WINNER

AUTHOR'S POV
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After the performance professor sinha took the stage again his voice filled with enthusiasm " and that concludes our event now, i'd like to request our principle to announce the top three winner's "

The principal took the mice a smile spreading across his face his eyes twinkling with excitement " the 3rd prize goes to kritika and aryan from the 2nd year " the students cheered and kritika and aryan made their way to the stage their face flushed with excitement, eyes shining with joy

The principal requested rudra to come on the stage and give the students the trophy, rudra obliged his long strides eating up the distance his face set in a gentle smile

Kritika's eyes widened as she looked at him her face flushed with embarrassment her eyes dropping to the floor rudra handed them the trophy and aryan thanked him and kritika remained silent, her eyes fixed on the trophy

Rudra smiled and descended from the stage shivansh watch him with a teasing smile his eyebrows raised in amusement his eyes sparkling with mischief

The 2nd prize was announced and to everyone delight it went to the 2nd year students ' shivi and dev ' principal smile warmly and he announced " and i'd like to request mr shivansh to come up here and give the students the trophy " principal's words were met with anticipation and shivansh expression changed instantly

As soon as he heard shivi and dev's name together shivansh's smile vanished, replaced by a hint of irritation rudra noticing the change in shivansh's demeanor couldn't help but tease him with a smirk

" ja ja tujhe bula rhe hai wo " rudra said, shivansh shot rudra a look of annoyance his eyes narrowing slightly before he replied " jaa raha hu main, sunai diya mujhe behra nahi hu main " with a hint of reluctance shivansh made his way to the stage

As shivansh stepped on the stage, shivi's eyes met his and she couldn't help but blush and she looked away trying to compose herself, shivansh however couldn't help but smile as he saw shivi's flushed face his irritation seemed to melt away, replaced by a softness in his eyes he handed shivi and dev the trophy

As he handed over the trophy shivansh's eyes lingered on Shivi's face and for a moment it seemed like time stood still shivi's blush deepened and she looked down, her long hair falling like a curtains around her face

Dev on the other hand smile broadly his eyes shining as he accepted the trophy with the trophy handed over shivansh turned to leave his eyes still locked on shivi's face he smiled softly and shivi's heart skip a beat as their eyes met briefly shivansh descended from the stage

" and the 1st prize goes to the 2nd year students ayesha and vihaan " the principle announced

Before he could say anything further vihaan burst into joyous cheers leaping off the stage and sprinting around the hall in sheer excitement

The student and teachers alike couldn't help but erupt into laughter at the sight of vihaan's antics

Ayesha watched vihaan, her face a mix of amusement and embarrassment she shook her head " ha-ha are wo zindgi main pehli baar 1st aaya hai na to bas pagal ho gya hai " her words only fueled the laughter with even professor sinha unable to contain his grin

Rudra and shivansh joined in, their faces alight with mirth ayansh lip curved slightly at ayesha's word but he didn't laugh, vihaan eventually returned to the stage

The principal said " ho gya tumhara, agar nahi hua to jao college ka pura chakkar laga aao "

Professor sinha shook his head in disbelief, ayesha rolled her eyes at Vihaan who responded with a sheepish smile and scratch that back of his neck

Vihaan pouted " ab bacha apni khushi bhi na maniye "

The principal then asked ayansh to step forward and present the trophy to the winner's ayansh walked onto the stage maintaining his usual composed aura seeing him ayesha smile vanished for a moment as she met ayansh's gaze, and a smirk played on her lip

As ayansh approached them with the trophy as ayesha steeped forward she deliberately placed her foot on ayansh's
The heel of her sandal digging sharply into his foot

" what the hell " ayansh hissed under his breath his eyes narrowing as he glanced at ayesha

Ayesha however wore an innocent expression " oops sorry, didn't see you there " she said sweetly snatching the trophy from ayansh's hand and quickly step away

Shivansh and rudra exchanged wide eyes glances, their gazes fixed on ayesha and ayansh

" did you....did you see what i saw " shivansh asked rudra his voice hushed with disbelief

" yeah " rudra replied, equally stunned " i saw exactly what you saw "

" but wait a minute " shivansh continued his brow furrowed " ayansh bhai didn't do anything, didn't even yell didn't even kill anyone "

" exactly " rudra and shivansh exclaimed in unison turning to each others

" something definitely happened that we missed " shivansh concluded

" yeah otherwise bhai wouldn't have stayed quiet like that " rudra agreed " any other girl would be receiving her trophy next to her corpse right now "

" wait a min " shivansh said pulling out his phone and typing a quick massage

" who are you massaging " rudra asked, curious

" just be quiet for 2 min " shivansh replied slipping his phone back into his pocket

Soon after the function concluded ayansh rudra and shivansh headed towards the principal's office, while ayesha and vihaan made their way backstage

Backstage dev, aryan, shivi and kritika were overjoyed to see them and everyone embraced in a celebrating hug

" we won the trophy again this year " they all exclaimed together

" yeah otherwise the seniors had mad a whole plan to steal the trophy " shivi added

" but tell us " kritika asked ayesha and vihaan her eyes full of curiosity " how did you guys prepare such an amazing performance in such a short time "

" oh we didn't prepare at all " ayesha said casually

" then how did you give such a good performance " kritika asked again

" remember a week ago when you all ditched us to go watch a movie " ayesha asked the group

Dev scratched his neck " haa yaad hai aage bol "

" tabhi hum dono is gaane par dance kar rhe the aise hi timepass ke liye or dekho aaj wahi kaam aa gya " ayesha said, a mischievous glint in her eyes

" wow ye log timepass wala dance kar ke trophy jeet rhe hai, ghor kalyug hai matlab hum mehnat walo ki koi kadar hi nahi hai " aryan said dramatically throwing his hands up in mock exasperation, and everyone burst into laugh at his theories

Just then a voice cut throught their merriment

" bhot hasi aa rahi hai juniors " ruhi stood there, her teeth gritted in anger

" tch tch senior " ayesha chuckled, a teasing smile on her face
" jitni mehnat aapne humare dance churane main ki utne main to aap apna khud ka performance taiyar kar ke jeet jati "

" main tum sub ko dekh lungi " ruhi stomping her foot before turning and stomping away

" well i'm handsome afterall of course she'll keep looking " aryan quipped winking

The group erupted into another round of laughter

" lets go out eat somewhere " ayesha suggested turning to vihaan " and vihaan will pay the bill since he came first "

" why me " vihaan protested feigning annoyance " tu bhi to first aayi hai to bill sirf mere naam par hi q fatega "

" oh main bhi first aayi hu na " ayesha said her eyes twinkling " to do hume trophy wapas hum tumhe isse chunne bhi nahi denge " she snatched the trophy from vihaan's hand

" are pagli tu to bura mann gyi re " vihaan said laughing awkwardly as he took the trophy back from ayesha " let's go eat, the bill on me "

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At night

The sudden sharp sound sliced through the comfortable murmur of the singhania mansion

" WHAT " nitya ji's voice usually a soothing melody, held a note of stunned disbelief echoed instantly by priya ji's softer but equally surprised tone ruhaan even the composed one, let out a low whistle of astonishment while manvi's gasp was laced with a theatrical horror

" haa maa, haa choti maa main sach keh raha hu maine khud apni in pure aankho se dekha hai " shivansh said excitedly " when bhai was giving ayesha the trophy she deliberately poked her heel into his foot, and bhai he didn't say anything in fact he looked at her — but not with anger it was something strange

Shivansh visibly excited begins narrowing the entire incident at the function to the whole family everyone listens in stunned silence their eyes fixed on him in disbelief

" tell us more, there's something about this girl that feels so familiar so close right didi " priya ji says with a soft smile looking towards nitya ji

Nitya ji gently nods in agreement a thoughtful expression on her face

" hmm shiv do you have a photo of her, show me " nitya ji asks shivansh

" shivansh gives a slight smirk and replied confidently

" her name is ayesha jaiswal, 2nd year student, her father piyush jaiswal he's a criminal lawyer, her mother geetanjali jaiswal she's a housewife " he paused for a beat, adding the final peice of information with a flourish " she's the only child of her parents "

He shared all the details without hesitation and everyone looks at him in shock and surprised

Just them priya ji raised an eyebrow and stares at him intensely

" tujhe uska bare main itna kaise pata " she asks sharply

" oh come on choti maa aap bhul rahi hai main kon hu ' the shivansh singhania ' or mere liye ye sub information nikalna yu chutkiyo ka khel hai " he lifts an imaginary collar full of pride in his own skills

At the moment rudra lightly hits him on the back of the head and mutter " He's so self-obsessed always praising himself "

Rudra looks at everyone and clarifies
" he didn't do anything himself the moment we saw bhai and ayesha together at college he told advik to dig up information about her "

Shivansh starts glaring at rudra like a scolded child

" alright enough of all that, just show me her picture " priya ji says to rudra

Rudra nods and pulls out his phone showing ayesha's picture to everyone

" such a sweet and beautiful girl isn't she, choti " nitya ji says happily while looking at ayesha's picture her face lighting up with joy

" yes didi she's absolutely adorable, she is perfect for our ayansh " priya ji smile as she responds and nitya ji also nods with a pleased smile

" WHAT " their words hit like a bomb ruhaan, manvi, rudra and shivansh shout together

" aapne kya kaha bhai ki shadi ayesha se, are maa thoda to rehem karo bechari par isne aisa kya kar diya ki aap iski shadi bhai se karwa rahi hai " shivansh exclaimed dramatically completely shocked

" haa haa is baar to main bhi shiv bhai ki baat se agree kar rhi hu, ye ladki kitna masum hai or bhai danav hai danav, please don't do this badi maa " manvi adda emotionally

" but i don't think so " ruhaan speaks up thoughtfully
" i mean, from what shiv bhai told us about what happened at the function and what ayesha did to him...i feel like she might be perfect for him "

" yeah maa i agree with ruhaan " rudra adds nodding

" bhai aapse ye ummid nahi thi aap aisi phool si ladki ke sath aisa kaise kar sakte hai " shivansh asks rudra with disbelief

With a smirk rudra replied " issi phool ne ayansh bhai ko heel ke kate chubhaye the "

" enough all of you, quiet " nitya ji commands firmly " once dhruv ji returns from delhi I'll speak to him about this matter "

She looks around her expression turning serious

" until then no one — i repeat no one is mention this in front of ayansh not a word " everyone nods silently in agreement as nitya ji given them a stern warning