...The art of falling in love...( Abhira❤️Armaan)

14.

The morning sun painted long, distorted figures across the manicured lawns of Crestwood College.Near the main entrance, the AARRC group stood.Aryan's loud jokes bounced off the brick walls, Ruhi offered quiet, insightful observations, and the rest of the group chimed in with their usual ribbing. But the arrival of Abhira, her bright yellow dress a stark contrast to the muted colours of the campus.

Armaan's eyes, usually cool and composed, lit up the moment he saw Abhira. It was a sudden flash, a spark that didn't go unnoticed by Ruhi, whose smile faltered slightly, replaced by a flicker of jealousy. Abhira, seemed equally captivated. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the familiar buzz of the campus faded away. It was a silent conversation, a meeting of gazes that spoke volumes. Kiara, gently nudged her, breaking the eye contact. "Abhira, go to your classroom," she said briskly, "or you'll be late.

Abhira, snapping out of her reverie, mumbled a quick "Hmm" and hurried away. As she did, Armaan subtly winked and gestured with his eyes towards the storeroom, a silent invitation that Abhira somehow understood. With a casual excuse to his friends, Armaan followed, leaving Ruhi simmering with unspoken frustration.

Meanwhile, the AARRC group was buzzing . "Did you see how he was with her?" Aryan exclaimed, leaning back, a conspiratorial grin plastered on his face. "I think our Armaan might be smitten!"

Ruhi, crossed her arms. "Shut up, guys. He is probably just trying to be nice just for a revenge. Don't read too much into it."

Rohit chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Come on Ruhi "We all saw that spark between them, didn't we?

On the other hand

The storeroom was dimly lit and smelled of old textbooks and forgotten equipment. Abhira pushed open the door tentatively, stepping inside. "Armaan?" she called out, her voice echoing in the silence. Just as she was about to worry she'd misread the signal, the door slammed shut behind her. She whirled around to find Armaan leaning casually against the door, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

You?" Abhira asked, a playful edge to her voice, "So you're the one I was waiting for."

Armaan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, were you waiting for someone else then?"

Abhira smirked, playing along. "Maybe."

Armaan feigned a wounded expression. "Okay, then I'll go." He turned as if to leave, but Abhira stopped him, her hand lightly touching his arm.

Armaan," she called, his name sounding softer than she intended. He turned, and smile.
Abhira asked "Why did you call me here?"

He tilted his head, a playful smile touching his lips. "How did you know it was me?"

You signaled me," Abhira stated simply.

"So, now you understand my signals too?" he teased, stepping closer.

"Armaan, leave it," Abhira said, the blush returning to her cheeks"I'll go." She made a move towards the door.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft murmur, the mischief replaced by something more earnest. "Miss Sharma, I want to be your friend."

A genuine smile blossomed on Abhira's face, chasing away the awkwardness of the moment. "Okay, then. Friends it is. So, friends now?"

"Friends," he confirmed, his eyes sparkling. They both let out a small, nervous laugh, the initial tension replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. "Let's go, then. Our project ,We'll get penalized if we don't submit it on time."

As they stepped out of the storeroom, the AARRC group was there, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Armaan, meeting their curious glances, simply smirked and gestured with his head towards the classrooms, signaling Abhira to go first. She did, a slight smile playing on her lips, her heart feeling a little lighter than it had just moments ago.

Don't tell me she said yes," Aryan exclaimed, his eyes wide. Ruhi's nails dug into her palms, her expression tight.

Armaan chuckled. "Not yet, but she accepted my friendship today. And very soon, she's going to fall for me." He winked ,leaving them to digest his words, before heading toward the classrooms.

Abhira and Armaan submitted their project, and to their delight, they secured the first position. The victory brought a genuine happiness, a shared sense of accomplishment that felt surprisingly good.

Days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Their friendship deepened, growing beyond surface-level banter and into a deep connection rooted in mutual respect and genuine affection.

The college, of course, couldn't get enough. Murmurs rippled through the hallways, punctuated with giggles and sidelong glances. Some cooed about their undeniable chemistry, whispering about how cute they looked together. .They'd even coined a new couple name - "Abhimaan" - which was often heard echoing down the corridors in a teasing singsong.Yet, somehow, these two opposites had become inseparable.

But not everyone was charmed. Some student, particularly those who had harbored secret crushes on Armaan, and some who loyal towards Ruhi seethed with resentment. Abhira, with her unconventional ways and seemingly effortless charm, became the target of their veiled barbs. They whispered about how she had "trapped" Armaan, portraying her as a gold-digger desperate to secure her future. These whispers, laced with jealousy and prejudice, often found their way to Abhira, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

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