The day of the cultural event arrived, and the entire school buzzed like a hive of nervous energy and excitement. Students ran in and out of classrooms wearing costumes, teachers barked last-minute instructions, and the air smelled of jasmine, paint, and anticipation.
Backstage, Karthik stood in his crisp white shirt and veshti, part of the anchoring team. Ananya stood next to him in a deep blue salwar, her long hair braided with flowers, clipboard clutched tightly.
"You look nice," he said, half-muttering.
She turned to him with a small smile. "Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself. You tied the veshti properly?"
He chuckled nervously. "Barely."
They laughed, easing some of the tension.
The principal gave the opening address. Applause rang out. The curtains rose.
One by one, performances played out—classical dances, folk songs, mimicry, short plays. Karthik read his cue cards, guided transitions, and kept the audience engaged, much to everyone's surprise.
He wasn't awkward. He wasn't hidden in the shadows.
He was present. Confident. Growing.
And all the while, his eyes often sought Ananya's.
During a short break, they sat behind the stage, sharing a cold juice box between them like two kids after a long day of playing in the sun.
"I didn't think I'd be okay with this much attention," Karthik admitted.
"You weren't alone," Ananya said. "You had me. And I had you."
He looked at her. Really looked. "Do you still feel like you're stuck in my shadow?"
She shook her head. "No. I think… we're finally walking side by side."
Silence fell between them—not awkward, but warm. Like the calm after a storm.
And in that silence, he reached out.
She didn't pull away.
Their fingers tangled gently, like it had always been meant to happen.
Cheers erupted from the crowd as the final act ended.
The show had been a success. But for them, something more important had taken the stage.
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End of Chapter 81