Chapter 5

A few days later, both families were invited to a family function.

The house was filled with relatives, laughter, music, and endless conversations. Everyone seemed busy talking, eating, and catching up after a long time.

Arjun arrived with his parents, expecting it to be just another family gathering.

He wasn't particularly excited.

He greeted a few relatives and quietly stood beside his parents, listening to their conversations.

Then, suddenly, his eyes stopped.

**Shasha.**

She was there.

After almost a year, he was seeing her again.

For a few seconds, Arjun couldn't move.

The girl who had remained only in his memories for the past year was standing right in front of him.

She looked a little different now.

College had changed her. She seemed more confident and mature, but her smile was still the same.

Arjun's heart filled with happiness.

*She's here.*

He couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on his face.

Shasha was talking with some relatives when she noticed him.

She looked at him for a moment.

“Arjun?”

He smiled.

“Hi.”

She smiled back.

“It's been a long time.”

“Yeah... almost a year.”

“I didn't know you were coming.”

“Me neither.”

They both laughed softly.

It was only a short conversation, but for Arjun, it meant much more.

After a year of silence, he had finally heard her voice again.

---

### **The Silent Admiration**

As the function continued, Arjun tried to behave normally.

He sat with his relatives, answered questions when people spoke to him, and pretended to be interested in the conversations around him.

But his eyes kept searching for Shasha.

She was talking with her cousins.

Then she helped one of the elders.

A few minutes later, she was laughing with her friends.

Arjun noticed every little thing.

He didn't intentionally follow her.

His eyes simply found her.

Whenever she smiled, he smiled.

Whenever she laughed, he couldn't help looking.

He knew he shouldn't stare too much, so whenever she looked in his direction, he quickly looked away.

But sometimes their eyes met.

And every time it happened, Arjun's heart beat a little faster.

For him, simply being near her was enough.

---

### **Aarna Notices**

Someone else had started noticing.

**Aarna.**

She had been watching her younger brother for some time.

At first, she wondered why Arjun seemed unusually happy.

Then she noticed where his eyes were going.

**Shasha.**

Again and again.

Aarna noticed the way Arjun looked at her.

She noticed how his face changed whenever Shasha came near.

She understood something was different.

Aarna already hated Shasha and had never liked her.

But she didn't question Arjun.

She didn't tease him.

She didn't even mention what she had noticed.

She simply remained silent and watched.

---

### **A Small Conversation**

Later, everyone sat together for dinner.

By coincidence, Shasha ended up sitting a few places away from Arjun.

After a few moments, she looked at him.

“So, how are your studies going?”

“Good,” Arjun replied.

“Still a topper?”

He smiled.

“Trying to be.”

Shasha laughed.

“I knew it.”

Arjun smiled.

“You're studying BCA, right?”

“Yes. First year.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah. It's different from school, but I'm enjoying it.”

Arjun nodded.

He wanted to continue talking, but he couldn't think of anything else to say.

Shasha smiled at him.

“You're still quiet.”

Arjun laughed softly.

“Maybe I haven't changed.”

For a moment, they simply smiled at each other.

It was an ordinary conversation.

But Arjun knew he would remember it for a long time.

---

### **Before She Left**

The function slowly came to an end.

Everyone began saying goodbye.

Shasha stood beside her parents, ready to leave.

Before walking away, she looked toward Arjun.

“Bye, Arjun.”

“Bye, Shasha.”

She smiled and left.

Arjun watched her until she disappeared from his sight.

Aarna was standing nearby.

She had seen everything.

She looked at Arjun silently.

She already knew that his feelings for Shasha were stronger than before.

But she didn't say anything.

Not yet.

That night, after returning home, Arjun sat quietly on his bed.

He kept thinking about the day.

Her smile.

Their conversation.

The way she had remembered him.

After one whole year, the feelings he had tried to forget had returned as if they had never left.

He smiled to himself.

Maybe it was only a small feeling.

Maybe it was just his first love.

But one thing was certain—

**Seeing Shasha again had made his lonely world feel a little less lonely.**

And somewhere inside Aarna's mind, the sight of Arjun watching Shasha remained.

She had noticed everything.

And perhaps, one day, that silence would finally break.

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