Across Time And Hearts 🥀

12.Whispers in the wind 🌬️

Chapter Title: Whispers in the Wind

As I bolted from the scene, my cheeks burned, and my heart raced like it was running a marathon. I barely caught my breath by the time I reached the parking lot, where Tara and Vennala were already waiting.

"Oh oh, look who's here! The heroine herself!" Tara wiggled her eyebrows mischievously as Vennala joined her teasing with a wide grin.

"L-let's go to the café. It's getting late," I muttered, still catching my breath, trying to avoid their probing gazes.

"Sure, sure, but you owe us an explanation tonight!" Vennala smirked.

Tara revved the bike, and Vennala and I hopped on, the wind brushing against our faces. Vennala hugged me from behind, and I felt a wave of comfort wash over me.

Out of nowhere, we both started singing, "Who says, who says you're not perfect? Who says you're not worth it?" Our voices melded into the wind, feeling every lyric, laughing like nothing else in the world mattered.

We reached the café, did our usual routine, and soon, after some light-hearted bickering, went home. We ended the night with random conversations over dinner and slipped into sleep.

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Vennala's POV

The sun filtered into the room as we got ready for another day at university. As usual, our morning started with playful bickering on the bus ride. Once we reached class, the scene was a familiar mess.

"Great. All the seats are taken. Now we have to sit next to the boys," Nahii groaned, eyeing the empty spots reluctantly.

"You’re lucky we even found these! For how late you drag us to class, even standing seems a privilege!" Tara quipped back.

"Idiots," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head at their banter.

Just then, a familiar voice echoed. "Where do you think you're going, lady?" Aryan asked with his infuriatingly cool tone. His voice always grated on my nerves—no, actually worse than that!

"What do you mean, Mr. Idiot?" I shot back, eager to ruffle his feathers, and oh, it worked.

"Can I ask you something, Vennala?" Aryan said, surprisingly calm.

"No," I snapped before he could finish.

"Are you born stupid or did you grow into it?" he asked, barely containing his laughter.

I groaned and buried my face in the nearest book, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Before I could retort, Tara's voice interrupted our escalating back-and-forth.

"Girls! Look at this!" she yelled, waving her phone in our faces.

"What now?" Nahii and I asked simultaneously, leaning over her shoulder.

"Midterms. Next Monday," Tara said, her face twisting in horror. We both groaned in unison.

"Let’s at least check if we have the syllabus," I sighed, scrolling through my phone in resignation.

Class began, our mood deflated as we anticipated the looming tests. Midway through the day, Tara dropped the bomb on the boys.

"Boys, just FYI, we have midterms starting next week."

"What? We just got here!" Aryan complained.

"Then don’t write them," I said, trying to mask my irritation with boredom.

Aryan turned toward me, eyes narrowing. "What? Afraid I might outscore you, Miss Vennala?"

"Not in this lifetime, mama’s boy," I retorted, laughing at his audacity.

Aryan leaned in, his tone challenging, "What if I do?"

"If you somehow manage that, I’ll do whatever you want for an entire day," I said confidently, knowing he didn’t stand a chance.

"Is that a bet?" Aryan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Before we could escalate, Tara broke our intense stare-off. "Guys, enough already! And Aryan, grow up."

"No maturity, no opinion, Miss Friend-of-an-Idiot," Aryan shot back, smirking at her.

"You—!" I started but was cut off by Abhi’s voice.

"Okay, okay, can you guys help us with the syllabus this time? Please?" Abhi asked sweetly, and I knew Tara would fold instantly.

"Sure, Abhi," she replied, predictably.

I grabbed Nahii and Tara by the arms, pulling them aside. "Tara, why did you agree?!"

"Think about them, Vennala. They’ll fail without our help!" Tara dramatized, causing me to groan.

"Yeah, Vennala," Nahii chimed in, suddenly joining the drama. Both Tara and I stared at her, stunned.

As we gaped, Nahii grinned, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "What? I’m just kind-hearted, you know."

Tara shot back with a smirk, "Oh, is that what they call being Ishaan-hearted now?"

"Oh, look who’s talking—Miss Abhi-hearted!" Nahii quipped right back.

"What did you just say?" Tara growled, glaring daggers at Nahii.

"I said what I said, Miss Tara," Nahii replied, inspecting her nails casually.

I slapped my hands over their mouths before they could say more. "Both of you, stop! Let’s just get this over with."

We returned to the boys, and I made the plan. "Okay, tomorrow, 9 PM at the library. Is that okay with you guys?"

"Yup!" Abhi confirmed.

"We’ll go over everything then," Tara added.

As Nahii and Ishaan exchanged awkward but affectionate glances, I sighed. This was going to be an interesting study session… if we even studied at all.

"Yup," I muttered, already dreading the chaos.
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