ep 5

Just as Ritu reached for another bite, her phone buzzed with a message from Tanu:

Tanu: Swear to God, if you two don't admit this is foreplay , I am staging an intervention . with some snacks

She snorted.

“What?” Amrit asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

“Nothing,” she said quickly, locking her phone.

But her smirk said otherwise.

Amrit raised an eyebrow. “Now I’m curious.”

“You’ll survive,” she said, deliberately munching on the last bite of paratha. “Thanks for the food, malhotra.”

He watched her, almost smiling. “You’re welcome... sharma.”

There was something unusually soft in the way he said her name. Like he was trying it out in a different tone.

She blinked.

“Anyway,” he said, quickly standing up and collecting his books. “See you tomorrow. Or maybe not. Depends on whether you start the war again.”

Ritu tilted her head. “Oh, I will.”

He chuckled, then turned to go—but not before stealing one last glance over his shoulder.

And this time, Ritu didn’t hate the way her stomach flipped a little.

Not at all.

........................................................................................

The very next day, Ritu walked into class, only to find her usual spot was taken… by Amrit’s backpack, with a sticky note that read:

“Occupied. Apply for access with a bribe.”

She rolled her eyes but smirked, spotting him a few seats away, trying (and failing) to look innocent.

Just then, Tanu appeared beside Ritu, grinning. “Looks like malhotra's already upgraded his territory. Should we start charging rent?”

Ritu nudged Tanu playfully. “You’re just here for the drama.”

Tanu shrugged. “Guilty as charged. But hey, you’ll need to outsmart him if you want your seat back.”

Determined, Ritu pulled out a small packet of chips from her bag and slid it across the desk toward Amrit. “Bribe accepted?”

He glanced at the chips, then at her, a slow smile spreading. “Negotiations underway.”

As Ritu settled into a new seat, Amrit leaned over and whispered, “By the way, your ‘war’ is adorable. Try not to lose.”

Her heart did a little flip, and she shot back, “Only amateurs lose wars.”

Tanu, watching the exchange, whispered loudly enough for both to hear, “I’ll take bets on who caves first.”

Amrit and Ritu exchanged a quick look—and the battle was on.

As the teacher droned on, Tanu kept nudging Ritu with whispered updates.

“Okay, sharma , he just accidentally dropped his pen. Classic distraction move.”

Ritu rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile.

Amrit caught her smirk and flicked a pen at her—gently, but with perfect aim.

“War tactic number two,” he mouthed.

“Cute,” she whispered back, flicking a crumb from her desk onto his.

Tanu giggled. “And the peace talks begin with food warfare. I’m taking notes.”

Amrit leaned closer and said, “You know, you’re actually fun to spar with.”

Ritu raised an eyebrow. “Careful, malhotra , that sounds dangerously close to a compliment.”

He shrugged with a grin. “Maybe I’m just warming up.”

Tanu, ever the instigator, whispered, “Or maybe you’re secretly enjoying losing.”

Both of them shot her a look that said, Not funny.

But Tanu only laughed louder.

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