The morning sun slanted through the window, golden and warm, but Karthik barely noticed. He stood in front of the mirror, his school uniform neatly pressed, his hair—shockingly—combed.
"You're acting like it's your wedding," Akshay joked from the bed, scrolling on his phone.
"Shut up," Karthik muttered, adjusting his collar again.
But deep inside, he knew what this day meant. It wasn't just the final rehearsal. It was the first time he would be in the spotlight. Not hidden in a crowd. Not a silent observer. An actual presence. And somehow, with Ananya by his side, it didn't terrify him—it thrilled him.
---
At school, the auditorium buzzed with chaotic excitement.
The stage was alive with costumes, lighting tests, last-minute dialogue changes, and panicking volunteers. But Ananya? She was calm. Poised in her light blue costume, hair tied back in elegant waves, she looked like she belonged in a dream.
Karthik saw her before she saw him.
She was laughing with one of the junior girls playing a supporting role. Her voice, her smile—it grounded him.
"You okay?" she asked when she finally walked over.
"Yeah," he lied.
She narrowed her eyes. "Nope. You're vibrating with nervousness."
"I'm fine."
She took his hand. Just like that. No warning.
"Karthik," she said gently, "Do you know how far you've come? A few months ago, you couldn't even talk to people. And now you're helping run a whole production. That's... huge."
He stared at her.
"You're not in the shadows anymore," she said. "You're seen. And I'm proud of you."
Something swelled in his chest. Not just gratitude—but a deep, bone-level warmth. A kind of love that didn't need grand gestures.
"I wouldn't be here without you," he said.
"I know," she grinned. "That's why I'm not charging you rent."
He chuckled, tension cracking just a little.
---
Later, as the final rehearsal began, Karthik stood at the edge of the stage with a clipboard in hand. He wasn't acting, but he was overseeing the transitions, set shifts, and backstage cues. The trust placed in him meant something. He felt it in every decision he made.
He glanced at Ananya during a quiet scene.
She stood in a soft spotlight, delivering her lines with such emotion it felt real. Not just a performance—but her truth laid bare.
And in that moment, he realized something:
He didn't just love her beauty or her confidence or even her kindness. He loved her courage. Her need to be seen and yet her ability to see others so deeply. Especially him.
When the scene ended, their eyes met. Brief. Charged.
Later, as the crew began clearing out, she found him near the back curtain, still holding the clipboard.
"You okay, assistant director?" she teased.
He nodded. "You were amazing."
"You say that every time."
"Because it's always true."
She paused. Then stepped closer. "Tomorrow's the big day."
"Yeah."
"You nervous?"
"A bit."
She reached up and adjusted his collar one more time.
"Good. That means it matters."
They stood in silence for a moment, the air between them full of unspoken things.
Then Ananya said, "After tomorrow… let's go out."
Karthik blinked. "Like, out-out?"
"Yes. Like… a real date."
He couldn't speak.
So he nodded.
---
END OF CHAPTER 136