Chapter 10 : "The Spark of Surprises"
Poorvi stood still for a moment, then began to speak. Calm, composed, and focused, she laid out every detail of her plan to Rajesh. Her voice didn’t shake, and her confidence seemed to grow with each word.
He blinked hard, struggling to keep up with what he was hearing. “Wait... this is all your idea? I thought you were the silent type. But you... you're dangerous!” He paused, then let out a laugh. “Fine, I’ll help you. But this won’t cause me any trouble, right?”
“There won’t be any problem at all,” she said, firm.
“But there’s nothing in this for me,” he shrugged.
“I’ll give you one lakh rupees. You and your friends can split it,” she replied without hesitation.
That left him completely speechless. His jaw dropped. “What? One lakh?! I knew you were joking… That’s a huge amount of money. Oh my god!”
“If the work is done properly, I’ll give you even more.”
He stared at her for a second, processing everything, then nodded slowly. “Okay. Deal.”
They shook hands.
“But… has Harsha agreed to all this?” he asked, concerned.
“Don’t stress about her. She won’t be a problem. Now go. Just make sure the job is done on time.”
“Alright, then. I’ll be back. See you later.” And with that, Rajesh left, still stunned by the offer.
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At the college entrance, JK, Karthik, Surya, and Praveen walked in together, chatting and laughing—until they saw her.
Swathi stood in front of them, and all four came to an abrupt halt.
She wore a golden saree that shimmered under the sunlight. Her silk-like hair had been left loose, flowing gently with the breeze. Light makeup, a pair of delicate earrings, and a simple necklace brought a soft glow to her features. But the most captivating thing of all was her playful smile—it crowned her beauty like a queen’s tiara. She looked truly radiant.
JK’s eyes widened. “Swathi... is that you?”
“How’s my surprise?” she beamed. “Didn’t expect this, right? You all look completely stunned! I wanted to surprise you, so I didn’t come with you earlier.”
Praveen laughed. “This is next level! You showed up in a saree and left us speechless!”
JK didn’t say a word. He simply kept looking at her, frozen.
Swati :“Wow... JK, you’re looking amazing today, do you know that? If you keep dressing like this, no girl will be able to resist you!” she teased. “And you all look super handsome, by the way.”
Surya smiled warmly. “Swathi, that saree suits you perfectly.” Karthik and Praveen chimed in with their compliments too.
But JK was still completely silent.
Swathi’s smile turned into a mock frown. “What’s wrong? Doesn’t the saree suit me? You haven’t said anything yet. I wore it just because you said you like sarees… and here you are, acting like a statue.”
Karthik raised an eyebrow and smirked. “So, you wore the saree just for JK?”
She laughed lightly. “Yes! You all know how hard it is for me to wear one. I went through so much just to put this on. And now this monkey says nothing.”
Finally, JK gave her a soft smile. “You look really beautiful.”
But inside, he was thinking something much deeper: How can I even put it into words? You look like a goddess today. I already surrendered to you long ago… and now you’re making me fall even harder. Please don’t do this. If you keep going like this, I’ll end up confessing everything in my heart. I just need the right moment.
Swathi rolled her eyes. “Look at that—can’t even give me a proper compliment. What did I even do wrong?”
Praveen mumbled, just loud enough to be heard, “You’re his girl, that’s why.”
“Pavi… What did you say?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Before he could speak again, Surya quickly placed a hand over his mouth. “Nothing! He didn’t say a word.”
“Yeah, nothing,” Praveen added with a mischievous grin.
“Alright, let’s go. The guests will be here soon,” JK said, trying to change the subject.
“Wait!” Swathi stopped them. “Let’s take a group selfie, please JK?”
“Okay,” he agreed.
They all came together and captured a bright, cheerful selfie.
Just as they were about to move, JK’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it—it was Sumathi Aunty.
“You all go ahead,” he said. “I just have one quick call. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay, but come quickly,” said Surya, and they walked off together.
JK stepped aside and answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Karthi dear!” came Sumathi’s cheerful voice. “I almost forgot to wish you all the best! I thought you’d be busy, but I couldn’t miss the chance to give my blessings. And listen, okay? Whatever happens today… don’t miss the chance to propose!”
JK smiled softly. “Okay, Aunty. Since you said it, it’s done.”
Then, with a bashful laugh, he added, “Do you know something? Swathi wore a saree for me today.”
There was a pause on the line — then Sumathi gasped. “What?! Really? She wore it just for you?! Oh my god!”
He could hear the excitement in her voice.
“I told you, didn’t I? That girl loves you too, even if she hasn’t said it. Girls don’t always speak their hearts out loud… but their actions say everything. Remember that, dear.”
He chuckled. “Yes, Aunty. I noticed.”
“Good boy. Now go and shine today, okay? And tonight… come home and tell me everything!”
“I will, Aunty. Bye!”
He ended the call with a soft smile lingering on his lips, his heart full.
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Soon, the function began. Guests arrived, and JK welcomed them all as the host. Professors and guests gave speeches, praising the college and the students.
At last, the Principal stepped forward. The crowd was buzzing with excitement, eager for the cultural program to begin.
“I understand your excitement,” the Principal said, smiling. “I won’t take much of your time. I just want to speak about something important—something most of you already know.”
Suddenly, a cheeky voice from the back shouted, “If we already know it, why are you wasting our time?”
Laughter erupted across the auditorium. Students clapped, cheered, and the air filled with energy.
The Principal raised his hand. “If this noise continues, I’ll have to cancel all the programs.” At once, everyone fell silent.
“In all my years of experience, this is the first time I’ve felt so proud of what students have achieved. And it’s all thanks to Mr. Jay Karthik. The idea for the orphanage fundraiser came from him. Because of this, our college is being appreciated everywhere. I’m proud of you all—and especially of him.”
He concluded his speech by handing the collected funds to a guest from the orphanage, and the cultural performances began.
Laughter, music, lights—every corner of the auditorium buzzed with life.
Swathi, Poorvi, and a group of girls dazzled the stage with a graceful ramp walk. JK, Karthik, and Surya gave a spirited dance performance, followed by Praveen’s emotional solo song. Then JK, with a quiet confidence, stepped forward and strummed his guitar. The melody flowed from him like magic, capturing everyone’s attention.
The crowd responded with loud applause and awe-struck smiles.
Poorvi, watching from backstage, turned to Swathi. “Not just dance—he plays the guitar so beautifully. Wow. He’s unbelievable.”
Swathi smiled. “I know. There’s nothing he can’t do.”
“Really? That’s nice.” Poorvi’s eyes lingered on JK. That’s why I’ve fallen for him like crazy. And today… today my plan will work. I’ll make him mine. No matter what.
Poorvi turned to her. “Why didn’t you dance?”
Swati replied softly “I’m not really into this stuff. Anyway, it’s enough that our friends performed. That made me happy.”
Poorvi : nodded. “True. Watching you all as friends gives me so much joy. But then… not everyone is that lucky, right?”
Swati : “Hey,” Poorvi replied softly. “Why do you say that? You’re one of us now. Forget everything that happened before. From now on, we’re all friends. Okay?”
Poorvi looked into her eyes, surprised, then whispered, “Thank you so much, Swathi. You’re really kind.”
Swathi smiled and pulled her into a warm hug.
But as she embraced her, Poorvi’s mind whispered something else. You’ll all see. You’re part of the reason JK drifted from me. But once he becomes mine… I’ll make sure you all stay far, far away from him.
A wicked smile crept across her face.
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To be continued…
🌸Author's Note🌸:
This chapter was full of sparkle, smiles… and secrets.
But the real storm is still waiting.
If these characters touched your heart even a little,
please follow me—so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
Your support means everything💫.
