The school cultural day arrived, drenched in lights, music, and laughter. Stalls lined the courtyard, each classroom transformed into mini-exhibits. It was the most awaited event of the year—and for Karthik, the most nerve-wracking.
Not because of the performances.
But because he had made a decision.
He would tell Ananya. Maybe not with dramatic flair. Maybe not with roses or a grand speech. But honestly. Genuinely. Just him, finally saying the words his heart had been whispering for weeks.
---
He found her near the art gallery corner, dressed in a deep blue kurti, her hair braided and pinned with tiny jasmine flowers. She was laughing with a group of juniors. Her smile—effortless and blinding—made him pause.
How could someone like her ever fall for someone like him?
But she saw him. And that smile turned into something softer—reserved just for him.
"You came," she said, stepping toward him.
"I had to," he replied, heart racing.
They walked together to the quieter part of the school garden, now strung with fairy lights. It felt cinematic, but Karthik wasn't thinking about aesthetics.
He was thinking about how far they'd come.
"Ananya," he began, voice low, "I never imagined… someone like you would enter my world."
She tilted her head. "Someone like me?"
"Bright. Confident. Not afraid to take space. You've always been that person. And I've always been… afraid of being seen."
She looked at him, serious now.
"You've changed, Karthik. You're not the same boy who hid in the corner of the classroom."
"I'm still scared," he confessed. "But I'm learning to move through that fear. And… a big part of that is you."
The air felt thick with meaning.
He took a breath.
"I don't know what this is. But I know how I feel. I like you, Ananya. A lot."
She was quiet. Her eyes didn't widen in shock. She didn't step back.
Instead, she asked, "Are you saying that because you feel ready? Or because you're scared of losing me?"
He blinked.
She smiled gently. "I've known, Karthik. For a while. I was waiting for you to catch up."
He laughed—awkward, but relieved.
She stepped closer, just enough that her shoulder touched his.
"I like you too," she said softly. "And I want to see where this goes. But no rush. No drama."
He nodded. "No drama."
The bell rang in the distance—signaling the end of the day, but for them, it felt like a beginning.
They didn't kiss. They didn't hug.
They just stood there.
Together.
And for the first time in his life, Karthik felt… enough.
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End of Chapter 90 – End of Arc 3