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When your world is quietly falling apart, finding one person who refuses to let you break is everything.We never truly know how powerful we are until we are protecting someone we care.

The pressure of college life had officially reached its peak as the Semester 2 examinations finally commenced. The vibrant, chaotic chatter that usually echoed through the campus corridors was replaced by an anxious, heavy silence.

Students huddled in corners with thick notebooks, frantically revising formulas and flipping through pages until the very last second

Isha was writing her exam in in examination cell with so much concentration and dedication.

Suddenly, a small, tightly crumpled piece of paper flew from the backbenches, hitting the edge of Isha's desk before dropping right onto the floor beside her foot.

Before Isha could even process what had happened, Kamini mam, the notoriously strict external invigilator, marched down the aisle.

She snatched the chit from the floor, her eyes flashing with instant fury.

"Tumhe exam likhne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Chup-chaap khade ho jao aur bahar niklo!"

("You don't need to write the exam. Quietly stand up and get out!")

Isha's heart dropped into her stomach. She looked down at the paper, shock paralyzing her chest.

"Mam... maine kuch nahi kiya. Yeh mera nahi hai, peeche se kisi ne phenka hai!"

("Mam... I haven't done anything. This isn't mine, someone threw it from behind!")

By then, Kamini mam, said with a stern expression. Looking at the cheating material, she cold-bloodedly announced, "This is a serious offense. You are being debarred and detained from the semester exams."

DETAINED.

The word shattered Isha's entire defense. Tears rushed down her face in thick, uncontrollable streams. Her vision blurred, and her hands began to tremble violently.

Her mind instantly spiraled into dark thoughts-if she got detained, then it would be daag (mark) on her academics.

The weight crushed her right there in front of the entire class, and she broke down crying hysterically, burying her face in her hands.

"Mam, please... maine sach mein nahi kiya. Main waise hi bohot pareshaani mein hoon... please mera saal kharab mat kijiye..."

("Mam, please... I really didn't do it. I am already dealing with so many problems... please don't ruin my year...")

"You did a grave mistake you deserve punishment!" Kamini mam snapped, grabbing Isha's answer sheet to rip it away.

"Please stop, Mam!"
A powerful, resonant voice echoed across the silent classroom. Shivansh stood up firmly from his bench, his jaw clenched tightly, his eyes blazing with an unshakeable determination. He stepped into the aisle, completely ignoring the strict rules of the exam hall.

"Shivansh! Sit down right now or you will face disciplinary action!" Kamini mam warned sternly.

"No, Mam, I will not sit down," Shivansh took a firm stand, his voice carrying an intense, fiercely protective gravity.

"You cannot destroy a student's entire future based on an assumption. Isha is the department topper. Everyone in this room knows she doesn't need a slip to clear an exam.

The chit was lying near her foot, not in her hand. She didn't write it, she didn't read it. Ripping her sheet without proof is completely unfair, and I will not stand by and watch it happen."

The entire class gasped at Shivansh's unprecedented defiance. Isha looked up through her tear-stained eyes, her heart hammering wildly as she saw Shivansh standing like an unbreakable, solid wall between her and the furious invigilator.

Right at that intense moment, the heavy wooden door opened, and Lavanya mam, the highly respected HOD, entered the room for her routine round.

Sensing the high-voltage tension, she looked at Isha's breaking form and then at Shivansh.

"What is happening here?"
Kamini mam quickly explained the situation, holding out the chit.

Lavanya mam looked at the crumpled paper, then walked over to Isha. She gently placed a hand on Isha's trembling shoulder, noticing her genuine, deep distress.

She then turned back to the invigilators with a calm, mature authority.

"The slip was found on the floor, not in her hand or her desk. Isha has an impeccable academic record and has always been an honest student. Punishing an innocent student over a random piece of paper from the backbenches is unacceptable. Isha, wipe your tears and finish your paper. No one is detaining you."

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the room. Shivansh softly sat back down, his eyes lingering on Isha's face until her breathing finally stabilized. Isha wiped her eyes, a profound, overwhelming warmth rushing through her heart.

In her darkest, vulnerable moment, Shivansh hadn't just spoken words-his firm stand and unyielding action had saved her from getting detained.

The moment the final bell rang, signaling the end of the grueling three-hour paper, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the hall.

While students eagerly rushed out of the room to discuss answers, Isha slowly packed her stationary, her hands still faintly trembling from the morning's intense drama.

​As she walked out into the relatively quiet corner of the main corridor, she saw Shivansh standing by the large arched window, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, waiting for her.

​Isha swallowed the lump in her throat and walked up to him. Stopping just a step away, she looked up at him. Her eyes, still slightly red from crying earlier, filled with an immense, unmistakable warmth and deep admiration.

​"Shivansh..." her voice was soft, laced with a vulnerability that caught him completely off guard.
​Shivansh turned, his gaze softening instantly. "Hey. Are you okay?"

​"I am... because of you," Isha said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. She clutched her notebook tightly against her chest.

"Shivansh, I don't even have the right words to thank you today. When Kamini mam said those things... my entire brain froze. With everything going on at my house right now, if I had been debarred, it would have been a completely mess. Everyone else in that room sat silently, but you... you stood up against the professors without caring about your own marks or discipline. What you did for me today... it means a lot."

​Shivansh watched her intently, his heart aching slightly at the sheer weight of the gratitude in her eyes. He took a small step closer, breaking the distance between them just enough to shield her from the passing crowd.

​He gave a soft, incredibly reassuring smile touched his lips, and his eyes locked onto hers with a quiet, unshakeable depth.

​"You don't need to thank me, Isha," Shivansh said, his voice dropping into a low, gentle tone that made her heart skip a beat.

"Some people don't need a certificate or a label to prove who they are. I didn't do anything heroic; I just did what my heart knew was right. I couldn't let an innocent soul carry a blame that wasn't hers."

​Isha's breath hitched. The way his words hung in the air-showing that her safety was his automatic instinct-sent a beautiful, breathless shiver down her spine. The immense admiration she held for him doubled in that single, quiet moment.

​"Still..." Isha whispered, looking down to hide the beautiful blush creeping onto her cheeks. "It's not easy to do what you had done."

​"Then I'm glad I was the one standing there," Shivansh murmured softly, his eyes lingering on her face, filled with an unspoken devotion that spoke a thousand words. "Come on, let's get out of here. You've had a long day."

Later riya and purvi also came from their respective exam rooms and got to know about what kamini mam did and immediately said,"chudail kaheki meri phool jaise dost ko rula diya kheede padenge usko"

(what a witch she is she made my flower like friend cry. (Germs will irritate her)

Purvi firmly went beside Isha and gave a jappi to her tightly and said , "nahi rona"(don't be sad) we are with you .

After a few days of hustle and late night studies,the last day of the exam came.
On the last day after the exam, the heavy rainy weather had left a crisp chill in the air.

Akshat was sitting on the concrete bench in the main campus courtyard, coughing heavily. His throat was completely raw, and his chest heaved with every.

Yet, the moment the fit subsided, he went to water purifier and picked up cold water or barf wali paani (ice-cold water) and raised it to his lips

Before the glass could touch his mouth, a delicate hand snatched it away.

Akshat blinked, looking up to see Purvi standing over him, her brow furrowed in a deep, highly adorable scowl.

"Tumhara dimaag kharab hai kya?!" she scolded him softly, her voice laced with genuine, intense care.

"Itni khansi ho rahi hai, cold hai tumko, aur tum phir bhi yeh barf ka paani pee rahe ho?!

(Are you out of your mind?! You are coughing so much, you have a cold, and you are still drinking this ice-cold water?!) Put it away right now!"

Akshat didn't get angry. Instead, a beautiful, incredibly soft smile spread across his face. He leaned back against the bench, his dark eyes locking deeply into hers, carrying a gaze that was intensely mesmerizing her care.

"Aur kuch?" Akshat asked softly, his voice dropping into a husky, teasing whisper, his eyes completely searching hers.

("Anything else?")

Purvi's breath caught in her throat. Her heart skipped a violent beat under the intense magnetism of his steady gaze. She felt her cheeks turning a bright crimson, but she tried to maintain her strict stance.

"Aur... aur yeh ki chup-chaap garam pani piyo!"

("And... and that you should quietly drink hot water!")

Akshat's smile widened, his eyes dropping to her blushing face before locking back onto her eyes asking again. "Aur kuch? (Anything else?)"

Purvi completely lost her train thought and said, "aaj keliye kaafi hai"(for today it is fine)

Akshat chuckled softly, his heart swelling with a deep, unspoken warmth as he watched her shyly look away.

Later that evening, Akshat decided that the entire group needed a much-deserved break from the academic stress.

He planned an outdoor trekking trip to the scenic Tikona Fort for the upcoming weekend and insisted that the entire gang-Purvi, Yash, Riya, Shivansh, and Isha-had to come along.

When the plan was pitched on the group, Isha immediately backed out.

"Guys, I really can't come."

Riya instantly wrapped her arm around Isha's shoulder, shooting her a supportive, fiercely loving look.

"Problem hai toh kya ab jina chhod dogi kya, Isha?!

(Just because there are problems, will you stop living life, Isha?!)

Hum subah jaldi jayenge aur shaam tak ghar wapas aa bhi jayenge. Hum sab saath honge na, toh Neha aunty ko bhi koi problem nahi hogi. Main aunty se khud baat karungi!

(We will leave early in the morning and return by evening. We will all be together, so Neha aunty won't have any problem either. I will personally talk to aunty!) You are coming, and that is final!"

Seeing Riya's unshakeable firmness, Isha finally nodded and said, okay I will come.

A few minutes later, Riya walked over to Akshat, who was standing near the corridor railing, secretly looking anxious.

"Hey, Akshat!" Riya chirped loudly. "Good news. Everyone is officially coming for the trek!"

Akshat's eyes lit up instantly. He tried to act casual, clearing his throat.

"Everyone? Like... everyone everyone?"

Riya smirked knowingly, nudging his shoulder. "Haan, haan! Everyone, including Purvi! Ab khush?

(Yes, yes! Everyone, including Purvi! Happy now?)"

Akshat rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing slightly as he offered a bright, thoroughly satisfied smile.

The upcoming Saturday morning was absolutely breathtaking. The air at the base of Tikona Fort was cool and misty, perfect for a challenging trek.

As the climb began, Shivansh subtly slowed down his pace, matching his steps with Riya, who was busy taking pictures of the scenery. He cleared his throat nervously, looking around to ensure Isha was out of earshot.

"Hey, Riya... casual question," Shivansh began, his voice dropping into an awkwardly low whisper. "What... uh... what kind of things does Isha actually like? Like, what are her preferences?"

Riya stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned her head toward Shivansh, a massive, highly mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Oho! Shivansh babu... yeh achanak Isha ke likes aur dislikes mein itna interest kyun jaag raha hai, haan?

(Oho! Master Shivansh... why this sudden massive interest in Isha's likes and dislikes, huh?)"

Shivansh's ears turned bright red. He defensively waved his hands.

"Aree, aisa kuch nahi hai! Main toh bas aise hi pooch raha tha...

(Oh, it's nothing like that! I was just asking generally...)"

Riya burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying his absolute panic. She knew exactly why he was asking-Isha's birthday was coming up the very next day.

She leaned in, whispering playfully, "Well, she isn't into fancy, loud things. She absolutely loves Sudha Murthy's writings. Baki tum samajhdaar ho!

(Rest, you are smart enough!)"

Shivansh quickly nodded, hiding his blushing face as he hurried ahead, leaving Riya giggling behind him.

As the trek progressed, Akshat and Purvi, who were both highly energetic, inadvertently moved quite a bit faster, climbing ahead of the rest. The other four friends were left behind at a significant distance, completely hidden by the winding, rocky turns of the mountain trail.

Suddenly, out of the dense bushes on a secluded pathway, two local goons stepped out, their faces aggressive and threatening. One of them blocked the path, his eyes locking onto Purvi with a nasty smirk. "Hey, look what we found here..."

Akshat instantly stepped in front of Purvi, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive as he pushed her firmly behind his back.

"Step back," Akshat warned the goons, his voice dropping into a dangerously dark, lethal tone. "Don't even dare to step closer."

Akshat lunged forward to handle them, but the second goon caught him off guard from the blind side.

WHACK!

A heavy, brutal punch landed right across Akshat's jaw. The impact was violent, causing Akshat to stumble back against a rock as a sharp, bleeding cut opened across his cheek.

The minute Purvi saw blood trickling down Akshat's face, something inside her quiet, gentle soul completely snapped.

Her eyes flashed with a terrifying, absolute fury. In a split second, her entire aura transformed from a soft college girl into a total, unstoppable powerhouse.

Before the first goon could even process her movement, Purvi charged forward with lightning speed.

HIYA!

With a flawless, powerful execution, she delivered a thunderous, soaring kick straight into his chest, sending him flying backward onto the gravel.

The second goon rushed her in shock, but Purvi swiveled gracefully, grabbing his arm, twisting it with precision, and executing a brutal shoulder throw that slammed him aggressively onto the hard ground.

She didn't stop there-she launched a rapid succession of precise punches and sweeping kicks, absolutely demolishing both goons like a heroic action movie star.

Right at that jaw-dropping moment, Yash, Riya, Shivansh, and Isha finally climbed around the corner. They stopped dead in their tracks, their mouths dropping completely open as they stared at the scene in absolute, horrified shock.

The two heavily built goons were lying on the ground, groaning in sheer agony, completely destroyed by a breathing, furious Purvi.

"Oh my god..." Yash whispered, his eyes wide with pure terror as he hid behind Shivansh. "Yeh... yeh hamari Purvi hi hai na?!
(This... this is our Purvi only, right?!)"

Shivansh quickly recovered, immediately pulling out his phone. "Let's call the highway police right now!"

Within minutes, the group securely tied up the groaning goons and handed them over to the patrolling authorities who arrived at the base.

Once the chaos settled, the gang gathered under a shaded tree. Yash cautiously walked up to Purvi, looking at herand asked,

"Aree baap re! Tumne toh un dono ko achhe se dho dala! Kaise kiya yeh sab?!

(Oh my god! You literally washed those two clean! How on earth did you do all that?!)"

Purvi blinked, and told them her hidden talent. She pulled a highly adorable, funny face, rubbing the back of her neck shyly.

"Aree... actually maine karate seekha hai. Main black belt hoon.*
(Oh... actually I have learned karate. I am a black belt.)"

The entire gang burst into a mix of amazed laughter and wild cheers. Akshat stood just a few feet away, his hand resting over his bruised jaw.

Looking at his absolute powerhouse of a girl, a profound, intensely proud smile spread across his face. His heart swelled with a dizzying amount of admiration for her.

Slowly, Purvi walked over to Akshat, her eyes instantly softening with deep, intense concern. She gently untied her soft cotton dupatta from her neck.

Taking a clean water bottle from her bag, she carefully poured water over the edge of her handkerchief, wetting it completely.

She stepped near him, her breath fanning over his chest. "Hold still," she whispered softly.

Akshat stood completely frozen, his eyes locked onto her face as Purvi gently, painstakingly raised her hand and began to slowly dab the cool, wet handkerchief against the raw wound on his cheek.

The touch was incredibly tender and warm. Akshat didn't feel the pain of the wound anymore; his entire universe had centered entirely on the beautiful girl caring for him.

The very next day at college, the atmosphere was light and breezy. Isha was walking down the quiet corridor toward her locker when Shivansh suddenly stepped out from the adjacent hallway.

He stopped right in front of her, a nervous but incredibly warm smile on his face. He reached behind his back and pulled out a beautifully wrapped package, handing it to her. "Happy Birthday, Isha."

Isha gasped softly, her eyes widening in complete shock as she took the gift. She unwrapped the paper, and her heart skipped a beat. It was a brand-new, special edition copy of her absolute favorite author Sudha Murthy-"The Bird with Golden Wings".

"Oh my god, Shivansh!" Isha breathed out, a stunning, radiant blush completely taking over her face. "How... how did you even know I wanted this exact book?"

Shivansh rubbed the nape of his neck, a soft, charming smirk appearing on his lips. "Well, it was easy. I got to know from Riya... and yeah."

He stepped a bit closer, his voice dropping into a deeper, intensely gentle tone that made her skin tingle. "I just wanted to make sure your day started with something that brings a smile to your face."

Isha clutched the book tightly against her chest, her eyes looking into his with an intense, beautiful warmth. "Thank you so much, Shivansh. I will read it for sure.." She paused, looking down shyly before looking back up into his eyes. "But... now I need to know your birthday as well."

Shivansh let out a soft, low chuckle, shaking his head gently as his eyes locked onto hers with a mesmerizing, romantic intensity. "No need, Isha. It's not that important for me."

Isha stepped even closer, refusing to back down, her voice turning into a soft, demanding whisper that made him stand completely still. "*Main pooch rahi hoon na...(I am asking you, right...) Tell me."

Looking at her fierce but incredibly sweet determination, Shivansh's defenses melted completely. A soft, breathless smile spread across his lips as he leaned down slightly, whispering right into her space.
"It's February 4th."

Isha smiled beautifully, her eyes twinkling as she repeated the date under her breath, a massive, uncontrollable wave of blushes taking over both of them as they stood in the quiet corridor, their hearts beating to a brand-new undeniable rhythm.

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