The school operated synchronously according to the schedule, while Aradhya and Viplav exchanged glances when passing by each other's classes or during the sports period. Aradhya noticed his intense stares during the morning assembly and how he would pass by her class at least five times a day. He even entered her classroom with random questions for the subject teacher during lectures, all just to catch a glimpse of her. She was aware of all these actions, and still, she felt butterflies every time their eyes met. Unable to maintain eye contact for more than thirty seconds, all she managed in response was a smirk.

On the other hand, Viplav was relishing this period of his adolescence, and her timid smile each time their eyes met only heightened his curiosity. He found joy in this stage of life, which brought him a blend of nervousness, timidity, and many more emotions he has yet to discover.

It was Friday, and Viplav was playing basketball during their P.E. period when he noticed that the 9th grade was joining them. His gaze swiftly found Aradhya, and his smile broadened as he watched her enter the playground, twirling a badminton racket, clearly looking for him. His smile grew as their eyes met and she beamed back, prompting him to arch his eyebrows while continuing to pass the ball to his teammate. When she quickly looked away and shook her head, he smirked and leapt to score another basket for his team.

Viplav wiped his forehead and took a seat in the spectator's area next to the badminton court, his gaze still fixed on Aradhya. Meanwhile, Rakshan settled beside him, mopping his sweat and setting down the basketball. Viplav turned to Rakshan and asked, " aama enna dhideernu 9th standardum nammaloda velayaadraanga ?  "

 Rakshan replied " sometimes ipdi paadhi periodla schedule clash aagumda so combine panni vitruvaanga " 

Viplav nodded, took the basketball in his hands to check the air pressure, and found it was low. . Viplav turned Rakshan and said " Kaathu kammiya irukuda pump enga iruku ?" Rakshan looked around and spotted the pump behind Aradhya. 

Rakshan pointed it and said " iru naa eduthutu varen " to which Viplav held his hand and called " oii" 

Engrossed in her badminton game, Aradhya spun towards Viplav, racket poised, only to be met by the shuttlecock's surprise attack on her head. Her shriek was as swift as her nose scrunch. Viplav, witnessing the scene, couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her comical expression. Aradhya, trying to maintain her composure, shot him a glare that only made him chuckle more before he said... " andha pumpah eduthutu vaa " 

Aradhya turned and spotted the pump while her another friend went in front to get the pump and was coming towards the spot where he was sitting. Viplav glared Aradhya and stopped the other girl by saying " avala dhaana keten ?nee enna ava substituteaa?" to which the girl stopped and looked at aaradhya while she glared at him and advanced towards him by getting the pump from her .

Rakshan was looking at all these with a curiosity and was making a mental note to talk about it to his friend about this unusual behavior. 

Aradhya placed the pump near him and turned to which Viplav again called her " naa vachutu ponu sonnena ?" to which she turned and asked " verenna pannanu?" 

Viplav took the ball in his hand and gave it to her tellling " kaathadikka help pannu  " while she looked at Rakshan who was whistling by looking at the other side . 

Although Aradhya appeared composed on the outside, she was a blushing mess within. She assisted him in inflating the ball, holding it firmly on both sides. As they worked, their shoulders brushed against each other, sending a wave of excitement through them both. After five intense minutes of pumping air into the basketball, which seemed ready to burst at any moment, they stepped back from each other. Viplav gave her a grateful smile and thanked her. She returned the smile with a "no mention" and walked away. Viplav then noticed Rakshan, who was intently drawing something in the sand with a twig. To his alarm, it was a representation of flames for him and Aradhya, prompting him to quickly scan the surroundings to make sure no one else had seen it.  Viplav smacked Rakshan's head saying " ennada panra "and erased it with his shoe marks . 

Rakshan looked at him with scrunched eyes still rubbing his back and said " deii enda adikira unakum un aalukum dhaana poten " 

Viplav looked at him with wide eyes and said " deii ennada aalu adhu idhundra summa paathenda " 

Rakshan replied " adhaanda aalu pinna verenna ? sisterkum loverkum nadula irunchu keduthutaan " 

Viplav scrached his nape and then hit Rakshan's shoulder saying " seri seri vaa adutha match aadalaam " and took him aside. After the P.T. hour ended, Aradhya approached the spectator area to retrieve her water bottle. It was then she noticed some scribblings in the sand where Rakshan and Viplav had been sitting. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were drawings of flames, seemingly directed at her and Viplav. A wave of fear washed over her, prompting her to quickly scan her surroundings before she hastily erased the marks.

Though she was afraid a wide wave of blush overtook her looking at it . Aradhya mumbled " loosu " and left the playground. That day when Aradhya went to the cycle parking Viplav and Rakshan were already on their cycles . Viplav smiled at Aradhya which she noticed through side eye and walked past him to get her cycle while he called her again " oii " 

Aradhya though she liked him calling her that way she walked without paying attention to it while he again called " oii koopdrenla " to which she turned and said "en peru oii illa  enaku periruku " 

Viplav  raised his left eyebrow with a surpise and said " paarra enaku theriyaadhe serima anamika inga vaa " to which she gritted her teeth and said " aaradhyaa.... " 

Viplav felt it interesting to look at her anger and said " aang whatever inga vaa " 

Aradhya stood before him with  a question while he gave a note and book to her and said " page number 15 , 18 , 20 diagrams mark pannirke blank pagesla varanjuru " and turned to which she replied " naalaam varaya maaten " 

Viplav looked at her with a tease and said " unta permissioney naa kekala varanjutu vaa " to which she said " adhellaam .... aiii noteah kudunga" 

he came near her and plucked a note which she had in her hand and said " naalaiku recorda kuduthutu vaangitu po " to which

 she panicked and said " varanju tharen aana noteah kudunga "to which Viplav raised the note above her head. Rakshan who was near him got the note and turned the pages muttering " apdi enna iruku indha notela adhe a+b whole square formula dhaana " and he was welcomed by a flames which had Viplav and Aradhy's name in it with result of love in it . Rakshan looked at Viplav with a shock while Viplav took the note in his hand and looked at Aradhya with a smirk. 

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Aradhya bit her tongue and winked one eye shut. Meanwhile, Viplav, clearing his throat, closed the note and extended it towards her. She hastily grabbed the note, along with his record book, and scurried to her bicycle, her cheeks ablaze with blush. As she pedaled away, Viplav's laughter echoed behind her, teasingly calling out "note bathram," to which she responded with a nod, without daring to glance back at him.

TBC....