INSEPARABLE HEARTS 2

CHAPTER 101

Happy Reading!!!

Library Table
Keerthi and Angad sit across each other. She's scribbling notes furiously; he casually tosses a pen cap at her.
She glares, but smirks.
He leans over to explain a math problem, their arms brushing - she stiffens slightly, and he pulls away, pretending nothing happened.

______________

Late Night Call
Angad, shirtless in bed, holds his phone up.
Keerthi lies on her stomach, laughing softly.
"Tell me one stupid thing you did as a kid."
He tells her he once tried to iron his school uniform while wearing it.
She laughs so hard she snorts.
The call lingers long after they say goodnight - neither hangs up first.

__________

Corridor Shenanigans
They walk side by side in school, sharing earphones.
She rolls her eyes when he plays an old Hindi love song, and he says, "That's us... just out of tune."
She shakes her head, but doesn't unplug

______________

Text Bubbles
Keerthi's phone lights up with a message from Angad:
"Still awake?"
She replies:
"Of course. Your sleep schedule is destroying mine."
Another message:
"Worth it tho?"
She doesn't answer - just smiles.

_______________

In the School hallway -
Abeer & Stefan gossiping

Abeer (leaning against a locker):
"Okay but seriously... are they back together or what?"

Stefan:
"Nah bro, Keerthi said they're just friends."

Abeer:
"Yeah well my dog used to hump the sofa too and said they were just friends."

Stefan (laughs):
"Did you just compare Angad to your horny dog?"

Abeer:
"Tell me I'm wrong. The way they look at each other? That's not friendship. That's slow-burning romantic tension with unresolved trauma."

Stefan:
"That's... oddly specific."

They both watch Keerthi and Angad laughing near the vending machine, sharing a chocolate bar.
Abeer squints.

Abeer:
"If she breaks his heart again, I swear I'll-"
(pauses)
"...do absolutely nothing. Because I still hate that guy."

________________

At Night In Caroline's Bedroom

Caroline tosses popcorn into her mouth.
Keerthi is curled up on her beanbag, scrolling through photos of Angad on her phone.

Caroline:
"Don't even pretend you're not in love with him."

Keerthi (sighs):
"I'm not pretending. I am in love with him."

Caroline sits up, surprised.

Caroline:
"Wait, seriously?"

Keerthi:
"Yeah. I love him... I just don't trust love yet."

Caroline softens. "Because of what happened last time?"

Keerthi nods slowly.

Keerthi:
"Last time, love broke me. Not him. Just... the weight of it. The expectations, the jealousy, the pressure to be perfect together. Being his friend is the only way I know how to keep him in my life - without losing myself again."