Hiten and Aarya arrived together, scarves snugly wrapped, gloves pulled on tight. Even amidst the excitement, they walked slowly, their hands brushing occasionally, a quiet warmth threading between them.

Aarya’s eyes darted around at the sparkling decorations. “The lights… they’re even prettier than last year,” she whispered, voice soft, almost lost in the winter wind.

Hiten looked at her, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “Not as pretty as your eyes when you’re amazed,” he replied quietly.

Her ears turned pink. She rolled her eyes, trying to hide the blush. “You’re ridiculous, Hiten.”

“Excuse me?” he asked mock-offended. “I’m just stating facts, Miss Muffin.”

She laughed softly, her breath misting in the cold air. “Fine, Dumbo.”

Even in the midst of the crowd, they found themselves drifting into small talk, slipping away from the noise for just a moment.

“Do you ever think about… what next year will be like?” Aarya asked suddenly, glancing up at the sky, where the first hint of twilight had started painting the clouds in soft pinks and purples.

Hiten paused, considering. “Every day,” he said quietly. “But I hope… it’s calm. Just us… some quiet moments like this, maybe more walks, more music, more time together.”

She squeezed his hand gently, her eyes warm. “I’d like that.”

They walked slowly toward a quieter corner of the school grounds, where a snow-dusted bench rested. Hiten pulled two cups of hot chocolate from his bag. “For keeping your hands warm,” he said, handing one to her.

Aarya’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’re too thoughtful, Dumbo.”

Hiten smirked, tucking his scarf a little tighter around his neck. “Excuse me, Miss Muffin, I do it because I can.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, sipping the warm chocolate, watching soft snowflakes drift down from the sky. Every so often, their eyes met, and neither needed to say anything — the quiet spoke volumes.

Eventually, the bustle of the event drew them back. Students were busy setting up a small gift exchange, laughter echoing across the courtyard. Hiten handed Aarya a small snow globe he had picked out secretly, inside it a miniature musician playing a guitar, snow swirling around him.

Aarya’s eyes widened. “Hiten… it’s perfect. You remembered.”

He shrugged, though his lips curved into a soft smile. “Some things are impossible to forget.”

She handed him a small notebook, decorated with delicate snowflakes. “For your poems… and for all the dreams you write about,” she said quietly.

Hiten looked at it, then at her, and his smile softened. “I’ll treasure it… just like you,” he murmured.

The evening air grew colder, and the New Year countdown approached. Students and teachers gathered in the courtyard, the fairy lights reflecting off the frost, lanterns flickering in the soft breeze. Hiten held Aarya’s hand gently, feeling the warmth of her fingers.

“Happy New Year, Aarya,” he whispered.

She looked up at him, eyes sparkling in the glow of the lanterns. “Happy New Year, Hiten… and thank you for making it special.”

The countdown began. “Three… Two… One…”

Fireworks erupted, exploding into brilliant hues of gold, red, and blue. Cheers rose from every corner of the courtyard, students hugging, laughing, and shouting their excitement. But amidst the chaos, Hiten and Aarya stayed close, their eyes locked, hearts beating in perfect sync with the crackling sky above.

Later, as the crowd began to thin, they wandered toward a quieter spot near the lake, where the snow crunched softly beneath their boots. Hiten brushed a stray snowflake from Aarya’s scarf, his touch lingering.

“You know,” he said quietly, “every New Year feels empty without someone special… but this… feels right.”

Aarya leaned on his shoulder, her hair brushing against his chest. “It does… because it’s us.”

Hiten smiled down at her, eyes soft and warm. Then, as the fireworks faded into the night sky, he began to recite a poem he had written in secret earlier, his voice low and deliberate:

> “A year of snow, a year of rain,

Moments of joy, moments of pain.

We’ve walked together, through storm and light,

You by my side, every day, every night.

The world may change, the years may fly,

But I’ll remember us, beneath this sky.”

Aarya’s cheeks flushed, her lips parting slightly as she whispered, “Hiten… that’s… beautiful.”

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s just us… our year… and the start of many more.”

The winter night wrapped them in its quiet embrace, the soft echo of fireworks lingering, leaving only the gentle promise of a New Year filled with laughter, adventures, and moments just like this — moments they would always remember.