Vidushi stared at the rows of chairs in the school auditorium, her fingers tapping nervously against her notebook. The debate competition was in full swing, but her mind was elsewhere. The annual school festival was just around the corner, and Vidushi had already been roped into organizing the dance event, the one thing she didn’t care about. Dancing wasn’t her thing—arguing, on the other hand, was.

As the moderator called for the next speaker, Vidushi shifted her gaze towards the stage. Standing there was Kunal—tall, confident, with that signature half-smile that made girls swoon and teachers question their judgment. He didn’t look at her, but she knew he was aware of her presence. Everyone was. She was, after all, the girl who never backed down from a fight, the one who could make a grown man sweat just with a single glare.

But Kunal? He was different. Cool, calculated, and with the kind of quiet confidence that made him seem untouchable. He was popular, sure, but not in the way Vidushi cared about. He was reserved, mysterious, and always surrounded by a crowd.

That didn't bother Vidushi—until now. She had no idea why her blood was boiling as she watched him adjust the mic, a smirk playing at the edge of his lips. But she wasn’t going to let that slide. Not in her world.

"Next, we have Kunal Sharma from the Student Council to speak about the upcoming festival," the moderator announced.

The room fell silent. Vidushi's breath caught in her throat for a second. This was the moment where her hatred for everything he stood for would come to life.

Kunal stepped up to the podium, his dark eyes sweeping over the crowd as if he already knew he had their attention. He didn't need to try hard—he never did. His presence was enough to make people listen. His voice was steady and clear, outlining plans for the festival with an air of someone who had everything figured out.

The topic: the importance of teamwork for the school festival.

Vidushi nearly rolled her eyes. Teamwork? She'd been planning events for years without anyone’s help, and now she was supposed to play nice with a guy like him? Not in a million years.

As he spoke, Vidushi's thoughts drifted. The words "school festival" kept echoing in her mind. She had no interest in working on some cheesy event with him, especially after what she’d seen him do to others. Kunal had a reputation for taking over projects, making sure everything ran according to his plan. He had the charm to make it look effortless, but Vidushi knew better.

"Once the committee is formed, we’ll need volunteers," Kunal continued, his eyes scanning the room. "I hope you all consider participating, as this is an event that will define our year."

And there it was. The proposal that made Vidushi’s stomach twist. Of course, she was expected to join in. She had been part of the planning committee since the beginning of high school, but this year, it felt like everyone was looking for an excuse to drag her into the mess of it all.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the debate. Vidushi stood up quickly, her chair scraping loudly across the floor. As the room began to clear out, she caught Kunal’s eye. His smirk was still in place, but now, there was a flicker of something else—something like recognition.

She didn’t flinch.

“I’m not doing it,” Vidushi muttered to herself as she made her way toward the door.

The thing was, she couldn’t afford to back down. Not now. Not with her reputation on the line.

As she stepped into the corridor, she heard a voice call out from behind her.

“Vidushi, wait up.”

She turned, meeting the piercing gaze of Kunal, who was now walking towards her with a casual confidence.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Vidushi snapped, the sarcasm thick in her voice. “What is it this time? Want me to help you run things?”

Kunal raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just wondering if you'd want to be on the same team for the festival. I’ve been told you’re good at... causing chaos. Thought you might be interested in putting that to good use.”

Vidushi’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t show it. She’d spent years building up a reputation for being fiercely independent and fearless. She wasn’t about to let Kunal Sharma, with his cocky grin and popular-boy status, ruin that.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” she replied, turning on her heel. “You and I both know I don’t play by the rules.”

Kunal laughed, the sound deep and effortless. “Oh, I know. That’s what makes you interesting.”

Vidushi walked away, her pulse quickening. She couldn’t figure out why the mere thought of working with him stirred something deep inside her. Was it anger? Frustration? Or something else entirely?

But one thing was for sure. This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

The next few days were a whirlwind. The school festival planning committee was in full swing, and Vidushi was still trying to ignore the nagging feeling that something was off. She'd successfully avoided most of the preliminary meetings, telling herself she wasn’t needed and that the event could function just fine without her. After all, it always did.

But today, when she walked into the school courtyard, she saw the unavoidable—Kunal was there, chatting animatedly with the committee members, his usual entourage of followers hanging on to his every word. Vidushi felt the stirrings of annoyance creeping in. Why was he always so... perfect? Always in control, always so damn likable. It was sickening.

"Hey, Vidushi!" A voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned around to see her best friend, Meenakshi, waving her down.

"I thought you were going to skip the meeting today?" Meenakshi said, her voice laced with amusement as she fell in step beside Vidushi. "You really do hate these things, don’t you?"

"I don’t hate them," Vidushi muttered, though it was clear she wasn’t in the mood. "I just... I don’t need to babysit people who think they’re in charge of everything."

“Speaking of, have you seen Kunal yet?” Meenakshi asked, clearly teasing her. “Isn’t it funny how every time he’s in the same room as you, you can practically feel the tension?”

Vidushi rolled her eyes. “It’s not funny. It’s annoying. And no, I haven’t seen him.”

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Kunal’s voice rang out, cutting through the chatter of the courtyard.

“Vidushi!” He called, his eyes glinting as they met hers.

Vidushi froze. Damn it. She had been hoping for just a few more minutes of peace before this inevitable encounter.

Kunal was leaning against one of the tables, looking effortlessly casual in his school uniform. The other students surrounding him had already dispersed, clearly aware that whatever conversation was about to happen would be between them.

"I thought I told you I wasn’t joining," Vidushi said coldly, crossing her arms.

“Oh, I’m not here to beg you,” Kunal said with a lazy smirk. "You’ll be joining. I’m just here to... officially drag you in." His tone was playful but with an edge that made it clear he wasn’t asking for her permission.

Vidushi narrowed her eyes. “I’m not a puppet, Kunal. No one drags me into anything.”

He shrugged, looking completely unfazed. "Look, I don’t care if you want to help or not. But here's the deal—you're the best at making things happen in a way no one else can. Everyone else might be playing it safe, but we need someone who’s willing to step out of line." His smile turned almost conspiratorial. “And let’s face it, you love chaos.”

Vidushi was taken aback for a moment. No one had ever called her out quite like that. Sure, she loved stirring things up, but he had a point. The idea of staying out of the festival planning was appealing, but a small part of her knew she could make a bigger impact if she got involved. She was a force when she put her mind to it.

But the last thing she wanted was to admit that Kunal had anything to do with her decision.

“Fine,” she snapped, feigning indifference. “But I’m not doing it because of you. I’m doing it because it’s the only thing worth doing around here.”

Kunal’s grin widened, and he extended his hand toward her. “I like your attitude, Vidushi. Welcome aboard.”

Reluctantly, Vidushi shook his hand, but she felt a jolt run through her at the brief contact. She quickly withdrew her hand and turned away, pretending it didn’t matter.

“Now, where’s the real work?” Vidushi asked, trying to regain control of the situation.

“Well, if you want to jump in headfirst, the first step is organizing the dance event,” Kunal replied, his tone light. “And yes, I know you don’t like dancing, but that’s where your chaos expertise comes in.”

Vidushi snorted. “Just because I don’t dance doesn’t mean I’m the best choice for this. But fine, let’s get this over with.”

“You’re not as immune to fun as you think,” Kunal shot back with a laugh. “We’ll see how long it takes for you to change your mind.”

Vidushi shot him a glare. “Don’t hold your breath.”

As they walked toward the planning area, Vidushi’s mind was racing. Being in close proximity to Kunal was something she wasn’t prepared for. Every time they exchanged words, it felt like a battle, but one that left her both frustrated and oddly intrigued. Kunal’s confidence wasn’t like anyone else’s—it was almost disarming. It made her want to prove him wrong at every turn, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny that there was a spark, something that made her feel both alive and angry in ways she didn’t understand.

The committee room was buzzing with activity when they arrived. There were a few other students already gathered, looking to make suggestions for the festival. Vidushi couldn’t help but notice how quickly Kunal took charge, rallying the group with a few well-timed words.

“You’re going to need to take charge of the dance preparations,” Kunal said, turning to Vidushi. “I’m trusting you to get things done—your way.”

Vidushi didn’t trust herself to speak at first. She was tempted to turn down the responsibility again, to find another excuse to back out. But deep down, a part of her was tired of being on the sidelines. Maybe it was time to stop pretending she didn’t care.

She nodded, her voice surprisingly steady. “Alright. But don’t expect me to play by anyone else’s rules.”

Kunal raised an eyebrow, his smirk never fading. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

And just like that, the first seeds of something deeper—something dangerous—were planted between them.

The following days were a blur of preparations, rehearsals, and non-stop chaos. The school festival was only a few weeks away, and Vidushi found herself unexpectedly at the center of it all. As the one “in charge” of organizing the dance event, she was meeting with the choreographers, the lighting crew, and the performers—most of whom seemed to fall into one of two categories: overly enthusiastic or completely clueless.

And all the while, Kunal seemed to be everywhere. Despite his effortless charm and the way he made everything seem so simple, Vidushi could feel a subtle shift. She was no longer just the fiery, sarcastic girl he loved to challenge. She was becoming something more—a force he needed to reckon with.

“Vidushi, you’ve got this under control, right?” Kunal’s voice cut through her thoughts as she stood in front of the dancers, clipboard in hand.

“Why do you keep asking me that?” Vidushi snapped, not looking at him. She was irritated, but she couldn’t deny that she appreciated how well everything was running so far. For once, she wasn’t struggling to make people listen. But damn it, why did it have to be him who noticed?

“I’m just checking. You’ve got the whole thing running smoothly,” Kunal said, his tone more genuine than she expected. “I wouldn’t want anyone screwing it up.”

Vidushi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “You don’t trust anyone to do anything, do you?”

He smirked, leaning against the table where she was working. “Not when it comes to something important. And this is important. Besides, you’re the only one I’ve seen who knows how to take charge and actually get things done without drama.”

“Drama?” Vidushi scoffed, trying to keep her face neutral. “Who said anything about drama?”

“Come on, Vidushi. You thrive on it,” Kunal teased, his voice laced with mockery. “It’s practically your brand.”

She shot him a sharp glance, fighting the heat creeping up her neck. “You really know how to get under my skin.”

“I do what I can,” he replied, unbothered. He seemed almost too amused by her reaction. “So, when do I get to see your big plan for the dance?”

Vidushi narrowed her eyes. “It’s going to be spectacular,” she said, though she wasn’t sure if she meant it or if she was just saying that to shut him up.

“Well, that’s good to hear. You’ve got the moves, I’ve seen that. But this—” he gestured to the room, “—needs more than just enthusiasm. It needs precision, timing. We don’t want to embarrass ourselves.”

The word "we" caught her attention. She glanced up at him, only to find that he was still watching her with that casual yet intense focus that made her feel slightly uneasy. It wasn’t the first time he had made her feel like she was the center of his attention.

“I know how to make things work,” she said firmly, trying to take control of the moment. “And this won’t be like the disasters you usually see. People will remember this festival for the right reasons.”

“Good,” Kunal said with a nod. “I’d hate for you to disappoint me.”

Vidushi blinked. “Why would you care?”

Kunal’s grin widened, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Maybe I just like watching you squirm.”

It was the way he said it—so effortlessly, so confidently—that made her feel her irritation mix with something else, something far less comfortable.

The rehearsal went on, the day slipping into a blur of music, movement, and whispered instructions. But in the back of her mind, Vidushi couldn't stop thinking about Kunal’s words.

The Dance Rehearsal

A few days later, after a particularly exhausting round of dance rehearsals, Vidushi found herself in the school’s gymnasium, packing away her things. The dancers were breaking into small groups to go over their routines, and Vidushi was ready to head home. She just wanted to get away from the noise, from the drama of managing people who either didn’t care or couldn’t get the steps right.

But then she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Hey,” Kunal’s voice was low, almost too casual. She turned to find him standing just behind her, looking as effortlessly cool as ever.

“Let me guess,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re here to check up on me again?”

“Actually,” Kunal started, his gaze intense, “I wanted to apologize.”

Vidushi blinked, caught off guard. “Apologize for what? Making my life hell?”

“For that too,” he replied with a smirk, “but also... for earlier. You know, when I said you thrived on drama.”

Vidushi narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge if he was being serious or just playing around. “You’re apologizing for calling me dramatic?”

“I mean, you are,” he said with a shrug, “but I’ve been thinking... maybe I pushed you too hard. You know, with the whole ‘chaos’ thing.”

Vidushi raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. This was a side of Kunal she hadn’t seen. “Oh? What’s this? Are you finally admitting you don’t know everything?”

Kunal laughed. “I’ll never admit that. But I will say this—you’re better at this than I thought. Running this dance event, I mean. I didn’t think anyone could get these guys to actually listen.”

She stared at him for a long moment. “Thanks, I guess,” she said, trying not to sound too surprised. “It’s not exactly rocket science.”

“I know,” Kunal said, still watching her with an intensity that made her feel oddly exposed. “But it takes someone special to get people to follow them. And you’ve got that.”

Vidushi could feel her pulse quicken, the usual mix of irritation and curiosity rising in her. “Don’t go getting all serious on me now, Kunal. It’s just a dance.”

“Is it?” he asked, his voice quieter now. “Or is it something more?”

Vidushi stared at him for a second, unsure of what he meant or what he was getting at. The chemistry between them was undeniable, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to navigate whatever this was becoming.

“Let’s just focus on the festival,” she said, turning away before she could say anything else. Her heart was racing, and she hated how much she wanted to figure him out.

She heard Kunal’s footsteps behind her, but when he spoke again, his voice was almost playful.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he said.

Vidushi’s heart skipped a beat, but she refused to acknowledge it. She had bigger things to focus on than figuring out what this mess of a relationship with Kunal was supposed to be.

But deep down, something told her it wasn’t just going to be another ordinary festival.