Chapter:- 9 The visit

Author's pov:-

The following day, the group decided to meet at Avayan's house for a study session. Everyone was feeling the pressure of the upcoming exams, but they were also excited to hang out together after such an eventful weekend.

As Samiksha and Aisha arrived at Avayan's place, they were greeted by Daksh and Avayan, who were already in study mode-books and notebooks scattered across the table, with a pile of coffee cups at their side.

"Hey, you two!" Daksh grinned, his eyes lighting up as he saw Aisha. "Ready for the ultimate cram session?"

Aisha laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know about 'ultimate,' but I'm definitely ready to dive into the chaos."

Samiksha rolled her eyes, sitting down next to Avayan. "I think we're all just here for the coffee and procrastination," she teased, picking up a cup and taking a sip.

Avayan chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "Well, coffee is essential. But if we actually do some studying, we might get through this semester alive."

Daksh groaned. "Yeah, maybe after we've had more coffee."

As they all settled in, the conversation shifted to the exams. "So, what's the plan for today?" Aisha asked, looking over at Avayan.

"We'll focus on chemistry today," Avayan suggested, flipping open his notes. "We can tackle physics and biology tomorrow."

Samiksha nodded in agreement. "Sounds good. Let's make this efficient. No distractions."

But just as they were about to get started, Avayan's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from his brother, Yuvraj.

Yuvraj: "Hey, I'm almost at your place. Can't wait to meet everyone!"

Avayan felt a small pang of nervousness. Yuvraj had always been the life of the party, but now that Avayan's college friends were getting to know each other, he wondered how the dynamics would shift.

"Yuvraj's on his way," Avayan said, setting his phone down. "He's visiting for the day."

Aisha looked up, intrigued. "Yuvraj? Is he your older brother?"

"Yeah," Avayan replied, a small smile forming. "He's a bit of a character. You'll see."

As the group continued to prepare for their study session, Avayan found himself glancing at the door every few minutes, wondering what Yuvraj would think of his friends. Would it be awkward? Would they all get along? It was a strange feeling-wanting everyone to mesh well but also wanting to protect the comfortable bubble he had with his friends.

Just as Avayan was lost in thought, the doorbell rang. "That must be him," he said, standing up.

---

When Avayan opened the door, his brother Yuvraj stood there with a big grin on his face. Yuvraj was tall, with a broad build and an easygoing attitude that made him instantly likable. His presence brought a certain energy into the room.

"Hey, bro!" Yuvraj said, pulling Avayan into a quick hug. "Long time no see!"

"Good to see you, Yuvraj," Avayan responded, relieved to see his brother's familiar smile.

Yuvraj glanced around the room, spotting Samiksha and Aisha. "And these must be your friends," he said, his tone warm. "I've heard a lot about you two."

Aisha stood up and smiled politely. "Nice to meet you, Yuvraj."

"Likewise!" Yuvraj replied, his grin widening. "I hope Avayan hasn't told you too many embarrassing stories."

"Not yet," Samiksha said with a teasing smile, "but we're sure he's got some hidden gems."

Avayan shot Samiksha a look, his cheeks reddening. "Don't listen to her," he muttered.

Yuvraj chuckled, clearly enjoying the dynamic already. "Well, this is going to be fun. Let's get to it, huh?"

The group settled in, Yuvraj joining them at the table. The chatter continued as they started discussing their study plans, but it was clear the energy had shifted. With Yuvraj there, everything felt a little more lively, a little more carefree.

As the study session began, Aisha couldn't help but steal a glance at Daksh, who was sitting across from her. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she felt a flutter in her chest. She had been thinking about the date they'd planned, and the thought of it made her heart race. Was she ready to take that step? She wasn't sure yet, but part of her was excited to see where it would go.

Across the room, Avayan was quietly watching Samiksha. There was something about her that intrigued him-something beyond their shared classes and friendship. As they worked together, he found himself stealing glances, wondering what it would be like to cross the line from friends to something more.

But for now, the group was focused on their books, the energy of friendship and the promise of new connections filling the room.

---

As Yuvraj made himself comfortable on the couch, he looked around at the study setup and raised an eyebrow.

"Bas itni hi boring padhai ho rahi hai yahaan?" he teased, glancing at the open books and scattered notes. "Tum log toh aise serious ho gaye ho jaise board exam dene ja rahe ho."

Samiksha smirked. "Aap bhi baith jaiye bhai. Aaj aapko bhi thoda padna padega," she joked.

Yuvraj laughed. "Na na, main toh bas yahan tum logon ko distract karne aaya hoon."

Avayan chuckled. "Mission successful already."

"Waise," Yuvraj said, suddenly turning to Samiksha with a mischievous grin, "tum hi ho na Samiksha? Jiske baare mein Avu roz kuch na kuch bolta rehta hai?"

Avayan's eyes widened. "Bhai!" he hissed, shooting him a glare.

Samiksha raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Acha? Kya bolte ho Avayan?"

Before Avayan could answer, Yuvraj jumped in. "Arey kuch nahi, bas itna ki tum kitni intelligent ho, kitni focused ho, aur jab tum hasti ho toh-"

"Bhai!" Avayan interrupted, half-embarrassed, half-smiling, as the rest of the group burst into laughter.

Samiksha bit her lip to hide her smile and looked at Avayan. "Tum roz bolte ho meri hansi ke baare mein?" she asked, her voice soft, teasing.

Avayan ran a hand through his hair, trying to recover. "Kya kare, infectious hai tumhari smile. Concentrate hi nahi hota kabhi kabhi."

The air between them shifted-something unspoken passed in that brief moment of eye contact, making everything else fade just a little.

Meanwhile, Daksh leaned over toward Aisha, nudging her lightly with his elbow. "Dekha? Tumhare liye bhi waise hi lines ready rakhta hoon main, bas chance nahi mila ab tak."

Aisha laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Chance toh mila hai... tumhi confuse karte ho kab serious ho aur kab joke."

Daksh leaned in just a little closer, his voice softer. "Toh chalo, ek date fix kar ke decide kar lete hain main serious hoon ya nahi?"

Aisha looked at him, her eyes shining. "Fine. But coffee pehle, phir tumhare deep thoughts."

"Deal," Daksh said with a wink.

Yuvraj, who was watching both pairs with growing amusement, whistled low. "Wah Avu, tera to full filmy college chal raha hai yahaan. Ek taraf chemistry aur dusri taraf chemistry!"

Everyone laughed again, the tension breaking into playful energy. Samiksha lightly hit Avayan's arm. "Batao, sabko bolte ho kya?"

Avayan smiled, looking at her a little longer than necessary. "Nahi. Tum special ho."

For a second, everything stilled. And then Samiksha looked away, hiding a blush, but the smile stayed on her lips.

Yuvraj stretched his arms behind his head, satisfied. "Mujhe lagta hai padhai se zyada progress toh relationships mein ho raha hai. Papa ko bataun kya?"

"Bhaiii!" Avayan and Daksh groaned in unison.

"Main toh bas keh raha hoon," Yuvraj said innocently. "Tum dono toh already couple vibes de rahe ho."

The room was filled with laughter, low banter, and those little glances that said more than words ever could. Maybe exams were near, but something bigger was already brewing-something sweeter, riskier, and way more exciting.

---

Evening draped itself softly over the sky, bathing the apartment in golden hues. The textbooks were finally shut, highlighters tossed aside like conquered weapons, and a collective sigh of accomplishment filled the room.

Avayan leaned back, stretching lazily. "Well, mission complete. Honestly, if Samiksha wasn't around, I'd still be stuck on the chapter title."

Samiksha shot him a sideways glance, smirking. "Yeah, right. For you, chapter title just means skimming the heading and staring at the diagrams like they'll whisper the answers."

He slid a little closer, voice dropping playfully. "Can you blame me? You're way more captivating than any textbook. If I had a syllabus on you, I'd actually study."

Before she could retort, Yuvraj cleared his throat theatrically, "Okay lovebirds, let's keep it PG. Some of us are emotionally single here."

Daksh chuckled, tossing a cushion at him. "Emotionally? Bro, you've been single since the dinosaurs roamed."

Aisha, sipping from her coffee mug, added coolly, "And yet he still gives relationship advice like he runs a talk show."

Yuvraj grinned. "I may be single, but I've got premium third-wheel energy. Can't beat that."

Meanwhile, Daksh leaned over to Aisha, voice low and teasing. "I swear, without you, physics feels like ancient Greek."

She raised a brow, unimpressed. "Wow. So I'm either Einstein or Rosetta Stone to you?"

He leaned in with a grin. "You're both. You've got me stuck in your gravitational pull."

Aisha groaned, but her smile betrayed her. "You need better pickup lines. And better grades."

Yuvraj clapped dramatically. "Bravo! The flirt-athon continues. I feel like I should be selling popcorn."

Samiksha laughed, nudging Avayan. "I told you he was the real entertainer here."

Avayan winked. "Still not as entertaining as watching you pretend you're not blushing."

"I'm not blushing!" she protested, even as a rosy hue betrayed her.

Yuvraj stood up, arms wide like a host. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: two ships sailing in flirt-infested waters, and one fabulous lighthouse-you're welcome."

---

As the clock crept past ten, the evening air grew cooler, and the energy around the table slowly melted into a cozy laziness. Aisha stretched her arms with a sigh.

"We should head back," she said, glancing at Samiksha. "We've got college tomorrow... and don't forget, we have to collect our hall tickets."

Samiksha groaned softly, "Ugh, right. Can't believe the exams are that close."

Yuvraj stood up and started clearing a few plates. "Don't worry, exam ka tension hum sambhal lenge. Tum log jao, varna kal college ke gate par hi late ho jaogi."

Aisha rolled her eyes, gathering her stuff. "Like you've ever been on time to anything."

"I bring the vibe, not the punctuality," Yuvraj replied with a mock bow.

Daksh walked the girls to the door while teasing, "Try not to burn the apartment without us, okay?"

Aisha glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. "You'd miss us too much if we did."

"Maybe," he said, his voice dropping just a little. "But don't let it get to your head."

Meanwhile, Avayan lingered near the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel when Samiksha came up to grab her bag.

He leaned in, just enough so only she could hear.

"This is the first time anyone's messed up my kitchen like that," he said with a small smile. "But for you... it somehow felt right."

Samiksha looked up, caught between amusement and something deeper. Before she could say anything, he whispered again, softer this time,

"Goodnight, sweetheart."

Her breath hitched just a bit-not that she'd admit it. She turned quickly, covering the smile on her lips with a casual, "Goodnight, boys."

As the door shut behind the girls, Yuvraj slung an arm around both his younger brothers.

"So," he said with a grin, "sweetheart, huh?"

Avayan smirked but didn't reply. The twinkle in his eyes said more than words could.

---

The next morning at college buzzed with an odd mix of panic and sleep-deprived chaos. Students swarmed around the administration building, everyone trying to grab their hall tickets before the lines got longer.

"Why does this always feel like a war zone?" Aisha muttered, adjusting her backpack and squinting at the board outside the office.

"Because it is a war zone," Samiksha replied, brushing hair from her face. "Survival of the fastest."

Just then, Avayan appeared behind Samiksha, his presence effortless as ever.

"Sweetheart," he said low, "you might want to stand a little to the left-unless you want to be trampled by these wildlings."

She shot him a look, but couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks for the warning, Captain Observant."

Daksh joined Aisha, handing her a coffee he'd grabbed from the nearby stall. "You're not you when you haven't had caffeine."

She raised an eyebrow. "Trying to bribe me with coffee now?"

"Only because I like my head where it is," he replied, smirking.

Yuvraj, watching from a step above with his arms crossed, chuckled.

"Avayan playing bodyguard, Daksh bringing peace offerings-looks like my brothers are officially whipped."

Avayan, unbothered, leaned casually closer to Samiksha. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, bro."

Samiksha rolled her eyes. "Can we please just get our hall tickets before you two start a rom-com showdown?"

Inside the office, the chaos continued-lost IDs, incorrect roll numbers, students yelling at sleepy clerks. Somehow, the four of them stuck together through the mess, side-by-side like it was second nature.

As they stepped out, finally holding their precious pieces of paper, Aisha sighed.

"One step closer to the exams... I already feel like crying."

"You'll survive," Daksh said, nudging her shoulder lightly. "We've got this."

"And if we don't," Samiksha added, glancing at Avayan, "we can always blame Avayan's late-night snacks for the distraction."

He grinned. "You didn't seem too distracted last night, sweetheart."

Yuvraj raised his hands in mock surrender.

"And there it is-Avayan's smooth criminal moment of the day!"

The girls laughed, and just like that, the stress of the morning seemed a little lighter.

---

As they walked out of the college gates, the crowd slowly thinned behind them. The sun was already rising higher, chasing away the crisp morning air.

"Well, that was a waste of makeup," Aisha said, looking around. "College khula sirf hall ticket ke liye. Not even one lecture."

"True," Daksh stretched his arms, yawning. "But now that we have the tickets, no excuses for not studying."

Yuvraj patted him on the back with exaggerated drama. "Look at you, talking like a responsible citizen."

"Don't act so surprised," Daksh replied, smirking.

Avayan glanced over at Samiksha. "Sweetheart, plan still on? Group study at my place?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Might as well make the most of today."

They all agreed and started heading toward the parking area. In the shuffle, Samiksha opened her bag to pull out her phone. Unnoticed, a folded piece of paper slid silently to the ground-her hall ticket.

None of them saw it.

Later that evening, back at Avayan's place, the living room was buzzing again-books open, laptops whirring, coffee cups appearing like magic from Yuvraj's frequent kitchen raids.

"You know, group study sounds productive until you actually do it," Aisha said, eyeing the boys who were currently debating over who was better at organic chemistry.

"You're just mad because I solved the last three equations faster than you," Daksh teased, leaning closer to show her the screen.

"Keep talking," she said, leaning closer too, "and you'll lose your calculator mysteriously."

Meanwhile, Samiksha and Avayan were huddled over the same book. At least, that was the plan.

"Stop looking at me like that," she said without looking up.

"Like what?" Avayan asked innocently.

"Like you're not even pretending to study."

"Sweetheart," he whispered so only she could hear, "this is my house. This is my couch. And this is the first time someone has made my kitchen feel... warm. You really think I care about reaction mechanisms right now?"

She blushed, trying not to smile. "Focus."

Later that night, when the study session wrapped and the girls decided to head home, Samiksha packed her things quickly, distracted by Aisha's jokes and Yuvraj's goodbye salute. The girls left, promising to return early next morning.

Avayan stayed back to clear the coffee table when something on the floor caught his eye.

A folded paper.

He bent down and picked it up.

Hall Ticket - Samiksha singhania.

He frowned, flipping it over.

"Sweetheart," he murmured to the empty room, "looks like you're gonna have to come back sooner than you thought."

---

Avayan held the hall ticket between two fingers, smirking to himself like he'd just discovered a secret weapon.

He leaned against the edge of the table, flipping it casually in his hand. "Oh sweetheart," he murmured, "you just made tomorrow very interesting."

Yuvraj walked in, stretching with a towel around his neck from his post-dinner shower. "What's that?" he asked, eyeing the paper.

"Nothing," Avayan said too quickly.

Yuvraj raised an eyebrow, snatched the paper in one swift move, and read the name aloud with a grin. "Hall Ticket - Samiksha Singhania. Oh ho! Plot twist!"

"Shhh!" Avayan snatched it back, but it was too late-Yuvraj was already grinning like a villain in a soap opera.

"Oh Bhai, this is gold. What's the plan? Blackmail? Ransom in exchange for extra coffee? Or a dramatic morning rescue?"

"I haven't decided yet," Avayan replied, eyes twinkling. "But I'm definitely not just handing it over."

Yuvraj laughed. "You're evil. I love it."

Daksh peeked in from the hallway. "What are you two plotting now?"

"Nothing," they said in unison.

But the smirk on Avayan's face was enough to make Daksh narrow his eyes. "Uh-huh. Remind me not to forget my wallet here. You people are dangerous."

Avayan tucked the ticket safely into his drawer.

Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow she'll come looking for it-and I'll be waiting.

---

Morning sunlight streamed through the college courtyard, casting golden hues on the stone stairs. Samiksha Singhania rushed down, her brows furrowed and her heart racing. Her bag jostled on her shoulder, and papers fluttered at the edges. She was clearly panicking.

"Where is it? Where is it?!" she muttered under her breath, scanning every pocket of her file.

Just as her foot missed a step in her hurry, a strong pair of arms caught her mid-stumble.

"Easy there, sweetheart," Avayan said, steadying her effortlessly.

She blinked up at him, momentarily distracted, then quickly snapped back. "Avayan! Mera hall ticket... it's not in my bag. I swear I put it in-"

He raised a brow, an all-too-familiar smirk tugging at his lips. "You mean this one?" he pulled out the folded slip of paper from his jacket pocket.

Samiksha's eyes widened. "How-?"

"It fell out yesterday. I thought I'd return it when you gave me another excuse to hold you like this," he teased, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

She narrowed her eyes, trying to look annoyed, but a blush crept onto her cheeks.

"Ya phir..." he leaned a little closer, grin widening, "You were so focused on me yesterday that you didn't even realize it was missing. Should I take that as a compliment?"

Samiksha rolled her eyes, snatched the hall ticket from him, and muttered, "You're impossible."

"And yet, irresistibly helpful," he added, walking alongside her as she tried to hide the smile tugging at her lips.

---

The final bell echoed through the halls of the medical college, marking the end of their last theory paper. Students poured out of the exam hall, tired but visibly relieved. Among them were Samiksha, Avayan, Daksh, and Aisha-each carrying the exhaustion of sleepless nights and non-stop revisions.

Samiksha stepped out first, stretching her arms with a satisfied sigh. "Finally! MBBS ka ek aur semester wrap!"

Aisha caught up, grinning. "I swear, if I see another anatomy diagram today, I might scream."

Daksh chuckled, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "And yet, you'll be the first to volunteer in the dissection hall again."

"Only because I'm better than you," Aisha quipped, flipping her hair.

Avayan joined them, walking beside Samiksha,who looked like she was trying to suppress a smile. "So, sweetheart... how does it feel to finally be exam-free?" he whispered, just enough for her to hear.

She gave him a mock-glare. "Feels great. Especially now that I don't have to tolerate your teasing during group studies."

"Oh come on," he said, playfully bumping his shoulder into hers, "You love the attention."

Before she could retort, Yuvraj strolled over, waving his hands dramatically. "Ladies and gentlemen, the torture is officially over! Let's head back to my not-so-humble abode and celebrate survival with caffeine and chaos."

"Group study 2.0?" Daksh asked with a smirk.

"No study, only group," Yuvraj confirmed.

Everyone laughed, following him out of the campus gate, the air around them finally light, free of the academic pressure that had been hanging over their heads for weeks.

As they walked, Avayan leaned in a little closer to Samiksha again. "And just so you know," he said with a sideways smile, "that fall of yours on the stairs? Could've been dangerous. Good thing I was there."

Samiksha raised a brow. "Yeah? What if you hadn't caught me?"

"Then you would've fallen for me-literally and emotionally."

She gave him a gentle shove as Aisha, overhearing, muttered, "Someone take his license to flirt away."

Yuvraj, walking ahead, called out over his shoulder, "No no, let the boy flirt. It's the only cardio he's doing post-exams!"

Everyone cracked up, their laughter echoing down the road as the group moved toward Avayan's house, finally ready to unwind.

By the time they reached Avayan's place, the sun had dipped low, painting the sky in shades of lavender and gold. The group collapsed into the living room like warriors after battle - messy, exhausted, and incredibly happy.

Yuvraj was already in the kitchen, brewing coffee like a man on a mission. "If we're celebrating, we're doing it right. Daksh, snacks. Aisha, stop judging my coffee skills and set the mugs."

Aisha rolled her eyes but obeyed, while Daksh peeked into the fridge. "Bro, did someone rob your kitchen? There's like... one tomato, half a lemon, and an empty pizza box."

Avayan shrugged from the couch, looking way too relaxed. "What can I say? We lived off caffeine and instant noodles. We weren't exactly curating a gourmet lifestyle."

Samiksha, seated beside him, laughed. "Clearly. Your kitchen is begging for help."

Avayan turned to her with a smirk. "You could always rescue it. Maybe stay back, be my personal chef, make sure I survive finals."

She narrowed her eyes, fighting a grin. "Flirting level: desperate."

He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice. "Sweetheart, desperate is burning toast. I'm just... offering you a permanent position in my very empty kitchen."

She blinked, caught off-guard by the closeness. "Tempting," she muttered, but quickly got up, pretending to help Aisha.

Yuvraj, watching from a distance, let out a dramatic sigh. "I swear, the sexual tension in this room is making my coffee boil faster."

Aisha almost choked on her laughter. Daksh, unfazed, leaned against the counter and tossed a chip into his mouth. "Should we leave you two alone with the fridge?"

Aisha smirked. "Please, if anyone needs alone time, it's you. You've been checking your reflection in that oven for five minutes."

"I was adjusting my hair," Daksh defended.

"For the oven?" she teased.

He stepped closer. "No. For you."

Aisha's breath hitched for a second, but she recovered quickly. "Try again when your pick-up lines aren't reheated like your pizza."

Yuvraj raised his mug in salute. "This... this is why I don't need Netflix."

As the room filled with laughter and teasing, a sense of comfort settled over the group. The exams were done, the stress was behind them, and for the first time in weeks, they could just be young, reckless, and stupidly in sync.

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