Hello rubies!!🎀

PROLOGUE

The time before morning assembly was always chaotic-half the class empty, bags thrown on benches, voices echoing louder than the discipline register ever allowed.

Aisha walked into the classroom with Ishika beside her, her steps fast and irritated. She was muttering under her breath, clearly frustrated, her expressions sharp enough to make it obvious that her mood was not good.

"Honestly, who does he even think he is?" Aisha snapped, pushing her chair back a little harder than necessary. "Just because he's a senior-"

Ruhi and Tara were already seated inside. Ruhi looked up immediately, confusion written all over her face. Aisha was never this irritated so early in the morning.

"Hey... what happened to you?" Ruhi asked gently, tilting her head.

"Why do you look like you've already fought someone before assembly?"

Before Aisha could answer, Tara leaned back in her chair with a knowing smile.

"Let me guess," she said casually, "you must've run into Rudra bhai again. That's why all this frustration."

Ishika, standing beside Aisha, tried hard to control her laughter. She bit her lip, nodded silently, and looked away-as if confirming Tara's guess without saying a word.

Ruhi noticed and sighed. "Okay, okay," she said, raising her hand slightly.

"Calm down first. Now tell me properly-what did he do this time?"

That was it.

Aisha finally let everything out.

"Yaar, what does he even think of himself?" she burst out. "Senior hai toh kya? Kisi se bhi kuch bhi bolega? Iski beh-"

Before she could complete the sentence, Ishika immediately interrupted, pretending to be offended.

"Yaar, why are you dragging me into this?" she said, crossing her arms. "At least abuse him with some respect. I'm his sister, you know."

Aisha turned towards her, completely shocked.

"Oh really?" she shot back. "So because you're his sister, I'm not even allowed to abuse him now? Wow."

Tara burst out laughing.

"Wait-wait," she said between laughs, "since when do abuses come with respect?"

That only made things worse-and funnier.

"Exactly!" Aisha said, throwing her hands up. "See what I'm dealing with?"

Ruhi quickly stepped in before the argument turned into a full-blown chaos. She stood up, clapped once to get their attention, and smiled helplessly.

"Enough, enough," she said. "Let it go. Leave all this drama for later."

She paused, then added, "Come on... let's just go check the farewell rehearsal once. Maybe that'll cool everyone down."

Aisha exhaled loudly, still annoyed but slightly calmer.

"Fine," she muttered, grabbing her bag. "But I swear, one more comment from that senior and-"

The bell rang before she could finish.

Perfect timing.

******

The third period was unusually silent.

It was a class test-pens moving steadily, pages turning softly, and the usual classroom chaos completely replaced by focus. Even the ceiling fan felt louder than normal.

That silence broke suddenly.

"May I come in, ma'am?"

Every head lifted slightly. The teacher looked toward the door-and there stood Shaurya.

She smiled instantly. After all, he was one of the toppers, polite, well-mannered, and rarely interrupted classes.

"Oh, beta," the teacher said warmly, "what happened? Is everything okay? Do you need something?"

Shaurya shook his head lightly and spoke in a calm voice.

"Ma'am, actually... someone's lunch was left behind. I came to return it."

The teacher nodded, then asked, "Lunch? From which class?"

"Class 11th, ma'am. Is there any Ruhi here?"

At the mention of her name, Ruhi looked up.

Her brows knitted in confusion. My lunch is already with me, she thought, glancing at her bag near her feet.

Then whose lunch is this?

Her gaze shifted back to Shaurya. Is he okay? Or is something going on in that head of his?

Shaurya's eyes met hers.

Without saying a word, he raised the lunch box slightly and, through nothing but expressions, requested her-Just take it.

Ruhi stared at him, completely lost.

Before she could process anything further, the teacher spoke again.

"Okay, Shaurya. Give her the lunch and please leave quickly. The test is going on."

That was all the permission he needed.

Shaurya walked straight toward Ruhi's desk, placed the lunch box gently beside her notebook, and before turning away-

He winked.

And then, just like that, he walked out.

Ruhi froze.

What... was that?

She stared at the lunch box, then at the door he had just exited from.

Is he crazy?

Who walks into a class test with such excuses?

And that wink-ufff... this boy, seriously.

She shook her head slightly, trying to refocus on the paper in front of her-but her pen had already paused.

Some distractions don't need words.

******

Lunch break was loud—as it always was.

The school canteen was packed with voices, trays clattering, laughter spilling from every corner. At one of the tables near the window, all four boys sat together, half-focused on food, half on conversation.

For the first few minutes, it was all normal.

“Bro, the physics syllabus is unreal,” Rudra groaned, poking at his food.

“If they add one more chapter, I’m switching streams,” Vihaan muttered.

Shaurya nodded, already mentally revising formulas. “Stop cribbing. Just finish the basics first.”

Dhruv Malhotra, the head boy, sat quietly among them.

He was eating… but not really there.

A faint smile rested on his lips, the kind that appears when someone is lost in their own thoughts. His spoon paused mid-air more than once, his gaze drifting somewhere far beyond the canteen noise—as if he was stuck in a moment only he could see.

Rudra noticed first.

He leaned forward slightly, squinting. “Oye,” he said slowly, “where did you disappear, Malhotra?”

Shaurya followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah,” he added, smirking, “you’ve been smiling at your food for the last five minutes. Planning to propose to it or what?”

Vihaan chuckled. “Bhai, hum bhi yahin baithe hain. Thoda share kar lo apni duniya.”

Dhruv blinked, coming back to reality. He looked at all three of them staring at him and rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed.

“Nothing like that,” he said quickly. “Actually… her birthday is coming up.”

That was it.

Three reactions. One second.

“Ohhhhhh.”

“Acha.”

“Haan bhai, ab samjha.”

Rudra leaned back dramatically. “So this is the reason for the silence and the smile.”

Shaurya smiled teasingly. “Tell me, head boy,” he said, “what special plans are cooking in that mind of yours?”

Dhruv hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “I was thinking… maybe I’ll gift her something like her favourite colours. How does that sound?”

For a second, they processed it.

Then—

“Cute,” Vihaan said, nodding.

“Simple but thoughtful,” Shaurya agreed.

Rudra smirked. “Not bad, Malhotra. Approved.”

Dhruv relaxed a little—until a thought hit him.

He looked at them with an innocent, almost worried expression.

“But…” he said slowly, “I don’t actually know what her favourite colours are.”

Silence.

And then—

The table exploded with laughter.

“You’re kidding, right?” Vihaan laughed.

“Bro wants to gift favourite colours,” Shaurya said, shaking his head, “but doesn’t know which colours.”

Rudra nearly choked. “This is peak romance, yaar.”

Dhruv just sat there, embarrassed but sincere. “What? I thought it was a good idea.”

Rudra wiped his hands on a tissue and stood up suddenly, excitement lighting up his face.

“Alright,” he declared, “then we’ll do something khurafati.”

Shaurya immediately stood too and pointed at Rudra, grinning.

“And this one,” he said to the others, “will run after his girl first.”

Rudra shot him a glare. “Mind your own business, topper.”

Vihaan laughed. “Lunch break turning into mission planning—I like it.”

Dhruv looked at them, confused but smiling again.

Maybe he didn’t know her favourite colours yet.

But with friends like these, he knew one thing for sure—

this birthday wasn’t going to be simple.

******

The corridor outside the Class 11th section was buzzing after the period ended.

Girls stood in small groups, boys passed by casually, and somewhere in that noise—

Ishika was standing near the notice board, flipping through her notebook, waiting for the bell.

She didn’t notice him at first.

Vihaan Rathore was walking down the corridor with full confidence—tall, well-groomed, effortlessly good-looking, the kind of boy people noticed without him trying. A few juniors whispered as he passed.

But the moment his eyes landed on Ishika—

His confidence vanished.

His steps slowed.

His shoulders stiffened.

And suddenly, the famous Vihaan Rathore forgot how to act normal.

Okay. Be cool, he told himself.

She’s just standing there. Normal human. Nothing scary.

He walked past her once.

Too fast.

Then stopped.

Turned around.

Walked back.

Ishika looked up, confused. “Uh… hi?”

Vihaan opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

He cleared his throat. “Haan… woh—”

Pause.

“Actually—”

Another pause.

Ishika blinked. “You okay?”

“Yes. No. I mean—yes. Totally.” He nodded too fast. “I’m fine.”

She tried not to laugh.

Vihaan glanced at her notebook, then randomly blurted, “You write very… straight.”

Silence.

Ishika stared at him. “Straight?”

He mentally slapped himself. Great. Genius compliment.

“I mean—neat,” he corrected quickly. “Very neat handwriting. Academic. Nice.”

She bit her lip, amused now. “Thanks… I guess?”

Just then, Ruhi passed by with Tara.

She froze.

Looked at the scene.

Then smirked.

“Oh wow,” Ruhi said loudly, “Vihaan Rathore talking like he’s giving a viva.”

Vihaan panicked instantly. “Ruhi—go away.”

Tara laughed. “Bro, why are you sweating? It’s not PT period.”

Ishika finally burst out laughing.

That did it.

Vihaan’s ears turned red.

“I—this isn’t—” he stammered. “I just came to tell her—”

He forgot what he came to tell her.

Ruhi crossed her arms. “Tell what, bhaiya?”

Vihaan looked at Ishika, then at Ruhi, then back at Ishika.

“…Nothing.”

Ishika smiled, playful now. “You came all this way to say nothing?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

Beat.

Then he added quietly, “I mean—hi.”

She laughed again. “Hi, then.”

The bell rang, saving him.

Vihaan let out the biggest sigh of relief and walked away quickly—

almost tripping over his own foot.

From behind, Ruhi yelled, “Smooth, superstar. Very smooth.”

Ishika watched him go, shaking her head, still smiling.

So this is the famous Vihaan Rathore, she thought.

Cute… but completely hopeless.

And Vihaan?

He didn’t turn back.

Because if he did, he was pretty sure he’d embarrass himself again.

DEDICATION

Dedicated to my Rubies,

and to everyone who believes that school isn’t just about grades—

it’s about becoming someone,

finding your people,

and learning to listen to the echoes your heart carries forever.

_______________________________________________________________________

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