The morning sunlight poured into Vansh's room, casting shadows from the curtains. The alarm rang, waking Vansh up. As he opened his eyes, he felt something heavy on his chest.
Kiri was resting comfortably there. Vansh saw her, petted her gently, and she woke up, meowing at him. He got out of bed and slid the window curtains open.
After completing his morning chores, he made breakfast and helped his aunt open the café.
He took a refreshing bath, and his uniform was neatly folded over a chair nearby. He first put on a white shirt, loosely fixing a striped tie around his collar before pulling on a light grey zip-up hoodie over it. The soft fabric felt comfortable against the chilly morning air, and he left the zipper slightly open, allowing the tie to remain visible beneath.
Next, he slipped into his black blazer, which had the silver crest stitched neatly onto the pocket. The oversized sleeves covered part of his hands, and the dark trousers fell loosely over his shoes. Vansh glanced at himself in the mirror for a moment before grabbing his bag from the desk.
Simple. Warm. Comfortable enough for another day.
He bid his aunt goodbye, receiving her affectionate return. Grabbing the handlebars of his bicycle, Vansh pulled back. He rode to college on his cycle, although he didn't do it every day.
The streets of Verilin buzzed with morning traffic, all rushing to their destinations—students going to school, college, and universities. Everyone was heading somewhere, with some students hurrying, others half-asleep, and some in groups creating a commotion.
Vansh rode along at his own pace, earphones in, listening to music at a low volume. As he approached the college gate, he noticed someone waiting beside the pavement.
It was Srujan.
Vansh recognised him but didn't immediately slow down, thinking he was probably waiting for someone else.
Then Srujan lifted a hand in a stop signal. Vansh frowned slightly and slowed his cycle beside him.
"Hm?" Vansh asked.
"Morning," Srujan replied casually.
"Morning," Vansh said, waiting a moment for more conversation, but when nothing came, he lightly pushed the pedal again.
"Wait," Srujan said. "Let's go together."
Vansh raised an eyebrow. "…Together?"
"My leg hurts."
There was a moment of silence. Vansh slowly glanced downward. Both of Srujan's legs appeared perfectly fine.
"Which one?" Vansh asked.
"The emotional one."
"That's not a body part."
"It is if life hurts enough."
Vansh stared at him for a couple of seconds before sighing. "Get on."
Srujan immediately climbed onto the back seat before Vansh could reconsider.
"What is this guy, an idiot?" Vansh thought to himself. "Wait a second," he said, looking at his cycle. The bike tilted slightly under the added weight.
"Damn," Vansh muttered. "What are you made of?"
"Untapped potential."
"Concrete."
The cycle moved forward again—slowly, painfully slowly.
"You know," Srujan said from behind, "people usually pedal faster than this, maybe a kid?"
"You know," Vansh replied, "people usually walk when their legs work."
"Still injured emotionally."
"You recovered pretty quickly while climbing on."
Srujan grinned quietly to himself. From his vantage point behind Vansh, he watched the road pass by slowly while the morning wind brushed against them.
Vansh rode carefully, one hand steady on the handlebars, eyes focused ahead, while his hair fluttered slightly in the wind. For some reason, everything felt strangely normal. This had happened before, as if they were just continuing an old routine.
The college gate gradually came into view as Vansh and Srujan dismounted from their bicycles, the familiar surroundings signalling the start of yet another day filled with classes and challenges.
"I'll park the cycle and come inside," Vansh said, glancing around the parking area.
"I'll come too," Srujan replied, eager to stay close.
"It's really fine," Vansh insisted, hoping to speed things up.
"I know," Srujan responded, a smirk on his face.
"…Then?" Vansh asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I like supervising," Srujan said confidently, as if that justified his presence.
"You are honestly the least qualified person for that," Vansh shot back, a hint of laughter in his voice.
They both entered the parking area, only to be confronted with the sight of almost every single spot already taken.
"Great," Vansh muttered under his breath, staring at the crowded area. "Another survival challenge."
Suddenly, Srujan pointed dramatically toward the left side. "There! Look over there!"
He had spotted a narrow space nestled between two bikes. As Vansh immediately began to manoeuvre his bicycle toward it, another cycle smoothly slid into the vacant spot just before him.
It was Rina.
Srujan looked at her, feeling a mix of betrayal and disbelief. "Excuse me," he said, his voice tinged with frustration, "we saw that spot first!"
Rina, unfazed, locked her bicycle with a casual confidence. "And yet, my cycle is the one standing there now. Fascinating outcome, isn't it?"
"That's just corruption," Srujan retorted, crossing his arms in indignation.
Rina rolled her eyes with a playful smirk. "That's called timing, my friend."
"We formed an emotional attachment to that parking spot!" Srujan insisted, his voice rising slightly.
"You formed an emotional attachment in less than three seconds?" Rina questioned, her brow arching in mock disbelief.
"I commit fast," Srujan replied, a grin spreading across his face.
Vansh quietly shook his head, already feeling exhausted from the lighthearted banter. "Sorry," he leaned toward Rina, hoping to defuse the situation. "Just ignore him."
"I'm trying my best," Rina replied, rolling her eyes good-naturedly.
"I can hear both of you, by the way," Srujan chimed in, a teasing smile on his lips.
"Unfortunately," Vansh muttered in response, sighing in exasperation.
Rina let out a soft snort of laughter, and for a brief moment, the tension eased.
Vansh then noticed a cycle parked beside the empty spot, tilted diagonally in a way that took up unnecessary space. It seemed almost as if it were flaunting its poor parking skills, like a tenant who refused to pay rent for a premium spot.
He lifted his hands, pointing at the tilted cycle. Srujan and Rina followed his gesture, initially sharing a curious glance. But then, as if a light bulb had gone off, Srujan and Rina exchanged knowing looks.
Srujan pointed at the bicycle slowly. "This," he declared with seriousness, "is a social issue that needs addressing."
Rina nodded in agreement, her expression shifting to one of mock gravity. "A public menace indeed."
Vansh sighed in resignation. "Just leave it alone," he advised, sensing trouble brewing.
"No," Rina replied defiantly, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
They both chuckled evilly, and Vansh felt as if he were watching two villains plotting their next move in a comedy film.
Before he could voice his concerns, Srujan decisively grabbed the handlebars while Rina took hold of the back wheel.
"What on earth are you two doing?" Vansh asked, alarm bells ringing in his head.
"Corrective action," Rina said, her tone dripping with conviction.
"One… two… lift!" Srujan instructed, their mischievous plan unfolding.
To Vansh's utter horror, they lifted the entire bicycle, flipping it upside down—both wheels now facing the sky in a comical display of chaos.
Srujan stepped back, a satisfied smile plastered on his face. "There! That should solve the problem," he said proudly. The badly parked cycle now stood upside down against the railing, resembling a piece of abstract modern art.
Rina crossed her arms, surveying their handiwork. "Now it's not taking extra space," she declared, as if that justified their actions.
Vansh stared at both of them in disbelief, trying to comprehend their strange logic. "That's not fixing the issue," he argued. "That's sending a message."
"What kind of message?!" he pressed.
"Park properly, or lose your gravity privileges," Rina explained, a grin playing on her lips.
Vansh shook his head, exasperated. "You both are genuinely strange people," he said.
"Thank you," Srujan responded cheerfully, as if receiving a compliment.
"That wasn't a compliment," Vansh retorted, but the laughter was creeping in.
Rina gestured toward the newly opened parking spot. "Anyway, you should park now."
Feeling mentally exhausted from their antics, Vansh parked his bicycle beside Rina's. Once they finished parking, the three of them casually walked away from the parking area, their laughter echoing behind them. Meanwhile, the upside-down bicycle remained near the railing, its wheels still spinning slowly, as if it were a cartoon character in a silent comedy.
Srujan looked pleased with himself, a triumphant smirk on his face. "See? Problem cracked."
Vansh shook his head, still discontent. "That's not solving anything," he muttered under his breath. "That's psychological warfare."
Rina shrugged nonchalantly. "The owner will learn discipline from this," she claimed, her tone serious.
"Or they might just summon a priest," Vansh added, trying to lighten the mood.
Neither of them seemed particularly concerned, which, honestly, made Vansh feel more uneasy.
A few steps later, two students entered the parking area. Their conversation instantly stopped when they saw the upside-down bicycle. When they spotted the upside-down bicycle.
They exchanged puzzled glances, and a heavy silence enveloped them.
Vansh instinctively glanced back. One of the students slowly pointed at the bizarre sight.
"…What the hell?" he said incredulously.
The other student looked genuinely disturbed. "Did it fall like that naturally?" he asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"How could that happen naturally?!" the first student shot back, his voice rising in disbelief.
"I don't know, maybe there was a strong wind?" the second student suggested, scratching his head in confusion.
"That cycle is fully vertical, Rahul," the first one remarked, cautiously surveying the parking area like he had entered an active crime scene.
Meanwhile, beside him, Srujan had already lowered his head, pretending to cough to stifle his laughter. Even Rina was biting her lip, trying desperately not to smile at the absurdity of the situation.
Vansh stared at both of them for a moment, shaking his head in disbelief. Then he turned back to the confused students, who were investigating the bicycle like detectives trying to solve a puzzling mystery.
Internally, he sighed, recognising his predicament. I really chose the wrong people to stand beside today.
But oddly enough, as they continued walking toward their class together, he didn't seem to want to separate from them either.
Three of them entered the building, taking off their outdoor shoes and putting on their college indoor shoes. Vansh and Srujan were separated as they had different sections, but they all reunited while climbing the stairs.
"Oh, lunch guy as-" Vansh called out, using Srujan's nickname.
"Huh? Lunch guy? Are you still on that?" Srujan replied, frustration evident in his tone.
"But I haven't gotten used to your name yet," Vansh shot back.
"So, lunch guy? How lame! It feels like I work for the canteen," Srujan retorted.
"But it suits you well, calling out to every student," Rina teased, smirking.
"Why would I do that?" Srujan asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Well, you seem to be a popular target for jokes and fun around too many people, I guess?" Rina replied.
Srujan was unsure whether to take this as a compliment or as mockery, but he brushed it off as he remembered why the conversation had started.
"And Vansh, just remember, I have a name," Srujan said firmly.
"But lunch guy works," Vansh countered.
"Not you too!?" Srujan exclaimed.
"Okay then, where do you usually have your lunch?" Vansh pressed on.
"Somewhere else, not in the classroom for sure," Srujan admitted, falling into Vansh's trap.
"Well then, let this lunch guy join you for lunch since it suits you well, doesn't it?" Srujan suggested.
Vansh didn't catch on to his plan, but he understood the implication.
"No, but you can serve the lunch instead; it suits you, doesn't it?" Vansh replied, looking at Srujan.
"Huh? No, it doesn't! I'm going to join you for lunch, and that's final!" Srujan declared, making a fist and shaking Vansh's hand.
"In that case, Vansh, what was your name for me?" Rina interrupted, thinking for a moment. "Oh, right! Locker girl, isn't it?"
Vansh turned to Rina, realising she was about to say something similar to Srujan.
"Maybe I should lock you up! So, does that name suit me?" Rina asked, giving a playful, mischievous smirk.
Vansh felt like both of them were trapping him. "Fine, I give up," he sighed slowly.
As they reached the classroom door, he turned to Srujan and Rina. "Srujan. Rina," He watched them both, giving a light smile.
"Thanks for walking up here with me," he said before he entered the classroom, slowly opening the door.
Srujan and Rina were stunned; they stood by the door watching him walk to his seat.
"For some reason, saying their names felt strangely natural." Vansh thought to himself.