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Chapter 6 - Friendship With a Pulse

"Some friendships don't need labels.

You just feel it — the tension, the warmth… the pull."

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They never said it out loud, but things had changed.

They started walking out of class together — silently at first, then with small words.

Avni didn't remember when she saved his number.

She just knew that now, every time her phone buzzed…

she wanted it to be him.

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One evening, he sent a message.

Rishi: "Aaj mausam kuch alag hai na?"

Avni stared at the message longer than needed.

Why did such a normal sentence make her smile?

Avni: "Thoda soft hai… jaise kisi ne dard chhupa liya ho."

Rishi: "Tum hamesha itna deep likhti ho?"

Avni: "Tum hamesha itna notice karte ho?"

He didn't reply for a moment.

Then:

Rishi: "Bas tum tak rukta hoon."

Her fingers froze.

Her heart… didn't.

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They weren't dating.

They weren't even officially close.

But he started remembering her exam dates.

She started noticing his favorite songs.

He brought her a pen one day.

She saved the wrapper of a chocolate he gave her.

It was friendship.

But it had a heartbeat.

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And late that night, lying in her bed, eyes on the ceiling,

she whispered to herself…

"Rishi… Tum dost ho. Bas dost ho… na?"

But her heart didn't answer.

Because it already knew.

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