INSEPARABLE HEARTS 2

Chapter 127

Happy Reading

The air was fresh, the courtyard alive with buzzing students, laughter, and footsteps echoing off the tiled walkways. Keerthi walked through the archway, spotting Damon near the benches where they used to hang out. He was sitting with his hoodie pulled over his head, half-lost in thought until he caught her approaching.

Keerthi (softly): “Hey…”

Damon looked up, slightly surprised, then gave her a faint smile.

Damon: “Didn’t expect you to come talk to me. Thought I got benched in your emotional league.”

She rolled her eyes, settling beside him on the bench.

Keerthi: “I deserved that. But I also wanted to say... I’m sorry. For being rude the other day. For… everything, maybe.”

Keerthi (pausing): “You’ve always been special to me, Damon. And that’s never going to change. I mean that.”

Damon looked at her for a long second, his gaze a mix of nostalgia and peace.

Damon: “You know, I tried to move on for a long time. But no one tells you how hard it is to truly move on from your first love. Especially when it’s real. It took me two years to stop chasing ghosts.”

Keerthi (gently): “I never wanted to hurt you.”

Damon: “You didn’t. Not really. It’s just… a part of me will probably always love you, Keerthi. You were my first. First everything.”

She nodded, the honesty hanging in the space between them like old stars still glowing.

Damon (smiling slightly): “But with Elena… it’s different. Real. New. And I regret wasting so much time not giving us a shot. She deserves more than half my heart.”

Keerthi: “I’m happy for you. Genuinely. And maybe... maybe we’re meant to be something else. Something that still matters.”

She stood up and opened her arms. Damon got up and hugged her — not with desperation, but with warmth. The kind of hug that says thank you and we made it through at the same time.

Keerthi (whispering): “You’re one of the best people I know, Damon. I never want to lose you.”

Damon: “You never will.”

And just a few yards away, leaning against the wall near the water fountain, Angad stood with his backpack slung over one shoulder, arms crossed, eyes trained on them. Not angry. Not jealous.

Just waiting, For her.

Waiting for Keerthi to notice him, to explain. Because when love is real—even secrets ache in silence.

_______

The rooftop was quiet, warm sun spilling across the cement tiles. Keerthi leaned against the railing, sipping her juice box, pretending to scroll on her phone. But she felt it — the tension in the air — the way Angad had been off all day.

And then, there he was.

Angad walked in, shutting the door behind him gently. His jaw was tight, his eyes serious.

Angad: “You’ve been acting like nothing happened.”

Keerthi (frowning): “What?”

Angad: “This morning. Damon. I was right there, Keerthi. I saw you two… talking, hugging. And then you just carried on like it was nothing.”

She looked confused for a second, genuinely caught off guard.

Keerthi (casual): “Angad… it was nothing. We just talked. We said we’re happy for each other.”

Angad looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly. She was calm — too calm for his liking.

Angad: “You owe me an explanation. At least that much.”

Keerthi (tilting her head): “Angad… seriously? Damon is Elena’s boyfriend now. We’re friends. And that hug? It was just us letting go of everything old and dumb. We’ve known each other forever.”

He walked closer, not angry — just quietly wounded.

Angad (softly): “You say it was nothing. But I saw how he looked at you. And how you hugged him back. You forget I know what it used to be.”

Keerthi stepped forward now, her voice softer but sure.

Keerthi: “Yes, you do. You also know what this is, Angad. Us.”

She touched his arm gently.

Keerthi (smiling faintly): “He was my past. You’re the part I chose again. I just… wanted to make peace with all the leftover feelings. For real. So they don’t mess with what we have now.”

Angad (reluctantly): “Still would’ve been nice to know.”

Keerthi (teasing): “Well, you were too busy sulking in the shadows instead of joining us.”

He gave her a look but the tension slowly dissolved from his shoulders.

Angad: “I’m not great with… past-boyfriend bonding moments.”

Keerthi: “Noted.”

She leaned up and kissed his cheek.

Keerthi (smirking): “You’re not losing me to Damon, dummy. I’ve already been through him. Now I’m into my type.”

Angad (deadpan): “Oh? And what’s your type?”

Keerthi: “Tall, dramatic, thinks he’s low-key Batman, but actually super soft and clingy.”

Angad (grinning): “Wow. Sounds like a catch.”

Keerthi: “Unfortunately, I’m stuck with him.”

He pulled her in finally, their foreheads touching as the bell rang in the distance.

Angad: “Don’t keep me guessing next time.”

Keerthi: “Promise.”

________

The weekend air was crisp, lights already twinkling across the city as Elena, Keerthi, and Dharshi strolled down the busy shopping street — arms linked, laughter flowing freely between them.

“This is so weird,” Elena grinned. “Like, family shopping. Who would've thought?”

“Step-sisters and chaos,” Keerthi said, flipping her hair. “My favorite combo.”

“Don’t forget the inbuilt fashion critic,” Dharshi teased, nodding at Keerthi’s overflowing bags.

They were on a mission — to find the perfect outfits for the New Year’s Eve family dinner, their first since Dharshi’s dad and Elena’s mom started dating. What started as casual browsing quickly turned into a series of dressing room disasters, impulse buys, and inside jokes.

But someone was missing.

“Caroline didn’t reply?” Keerthi asked.

“She said she’s ‘not feeling festive,’” Elena muttered, checking her phone.

“Something’s up with her,” Dharshi noted quietly. “She’s been distant.”

The three exchanged a glance but let the moment pass. There was warmth to hold onto now — between past heartbreaks and messy friendship drama, this little trio had found something real.

And for once, the thought of family didn’t feel heavy. It felt like something worth dressing up for.

To be continued