Chapter 35
Kabir's Perspective
After what felt like an endless night of studying for JEE Advanced, I finally gave in to sleep. It was around 7 a.m. when I crashed, utterly exhausted. I'd been pushing myself to solve as many problems as possible, going through formulas, theorems, and trying to get every last bit of preparation in.
I barely knew when sleep took over, but it felt like I had just closed my eyes when...
"Bhaiya! Bhaiya! Uth jao! Your result's out! Bhaiyaaaaa!"
Arjun's voice crashed through my dreams like a sledgehammer. I groaned, barely lifting my head from the pillow. The room was still dim, and my eyelids felt like lead. Can't a guy sleep in peace? I thought, pulling the blanket over my head. But my five-year-old cousin wasn't about to let me rest.
"Bhaiyaaaaa! Papa said you topped! 98.6%! Rank 197!"
Wait, what?
That snapped me awake. I pushed the blanket off and sat up, still groggy. "What did you say?" I asked, my voice scratchy from sleep.
"Bhaiya! Your JEE Mains result is out! You got 98.6%!" Arjun repeated, practically bouncing on my bed. "Papa said you're Rank 197!"
I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of what he was saying. Rank 197? It couldn't be true. My sleep-addled brain struggled to process the information, but Arjun's excitement made it hard to stay confused for long.
Before I could fully wrap my head around it, Arjun grabbed my arm and pulled me out of bed. "Come on! Everyone's waiting for you in the living room!"
I stumbled after him, still half-asleep but now buzzing with excitement. Could it be real? Did I actually score that high?
As soon as we reached the living room, it was clear the celebration had already begun. My entire family—Dad, Mom, Chacha, and Chachi—were gathered there, grinning like I had just won an Olympic gold medal. A box of sweets sat open on the table, and the whole room was buzzing with joy.
The second I stepped into the room, they erupted into cheers.
"Kabir! You did it!" Mom rushed over and hugged me tightly. "Beta, we're so proud of you!"
Before I could even process what was happening, a laddu was shoved into my mouth, followed by a kaju katli and a rasgulla. My mouth was now stuffed with sweets, one after the other, as everyone celebrated my result. I tried to speak, but all that came out was a muffled, "Mmph—can't—breathe!"
Dad laughed, clapping me on the back. "Kabir, you've done something incredible. Rank 197 out of millions of students! I always knew you had it in you."
I finally managed to swallow the sweets, raising my hands in surrender. "Arre, bas karo yaar! Someone show me the result first!"
Arjun jumped in, practically shouting, "I saw it! 98.6%!"
Chacha handed me the laptop with a proud smile. "Here, see for yourself."
My heart raced as I opened the laptop and looked at the result page.
Kabir Mehra
98.6%
Rank: 197
I stared at the screen for a moment, feeling like the world had stopped. Rank 197. Out of millions. It didn't feel real. I blinked a few times, trying to take it in. This was what I had been working for, dreaming about, and now—now it was real.
My family's voices pulled me back to reality. Mom's eyes were filled with tears of joy, and Dad's proud smile made my chest swell with happiness. Chacha gave me a thumbs-up while Chachi was already busy preparing more sweets.
I couldn't stop grinning. "I—I did it."
"You did it, beta," Dad said softly, his voice thick with pride. "But remember, this is just the beginning. JEE Advanced is next."
I nodded, already feeling the weight of the next challenge. But for now, I let myself enjoy this moment. Rank 197. This was something to celebrate.
As everyone buzzed with excitement, Chachi started calling relatives to spread the news. I slipped away to grab my phone, which had been buzzing with messages. A notification popped up from Frosty.
Her message flashed on the screen.
Frosty: Results out! How did it go??
I grinned, quickly typing back.
Me: 98.6%. Rank 197.
Her response came almost immediately.
Frosty: OMG, KABIR!!! YOU DID IT!! I'm so, so proud of you!! ????
I could almost hear the excitement in her voice through the message. Aditi had been my biggest supporter, cheering me on through every practice exam, every late-night study session.
Smiling, I decided to tease her a little.
Me: So, about those brownies you owe me... ??
Her reply came in quick.
Frosty: Wait, what?! YOU owe ME kheer, mister! Remember? Or did Arjun eat that too? ??
I laughed, remembering the kheer I had made for her after giving my mains exam—and how Arjun had eaten the entire batch before I could even deliver it.
Me: Fine, I'll make the kheer again. But YOU have to bake brownies this time. It's only fair.
There was a brief pause before her next message came through.
Frosty: Fine, deal. I'll bake the brownies, but only if you promise not to let Arjun near the kheer again!
I grinned at her reply.
Me: Deal! I'll guard the kitchen like it's Fort Knox this time.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket, feeling lighter than I had in months. Aditi baking brownies for me felt like the perfect way to celebrate—she had always been the better cook between us anyway.
As I walked back to join my family, Arjun was already bouncing around the room, announcing my rank to anyone who would listen.
"Bhaiya! You're famous now! Can I tell all my friends at school? Will you get interviewed on TV?"
I laughed, ruffling his hair. "Calm down, Arjun! Let's focus on getting through Advanced first. Then you can tell everyone."
Chachi walked over, holding a fresh plate of sweets. "But first, beta, eat some more. You need energy for the Advanced preparation!" She offered me another laddu, her face glowing with pride.
I smiled, accepting the sweet. "Thanks, Chachi."
As I sat down with my family, enjoying the warm atmosphere, I realized something. All the stress, the long nights, the moments of doubt—it had all been worth it. And even though JEE Advanced was still looming ahead, for now, I could breathe a little easier.
The room was filled with laughter, love, and, of course, the delicious taste of victory—wrapped in sweets and promises of brownies.
"I'll make kheer for everyone today," I declared confidently, still buzzing with the excitement of my result.
Arjun's face lit up like a light bulb. "Yes! But make more this time, bhaiya. Last time it was barely anything—I hardly got any!"
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Last time? When did I ever make kheer for you?"
Before Arjun could come up with an answer, Mom chimed in, her voice full of surprise. "Wait, Kabir, when did you make kheer?"
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, trying not to meet her eyes. "Woh toh... bas aise hi... experiment kar raha tha," I muttered, hoping they'd drop the topic.
They all exchanged knowing glances but didn't say anything more. The conversation shifted back to the JEE Mains result, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Dodged a bullet there.
It was midnight, and after double-checking the tiffin for what felt like the hundredth time, I was ready. I wasn't about to let another "Arjun eats all the kheer" situation happen. I packed everything neatly and left for Aditi's house, my heart racing a little faster than usual.
As I climbed up the tree to her window and slipped inside quietly, I expected to see her sitting at her desk, head buried in her books like always. But when I entered, I froze.
There she was, sitting on the edge of her bed, combing through her long, wet hair. Her hair, shiny and smooth, cascaded down her back, catching the dim light in the room. For a moment, I just stood there, watching her. I don't know why, but the sight of her like that—so relaxed, so... beautiful—made me forget why I had even come.
She looked up, our eyes meeting, and a teasing smile spread across her face.
"Kheer laaye ho ya phir iss baar bhi khaali dabba?" she taunted, her voice filled with playful amusement.
I snapped out of my daze and chuckled. "Iss baar toh pakka kheer hi laaye hai, Frosty," I said, grinning at her as I held up the tiffin.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Acha? Let's see then." She motioned for me to sit next to her on the bed. I sat down, watching as she opened the tiffin, and the familiar sweet smell of kheer filled the room. Her face lit up as she looked at me.
Before I could take the first bite, she pulled out a small box and placed it in my hands. "Brownies, as promised."
But before I could thank her or dig in, she took a spoonful of the kheer and held it out to me, surprising me.
"Congratulations, Kabir," she said softly, her voice warm as she fed me the first bite.
The sweetness of the kheer wasn't just from the sugar. It was her gesture, the softness in her voice, that made the moment... well, perfect. I swallowed, savoring the taste. "Not bad, right?" I asked with a smile.
She smiled back, taking a bite herself. "Better than last time, I'll give you that. Not bad at all, Mr. Mehra."
Feeling a bit bolder, I leaned my head gently against her shoulder. It felt natural, like I'd done it a thousand times before, though I hadn't. She didn't pull away, just quietly handed me the box of brownies.
"Here, have a piece," she said softly, her voice as soothing as ever.
I took a bite, the rich chocolate melting on my tongue. "Perfect, as always," I mumbled, setting the rest of the box aside to take home. Then, without thinking too much, I rested my head back on her shoulder, feeling the cool dampness of her wet hair brush against my cheek. I closed my eyes for a second, trying to soak in the moment.
But even in this perfect moment, a familiar knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. "Mujhe ab darr lag raha hai," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mains clear ho gaya, but... Advanced ka kya?"
She shifted a little, her fingers running through my hair and then down to my cheek in a way that sent a wave of calm through me. "Kabir, tum nahi karoge toh kaun karega?" she whispered, her voice full of quiet confidence. "Tum kar loge. Zyada mat socho, thik hai?"
Her words—so simple, so sure—made the weight on my chest lift a little. I breathed out, letting go of some of the fear. "Thik hai," I whispered back.
We sat like that for a while, the quiet of the night wrapping around us, neither of us feeling the need to speak. I wasn't sure how much time had passed before I broke the silence again, the words slipping out without thinking. "Tum konsi saree pehenogi farewell wale din?"
She turned her head slightly, and I could feel her smile even without looking at her. "Usi din dekh lena," she said, her voice playful.
I pouted, trying to get more out of her. "Arre, thodi hint toh do! Main batata hoon ki kya pehnunga farewell wale din."
She laughed softly, rolling her eyes. "Ladko ka kya hai? Wahi kaala coat-pant pehnoge."
I raised an eyebrow. "Tumhe kaise pata?"
She playfully flicked my forehead. "Ise common sense kehte hai, Mr. Mehra," she teased, grinning.
I grinned back, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest again. "Acha, Frosty, I'll leave now," I said, slowly getting up, even though I didn't really want to leave.
She blushed a little, her eyes softening. "Acha, bye... Aur haan, zyada tension mat lena, thik hai?" she reminded me, her voice gentle but insistent.
I nodded, lingering for just a moment longer. "Thik hai," I whispered, holding her gaze. For a second, it felt like time stood still—just the two of us in that quiet room.
With a final smile, I climbed out the window and made my way back home, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks.