Next morning around 5:42 a.m.Aarohi woke up before the birds.

Sleep had been distant — her roommate snored like a dying trumpet, and the jungle never shut up. Crickets, rustling leaves, distant howls.

But something else kept her up.

A boy in a grey hoodie.

Sitting alone.

Reading a blog post that she didn’t know he knew.

She didn’t know why she noticed.

Or why her hands still smelled faintly of that balm he gave her.

She stepped outside, barefoot in the wet mud. The grass was cold. The air was full of fog.

And there, near the well — he stood.

Helping an old villager draw water.

Not posing. Not talking.

Just tying the man's bucket rope with quiet patience.

Something about that made her chest feel tight.

He didn’t see her.

But she saw him.

And for once, she didn’t look away.

Later during Breakfast Under the Awning, Aarohi was lost in her thoughts about all the incidents happening around her....but...

The moment her eyes fell on him, she could stoped her self asking....

“Tum jaldi uth gaye the?” she asked casually, stirring her upma.

Karan glanced sideways. “Tum dekh rahi thi?”

Aarohi almost choked. “Main— no, I was just— forget it.”

He smiled, slow and dangerous. “Tumhare jhoot bahut seedhe jaate hain aankhon tak.”

She pretended to focus on her plate. But her ears turned pink, but inside she kept whispering that He isn't trying to prove anything. That’s what makes it worse...He’s just… being himself. Without expecting me to notice.And now I can’t stop noticing.

While karan told himself that he was fine but can't escape from the thought that She looked like morning light. Angry, sleepy, wild.

If she ever forgives me ...even once ... I don’t think I’ll survive it......

By ending the small meating with professor Dixit, the students were assigned to remove old shelters and get them changed into new ones....

As They were helping move tin sheets into the villagers' new shelter zone.

Everyone was carrying one.

Aarohi, distracted by a buzzing insect, lost grip.

The tin sheet tilted sharply.

Her hand slid ... a sudden slice across her palm.

She gasped.

Blood welled up fast.

Before anyone else reacted, Karan was already there.

“Don’t move.”

He held her wrist gently, brows furrowed.

Someone handed him a first aid kit. He didn’t speak as he cleaned the cut.

She hissed. “Itna zor se.....!”

“Sorry,” he muttered. “Wait. Just a second.”

A pause.

He finally looked up, their faces too close.

“Tum har baar mujhse baat na karke, chot kha leti ho.”

She blinked.

“Kya?”

“Nothing.”

She said nothing too.

Just watched him bandage her hand with more care than necessary.

When he finished, he didn’t let go.

And for the first time, she didn’t pull away.

Finally The Evening Downpour and

Rained again

Because the universe loves drama.

Everyone rushed into the big tent.

Except them.

They were outside. Her notebook half-wet. His hoodie now drenched.

He tugged her toward the nearest shed.

They stood under a tin roof — water cascading down like a waterfall curtain.

Both out of breath.

Both soaked.

Too close again.

Aarohi wrapped her arms around herself.

“You’re always just… there,” she muttered.

Karan looked at her. “Do you hate that?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “It’s confusing.”

His voice dropped. “So stop fighting it.”

Silence.

She looked up.

His eyes were full of things he hadn’t said.

Her lips parted like maybe...maybe...she would say something brave.

But just then, someone called from the main tent:

“Karan, jaldi! Sir pooch rahe hain!”

He didn’t move.

Neither did she.

The moment died. But not fully.

He backed away slowly. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I will be.”

..................

Later at night she wrote Her Diary Entry

He didn’t save me today.

He just stood still long enough for me to realise — maybe I don’t want to run anymore.

Is it still revenge… if I start hoping he stays?

..............

❤️‍🩹Final Line:

Sometimes, the smallest cut makes space for the biggest feeling.

And sometimes, the one who caused the wound…is the only one who can make you forget it hurts.

............to be continued........