Hiten glanced at her, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “You look like you need a nap already,” he teased.

“I’m fine,” Aarya mumbled, blinking away the sleep that lingered in her eyes.

“Sure?” he asked, tilting his head. “Because I’ve got a few surprises lined up to make sure you don’t doze off just yet.”

Aarya frowned slightly, but her curiosity was piqued. “Surprises?”

He pointed to the plate of pudding. “For starters, your favorite pudding. But there’s a catch — it’s only for people who stay focused.”

Aarya’s eyes lit up despite her fatigue. “Fine… I’ll stay focused. But only because you promised pudding,” she said with a sleepy grin.

Hiten chuckled, settling beside her at the table. “Deal. Let’s tackle the questions one by one. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get everything.”

The session began. Hiten explained the first few questions carefully, breaking down concepts into small, digestible steps. Aarya listened intently, occasionally asking clarifying questions, which made Hiten grin — he loved her curious mind.

“Okay, so remember this formula,” he said, pointing to a scribbled equation. “See how it connects here? That’s the trick everyone misses.”

Aarya scribbled the notes down, her pen moving quickly. “Hmm… makes sense,” she murmured, biting her lip thoughtfully.

“Good. Now try this one,” Hiten said, sliding another notebook toward her. They worked side by side, bouncing ideas back and forth.

Minutes turned into an hour as they laughed over silly mistakes, teased each other for miscalculations, and celebrated small victories. Hiten leaned slightly closer when explaining tricky parts, his calm voice and confident gestures making even the hardest questions seem easier.

“You see?” he said, pointing at her notebook. “That’s perfect. Just like that, step by step.”

Aarya looked up at him with a sleepy smile. “You make it look so easy…”

“Of course,” he said, grinning. “I’ve got to make sure you don’t feel stressed, right?”

After a while, they took a short break. Hiten poured both of them a small cup of coffee, and Aarya nibbled on the pudding, her mood visibly lifted. They joked about who ate more, who made mistakes earlier, and even exchanged playful teasing over forgotten steps.

Back at the table, the study continued. Hiten noticed moments when her eyes wandered or she stopped mid-thought. Every time, he passed her a subtle, encouraging smile, the kind that quietly said, You’ve got this. Each time, Aarya regained her confidence, her hand moving faster, the pen flowing across the page.

“Alright, last set of questions,” Hiten finally said, eyes gleaming with mischief. “But first… how are you holding up?”

Aarya yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I’m… sleepy,” she admitted, fighting to stay upright.

“Don’t sleep here,” Hiten warned playfully, raising a finger.

“Fine,” she murmured, half-grinning, half-exhausted.

“Okay,” he said, pointing to the final problem. “One last question, then you can sleep. Come sit closer, come, come.” his tone was kinda playful and mischievous. But his intentions weren't bad at all.

Aarya shuffled over, settling beside him. Hiten leaned down to guide her through the last tricky part, his tone patient and calm. Halfway through, he paused, noticing her head slowly tilting toward his shoulder.

Before he could react, Aarya had fallen asleep, resting her head lightly on him. Hiten froze for a moment, then relaxed, letting her rest. A gentle, proud smile curved his lips.

“Well prepared, Aarya,” he said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “You’ll do really well. You’ve prepared so well…”

The warm glow of the afternoon, the soft rustle of paper, and the quiet intimacy of the study session wrapped around them. Outside, the day continued, but in Hiten’s room, time slowed, leaving only the peaceful closeness of the moment.

---

Author Note:

Hey everyone! V2 is off to a cozy start with exams, teasing, and Hiten’s signature support. This chapter dives deep into their chemistry — playful banter, pudding treats, and quiet, comforting moments. Stick around… the surprises, laughs, and heartwarming interactions are just getting started! 😏