Chapter 4: Tension In The Air

The school festival was officially only a week away, and Vidushi felt the weight of the deadline pressing down on her like a ton of bricks. Rehearsals for the dance were in full swing, with everyone finally starting to get their steps right. But despite the palpable excitement, there was something more... something she couldn't shake.

Kunal.

Every time he came around, Vidushi felt a jolt of electricity, followed by a flood of irritation. He’d started showing up at her rehearsal sessions more frequently, offering advice that, against her better judgment, she had to admit was actually helpful. He wasn’t just here to disrupt her—he was serious about making sure everything went off without a hitch. The thing was, she hated that he was right.

His presence was a constant distraction, pulling her focus away from the festival preparations and onto... him. And she hated it even more that he seemed oblivious to the effect he was having on her.

The day’s rehearsal had just ended, and Vidushi was packing up her things when she saw Kunal standing near the bleachers, his arms crossed, watching her. She felt a flare of annoyance and annoyance alone. She wasn’t sure why she was even bothered.

“What now, Kunal?” she asked, trying to keep her tone steady, though the frustration seeped through.

Kunal raised an eyebrow, looking like he was fighting back a grin. “Just wanted to see if everything’s going according to plan,” he replied, leaning casually against the wall. “I know you’re the boss around here.”

“Boss, huh?” Vidushi scoffed, turning back to the table to gather her things. “Don’t get too used to it.”

Kunal chuckled, his voice smooth. “I’m just saying, you’ve got everything under control. For once.”

Her heart raced in a way that didn’t make sense, and she refused to acknowledge it. “You’re just trying to mess with me.”

“Not trying to mess with you, Vidushi,” he said, taking a step closer. “I just admire your confidence. It’s... rare.”

Her breath caught at the intensity in his voice. “Don’t flatter yourself,” she muttered, but there was no denying the slight flutter of something in her chest.

Kunal didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I wasn’t flattering you. I meant it.”

Vidushi was about to respond when someone else interrupted them. “Hey, Vidushi!” A familiar voice called out. It was Meenakshi, her best friend, coming up to them with a wide grin. “How’s the rehearsal going?”

“Better than I expected,” Vidushi replied, giving her friend a knowing look. Meenakshi’s eyes flickered to Kunal, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Uh-huh,” Meenakshi said, clearly amused. “I see you two are still... getting along?”

Vidushi glared at her, feeling her face heat up. “We’re fine. Just working together, that’s all.”

Meenakshi raised both hands in mock surrender. “Sure, sure. If you say so.”

Kunal smirked, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Just making sure everything goes according to plan,” he said, his gaze flicking to Meenakshi.

Vidushi quickly cut in, trying to redirect the conversation. “Anyway, what’s up, Meenakshi?”

“Oh, I was just wondering if you wanted to grab something to eat,” Meenakshi replied, clearly not ready to let the awkwardness of the situation go. “I need a break from all this schoolwork.”

Vidushi nodded, grateful for the change of subject. “Sure, I could use a break too.”

As she turned to leave, she gave Kunal one last look. He was standing there, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face. Was he always this intense, or was it just her? She couldn’t tell anymore.

“See you around, Kunal,” Vidushi said coolly, before walking off with Meenakshi.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Kunal than he was letting on, and that left her feeling more than a little unsettled.

The Party

The weekend arrived faster than Vidushi expected. The school had organized a pre-festival party, something to build excitement for the upcoming event. She wasn’t particularly thrilled about it—parties weren’t exactly her scene. But Meenakshi and a few others insisted, and Vidushi wasn’t about to be the wet blanket.

As soon as they entered the venue, she was hit with loud music, flashing lights, and the hum of teenage energy. It was chaotic and exhilarating. Meenakshi quickly dragged her toward the dance floor, and Vidushi gave in, allowing herself to be swept up in the rhythm of the crowd.

What she didn’t expect, though, was to find Kunal at the bar.

“Can I help you with something?” she asked, her voice carrying over the music as she approached him.

Kunal looked up from his drink and smirked. “Just enjoying the party. Are you going to dance, or are you just here to supervise?”

Vidushi scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “You really think I’m going to dance with all these... people?”

Kunal shrugged, his eyes lighting up with that familiar mischievous gleam. “Come on, Vidushi. You’ve got the moves. I saw you back at rehearsal.”

The comment took her by surprise, but instead of getting defensive, she found herself rolling her eyes. “Maybe I’ll dance, maybe I won’t. Not that it’s any of your business.”

Before Kunal could respond, Vidushi felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around to see one of her classmates, a guy named Raghav, with a hopeful expression.

“Hey, Vidushi! Would you like to dance?” he asked, his voice a bit nervous.

Vidushi hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Kunal, who had already taken a step back, watching her with an unreadable expression. Without thinking too much about it, she turned back to Raghav.

“Sure,” she said, offering a small smile.

Kunal’s eyes narrowed as he observed the scene, and Vidushi felt a strange sense of satisfaction that he was watching. She didn’t care, of course. But as she followed Raghav to the dance floor, she couldn’t shake the thought that maybe she did care a little more than she was willing to admit.

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