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The school ground was dusty and loud, filled with the sounds of cheering and the sharp crack of a bat hitting a ball. It was a friendly match between the seniors and the alumni, and Nidhi was sitting on the bottom step of the bleachers, pretending to check her notes for her science test.
In reality, she was watching the tall figure standing at the crease. Avinash looked different on the field—focused, intense, and surprisingly fast. He was wearing an old RCB jersey that was slightly faded, but on him, it looked like high-end fashion.
"Come on, Avi! Finish it!" her brother shouted from the sidelines.
Avinash took a deep breath, adjusted his gloves, and glanced toward the bleachers. For a split second, his eyes locked onto Nidhi’s. He gave a tiny, almost invisible nod, and then turned back to the bowler.
The next ball was a fast one, but Avinash swung with perfect timing. The ball sailed over the boundary for a six. The crowd went wild, but as he ran across the pitch, he didn't look at the scoreboard. He looked straight at her and winked.
Nidhi felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly looked down at her textbook, her face turning a deep shade of pink.
After the game, the boys were all sweaty and headed toward the tap to cool off. Nidhi started packing her bags to leave before her brother noticed her lingering, but a shadow fell over her notebook.
"So," Avinash said, breathing a bit hard from the game. "Did I pass the test?"
Nidhi looked up, trying to act casual. "The match? Yeah, I guess you’re okay at cricket."
"Not the match," he chuckled, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "The science test. You’ve been staring at the same page for twenty minutes. I was worried I was distracting you."
"You wish," Nidhi teased, though her shaking hands gave her away as she zipped her bag.
"Wait," he said, reaching into his kit bag. He pulled out a small, handmade friendship band—the simple kind made of black thread. "My sister made a bunch of these. I thought this one would look good on a 10th-grade topper."
He didn't wait for her to say yes. He took her wrist and tied it gently. His skin was warm, and the contact sent a shiver down her spine.
"See you at your house later?" he asked, his voice low and hopeful.
"Maybe," Nidhi whispered, finally meeting his gaze.
As he walked away to join her brother, Nidhi looked at the simple black thread on her wrist. She knew she should be studying for her exams, but all she could think about was the simple black thread.
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