Riddhima, a 12-year-old girl with a gentle demeanor, and Abhi, a serious and protective 16-year-old boy, walked side by side to school. Their pace was relaxed, their conversation flowing effortlessly, showing just how close they had become over the years.

They had a friendship that didn’t need much explaining—it was there in the way they talked and laughed, comfortable in each other’s company.

As they neared the school, out of nowhere, Veer, their lively and mischievous friend, caught up with them. Without warning, he tapped Riddhima on the shoulder. Startled, she flinched, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Veer, why do you always have to scare her like that?"

Abhi asked, his voice laced with mild frustration. He was always a bit protective when it came to Riddhima.

Veer, always the playful one, shrugged off Abhi’s tone.

"What’s your problem, Abhi? Can’t I have a little fun?"

He responded, rolling his eyes with a smirk on his face.

Abhi’s irritation grew. "It’s not about having fun. You’re always scaring her. Just look at her face,"

He said, gesturing toward Riddhima, who was still recovering from the surprise.

Veer let out a light chuckle and waved off Abhi’s concerns. "Chill, man. She looks funny when she’s scared!"

With that, Veer darted ahead, racing through the school gates, clearly enjoying himself.

Riddhima, quick to regain her composure, called after him with a playful grin, "You look like a clown all the time, Veer!"

She wasn’t really upset; in fact, their banter was part of the dynamic between the three of them.

★⋆. ࿐࿔

Abhi, who was always serious and focused on his studies, naturally took on the role of watching out for Riddhima. He had a protective side, and it came from how much he truly cared about her.

While Veer brought a lot of fun and chaos into their group. His playful nature often led them into funny and unexpected situations, and it never failed to make Riddhima laugh, which always seemed to lighten the mood.

When they got to school, they began heading toward their separate classes. Before Riddhima could go, Abhi stopped her and spoke in his usual serious tone.

"Make sure you pay attention in class today. If you have any questions, ask the teacher. Then we’ll go over your science test together this evening, alright?"

Riddhima gave him a small smile and nodded before heading off to her class. She knew he was just trying to help, and she appreciated it.

Even though she was in sixth grade, Riddhima often found school tough. She struggled to understand some of the lessons, especially in subjects like science. Abhi, realizing how hard things were for her, took it upon himself to help her with her studies. He wanted to make sure she did well, so he often tutored her after school, helping her go over the suby she found difficult.

★⋆. ࿐࿔

During the class break, Riddhima’s friend Tanvi hurried over to her, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Hey, Riddhima! There's a new chow mein vendor right near the school. We have to try it after class! It smells amazing."

Riddhima smiled, but her face showed a bit of guilt. "I’d love to, but I can’t, Tanvi. I’ve got a study session with Abhi this evening. If I skip it, he’ll definitely scold me,"

She said, sounding apologetic.

Tanvi let out a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, Abhi! Sometimes it feels like he’s the villain in our friendship. He never lets you hang out or have fun,"

She grumbled, clearly annoyed by how serious Abhi always seemed.

★⋆. ࿐࿔

Later on, Veer tried to get Abhi to take a break from studying, but Abhi was having none of it. He stayed focused on his work, brushing off Veer’s interruptions with visible irritation. Unlike Veer, who loved to have fun, Abhi was serious about his studies and had no interest in dating.

"Stop bothering me, Veer. If you don’t want to study, that’s fine, but just leave me alone. I’m not interested in any distractions,"

Abhi said, his voice showing his frustration.

Veer rolled his eyes and replied, "You’re such a bore. You’re going into 10th grade and so many girls like you, but you never show any interest in them."

"Yeah, I’m boring. Now, can you please just go away?"

Abhi snapped back, clearly fed up with Veer's teasing.

★⋆. ࿐࿔

They sat together under a big tree, with their books and notes spread out around them. Abhi was working hard to explain the tricky parts of science to Riddhima, focusing intently on helping her understand.

Despite his serious approach, Riddhima’s laughter filled the air, and it was so cheerful that Abhi forgot about teaching. He found himself smiling at her genuine happiness.

"Why do you keep laughing? Do I look silly or something?"

Abhi asked, a bit confused by her continuous giggles.

Riddhima shook her head and said shyly, "No, it’s not you. I’m not laughing at you. You just make me smile because you’re really sweet."

Abhi was surprised by her compliment. His cheeks turned a bit red, and he avoided looking at her. "Stop joking around and focus on your studies,"

He said, trying to hide how flustered he felt by her unexpected praise.

As they continued with their studies and friendly banter, Abhi, Veer, and Riddhima’s friendship grew stronger. Each day, their bond deepened as they navigated the ups and downs of growing up together.

★⋆. ࿐࿔