Shadowed Roses: A Tanhai shared in love

she hit the ground, two strong arms caught her mid-fall. Her eyes squeezed shut in fear, and she immediately started muttering under her breath, panicking. “Bhagwan ji, agar koi galti ho gayi ho toh maaf karna... lekin please mera sir mat phodna! Main ek choti si, bewakoof bachi hoon aapki... meri chocolates aur ice cream bhi le lena!” The boy who had caught her couldn’t hold back his laughter at her dramatic murmuring. “Savi?” he said, amused. But instead of opening her eyes, she kept going, mistaking the voice for something far more ominous. “Bhagwan ji, itne paap toh nahi kiye the ki giri aur upar bulawa aa gaya! Yamraj ji, sorry... maine kuch nahi kiya! Aap jao, kisi aur ko le jao! Main nahi aungi aapke saath narak!” The boy burst out laughing again, still holding her steady. He moves a little closer to her and softly whispers in her ear: "Miss Maheshwari, you're still on the floor… please open your eyes." The moment she hears that familiar voice, she finally recognizes him. Her eyes snap open and as soon as she sees him, she yells out: "Kairav sir?!" Startled by her sudden reaction, they both lose balance—and the next second, both of them come crashing down onto the ground together. She looks at him with guilt in her eyes and softly says, Savi: "I'm sorry… I didn't do it on purpose." Her eyes well up with tears, and before she can say more, he gently helps her up. Kairav (calmly): ): "It's not necessary that you're at fault every single time something goes wrong." He takes out his handkerchief and gently wipes her tears. Without saying another word, he turns and walks away, leaving her standing there—speechless, holding onto that moment.