4. Her Dhun

Happy Reading~

The classroom was silent, save for the faint hum of the ceiling fan and the golden spill of evening sunlight slanting through half-open windows. Dust motes drifted lazily in the glow, like tiny fireflies caught mid-dance.

Krivan paused at the doorway, his steps faltering when his eyes landed on her. Shrivika sat on the last bench, head bent low, fingers brushing gently across the guitar strings. The melody she played was soft, almost hesitant, as if she wasn't performing for an audience but confessing something only the empty room could keep.

Her lips curved faintly with concentration, a stray lock of hair falling across her face. She tucked it back impatiently without breaking rhythm, the sound swelling just a little louder, fuller. Krivan felt something tighten in his chest. For a moment, he simply stood there, unnoticed, watching her create a world where he was the outsider.

Her posture was unguarded, almost vulnerable, back slightly hunched, feet swinging lightly above the floor as if she didn't even notice the weight of silence around her. The tune that drifted from the guitar was neither polished nor perfect, a note here, a slip there. But it was alive. The kind of melody that filled the empty corners of the room and clung to the air like a secret.

Krivan's eyes softened despite himself. He wasn't supposed to stare, yet he couldn't look away. The sunlight brushed across her profile, painting her skin with warmth and making her look like she belonged to some place outside of his reach. His heart thudded harder than he liked to admit, and for the first time he realized how easily someone could be pulled into another's orbit without even a word exchanged.

Shrivika, oblivious, kept strumming, her lips moving as if mouthing the lyrics silently. When the strings caught and the sound faltered, she let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head before trying again. That little, unguarded smile was what undid him completely.

Krivan's hand gripped the edge of the doorframe. He knew he should step away before she noticed him, before the spell broke, but his feet refused to move. Something in him wanted to keep watching, to remember this exact image. Shrivika, alone in the amber glow, lost in a world of music where he was nothing but a silent intruder.

"Mm-mm

Hm-mm, oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh"

Krivan froze. She was just humming but her voice didn't just carry the melody, it carried the feelings expelling from deep inside her heart.

"Shohratein to nahi hain mili

Naa raees hoon main bada

Jeb mein hai nahi kuch magar

Aas hai jo wo sun le zara"

(I haven't achieved any fame, neither am I very rich. There's nothing in my pocket but, still I have hope, please hear it once.)

The words hit him in the right place. The melody, the lyrics, the strumming of the guitar everything screamed peace. His heart was so full listening to her it was already overflowing with raw emotions. It was like a heart was laid bare.

"Tere iss dil ko churaane ke liye

Hai yahi ek dhun

Sanam ko apna banaane ke liye

Hai yahi ek dhun

Hai yahi ek dhun"

(To steal this heart of yours, this is the only melody I have. To make my beloved mine, this is the only melody I have, the only melody I have.)

The chorus was so well written, he felt like he was sitting under the stars on a beach as waves hit the shore with a gentle splash and wind tickled his face. He felt peace. Her fingers strummed gently, the chorus lifting his spirits, stirring something unfamiliar, he could feel every note, every word.

"Jab bhi barsaat aaye, palkon mein dhaank lunga

Na kami koi khalegi, tujhe itna pyaar dunga

Chaand-taare le aaun, hai ye to mumkin nahi

Par vaada hai ye kasam se, tere saath main rahunga

Tere saath main rahunga"

(Whenever it rains, I'll shelter you in my eyelashes. You won't feel any emptiness, I'll love you so much. I can't bring you the moon and stars but I swear on my life, I'll always be with you. Always be with you.)

He always enjoys songs eyes closed, to feel them more but today he couldn't take his eyes off the girl in front of him. She looked ethereal, the kind of beauty he couldn't express in words.

"Ye main daawa nahi kar raha

Koi Taj Mahal hai mera

Naam ki chand deewarein hain

Jinko hi ghar main kehta raha"

(I ain't making any big claims that I own the Taj Mahal. I have just a few walls that I call my home.)

His clenched fists started to relax a bit as he started to sway with the gentle music being played in front of him. He has never heard this song before but it is her composition.

"Tere iss ghar ko sajaane ke liye

Hai yahi ek dhun

Sanam ko apna banaane ke liye

Hai yahi ek dhun

Hai yahi ek dhun"

(To decorate this home of yours, this is the only melody I have. To make my beloved mine, this is the only melody I have. The only melody I have.)

Each word felt personal, as if she was unknowingly peeling herself open, piece by piece, in front of him. There was something so delicate in the way her voice trembled at the edges. Not because she lacked control, no. It was because she felt too much. And he felt it too.

That line echoed in his mind long after she'd sung it. It felt like a mirror. Like something inside him had just been named. That quiet ache he'd never confessed. That unspoken connection he was feeling with a girl he did not even know the name of.

"Tere iss dil ko churaane ke liye

Hai yahi ek dhun"

(To steal this heart of yours, this is the only melody I have.)

She ended the song gently with a final strum of the guitar in the end. No applause, no performance, just silence and awe in the room.

He felt a wet sensation on his cheek, his hand immediately went towards it. He did not even realise when his tears started spilling. He rarely cries when hearing a song, but this one, this one touched his heart.

He was about to enter the room as an invisible force pulled him towards her, he atleast wanted to know her name but the serene silence was abruptly broken by the shrill sound of the bell ringing indicating recess time.

Amongst the loud voices of students sighing they got a break and gossips following around a particular voice caught his attention,

"Krivan! Tu yahan kya kar raha hai? Chal canteen chalte Meenakshi Ma'am ne mera saara khoon pi liya hai mujhe energy refill chahiye." Atharv groaned dramatically stretching his arms over him.

(Krivan! What are you doing here? Come on let's head to the canteen. Meenakshi Ma'am has drained all of my blood I need an energy refill.)

Krivan looked at Atharv and nodded taking a look back at the classroom only to find it empty. With a heavy heart he accepted his fate as they walked towards the canteen making their way through the bustling crowd in the corridor.

___________

They entered the canteen like two undercover detectives entering a crime scene. A whiff of oil and spices hit their nose which was too strong to handle. Students were yelling orders, the sound of plates and spoons clinking, students laughing way too loud to be considered normal, girls sitting in groups gossiping their heart out meanwhile one boy stood on the table yelling.

Krivan was in disbelief at the scene in front of him. He has never seen such madness before. In a corner a group of boys cornered their friend to make him pay for the treat. He sighed and walked behind Atharv to the food counter and grabbed a plate and spoon.

They started going through the dishes gathering them in their plates. At least the food was good. Atharv kept his plate down on the corner seat of a big table followed by Krivan and sat down to eat.

Atharv took a spoonful of raita stuffing it in his mouth as he looked at Krivan, "Tera toh sahi hai principal office jaane ke bahane aadha period skip maar liya." Atharv mumbled through a mouthful of raita.

(Lucky you! You got to skip half of the period because of going to the principal office.)

Jealousy radiated from Atharv as he sulked while eating the food. Krivan was hesitant at first but slowly began eating as well.

Atharv eager to spark a conversation added lazily, "Toh school ke baad kya plans hai?"

(So what are your plans after school?)

"Bas piano bajaunga, padhai karunga aur yes sounga. Sleep is important."

(I'll just play some piano, study and yes I'll sleep. Sleep is important.)

Atharv's grin spread, "Bhai hum sab shaam mein football khelne jaate hai mai toh kehta hu padhai mein kya rakha hai kheloge koodoge toh banoge nawab."

(Bro we go to the ground to play football in the evening. I suggest that what's there in studies if you play and have fun you become happier.)

Krivan couldn't hold back the smile threatening to form on his face, "Theek hai thodi der ke liye aa jaunga."

(Okay I'll come for a while.)

Atharv smiled and continued eating when Krivan suddenly remembered something, "Atharv mujhe baaki ki class ke notes de dena."

(Atharv please give me the notes of the part I missed in the class.)

Atharv was going to say something when a voice cut them from behind, "Uske liye notes hone bhi toh chahiye aur iss insaan ne toh kabhi notebook bhi nahi banayi."

(For that he should have notes and this person didn't even made a notebook.)

Behind Atharv stood Samaira with a smirk and Shrivika who was not ready to tolerate another battle, with their plates in hand. Atharv sighed and put his spoon down to face her, "Tumhari rai yahan kisne maangi Ms. Vice Head Girl? And correction I do have a notebook it's just emotionally blank."

(Did anyone ask for your opinion Ms. Vice Head Girl? And correction, I do have a notebook it's just emotionally blank.)

Samaira bit her lip to hold back a smile and raised her eyebrows, "Blank like your future." Behind her Shrivika put a hand on her mouth as she silently cheered Samaira.

Atharv, still not letting go off his cocky smile added, "Isiliye padhaku logo ko Wi-Fi nahi dena chahiye. They get too bold."

(This is why they shouldn't give Wi-Fi to nerds. They get too bold.)

"At least mai apna Wi-Fi achhe kaam mein lagati na ki gaming mein."

(At least I use my Wi-Fi in important things and not gaming.)

"Kar leni chahiye gaming, at least uske colours and looks tumhare notebook mein ki gayi holi jaise toh nahi hote."

(Sometimes you should do gaming, at least its colours and looks are better than the Holi done in your notebook.)

Samaira wasn't going to back down, "At least I have something to colour."

Before Atharv could pull out a comeback she set her tray down next to Krivan and sat down to eat. Shrivika followed her and sat down next to Atharv. The atmosphere got tense as neither of those two spoke a word while Shrivika and Krivan just minded their own business with a few glances at each other.

Samaira suddenly noticed Krivan and extended a hand, "You're a new transfer right? Hi I'm Samaira and this is my best friend Shrivika."

Krivan looked at Shrivika and nodded, satisfied to finally find out her name.

"Hi, I am Krivan." He said softly.

"By the way, Krivan the school is having elections for a head boy or girl from class 12th. You should totally try out you look like a smart kid. Unlike someone else." Samira said while looking at Atharv with a disappointing look.

Atharv rolled his eyes and looked at her, "Mujhe shauk bhi nahi hai, teachers ki chamchagiri karne ka."

(I'm not even interested to be a teacher's pet.)

"Don't worry teachers tumse karwana bhi nahi chahti."

(Don't worry even teachers don't want you to be their pet.)

Atharv decided to stay quiet at that time to save his energy and just ate his food. Meanwhile, Krivan nodded, "Okay I'll think about it."

All of them ate in silence as the chatter in the background continued.

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