INSEPARABLE HEARTS 2

Chapter 129

Happy Reading

The fairy lights strung along the railing flickered softly against the twilight sky. The city below glowed gold and grey as Keerthi leaned against the railing, sipping a warm drink. Angad stood beside her, elbows brushing, quiet for a while.

“Your mom suspects,” Keerthi finally said.

“Yeah,” Angad replied, not looking surprised. “She’s subtle, but she knows. I think she’s just waiting for me to say it first.”

Keerthi glanced at him.

“Should we tell them? Everyone?”

Angad exhaled slowly.

“I want to. God, I want to just… hold your hand in school without pretending we’re play-fighting over a pencil.”

She chuckled.

“Or not having to sneak in through your back door like I’m committing a crime.”

They both laughed quietly. Then silence again, warm and reflective.

“But let’s wait,” Keerthi added softly. “Till New Year. Let’s hold on to this little secret. Just ours. No noise. No drama.”

Angad turned to her fully now, a small smile on his lips.

“So we’re doing this? For real?”

“We’ve always been doing this. Just this time… we’re being careful.”

He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“I’d keep this secret forever if it meant I still got to have you.”

______________

Dharshi sat on the low stone wall of her terrace, legs swinging gently, as Abeer handed her a mug of hot chocolate.

“You okay?” he asked, settling beside her.

“I am now,” she replied, resting her head on his shoulder.

They looked out at the stars. The rooftop was quiet, away from everything loud and messy.

“You know,” she said after a pause, “I missed this. You. Not just the big things… but the little stuff. The way you get extra whipped cream on my drink. The way you remember my hoodie size without asking. It’s stupid, but… it means a lot.”

Abeer smiled, resting his chin lightly on her head.

“Nothing about you is stupid. If anything, I should be thanking you. You came back even when you had every reason not to.”

“I didn’t come back. I just… found my way home.”

He looked at her. She smiled.

They didn’t kiss — they didn’t need to. Just the quiet was enough.

__________

Next day

The girls walked down the school hallway, coffee cups in hand. The buzz of morning chatter filled the corridor. Keerthi pulled Dharshi aside, voice low.

“Can I tell you something?”

“You always can.”

“Keeping this relationship secret… it’s thrilling sometimes. Like we’re in our own bubble. But also… it’s exhausting. I want to scream it sometimes, you know? That I’m in love with Angad. That we’re finally good.”