After that conversation with Aarav, Anaya felt like she had lost all hope. His words echoed in her mind.
"We don't become like before because now I can't unsee it."
She should give up. Move on. Forget him.
But how could she? Aarav wasn't just someone she liked—he was her best friend. And she wasn't ready to lose him.
So, she decided to start over.
The next day, she walked up to him like nothing had happened.
"Hey, Aarav! Did you finish Mr. Mehta's assignment? I swear he's trying to make our lives miserable," she joked, forcing a casual tone.
Aarav looked surprised but gave a small nod. "Yeah… kind of."
It wasn't the same, but at least it was something.
Day by day, she kept trying—joining in conversations, cracking jokes, refusing to let the awkwardness win. She wasn't sure if Aarav noticed or if he was just playing along, but for now, this was enough.
---
The Annual Function & The Drama Selection
As days passed, excitement filled the school halls—the annual function was coming up, and this year, the biggest highlight was the grand drama performance: Cinderella.
When the lead roles were announced, everyone was shocked—Aarav had been chosen as Prince Charming.
Anaya's heart raced. This was her chance.
If she became Cinderella, maybe things could change between them. Maybe, on stage, under the bright lights, they could find their way back to each other.
Determined, she poured all her energy into the auditions.
But she wasn't the only one. Misha, another talented student, also had her eyes on the role. Their performances were so strong that the judges couldn't decide between them.
"We'll leave it to a vote," the drama teacher announced. "All the drama participants will cast their vote, and whoever gets the most votes will be our Cinderella."
Excitement buzzed through the room as the votes were counted.
But just as the results were about to be announced, someone pointed out, "Wait! One person is missing."
It was Aarav.
He had been running late for some reason, and now, his vote was the tie-breaker.
Anaya held her breath as Aarav finally walked in.
His decision would change everything.