INSEPARABLE HEARTS 2

Chapter 131

Happy Reading

Angad was tossing a football up and down on his bed, still in his practice jersey, when his phone buzzed. A message from Caroline.

“Dude. Your girlfriend got suspended???”

He blinked, sat up, and quickly typed back.

“What?”

Three seconds later, another buzz — this time from Dharshi.

“She’s fine. I’m with her. Don’t freak.”

And then finally, Keerthi’s name flashed across the screen. A one-line text:

“Come to the gate?”

________

Keerthi was already waiting at the back gate, hoodie pulled up, eyes a little tired but stubborn as always.

Angad (stepping out, half teasing): “Seriously? I leave you alone for one hour and you go full street fighter?”

Keerthi (sighing): “You heard.”

Angad (gently): “The whole school did. Babe, what happened?”

She walked toward him and wrapped her arms around his middle, burying her face into his chest.

Keerthi (muffled): “I hate that Ruby. I hate what she said about Dharshi’s dad and Elena’s mom. I didn’t even think—I just... reacted.”

Angad stroked her hair softly.

Angad: “You’re allowed to react when someone messes with your family. But... maybe next time throw verbal punches instead of real ones.”

Keerthi (looking up): “You’re not mad?”

Angad (walking over, raising an eyebrow): “So... suspension? That’s new. Even for you.”

Keerthi (shrugging, casual): “Well, someone had to teach Ruby a lesson. Felt like high school again.”

Angad (grinning): “Yeah, except back then, you only threatened violence. Now you’re a whole action sequence.”

She stepped closer, leaning into his space like she always did when she wanted comfort but wouldn’t ask for it.

Keerthi: “You mad?”

Angad (softly): “I’m impressed. Honestly, I lost count of how many times you’ve dragged me into trouble since 11th grade.”

Keerthi (raising an eyebrow): “Dragged you?”

Angad (mock serious): “Keerthi, you got me detention twice in senior year. Once for switching our ID cards.”

Keerthi (grinning): “We were testing if the vice principal had face blindness.”

Angad: “Six times. That’s how often we’ve almost been banned from campus stuff.”

Keerthi: “Wait, I thought it was five?”

Angad: “You forgot the janitor closet fiasco. I took the blame, by the way.”

Keerthi (laughing): “Right! I knew I liked you for a reason.”

Their laughter softened into a pause, a silence filled with years of knowing, fighting, rebuilding. She looked up at him — familiar, warm, hers.

Angad (gently): “You’ve always been chaos. But you’ve always been mine, too.”

Keerthi (grinning): “So I’m officially the Malhotra Family Rebel now?”