Aadhya's POV
"Finally… ghar."
I dropped my bag a little and stretched my shoulders.
"Uff… itni der lagi. Next time main bhaag ke aaungi," I muttered, dragging my feet inside.
"Arey Adi meri bachi aa gayi!"
Before I could even react—
Masi attack.
She rushed towards me and pulled me into a tight hug.
Very tight.
"Masiii… saans… saans bhi aane do…" I squeaked, half laughing, half dying.
She laughed and loosened her grip.
"Haan haan, drama queen," she teased, cupping my face. "Toh kaisa raha first day?"
Her eyes were shining.
Waiting.
Expecting.
I paused for a second.
"Hmm… acha tha," I said.
Inside?
Debate chal rahi thi.
Acha tha?
Ya traumatic experience?
"Achaaa?" she smiled wider.
Then suddenly—
"Tumhe bhook lagi hogi na! Chalo, maine tumhara favourite—malai kofta banaya hai."
I froze.
"WHAT."
"Malai kofta??"
All trauma? Gone.
"Main aa rahi hoon!"
I literally started running towards the kitchen.
"Kapde baad mein change kar lungi!"
She caught my bag mid-air and pinched my cheek.
"Pehle kapde change karo."
"Masiii…"
"No arguments."
"Okayyy…" I dragged the word and ran upstairs.
"Fine. Worth it."
—
Hmm…
Yeah.
I'm staying at Masi's house now.
Temporary.
Until Nani gets better.
I've lived with Nani since I was little… in our village house.
Simple life.
Simple people.
Simple problems.
School bhi wahi tak kiya maine.
Everything was… normal.
Until that day.
That accident.
My chest tightened a little.
"Nani ko heart attack… meri wajah se…" I whispered softly.
Bhaiyya got angry.
Reyansh…
He was already angry.
But that day?
It got worse.
Only Masi understood me.
And Maa…
I stopped.
"…woh toh thi hi nahi."
Silence.
I shook my head quickly.
"Leave it."
"Abhi sirf malai kofta ke baare mein soch."
Priorities.
—
I changed into my pajamas quickly and ran downstairs again.
Straight to the dining table.
Masi served me.
And I started eating—
"Hmmm…"
Dramatic humming mode ON.
"Yeh toh swarg hai…"
I closed my eyes slightly, enjoying every bite.
She just stood there, watching me with a soft smile.
Then—
"Adi…"
I looked up.
"Haan?"
"Why don't you talk to bhaiyya… tell him to come back?"
My hand paused mid-air.
Oh.
That.
I know he's out.
And I know…
He's still angry.
With me.
But…
I looked at Masi.
Hope in her eyes.
I sighed softly.
"I'll try…" I nodded.
She smiled immediately.
"Thank you."
Before I could say anything else—
Car horn.
Door opened.
Reyansh.
"Good evening, Mom," he said casually.
And then—
Our eyes met.
Just for a second.
Cold.
Then he looked away.
And went upstairs.
Like I wasn't even there.
I quietly went back to eating.
"Are you two still not talking?" Masi asked, worried.
I forced a small smile.
"Nahi… we're fine."
Lie.
Big one.
But what else could I say?
Even I don't know why he's like this.
She seemed relieved and went back to the kitchen.
I finished eating, cleaned up, and went upstairs.
Grabbed my phone.
Headphones.
And walked to the terrace.
—
Night air.
Cool.
Quiet.
I plugged in my earphones and played music on full volume.
Sat down near the wall, knees pulled close, looking at the sky… and the garden below.
And suddenly—
A memory.
Village roads.
Empty. Silent.
I used to lie there…
Just like that.
After fighting.
Yeah. Fighting.
With classmates.
With neighbourhood boys.
And obviously—
"I always won," I smiled slightly.
Then after getting tired…
I'd just lie there.
Staring at the sky.
Thinking—
"Kitna boring hai…"
And now?
I miss it.
I slowly lay down on the terrace floor.
Staring at the same sky.
But it felt… different.
"Hmm…"
"Will it always be like this?"
"Main… akeli?"
"Talking to myself?"
Silence.
"I might go crazy…"
Pause.
Then I suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha…"
"I'm already crazy."
"And weird."
"Certified."
The laughter faded slowly.
Reality slipped back in.
Heavy.
Quiet.
I sat up.
Changed the song.
"Bas… mood change kar."
It's easy.
Just like songs.
Switch.
Done.
I played Barso Re Megha Megha.
Loud.
Very loud.
Started singing along—
Even though there was no rain.
Didn't matter.
"Vibe honi chahiye…"
I closed my eyes for a second, letting the music take over.
Morning.
Good morning, good food, good mood.
I sat at the dining table and finished every single bite like it was my last meal on earth.
Finger licking? Done.
Plate almost shining? Done.
"Bas bas, plate mat kha lena," Masi laughed, watching me.
I grinned wider.
"Control nahi hota, Masi," I said proudly.
Honestly?
I like it like this.
Simple. Warm. Safe.
"I'm going! Bye!" I grabbed my bag and rushed towards the door.
"Wait!"
Of course.
I turned.
"I'll tell you a shortcut. Wahan se jaogi toh jaldi pahunch jaogi," she said.
My eyes lit up.
Shortcut = more sleep saved = approved.
"Haan haan bolo!" I nodded like my life depended on it.
She explained the turns—
"Right, then left, phir seedha…"
"Got it," I said confidently.
(Mujhe bilkul yaad nahi rehne wala.)
—
I started walking.
"Hmm… pehle right…"
Done.
"Phir left…"
Done.
"Ab…"
I slowed down.
"Ab kya tha?"
Before I could process—
A guy almost fell on me.
"HEY—"
I instantly jumped back and got into full karate stance.
"Attack mode ON."
"Come on! I'm ready!"
…
But he didn't attack.
He just… fell.
I blinked.
"…oh."
I looked past him.
And saw a small guy beating up two other boys.
I stared.
"Wow."
"Even here?"
"Violence is universal."
They were completely occupied beating each other in the middle of the road.
"Nice. Perfect timing."
I slowly tried to walk past them like a civilian avoiding war.
"Excuse me… side please…"
But suddenly—
"Go away… if you want to live long."
I stopped.
Looked at him.
Then looked down at his height.
Then back at him.
"…seriously?"
"Tu mujhse chhota hai."
The audacity.
I walked up to him.
And—
tapli.
Right on his head.
He froze.
Slowly turned—
And stared at me.
Then his expression changed.
Recognition.
"Hey! Aadhya!"
I blinked.
"Oh?"
"It's me! We're classmates, right?" he said, suddenly all friendly and clinging to my arm.
"Wait—" I pulled my arm back.
"Haan… maybe," I nodded.
"But tum kya kar rahe the?"
He puffed his chest proudly.
"Maine unhe maara. So they don't come back to trouble me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Impressive… aur thoda unnecessary."
I started walking again.
"Hey wait! Main bhi aa raha hoon!"
"No, I can't wait. Late ho jaungi," I said, not stopping.
He ran up beside me—
Literally ran for like five steps—
And started breathing like he just completed a marathon.
"I told you to wait…" he said, panting.
I looked at him.
"…tumne bas 5 steps bhaage ho."
"I might get late because of you," I said.
"Nooo… it's too early…" he replied, still catching his breath.
I slowed down a little.
He looked… young.
Thin.
And honestly… kind of cute.
"Hi, I'm Aarav Goyal. You can call me Avi," he said with a shy smile.
"Hmm…" I nodded.
"I'm Aadhya. You can call me Adi."
We walked for a bit in silence.
Then—
"Can I ask you for a favour?" he said hesitantly.
I looked at him.
"Hmm?"
He looked relieved.
"Can you bring me food… when you get yours?"
I stopped.
Oh.
Right.
That.
"Pehle yeh batao… cafeteria mein allowed kyun nahi ho tum log?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
He looked away.
"We're just lazy… lene nahi jaate," he said casually.
I stared at him.
"Nice joke."
"Main help nahi karungi," I said and started walking ahead.
"Wait wait!"
He hurried after me.
"Okay I'll tell you… but ek condition."
"Hmm?"
"Kisi ko mat batana ki maine bataya."
I nodded quickly.
"Pakka."
He took a breath.
"Humari ek female classmate thi… tumse pehle…"
"Acha, Yuvika?" I interrupted.
He looked surprised.
"Tumhe kaise pata?"
"Bas… pata hai," I shrugged.
He continued—
"Haan… woh aur Vivaan… couple ban gaye the."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Expected."
"Phir kuch hua… woh humse door ho gayi. Cold ho gayi. Aur higher section mein shift ho gayi."
Hmm.
"Phir?"
"Phir ek din… Vivaan ne usse kisi aur ladke ke saath dekha…"
Pause.
"Kiss karte hue."
Oh.
"…oh."
"He went mad. Fight hui. Cafeteria tod diya usne."
I blinked.
"Literally?"
"Literally," he nodded dramatically.
"Phir madam ne usse ban kar diya—cafeteria se… aur Yuvika se bhi."
"Wow…"
"Par action us ladke pe kyun nahi?" I frowned.
"Woh bhi toh rules break kar raha tha?"
"Because… that guy has a backer," he said quietly.
Oh.
Power.
Of course.
"And not just him…" Avi added.
"Nikansh bhi usse pasand karta tha. Usne bhi fight ki."
I paused.
"Nikansh…"
Locker wala naam.
"Wow…"
"So basically… do logon ki love story aur ego ki wajah se…"
"Tum sab banned ho?"
He nodded slowly.
"Exactly."
I let out a small laugh.
"Great."
"Pure section punishment."
I started walking again.
My mind wandering.
Yuvika…
"Woh itni beautiful thi…" I murmured.
"Ki do log pagal ho gaye uske liye…"
Avi looked at me.
"So… lunch laogi?"
I nodded absentmindedly.
"Hmm…"
But my thoughts were somewhere else.
Vivaan.
Nikansh.
Yuvika.
"Interesting…"
"Yeh story itni simple nahi hai."