The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the courtyard as the group gathered for their next brainstorming session. Excitement buzzed in the air, but for Virat, the vibrant atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken words. He glanced at Ashmit, who was animatedly discussing plans for their health awareness campaign, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. His heart fluttered, yet a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.

“Okay, team! Let’s finalize our ideas for the workshops,” Meera declared, her confident voice cutting through Virat’s thoughts. She had taken the lead once again, effortlessly commanding attention. Virat’s jealousy flared momentarily, but he pushed it down, reminding himself of the bigger picture—supporting Ashmit.

As the group tossed ideas around, Nisha chimed in with her usual flair. “What if we add a fun twist? How about a health trivia game? It’ll engage the audience and make learning fun!”

“That’s brilliant, Nisha!” Ashmit exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Virat’s heart sank slightly; Ashmit’s praise felt directed more at Nisha than at him. He fought to suppress the creeping doubt.

“Yeah, great idea!” he added, trying to sound enthusiastic despite feeling like a shadow in the background. Ashmit turned her gaze towards him, her smile brightening his mood momentarily.

“Thanks, Virat. I knew you’d like it!” she said, her warmth igniting a flicker of hope within him. But as the meeting continued, Virat felt the familiar fear creep back in—the fear of losing Ashmit to someone like Meera or even Nisha, who seemed to effortlessly capture everyone’s admiration.

After the brainstorming session wrapped up, the group decided to celebrate their progress with ice cream at a nearby café. As they walked there, Virat found himself walking beside Nisha, who had taken it upon herself to draw him into conversation.

“So, Virat, any plans for the summer besides this project?” Nisha asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Um, not really,” he replied, his mind wandering back to Ashmit. “Just focusing on school and stuff.”

“Come on! You need to have some fun too! How about we all go to the amusement park this weekend?” Nisha suggested, her excitement infectious.

Virat felt a pang of conflict. He wanted to be with Ashmit, but he didn’t want to disappoint Nisha, who clearly enjoyed his company. “That sounds fun!” he said, forcing a smile.

As they reached the café, Virat spotted Ashmit sitting at a table with Meera, her laughter ringing out like music. His heart raced at the sight. He took a seat across from them, determined to finally express his feelings.

“Hey, Ashmit,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Hey! Did you hear Nisha’s idea for the trivia game?” she replied, her eyes sparkling.

“Yeah, it’s great,” Virat said, feeling the moment slip away again. He cleared his throat, trying to muster the courage. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something important…”

Just as he began to gather his thoughts, Meera interjected, “Oh! I have a few contacts who can help us get the word out about our workshops. I’ll reach out to them.”

Virat felt a mix of frustration and urgency. Every time he tried to speak, someone else would interrupt. The pressure was mounting, and he could feel the weight of his unexpressed feelings pressing down on him like a storm cloud.

As they enjoyed their ice cream, laughter floated around him, but Virat felt increasingly isolated, his thoughts racing. Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting his contemplation. He pulled it out to find a message from Rahul: *“Hey, are you coming to the game tonight? It’s a must!”*

Virat hesitated, glancing up at Ashmit, who was animatedly discussing the campaign with Meera and Nisha. He wanted to be there for her, but he also felt drawn to the escape a game with his friends could offer.

“Are you okay, Virat?” Nisha asked, noticing his distant expression.

“Yeah, just… thinking,” he replied, forcing a smile.

“About what?” she pressed, her curiosity genuine.

“Just… life, I guess,” he said evasively, glancing back at Ashmit, who caught his eye and smiled. The moment felt electric, and he knew he couldn’t let another opportunity slip away.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Virat made a decision. He would find a way to talk to Ashmit tonight, no matter what. But as they finished their ice cream, and with the game looming, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the shifting tides of their friendship were about to take an unexpected turn.

Little did he know, a phone call from an unexpected source would soon change everything, throwing their plans into disarray and testing their bonds in ways they had never anticipated.