Decathlon khatam ho chuka tha.
Academy normal mode mein wapas aa gayi thi.
Bas un dono ke beech normal kuch nahi tha.
Farewell week chal raha tha.
Hall decorations. Photo sessions. Fake smiles.
Apurva usually emotional nahi hoti thi.
Par iss baar… kuch incomplete lag raha tha.
One afternoon, library ke outside corridor mein usne do students ko baat karte suna.
"Arre woh research draft toh Aryan ne faculty room se photo liya tha."
"Seriously? Par blame toh Apurva pe gaya na?"
"Haan, Rithvik ne hi doubt kiya tha shayad."
"Usne doubt nahi kiya tha. Bas poocha tha. Baad mein Aryan khud confess kar raha tha apne friends ko."
Apurva freeze ho gayi.
Aryan.
Faculty room.
Photo.
So it wasn't suspicion.
It was manipulation.
Aur Rithvik…
He never actually accused her.
Woh bas clarity chah raha tha.
Apurva ke chest mein tight feeling aayi.
Usne us din conversation ka tone yaad kiya.
He wasn't angry.
He was cautious.
Difference samajhne mein usne late kar diya.
Same day.
Different place.
Basketball court ke paas.
Rithvik ko bhi sach pata chala.
Aryan casually brag kar raha tha.
"Un dono ke beech fight karwana easy tha. Bas draft ka photo circulate kar diya."
Rithvik ka expression change ho gaya.
He walked up.
"What did you just say?"
Aryan awkward laugh karne laga.
"Chill yaar. Competition tha."
Competition.
Rithvik ko us moment realize hua —
Apurva ka hurt justified tha.
He should have trusted her.
But instead, he questioned.
And questioning was enough.
Farewell Night.
Hall lights soft thi.
Music background mein low volume pe chal raha tha.
Students group photos le rahe the.
Apurva ne Rithvik ko stage ke paas khade dekha.
Woh uski taraf chal sakti thi.
Bas kuch steps.
Bas ek conversation.
Bas ek clarification.
Par ego strange cheez hoti hai.
Woh ruk gayi.
Rithvik ne bhi usse dekha.
He could walk toward her.
Explain.
Apologize.
Clear it.
Par usne bhi socha —
"If she wanted to, she would."
Aur dono ne assume kar liya.
Farewell speech khatam hui.
Caps throw hue.
Photos click hue.
Aur bina closure ke…
Chapter close ho gaya.