The sky wore a soft peach hue.Morning had just opened its sleepy eyes, and the breeze carried the fragrance of wet grass and fresh hopes.Birds weren’t chirping — they were giggling.The world hadn’t woken up completely,but peace had.

It was the kind of morning that didn't shout,it whispered — something new is coming.

Kiara stood at the doorstep, rubbing her eyes, her hoodie slightly falling off her shoulder.

“Is the sky always this... pretty?” she whispered to herself.

“Only when you're awake early enough to see it,”

Tara replied from behind, holding two hair ties and grinning like she’d won a trophy.

“Do people choose to live like this?” Kiara groaned.

Tara laughed. “People like Suman Aunty do. And now… us.”

The girls joined Suman Aunty outside, who was already stretching like a pro athlete.

“Chalo beta, slow walk se start karte hain,” she said, leading the way.

Tara and Kiara followed, side by side — wrapped in their silly conversations.

From funny dreams, to bad cafeteria food, to who Tara has a crush on but won’t admit —

they talked and talked…

> So much so, that they didn’t even realize when they reached the park.

“Wait— we’re here?” Kiara blinked.

“Welcome to the land of aunties in tracksuits and dogs on missions,” Tara joked, making Kiara laugh.

But somewhere between the laughter…

in the background of that calm morning…

A shadow passed by.

A boy with a badminton racquet slung casually on his shoulder,

black joggers, earphones in, hair slightly messy from the wind.

He didn’t notice her.

She didn’t notice him.

> But the breeze… it definitely paused for a second.

The park was buzzing — not noisy, but alive.Morning sun filtered through the trees,as if nature had set its own Instagram filter.

Children chased soap bubbles, old uncles discussed politics with exaggerated hand gestures, and dogs — well, they chased everything.

Kiara blinked in surprise as they entered further.

“Tara, this place looks like a mini city,” she whispered.

Tara grinned. “Wait till you see the court.”

As they walked, Suman Aunty was on a social spree.

She waved at every second person — a smile here, a “Namaste” there, even a full-on hug to someone Kiara had never seen before.

Kiara leaned closer to Tara and muttered,

“I swear… even you’re not this much of a social butterfly. How does she know everyone?”

Tara snorted. “I’ve been trying to figure that out since 2008.”

Suman Aunty, meanwhile, had just finished high-fiving someone’s grandma and calling someone’s dog ‘Chiku beta’.

As they finally reached the far end of the park, a badminton court came into view — drawn with chalk lines on the concrete,

net tied between two trees,

and a group of young boys already warming up.

“Yeh raha mera adda,” Aunty said proudly.

Kiara blinked. “You play here?”

“Of course. And don’t go on their age, beta — inki smash shots se kabhi-kabhi toh main bhi hil jaati hoon,” she winked.

Tara giggled. “Last week one of them challenged her. Big mistake. He lost 21–3.”

Kiara laughed. “Now that I’d pay to see.”

And just as they found a bench near the court to sit…

someone stepped forward for his practice serve.

Aarav.

Black T-shirt. Muscular arms. Sharp serve.

Focused eyes.

Kiara hadn’t noticed him yet. But she would. Soon.

For now, she just sipped water and joked with Tara…

While the boy whose life would soon collide with hers —

was already there,warming up just a few feet away.

The court was already buzzing — sneakers tapping, shuttles flying, and the quiet thrill of a match warming up.

Aarav picked up the shuttle and stood straight.His face glowed slightly under the soft morning sun,jawline sharp, hair a little messed up from his warm-up.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out,

“Aarav beta!”

He turned around and smiled warmly.

Suman Aunty.

Aarav walked over and greeted her with the same respect as always — extending his hand.

“Good morning, Aunty!”

“Good morning, champion,” she chuckled, shaking his hand.

“You still play like you’ve got something to prove.”

Before Aarav could answer, someone else joined him — a lean guy with a bright smile and racquet in hand.

“Namaste, Aunty!”

That was Yuvaan, Aarav’s partner-in-smash (and bad jokes).

Suman Aunty smiled, “Namaste beta! Aur baaki sab kahan hain? Nahi aaye?”

Yuvaan shrugged, “Nahi Aunty, lagta hai sab lazy ho gaye hain.”

Just then, with a little playful pride in her voice, Aunty turned slightly and said—

“Lekin aaj mere saath meri new friend aayi hai.”

She stepped aside and gestured toward the bench…

There sat Kiara.

Hair loosely tied, hoodie slightly slipping off one shoulder,

half-lost in the moment, half-curious about the court,

but completely unaware of the gaze slowly settling on her.

Aarav’s eyes followed Aunty’s gesture.

And for a second…his posture softened.He didn’t smile.He didn’t say anything.But something definitely shifted in his eyes.just as Aarav and yuvaan were about to return to practice,Suman Aunty called out, her voice filled with pride:

“Kiara, Tara — idhar aao zara. Milna toh banta hai mere in do beton se!”

Tara smiled, already halfway there. Kiara followed, nerves fluttering like butterflies in her chest.

And then...

He turned.

The boy in black joggers, hair perfectly messy,

skin glowing under the soft golden hue of the early morning —

Aarav.

He turned to face them, his expression unreadable at first,until his lips curled into a half-smile — the kind that made hearts pause.With a calmness that could silence chaos,he extended his hand toward Kiara, his voice low, steady... almost teasing.

"Hello, girl."

Two words.

That’s all.

But they slipped into the air like music — and landed straight into her pulse.

Kiara looked up.

And everything else... stopped.

It wasn’t his voice.

It wasn’t the way he said it.

It was his eyes.

Amber brown. Warm. Still.

Like firelight trapped under water.

He wasn’t just looking at her —

he was looking into her.

And in that single glance, Kiara forgot how to breathe.

The world melted.

Tara’s voice blurred.

Even the rustling trees faded into silence.He was the only sound.

She stood still, her hand hovering awkwardly in the air, unsure, silent… mesmerized.

“She takes time to open up,” Tara whispered, nudging her sharply with a playful elbow.

Kiara blinked, breath caught in her throat, as Tara saved the moment—

“I’m Tara, your Suman Aunty’s daughter. And this is my best friend Kiara. She just moved in next door.”

Aarav smiled politely.

Yuvaan added, “Welcome to the club.”

But Kiara?

She was still hearing two words on loop.

Hello, girl.

And the echo of her own heartbeat, finally waking up.

The morning air felt fresher now.

Maybe it was the breeze.

Maybe it was the way Aarav had said “Hello, girl.”

Or maybe… it was something else Kiara couldn’t name yet.

She walked slowly beside Tara on the park trail, their sneakers brushing through fallen leaves. The faint thud of shuttlecocks echoed in the distance, where Suman Aunty was already deep into a game — her energy unmatched even by teenagers.

“Your mom’s actually really cool,” Kiara said, watching her swing a backhand shot with surprising grace.

Tara smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

“Cool? She’s a morning tornado. Wait till she drags you to yoga next week.”

Kiara giggled, finally feeling the tension from earlier begin to lift.

They walked in a relaxed rhythm — Tara talking about her old school, Kiara nodding along, still somewhere between this moment… and those amber-brown eyes from earlier.

Tara glanced at her sideways.

“You’ve been weirdly quiet since Aarav said hello,” she teased.

“Don’t tell me a two-word sentence from Mr. Racketboy got your heart doing cartwheels?”

Kiara tried to keep a straight face.

Failed.

“Don’t be stupid.”

Tara narrowed her eyes, raising a brow.

“You were staring. Like, full-on dream sequence mode. I had to elbow you back to Earth.”

Kiara looked away, cheeks warming.

“I wasn’t staring. I was just... surprised.”

“Right. Surprised by his eyelashes, probably.”

“Taraaa!” Kiara’s groan was half-laugh, half-plea.

But deep down…

She was surprised.

Not just by his eyes.

Not just by his smile.

But by how someone could look so calm and yet feel like a thunderclap inside her.

Somewhere behind them, Suman Aunty shouted joyfully, “That’s a point! Ten–seven!”

Kiara smiled.

Maybe mornings weren’t so bad after all.

Tara suddenly grabbed Kiara’s hand and tugged gently.

“Chal aa,” she grinned, eyes sparkling, “match dekhte hain.”

Kiara blinked. “Kya?”

“Badminton match, madam! Kya laga? Chess?” Tara laughed.

“Khud toh khelna aata nahi — toh doosron ka match hi sahi.”

Kiara rolled her eyes but smiled anyway, letting Tara pull her toward the court.

Suman Aunty was still in full warrior mode — darting across the court with a speed that made both girls stop mid-step.

“Whoa,” Kiara whispered. “Is she even human?”

Tara crossed her arms dramatically.

“Sometimes, I doubt. Mom turns into Serena Williams when you hand her a racket.”

They stood near the edge, the court buzzing with excitement.

Two uncles cheered from a bench nearby. A kid ran past with a shuttlecock in his mouth (yes, mouth).

The sky had turned a little warmer now, but the breeze still danced softly across the court.

And then…

Kiara’s eyes drifted again.

There he was.

Aarav.

Now standing near the net, towel around his neck, water bottle in one hand — smiling at something Yuvaan just said.

Kiara quickly looked away.

Tara noticed.

But this time, didn’t tease.

She just nudged Kiara lightly and whispered,

“Warning de rahi hoon... uss taraf mat dekhna warna tumhare dil nehi, tumhari aankhein hi rally haar jaayengi.”

Kiara bit her lip, holding back a laugh.

“I’m just here to watch the match, okay?”

“Sure-sure,” Tara smirked. “The match.”

They sat down on the grass.

And even though the game was in full swing,

Kiara’s heart was still playing something else.

The shuttle soared high above the net as the game continued in full swing.

Kiara and Tara were still sitting on the grass, sipping on juice boxes like little kids at a sports day.

Suddenly, Aarav walked over — tall, calm, and slightly breathless from his last match.

He smiled at Suman Aunty, who was wiping sweat from her forehead.

“Chaliye Aunty,” he said, his voice full of playful challenge.

“Ek match humara bhi ho jaaye?”

Suman Aunty gave him a knowing smile.

“Bas haarne ke liye tayyar rehna, champion.”

Tara and Kiara blinked together.

“Wait, what?” Tara leaned forward. “He’s gonna play… with Mom?”

The two players took their positions.

First serve.

Aarav’s shot — fast and sharp.

But Aunty returned it with the grace of a pro.

Then came the smashes. The drops. The dives.

And Tara and Kiara’s jaws? On. The. Ground.

Tara’s eyes widened. “Yeh kya dekh rahi hoon main?”

“Yehi,” Kiara whispered, “real badminton hota hoga…”

Aarav leapt into the air, landing a perfect smash.

Suman Aunty countered with a sudden flick that made everyone gasp.

They were on fire.

Tara clutched Kiara’s arm. “Aarav Bhaiya toh full-on pro mode mein aa gaye hain!”

“Apni mummy ko bhi fail kar diya!” she added with half shock, half pride.

“Like… dude! How is he this good?!”

Kiara couldn’t speak.

She didn’t know if it was the game…

or the way Aarav’s hair moved when he jumped…

or the way his eyes never left the shuttlecock…

But her heart?

Let’s just say — it wasn’t playing fair anymore.

Every shot was sharper, every step quicker. Aarav’s feet barely touched the ground as he moved across the court like he was made for it.

Suman Aunty? Still strong, still fast — but even her breath was catching up now.

Kiara and Tara were on the edge of the grass, hands clutched together like it was some Olympic final.

Tara whispered, “Last point lagta hai…”

Aarav twirled the racket once, cool and calm.

Suman Aunty served. High.

And—

Aarav jumped.

In that slow-motion kind of way where time holds its breath.

He twisted mid-air, arm raised perfectly...

SMASH.

The shuttlecock hit the ground like thunder.Suman Aunty didn’t even move.

Silence.

Then cheers.

Even the uncles on the bench clapped.

Tara’s jaw dropped. “Dude…”

Kiara just whispered, “He won.”

Aarav walked to the net, offered his hand, and said, “You almost got me, Aunty.”

Suman Aunty laughed, a little out of breath.

“And you finally defeated me"

He turned slightly and looked toward the girls.

Kiara instantly looked away, cheeks red.

Tara, of course, waved like a crazy fan.

“Bhaiyaa! Star ho aap toh!”

Aarav chuckled, walked off the court, and picked up his water bottle — but not before glancing at Kiara once again.

Just a glance.

But enough to send her heart doing cartwheels.

Suman Aunty picked up her racket and looked at the girls.

“Come on, kids. Time to head home.”

Yuvaan casually glanced at his watch.

“What time is it?”

Kiara checked her phone. “It’s 9:30A.M.”

Suman Aunty widened her eyes.

“Oh wow, it’s really late. I need to go home and cook breakfast too.”

Kiara nodded… but her heart didn’t agree.

Because her heart?

It had already stayed behind.

Right there in that badminton court… floating somewhere between Aarav’s calm eyes and that quiet “Hello, girl.”

Aarav zipped up his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and looked around.

With a soft smile, he said,

“Bye, guys.”

Yuvaan waved,

“See you tomorrow!”

Tara grinned and teased,

“Yes, bhaiya… defeat us again tomorrow, please!”

Suman Aunty chuckled, “Let’s go, girls.”

Kiara turned around one last time.

Aarav was tucking his water bottle into his bag… completely unaware that someone’s eyes hadn’t left him.

She whispered to herself, too softly for anyone else to hear—

> “Bye…”

And then, the three of them walked out of the park.

The night air had turned cool.

The roads were quiet.

But Kiara’s cheeks felt warm.

Because her heart?

It was still back there…

Tied to a boy with amber eyes and a voice that had just said,

“Hello, girl.”

Hey my lovelies i hope you all love this chapter 😘😘