanaya’s POV

An hour later, Niyati barged into Shanaya’s apartment like a whirlwind, not bothering to knock.

"Okay, tell me everything!" Niyati demanded, flopping onto the couch beside Shanaya.

Shanaya bit her lip, unsure of where to begin. "It’s… it’s complicated, Niya."

Niyati raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Complicated? Girl, spill it!"

Shanaya took a deep breath, then slowly began recounting everything that had happened—the prom, the dance, the ride home, and the kiss. She left nothing out, watching as Niyati’s eyes widened with each detail.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Niyati interrupted, holding up a hand. "You kissed him?!"

Shanaya blushed, nodding. "Yes. We kissed."

Niyati let out a high-pitched squeal, jumping off the couch. "I knew it! I knew there was something between you two! And you said it was complicated?"

Shanaya nodded, biting her lip. "He’s still my teacher, Niya. And… I don’t know what happens next. We didn’t talk about it."

Niyati sat back down, her expression softening. "Okay, listen. I get it. It’s messy, but Shanaya, you like him. And clearly, he likes you. You just have to be careful about how you move forward."

Shanaya nodded, grateful for her friend’s understanding. "I just… don’t know what to do next."

"Talk to him," Niyati said simply. "Figure out what you both want. But don’t let fear hold you back."

---

Later That Evening

Shanaya sat on her balcony, staring out at the city as the sun dipped below the horizon. She had spent the entire day thinking about Dhruv, about what he meant to her, about what they could be. Niyati was right—she needed to talk to him, to figure out what they both wanted.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed, and her heart leapt when she saw Dhruv's name flash on the screen.

"Can we talk?" his message read.

Her hands trembled as she typed out her reply: "Yes. When?"

A moment later, his response came: "Now. I’m outside your building."

Shanaya’s heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she grabbed her coat and headed downstairs. The moment she stepped outside, she saw him—leaning against his car, looking as handsome and composed as ever. But there was something in his eyes that made her heart race.

"Shanaya," Dhruv said softly, his voice filled with emotion as she approached him. "We need to talk about what happened."

She nodded, stepping closer. "I know. I’ve been thinking about it all day."

He reached out, taking her hand in his, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you," he admitted, his voice low and vulnerable. "But I need to know… what do you want?"

Shanaya met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "I want you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I want this, Dhruv."

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I want you too, Shanaya. But we have to be careful. I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to mess this up."

Shanaya nodded, stepping closer, until there was barely any space between them. "We’ll figure it out. Together."

And in that moment, as the night wrapped around them and the city lights glowed in the distance, they both knew that whatever came next, they would face it together.

The Beginning of Everything.