Epilogue part 1 #3
Aaradhya slowly scanned him from head to toe. Then she looked at his face.
"You must be kidding me. First learn how to wipe your dirty nose."
The boy immediately touched his nose and looked embarrassed. "You're so bad..." he muttered before walking away.
Riya burst into laughter. Another boy quickly stepped forward, trying his luck.
"Well, Aaradhya... my nose is clean, so..." Aaradhya stood up and walked around him, inspecting him like a judge at a competition.
She stopped in front of him. "It looks like you haven't bathed for days." The boy's smile disappeared. "What?! I bathed this morning!"
"Then your morning was clearly not successful," Aaradhya replied matter-of-factly. Riya nearly choked on her food trying not to laugh.
The boy walked away, muttering, "She's impossible." Aaradhya simply sat back down.
Riya shook her head. "At this rate, you'll have no partner left."
Aaradhya confidently shrugged. "Then I'll dance alone."
From the nearby bench, Abhimanyu-who had been silently listening to the entire conversation-finally looked up from his lunch.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Good luck finding someone foolish
enough to tolerate you," he muttered.
Aaradhya immediately turned toward Abhimanyu, her eyes narrowing when she saw the smug expression on his face. She walked straight toward him and stopped in front of his desk.
"Aren't you going to try?" she asked. Abhimanyu looked up at her innocently. "Try? For what, Princess?"
"Of course, to impress me for the dance competition," Aaradhya said confidently.
Abhimanyu let out a small chuckle. "Why would I do that? I don't need to impress you and waste my energy on you."
Aaradhya stared at him in disbelief.
"You!" She pointed an accusing finger at him. Abhimanyu leaned back in his chair, looking far too pleased with himself. "Anyway, I'm going to win. And you'll lose because you don't even have a partner."
Aaradhya's eyes widened.
"Who said I don't have a partner?"
She quickly looked around and spotted a quiet, nerdy-looking boy sitting nearby. He wore round glasses and was peacefully reading his book, completely unaware of the disaster approaching him.
Aaradhya marched over, grabbed his hand, and pulled him to his feet. "He is my dance partner!" she announced proudly, looking straight at Abhimanyu.
The poor boy blinked several times.
"Uh... Aaradhya..."
"What?" she asked.
"I... already have a partner."
Aaradhya froze.
Abhimanyu immediately covered his mouth, trying to hide his laughter. The boy gently pulled his hand back. "Sorry..."
Aaradhya stood there, utterly humiliated. Abhimanyu finally couldn't hold it anymore.
He burst out laughing.
"Princess," he said between laughs, "you really know how to choose your partners."
Aaradhya slowly turned toward him.
"Don't. You. Dare."
His laughter only grew louder. She narrowed her eyes. "Just wait, Abhimanyu. I'll find a partner who is better than you."
Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow.
"I'll be waiting."
Riya quickly pulled Aaradhya aside before she could throw another comeback at Abhimanyu.
"Stop fighting with him! It's better if you both become partners," Riya whispered. "No! Never!" Aaradhya immediately protested.
"You stupid!" Riya rolled her eyes. "Do you want to win or not?" Aaradhya crossed her arms.
"With that attitude of yours, no one is even willing to be your partner. He's the only one capable enough, so better choose him. And think about it-Abhimanyu actually dances pretty well too."
Aaradhya went quiet. She slowly turned her head and looked toward Abhimanyu. She narrowed her eyes. "He really does dance well..."
Riya smiled. "Exactly." Aaradhya glanced at him again. Then her face scrunched up.
"But he's so annoying."
"Winning requires sacrifice."
Aaradhya sighed dramatically.
"Fine... maybe I'll ask him."
Riya's eyes widened. "Really?" Aaradhya immediately pointed at her.
"But don't get excited. I'm only doing this because I want to win."
"Of course," Riya said, trying not to laugh. Aaradhya took a deep breath and started walking toward Abhimanyu.
Behind her, Riya whispered to herself, "This is going to be fun."
Aaradhya marched straight toward Abhimanyu. "I want to talk," she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward a quieter corner of corridor.
Abhimanyu looked at her with an amused expression. "Princess, people might get the wrong idea." Aaradhya immediately let go of his hand and glared at him.
They stopped near the empty corridor.
"Listen carefully," she said, folding her arms. "Since you have no partner, I have to be nice and step in to help you."
Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You're excused," Aaradhya replied without missing a beat. "I'll do you this favour. Since you're practically begging, I'll be your partner." Abhimanyu stared at her for a second.
"Begging?"
"Yes."
"I never asked you."
"Details."
He shook his head, trying not to laugh.
Aaradhya pointed a finger at him. "And listen, we have to win. No matter what. I hate losing."
Abhimanyu crossed his arms. "You really think you can win with me?"
She smirked.
"No, Abhimanyu. We are going to win."
For the first time, his teasing expression softened into a competitive smile.
"Deal, Princess."
Aaradhya's eyes lit up with excitement. "So after these summer holidays, we're going to compete in the Best Jodi Dance Competition!" Abhimanyu smiled at her enthusiasm. "Looks like it."
"Promise?" she asked, holding out her little pinky finger toward him. "Promise we'll win?"
Abhimanyu looked at her pinky, then at her determined face. A small chuckle escaped him before he hooked his pinky around hers.
"Promise," he said. "We'll win."
Aaradhya smiled brightly . Abhimanyu smiled back. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Their little fingers remained intertwined as they stood there, completely unaware that this tiny promise would become the beginning of something neither of them could have imagined.