Dil ki Awaaz

CHAPTER -12

The Spark Between Us

The college campus was buzzing with energy. The sun had set, leaving the sky streaked with deep hues of purple and gold, and the annual Talent Night was in full swing. Laughter and excited chatter echoed in the air as students gathered in front of the main stage, eagerly awaiting the night’s performances.

Amar Desai stood near the back, his eyes fixed on the stage. But he wasn’t paying attention to the dance troupe currently performing. His gaze was locked on one person: Prem Kapoor.

Prem, dressed in a sleek black kurta with silver embroidery, was standing at the edge of the stage, coordinating the performances with a calm efficiency that made Amar’s heart race. Prem had always been confident, but tonight there was something different about him. Something that made Amar feel even more possessive than usual.

That possessiveness had been eating at him all week, ever since he’d seen Prem laughing with another student — one of the juniors from the drama club. The sight had left Amar fuming, a tight knot of jealousy twisting in his chest. He knew he had no right to feel this way. Prem wasn’t his. But the thought of anyone else getting close to Prem made his blood boil.

And now, as he watched Prem, Amar couldn’t deny the way his heart sped up, the way his hands clenched at his sides. What was it about Prem that drove him so mad?

“Enjoying the show?” A voice broke through Amar’s thoughts. He turned to see Rhea, one of his friends, giving him a knowing smirk.

“Yeah,” Amar replied distractedly, not taking his eyes off Prem.

Rhea raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been staring at Prem for a while now. Something you want to share?”

Amar scowled. “Mind your own business, Rhea.”

But Rhea just laughed, clearly amused. “You know, if you keep looking at him like that, people might start to think you actually care about him.”

Amar’s jaw tightened. “I don’t. He’s just… annoying.”

Rhea rolled her eyes. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.” She patted his shoulder before wandering off, leaving Amar alone with his turbulent thoughts.

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Meanwhile, Prem was trying his best to focus on the event, but he could feel Amar’s gaze on him, intense and unrelenting. It was unnerving. Ever since their heated argument in the library — the one that had almost led to something more — Prem had been hyper-aware of Amar. The way Amar’s presence filled the room, the way his voice sent shivers down Prem’s spine. It was frustrating, maddening, and completely distracting.

As the dance performance ended, Prem clapped along with the audience, forcing himself to smile. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying that moment in the library over and over again. The way Amar had looked at him, like he was the only person in the world. It had left Prem shaken and confused.

“Hey, Prem!” A familiar voice called out, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Aditya, one of his friends from the organizing committee. Aditya grinned, oblivious to Prem’s inner turmoil. “We need your help backstage. There’s a problem with the sound system.”

Prem nodded, grateful for the distraction. “On it.”

But as he made his way backstage, he felt a hand grab his arm. Startled, he turned to see Amar standing there, his eyes blazing with something Prem couldn’t quite identify.

“Amar, what—”

“We need to talk,” Amar interrupted, his voice low and commanding.

Prem’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced around, noticing that a few students were watching them curiously. “Now? Can’t it wait?”

“No,” Amar insisted, his grip tightening. “Come with me.”

Before Prem could protest, Amar was pulling him away from the stage, weaving through the crowd until they reached a quieter part of the campus, away from prying eyes. The fairy lights strung in the trees cast a soft glow over them, making the moment feel strangely intimate.

Prem yanked his arm free, glaring at Amar. “What the hell is your problem?”

“My problem?” Amar shot back, his voice rising. “You’re the one flirting with everyone like it means nothing.”

Prem’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me? Are you seriously accusing me of—”

“Yes,” Amar snapped. “I saw you with that drama club junior. You were smiling at him, laughing with him. Do you think I’m blind?”

Prem couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Why do you even care, Amar? Last I checked, we’re not friends. We’re barely even civil to each other.”

Amar’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Because it drives me crazy, okay? Seeing you with someone else makes me want to punch something.”

Prem’s breath caught in his throat. The raw honesty in Amar’s voice left him momentarily speechless. “Why?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Amar stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Prem’s. “Because I can’t stand the thought of losing you. Even if we’re enemies, I need you in my life. You get under my skin, and it scares the hell out of me.”

Prem’s heart pounded in his chest. The air between them crackled with tension, the kind that made his knees weak. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but words failed him.

Amar took another step forward, his face inches from Prem’s. “You make me feel things I don’t want to feel, Prem. Things I can’t control.”

Before Prem could process what was happening, Amar’s hand cupped his cheek, and their lips met in a kiss that was equal parts desperate and passionate. Prem’s initial shock melted away, replaced by a wave of heat that consumed him. He kissed Amar back, his hands gripping the front of Amar’s shirt as they lost themselves in the moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their faces flushed. Amar’s eyes searched Prem’s, as if trying to read his thoughts.

“What does this mean?” Prem asked, his voice shaky.

Amar’s gaze softened, and for the first time, Prem saw vulnerability there. “I don’t know,” Amar admitted. “But I’m tired of pretending I don’t feel anything for you. Even if it scares me.”

Prem swallowed hard, his emotions a whirlwind of confusion and longing. He didn’t have all the answers, but he knew one thing for sure: being with Amar felt right, even if it was complicated.

“Then let’s figure it out together,” Prem whispered.

Amar’s lips curved into a small, genuine smile. “Yeah,” he said softly. “Together.”

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in the quiet of the night, both of them unsure of what the future held but willing to face it side by side.

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