Arun came to an abrupt halt. His firm, leading stride broke. His sudden stop caught Abhi and Vihan off guard.
They both froze instinctively, eyes locked on him with a flicker of something hopeful—just enough to wonder if maybe... just maybe, they had swayed him.
But when Arun turned, his face was as unreadable as ever. No softening. No cracks.
"It's just for the exams," he declared flatly. "And you're not to talk to Ayan unless absolutely necessary."
His eyes locked with Abhi's—piercing, silent, and cold.
No more words.
He turned sharply and strode through the doorway ahead.
Abhi and Vihan looked up, realizing only now—they had arrived at the library.
Abhi shot Vihan a scowl, irritation bubbling under the surface. But almost instantly, it twisted into a slow, but disappointed smile.
They'd need a better plan.
Vihan remained at the threshold, as he watched them disappear.
---
[Inside the Library]
Ayan sat absorbed in a thick textbook, the quiet sanctuary of the library wrapping around him like a cocoon.
He looked up at the shift in atmosphere—and froze.
Arun stood beside him with a soft brotherly face.
And right behind… Abhi.
Ayan blinked, visibly puzzled. "Abhi?" he whispered. "What are you doing with Brother Arun?"
"Oh! Didn't your brother tell you?" Abhi replied, voice smooth and harmless. "He's helping me prepare for our semester exams."
Then, turning toward Arun with an almost deferential tone, he added, "Isn't that right, Young Master?"
Arun's jaw twitched.
Ayan glanced between them, utterly baffled. The sudden closeness between his brother and an underclassman didn't make sense.
Before he could speak, Arun's gaze snapped to Abhi—sharp, burning. A silent warning.
"Sit."
And Arun placed his bag on the table with a deliberate thud.
Abhi, unfazed, smiled lightly and obeyed, sinking into the chair with an expression that clearly said got you.
Arun held out his hand. "Give me your previous test sheets."
He spared a glance toward Ayan. "You have exams too, you should keep studying."
Abhi, his eyes never leaving Arun, retrieved a folder from his bag and handed it over.
Arun turned his focus to the papers, doing his best to ignore the unrelenting stare pressing into him from across the table.
Ayan resumed his reading, albeit distractedly.
At the doorway, Vihan remained, phone pressed to his ear, eyes on the trio.
Abhi's gaze flicked toward him, catching his signal.
Vihan nodded subtly, with a hideous grin.
Abhi returned his focus to Arun, letting an enigmatic smile ghost across his face.
Arun furrowed his brow at the test sheets.
He froze on a particular page. "How... all your scores are below fifty?"
Abhi flinched. Then leaned in, resting his elbows on the table with theatrical ease. "Oh! At least I scored above thirty, and that's all I need to pass, isn't it?"
Ayan choked on a laugh.
But it was short-lived.
Arun turned to him sharply. "Ayan."
Ayan straightened instantly with an awkward pause.
Abhi, ever the mischief-maker, sent him a playful look, puffing his cheeks and nodding exaggeratedly, as if to say oops.
Ayan struggled to suppress another laugh, cheeks puffing adorably. "Sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt."
Arun sighed, visibly exhausted, and moved to hand the sheets back.
But just as his lips parted—
A neatly wrapped box was placed on the table. "Here," a calm voice said. "Your chocolate cake. With caramel topping."
All three heads turned.
Abhi lit up with an appreciation. "Thank you, Senior Karan."
Karan stood casually, his tall frame relaxed, a confident smile tugging at his lips.
Beside him stood Aarav and Vihan, their presence grounding yet magnetic.
When Aarav's eyes landed on Ayan, his entire expression softened—light blooming across his face like morning sun.
Ayan's breath caught. His heart skipped. His cheeks flushed a brilliant red.
Across from them, Arun's entire energy shifted. His arms folded. His gaze darkened with a flicker of irritation.
He looked between the three boys and Abhi, irritation flashing like lightning.
Abhi turned to Aarav, gesturing toward the seat beside him. "Brother… sit here."
It was directly across from Ayan.
Aarav hesitated only for a second before nodding and taking the seat.
As he settled—he cast a glance toward Ayan, his expression gentle and warm.
Then, almost imperceptibly, Aarav stretched his legs under the table, his foot brushing softly against Ayan's.
The touch was feather-light. Intentional.
Ayan's breath hitched. His eyes flicked up in surprise—meeting Aarav's.
Aarav didn't look away this time. He held his gaze with a soft smile.
Ayan's heart stuttered, his cheeks tinting with a pink so subtle only someone watching closely would notice.
But Aarav noticed.
Meanwhile, Karan and Vihan quietly joined them.
Arun, visibly bristling, snapped, "What are they doing here?"
Abhi answered with practiced ease. "Your brother's here too. I didn't complain."
Arun's eyes narrowed. "And the extras?"
His gaze landed on Karan like a dart.
Abhi leaned back slightly, meeting him head-on. "They have exams too. And this is a library—I can't stop them from being here."
The silence stretched—tense and fragile.
Then Arun stood up abruptly.
"Then... enjoy your cake. We're done for today."
A pause—
He turned sharply toward Ayan. "Ayan. Let's go."
Ayan, still dazed from Aarav's presence, blinked.
The spell broke. He pulled his legs back immediately.
Then, he stood slowly, and followed his brother out of the room.
Aarav's eyes followed him, disappointment shadowing his expression.
...
As they disappeared, the tension exhaled.
Karan muttered, deadpan, "His stares are deadly."
Vihan laughed, a boyish chuckle escaping him. "And you call me dramatic?"
Karan turned, smirking. "Oh? Asking for it, junior?"
He gave Vihan a light smack on the head. Unharmed almost soft.
Vihan gasped, rubbing the spot with exaggerated pain, grin spreading wider.
Across the table, Aarav watched the two with quiet fondness.
Abhi finally stood, stretching as he pushed back his chair. His smile fainted slowly, "Ok... k...Stop playing now."
A pause. "What's next?"
The playful air faded, replaced with renewed focus.
[ In Parking lane ]
Arun and Ayan strolled through the nearly empty parking lane, weaving between the few remaining vehicles.
Arun pulled out a key fob, unlocked the car with a soft click, and moved to open the driver's side door.
Just as he was about to get in, Ayan hesitated, his gaze narrowing.
Something didn't seem right.
Ayan stepped closer to the car, crouching slightly, and then straightened, pointing toward the tires, "Brother, the tires..."
Arun paused, turning to follow Ayan's finger.
Arun's eyes settled on the deflated tires. A wave of frustration rolled over him as he slammed the driver's door shut with weary hands.
For a moment, he stood still.
Then with practiced patience, he dialed a number.
Seconds stretched into an eternity, but no one answered.
Ayan, watching him intently, stepped closer. "What happened Brother ?"
Arun's expression softened, a calm veneer masking the undercurrent of frustration. "Papa isn't picking up, and the landlines aren't connecting either."
He turned his attention back to his phone, his fingers gliding over the screen as he scrolled through his contacts, searching for alternatives.
Meanwhile, Abhi and Vihan entered the parking lot, their voices low as they muttered to each other.
Behind them trailed Aarav and Karan, their footsteps echoing faintly against the empty space.
The four of them slowed to a stop a few paces behind Ayan and Arun.
However, Arun remained engrossed in his phone, oblivious to the world around him.
Vihan's eyes flicked toward the gleaming black car, then back to Ayan. "Ayan, is everything okay?"
Hearing Vihan's voice, Ayan turned around, his expression dull and weary.
"Our car's tire... it's flat."
The four exchanged brief glances, their devious grins expertly hidden beneath carefully composed expressions.
Abhi stepped forward with his voice warm and humble, "You want to come with us?... We'll drop you home."
Ayan glanced at Abhi, his face the picture of innocence and then his gaze shifted to Arun.
The others followed him as their eyes moved toward Arun too, waiting for his response.
Arun slowly powered down his phone. He lifted his eyes, meeting Abhi's gaze with a calm, calculating look.
Just then, the rumble of an approaching car cut through the tension.
The group of four stood in uncertain silence, their eyes fixed on that car.
Arun, however, moved with quiet assurance and stepped toward the car, opening the back seat door with a practiced motion, then turned to Ayan.
"Hop on..."
Ayan with unruffled face, gave a subtle nod and slid into the back seat, obeying his orders without a flicker of hesitation, as if he was familiar with that car.
Arun then opened the passenger door, pausing for a moment. He turned his keen, luminous eyes toward Abhi.
"It's really uncomfortable to be around you ."
Abhi's face twisted with annoyance, his hands clenching into fists as the surge of resentment bubbled up inside him.
He was just about to stride forward, ready to land a punch, when Vihan's quick reflexes intervened.
Vihan grabbed Abhi's arm, pulling him back with surprising force.
Meanwhile, Arun slid into the seat, and the car's engine purred to life.
The sound filling the silence as it pulled away, leaving the four standing in the wake of his words.
Abhi whirled around, fuming. "How the hell did he call a car here? I thought our guys set jammers."
Vihan raised his hands. "They said they did!"
A chuckle, "But wasn't my plan... smooth?"
All heads turned toward him with unimpressed expressions.
Vihan met their stares, blinking, oblivious to the subtle mockery that had started to stir among them. "What?"
Karan stepped closer and placed a steady hand on Vihan's shoulder. Smiled softly, before guiding Vihan forward with a gentle nudge.
They all turned without saying a word further.