"तेरी जान के सदके में कुछ ऐसा कर जाऊँ,
तूने क्या कर डाला मर गई मैं, मिट गई मैं।"
Shivansh's calm eyes lingered on the girl moving around her glasses tucked neatly on her nose as her fingers brushed the hem of her kurta while checking the arrangements.
As she adjusted the marigold flowers on the brass plate the scent of incense lingering in the air her each step making the same familiar chim as she moved inside the vishwanath temple .
He knew this wasn't right.
Years of difference, worlds apart and yet, his feet moved on their own.
_________
"Oye, Chashmish! Baat wagarah kar liya kar kabhi,"
Shivansh's voice floated through the air, mischief lacing his tone, his amber eyes flickering with warmth.
They were working together on a group presentation, arranging papers and setting up the charts.
Isha's soft brown eyes flickered towards him for a moment.
Her glasses slid slightly down her nose as she adjusted them nervously, her fingers tightening around the desk.
Finally, the words tumbled out.
"Baat? Aur tumse? Joker lagte ho tum apni saari harkatein karke."
Her voice carried that slight annoyance yet his lips curled into a soft smile.
As she moved away towards the corridor, her footsteps echoed faintly.
Students hurried past them, heading to their classes.
Shivansh's voice floated again, light but enough for her to hear
"Joker hi sahi… par tu baat to kar rahi hai, kam se kam."
For once, Isha stopped her gaze lingering on his face for just a second.
Something flickered in Shivansh's eyes a quiet warmth, as if he already knew too much.
But then she turned away without another word, her pace slowing as she walked into her classroom.
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"Captain sahab ja rahe hain…"
Isha's voice was soft, hesitant her brown eyes lingering on Shivansh as if to say something her lips couldn't form.
Shivansh's hand moved instinctively, curling around her fingers that familiar warmth spreading through both of them.
Isha inhaled a shaky breath before she spoke again, her grip tightening.
"Jaldi aana,"
she whispered, her voice almost lost in the honk of the railway station.
Shivansh's amber eyes softened as he replied quietly,
"Jaldi aata hoon, Ishu."
His fingers finally loosened around hers reluctantly, slowly as the train began to move.
They didn't know then,
that between the ghats of Ganga and the corridors of school,
from that first glance to the lost payal,
they would become Shiv and Ishu
from Shivansh and Isha.
This was the beginning
the beginning of something sacred.
A holy, divine Ārambh of two souls.
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