**EPISODE 7 – *"Arjun's Almost Confession"***
The quiz tension didn't fade.
If anything, it lingered in the air between the three of them like a storm waiting to break.
The next day began quietly—almost too quietly for Bhanu's liking.
---
## **A Nervous Morning**
Bhanu walked into class hoping—praying—for peace.
But fate never listened to her.
As soon as she entered, she found **Arjun waiting near her bench**.
Not sitting.
Not pretending.
Actually waiting.
His backpack lay on her desk as if saving a spot.
He smiled when he saw her.
"Good morning," he said softly.
Her stomach fluttered.
"Good morning…"
She wanted to hide under a table.
Before she could say anything else, Arjun tilted his head and inspected her face carefully.
"You look… tired," he said, voice filled with concern.
She looked away. "Just… thinking."
Arjun smiled gently.
"About yesterday?"
She froze.
"…no."
"You're a terrible liar," he laughed quietly.
Her ears turned pink.
Before she could respond—
**the door swung open sharply.**
Goutam entered.
He looked… different.
His hair slightly messy, hands jammed into his pockets, and a strange heaviness in his eyes. He scanned the room lazily—
Then stopped.
At Arjun.
Standing very close to her.
Arjun didn't move.
Goutam's jaw tightened.
But he didn't say anything.
Not yet.
---
## **The Rooftop Invitation**
By midday, Bhanu desperately needed air.
She slipped out after class, clutching her book tightly. Crowded hallways overwhelmed her. Her thoughts raced—
*Why are they both acting like this?*
*What did I do?*
*Why does my chest feel strange whenever they—*
"Bhanu!"
She turned.
Arjun jogged up to her, slightly breathless.
"Come with me," he said.
"Where?"
"The rooftop. Just for five minutes. Please."
She hesitated.
Rooftop?
Alone?
With Arjun?
Her heart reacted before her brain could.
"…okay."
---
## **The Rooftop — Soft Wind, Softer Feelings**
The rooftop was quiet.
Sky wide.
Wind gentle.
Arjun stood beside her, not too close, but not too far either.
He exhaled slowly.
"I wanted to talk to you… without anyone interrupting."
Bhanu swallowed.
"About… what?"
He took a deep breath—one that trembled slightly.
"I like being around you."
Her heart skipped.
"You make things… quieter. Easier. Better."
Her fingers tightened around her book.
"I feel like…" He ran a hand through his hair nervously.
"I feel like I want to know you more."
She backed up half a step, stunned.
"I—Arjun—"
He stepped forward gently.
"No, listen. I'm not asking you to say anything right now. I just wanted to tell you that—"
The rooftop door banged open.
Both turned.
Goutam stood there.
Breathing hard.
Eyes sharp.
Expression thunderous.
As if he had run all the way up.
As if he *knew* what was happening.
---
## **The Interruption**
Arjun's shoulders stiffened.
"You could've knocked," he said coldly.
"I didn't know rooftops had doors for knocking," Goutam replied, voice dangerously calm.
His eyes flicked to Bhanu.
She looked pale, confused, overwhelmed.
Goutam clenched his teeth.
"Why do you keep dragging her everywhere?" he snapped at Arjun.
Arjun stepped forward.
"So she should only follow you?"
"Oh, shut up," Goutam muttered. "I'm not trying to control her."
"Then what *are* you doing?" Arjun shot back.
Goutam didn't answer.
His eyes stayed on Bhanu.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded weakly, unable to speak.
That hurt Arjun.
He saw it—saw the way her eyes softened at Goutam's gentle tone.
He hated it.
---
## **The Clash**
"You can't just appear wherever she is," Arjun said, voice low.
"And you can't act like she belongs to you," Goutam snapped.
"I'm not—"
"You sure about that? Because you were about to confess, right?"
Arjun froze.
Bhanu's eyes widened.
Goutam scoffed.
"Yeah. I heard."
The wind blew between them, cold and sharp.
Arjun stepped closer to him.
"She deserves to know how I feel."
"And what if she doesn't like you back?" Goutam shot.
Arjun didn't hesitate.
"That's for *her* to decide. Not for you."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Bhanu felt something breaking—inside both boys, inside her, inside this fragile balance.
She finally whispered, "Stop… please…"
Both boys instantly fell quiet, guilt flashing across their faces.
Goutam stepped back, breaking eye contact first.
Arjun exhaled shakily, turning away.
Bhanu hugged her book against her chest.
"I… I need to go."
She hurried past them.
Neither stopped her.
Neither followed.
They just stood there—two boys, two hearts, two storms colliding—and watched the girl who unknowingly held both of them walk away.
---
## **Goutam's Private Moment**
After she left, Arjun walked off too.
Leaving Goutam alone.
He leaned against the wall, exhaling a breath that sounded like pain.
"What the hell is happening to me…?" he whispered to no one.
His chest felt tight.
His thoughts were messy.
And for the first time in years—
Goutam didn't know how to handle his own heart.
---
## **Arjun's Restlessness**
Downstairs, Arjun slammed his locker door shut, frustrated.
He wasn't angry at Bhanu.
Never.
He was angry because he knew—
Goutam mattered to her.
More than she realized.
And Arjun wasn't sure if he could compete with that.
---
## **Bhanu's Turmoil**
Meanwhile, Bhanu sat in the girls' washroom stall, hands shaking.
She didn't cry.
But her chest hurt.
Too many emotions.
Too many expectations.
Too many eyes on her.
*I didn't want this…
Why is this happening…
Why me…?*
She felt something she hadn't felt before.
Fear.
Fear… of hurting someone.
Fear… of choosing wrong.
Fear… of her own heart waking up.
---
# 🌸 **END OF EPISODE 7**