Aadhya's POV
"Damn it…"
I stared at the board, then at the teacher, then back at the board again like somehow the words would rearrange themselves into something that actually made sense.
But no.
"Yeh sir bol kya rahe hain…?" I muttered under my breath, my eyebrows slowly knitting together.
It felt like he started with history… then suddenly jumped to Ramayan… then Mahabharat… aur sabko mixer mein daal ke smoothie bana di ho.
And the worst part?
He kept making eye contact. With everyone.
I panicked.
Quickly, I nodded my head like a well-trained puppet.
"Haan haan… samajh aa gaya…"
(Nothing. Absolutely nothing went inside my brain.)
And then—
THAK!
Something hit my head.
"Ouch!" I jerked slightly, my hand immediately going to my head.
"Yeh kya tha?" I whispered, confused.
I looked around.
Everyone was looking at the board.
So focused… like CCTV cameras on duty.
"Okay… maybe mistake…" I told myself, trying to ignore it.
Big mistake.
Because then—
One more.
Then another.
Then another.
And suddenly—
Paper balls.
From nowhere.
Like rain.
My jaw tightened.
"Bas…" I whispered, my patience officially packing its bags.
I turned around slowly, glaring at them.
"Kaun hai jo paper balls phek raha hai?" I asked, voice calm… but teeth clenched so tight they might break.
Silence.
They ignored me.
Ignored. Me.
Wow.
I turned back again, trying—trying—to focus on the board like a good, peaceful, non-violent human being.
"Okay Aadhya… ignore… you are strong… you are mature…"
THAK!
"—you are going to kill someone."
Finally, the first period ended.
I exhaled in relief like I just survived a battlefield.
But God clearly wasn't done testing me.
Next period—Physics.
The teacher walked in and started explaining.
I sat straight, trying my best to concentrate.
"Okay… this is important… focus…"
But no.
THAK.
Paper ball.
Again.
Again.
AGAIN.
My eye twitched.
"Bas ho gaya."
I turned around sharply.
"Kaun hai yaar?? Who the hell keeps throwing paper balls at me?"
This time my voice wasn't calm.
At all.
Sir heard me.
"What happened, Miss Aadhya?" he asked, his voice serious.
"Sir, someone keeps throwing paper balls at me," I said, trying not to sound like I was about to commit a crime.
He was about to say something—
But of course.
Bell rang.
And like every responsible adult ever—
he ignored it.
And left.
Just like that.
I blinked.
"Wow."
I slowly turned around.
And that—
That was my second mistake of the day.
Because this time…
They weren't pretending.
All of them were staring at me.
Directly.
Openly.
Like I was some kind of entertainment show.
My eyes moved across the room… and then stopped.
On him.
Vivaan.
No smirk.
No expression.
Just… staring.
Intensely.
So intense it felt like he was trying to dig a hole through me with just his eyes.
"What the hell?" I snapped.
And then—
He lifted his hand.
Snapped his fingers.
"Charge."
That's it.
Bas ek word.
Aur tabahi shuru.
Paper balls.
From every direction.
Left. Right. Back.
I ducked.
"Are you serious?? Stop it! STOP IT!"
I tried shielding myself with my hands, my bag, my dignity—
jo bhi bacha tha.
"Pagal ho kya tum log??"
But they didn't stop.
Of course they didn't.
I grabbed my bag and ran.
Actually ran.
Out of the classroom.
Into the corridor.
And STILL—
One last paper ball hit my shoulder.
I stopped.
Turned around.
Empty doorway.
Silence.
I looked down at the paper ball in my hand.
"…kindergarten ke bacche bhi shayad itna tang nahi karte," I muttered.
I took a deep breath.
"Whatever."
My stomach growled.
Loudly.
Oh.
Right.
Hunger.
And me being hungry?
That is not a small issue.
That is a national emergency.
"Pehle khana. Baaki badla baad mein," I decided seriously.
I adjusted my bag and started walking.
"Let's see… cafeteria kaisa hai yahan…"
Because honestly—
Right now?
Food was the only thing that could fix my mood…
…or at least stop me from throwing something heavier than paper next time.
I pushed open the cafeteria door—
…and froze.
"Wow."
My eyes widened like I had just entered heaven.
"Yeh… cafeteria hai ya restaurant?" I whispered, almost emotional.
The place was huge, bright, full of chatter and the smell of food that instantly made my soul leave my body and sit near the counter.
"This… this is going to be my favorite place," I nodded seriously. "Bilkul fix."
Food = peace.
Food = happiness.
Food = solution to 99% of my problems.
I walked straight to the counter like a woman on a mission.
"One student meal… veg wala please," I said, trying to sound calm but my eyes were already scanning everything like a hungry hawk.
The lady nodded and started preparing it.
Good.
While waiting, I casually turned around to look at the cafeteria—
And immediately ducked.
"Shit."
I bent down slightly, hiding behind the counter like a criminal.
Saanvi.
And her group.
Of course.
"Bhagwan, first day pe hi gossip list mein aa gayi main," I muttered.
I stayed still… but my ears? Fully active.
"Hmmm… what did you say her name was… Ad?" one girl said in a dramatic tone like she was in some serial audition.
"Not 'Add.' It's Aadhya," Saanvi corrected calmly.
Oh. She remembers. Nice.
"So she was the transfer student…" another girl added.
"Got into the wrong class on the very first day. Wow… how embarrassing."
I blinked slowly.
"Wow. Thank you for the live commentary," I whispered to myself.
"They are dramatic," I sighed internally. "Aur thodi si pagal bhi."
But…
It still felt weird.
Listening to people talk about you…
on your first day…
"Yeah, she was a little dumb… but she's cute," Saanvi said.
My heart paused.
Just for a second.
"…dumb?"
I looked down at the counter.
"I thought she was nice…" I murmured quietly.
"I mean… she is nice… but…"
Something felt off.
"Section E, huh? Sounds interesting. What is she too…?" a guy's voice came.
I peeked slightly.
Tall.
Sharp features.
And honestly… he looked like he hadn't smiled since birth.
"Yeh banda toh full villain lag raha hai," I thought.
"Here's your order."
I snapped out of it and quickly went to collect my food.
"Thank you," I said, grabbing the tray.
And then—
Of course—
Saanvi saw me.
And started walking towards me.
"Bas. Ab awkward moment aayega," I sighed internally.
She stopped in front of me, slightly nervous.
"Oh… hi…"
"It's okay," I said before she could speak.
"Oh… I—" she hesitated. "How's your day?"
"It's good… so far," I replied.
Robotic. Flat. Dead inside.
I picked up my tray.
She gently held my hand.
I paused.
"Why don't you join us?" she asked softly.
For a second… I considered it.
Then I shook my head lightly.
"Nahi… I mean… I was actually thinking ki main wahan baith ke kha lu," I said, pointing randomly.
Polite refusal.
She looked… a little disappointed.
"Great," I thought.
Before I could say anything else—
BANG.
The cafeteria door opened.
And everything slowed down.
I turned.
And my jaw dropped.
"OH. MY. GOD."
A girl walked in.
No— not a girl.
A literal goddess.
"Yeh… insaan hai?" I whispered.
She was… perfect.
Skin so clear it looked unreal.
Hair—long, black, smooth—like those shampoo ads actually worked on her.
Her walk? Effortless. Confident.
"if only I weren't a girl I would have definitely fall..en for her...." I stopped myself mid-thought.
"Bas Aadhya. Control. Tum ladki ho. Aur seedhi ladki ho."
But seriously—
She looked like she just walked out of a Bollywood movie.
"Hey Reyansh, Yuvika! Why don't you join us?" Saanvi called out, pulling me back to reality.
Oh.
So her name is Yuvika.
Nice name. Suits her unfair beauty.
And Reyansh…
Wait.
I looked at him.
And froze.
He was staring at me.
No.
Not staring.
Glaring.
Oh.
Right.
That Reyansh.
My cousin.
The one I don't act like a cousin with.
The one who clearly doesn't like my existence.
"Samajh gayi," I muttered under my breath.
Message received. Loud and clear.
I picked up my tray properly and turned to Saanvi.
"I'll… eat in my class," I said simply.
She nodded slowly.
I didn't wait.
I just walked out.
The moment I stepped outside—
I let out a long breath.
"Huff…"
"That was… a lot."
I adjusted my bag and looked down at my tray.
"Main aur Reyansh… cousins hain," I murmured.
"But behave aise karte hain jaise dushman ho."
I shook my head.
"Whatever."
I looked around the corridor.
"Ab main khaungi kahan?"
Because honestly—
After everything that just happened…
I deserved to eat in peace. 😤