CANVAS OF COURAGE [Ongoing]

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Arya tilted her head, mock-serious. "I know, right? I've been telling her she's a genius, but does she ever believe me? Nope."

"Stop exaggerating," I muttered, a flush creeping up my cheeks.

Arya grinned, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh, come on, Sanvi. Look at this masterpiece.

 Arya turned her gaze towards her with a teasing grin. "Wait," Arya began, her eyes sparkling, "you're the one Eshan bhai has been pestering in your clinic, aren't you?"

I caught the slight widening of Kaira's eyes as she registered Arya's words, and then—a blush, subtle but unmistakable—crept onto her cheeks.

 She nodded, the corners of her mouth twitching into a shy smile, and the three of us couldn't help but laugh. It was a moment so simple, yet so charged with warmth and connection, like an unspoken understanding had passed between us.

Arya gave me a light nudge on the arm and tilted her head towards the far end of the hall. "Sanvi, you probably going to greet Bhai, And I interrupted. He's been watching us the entire time," she said, her tone half-teasing, half-sincere.

The soft rustle of my saree followed me as I turned. My gaze, tentative and uncertain, found him—Siddarth. He stood a little apart from Eshan, yet together. The moment my eyes collided with his, it was as though time itself faltered. His gaze wasn't just on me; it felt as though it had pierced through me, through my soul.

 His eyes found mine, steady and intense, as if the entire room had fallen away. There was something about his gaze—warm and deep, yet holding a spark of something more. Was it pride? Possessiveness? Whatever it was, it made my breath catch.

Is this what it feels like to fall in love?

Is this why my heartbeat feels like it's racing a marathon?

Why does just one look from him make my chest tighten and my cheeks flush?

Could he be feeling the same right now?

As the moments stretched between us, I wondered—does everyone feel this way when they're near the person who makes their heart race? Or is this... something different? Something just ours?

I kept walking toward him, feeling the cool silk of my saree brush against my skin with every step. My heart betrayed me, pounding a wild rhythm I couldn't ignore, but I straightened my shoulders, lifted my chin. If I was unraveling inside, I wasn't going to show it. Yet, there was a warmth climbing into my cheeks, an inevitable flush that I couldn't entirely hide.

The distance between us lessened with each movement, but it was as if the space separating us had dissolved long before, leaving only this invisible connection, pulling me closer.

And then I stood before him, my heart pounding beneath the soft drape of my saree. The faint brush of its pallu against my arm felt like a reminder—I was as bold as I was graceful.

"Congratulations, Siddarth," I said, my voice warm and steady, carrying just enough weight to match the significance of the moment. "The project is an incredible success. It's... inspiring, really."

His eyes flickered, just slightly, as though my words had reached a part of him, he rarely let anyone touch. The faint curve of his lips deepened, but his gaze didn't waver.

"Thank you, Sanvi." His said in his low and impossibly smooth voice.

 The way he said my name—it wasn't rushed, nor casual. It was like he was tasting the syllables, letting them linger in the air between us. I felt it settle deep in my chest, and for a fleeting moment, I was certain my breath had caught, refusing to move.