Chapter 8 The Rumor That Started Everything
507 Words
The next morning, Aarav walked into college with a confidence level he had never experienced before.
He felt like a hero walking in slow motion…
Except he wasn’t in slow motion—he was genuinely walking slowly because he barely slept all night, replaying Aadhya’s “I like that you ran for me” on loop.
Half the campus was already buzzing.
Groups were whispering.
Girls were giggling.
Boys were staring at Aarav like he had grown a second head.
Aarav frowned. “Why is everyone looking at me like I’m the latest iPhone?”
His best friend Rishi came running, sliding next to him dramatically.
“BRO. HUGE NEWS. MASSIVE. EARTH-SHAKING.”
Aarav blinked. “What?”
Rishi leaned in. “There’s a rumor that you and Aadhya are… you know…”
“What? Friends?”
Rishi smacked his head. “NO! Dating, bro! People saw you two hiding behind the library shelves. Alone. Whispering. Smiling.”
Aarav froze.
His soul left his body.
Went to the canteen.
Ordered chai.
“WHAT? We weren’t— It wasn’t— We didn’t—”
Rishi patted his shoulder. “Congratulations on your relationship, my confused child.”
Aarav wanted to scream.
Meanwhile…
Aadhya walked into her classroom, and immediately three girls surrounded her.
“Aadhyaaaa!”
“So cute you and Aarav!”
“When is the wedding?”
“Invite us please!”
Aadhya nearly choked on air. “WEDDING?!”
She turned red. “There’s nothing going on!”
Her friend Meera smirked. “Sure… that’s why he ran for you like a Bollywood hero yesterday?”
Aadhya’s face heated even more. “Meeraaa stop!”
Meera poked her cheek. “You like him.”
“I don’t!” Aadhya protested.
Meera raised an eyebrow. “Then why are you blushing?”
Aadhya covered her cheeks with both hands. “…I don’t know!”
---
Lunch Break – The Collision
Aarav stormed toward the canteen, determined to clear the misunderstanding.
Aadhya arrived at the same time from the opposite direction.
They almost collided.
Both stepped back.
Both blushed.
Both forgot how to speak for a second.
Aarav finally managed, “Uh… people think we’re… you know…”
Aadhya nodded nervously. “I know. It’s everywhere.”
They stared at each other awkwardly.
Then Aarav cleared his throat. “Should we… tell everyone it’s not true?”
Aadhya opened her mouth.
Paused.
Her heart suddenly whispered something she didn’t expect.
She looked at him—his nervous smile, his soft kindness, the way he always noticed the little things…
And for the first time, she wasn’t sure she wanted to deny anything.
“I… I don’t know,” she said quietly.
Aarav went still. “You don’t?”
She looked down. “I mean… it isn’t true but… I’m not sure it can’t become true.”
Aarav’s brain stopped.
His heart skyrocketed.
Electricity went down his spine.
His reply came out in a whisper:
“…Oh.”
The softest, happiest “oh” in human history.
---
- Writer
