Aadhya's pov
Chapter Four (continued)
Aadhya's POV
I stepped into the classroom…
…and stopped.
"…"
Silence.
Complete silence.
"Yeh mera class hai?"
Because normally—
this place sounds like a fish market mixed with WWE.
But today?
Too quiet.
Suspiciously quiet.
"Something's wrong."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Definitely kuch toh hone wala hai."
I slowly walked to my seat—
And froze.
"…oh."
My skirt piece.
Still.
Attached.
To the bench.
I stared at it for a second.
"Congratulations."
"This bench is now officially mine."
"Property registered."
I sighed and sat down anyway.
"Jo hoga dekha jayega."
—
I glanced back.
All of them—
Grouped together.
Whispering.
Planning.
Definitely planning something.
"Haan haan… plan banao…" I smirked to myself.
"Adi is ready."
"I won't fall for your stupid prank."
Then—
My eyes landed on someone else.
Nikansh.
He was there today.
Hmm.
There's something weird about him.
Same aura.
Same attitude.
Same… dark vibe as Vivaan.
"Are they secretly twins?"
"Ya phir inke navels connected hain?"
I blinked.
"…okay I'm going insane."
—
"Adi."
Mahi called out.
I turned.
And then—
"…what the hell."
All of them.
Walking towards me.
Together.
Like some gang entry scene.
"Are we going to war?"
My brain instantly activated survival mode.
"Okay… plan—"
"Bag uthao… face pe maaro… bhaago."
Simple. Effective.
"What?" I asked, trying to sound normal.
Vivaan stepped forward.
Calm.
Too calm.
And placed a paper in front of me.
I frowned.
"What is—"
I picked it up.
Read it.
…
"…one pulao."
"…one jeera rice and dal."
"…one paneer tikka."
I looked up slowly.
"…yeh kya hai?"
"Hotel menu?"
"Catering service?"
I stood up.
"What the hell is this?"
He folded his arms.
"Our order."
Flat. Bored.
Like this is completely normal.
I blinked.
"And I'm supposed to do what with this?"
"You're getting your lunch… get ours too."
Same tone.
Dry. Commanding.
I laughed.
Short. Sharp.
"And why would I do that?"
"I'm not your maid."
I crossed my arms.
He looked at me.
And something changed.
His eyes—
Darkened.
Not dramatic.
Just… colder.
He stepped forward.
I stepped back.
"One step."
"Two step."
"Three—"
My back hit the bench.
And I sat down without meaning to.
"Great."
"Perfect positioning."
He leaned in.
Too close.
Way too close.
"Bhagwan…"
"Personal space naam ki bhi cheez hoti hai."
I tried to look away.
But he placed his arms on the desk—
Caging me in.
My heartbeat—
Fast.
Very fast.
"Why is my heart acting like it's running marathon?"
He leaned closer.
And whispered near my ear—
"If you don't bring our lunch…"
Pause.
"We might end up eating you instead."
His voice—
Low.
Husky.
Dangerous.
"…EXCUSE ME??"
My brain stopped working.
Heart = dhak dhak dhak dhak.
"Okay okay!" I blurted out quickly.
"I'll get it! Just—move!"
I pushed him slightly.
He smirked.
Of course he did.
Behind him—
CHEERS.
Claps.
Whistles.
"Public hai yeh…"
He finally stepped back.
I grabbed the paper again.
Read the list.
"Yeh log khana khaenge ya catering business kholenge?"
"Is there something wrong?" Vivaan asked.
I looked up.
Dead serious.
"No… your list is small."
"I was wondering if you want to add more."
Same tone.
Same dryness.
Copied perfectly.
A few boys snorted.
He didn't.
He looked… irritated.
Good.
"Just get that," he said.
Ordered.
Again.
"Ugh."
I hate that tone.
I sat back down.
Clutching the paper.
Classes started again.
Teacher explaining something.
No one listening.
And me?
Staring at the list.
Then at them.
Then back at the list.
"Great."
"Now I'm officially their lunch delivery service."
I leaned back slightly.
"How am I supposed to survive this class?"
Pause.
"…and why do I feel like this is just the beginning?"
"And where is that little idiot…"
I looked at Avi's empty seat.
No bag.
No jacket.
No stupid smile.
"…he didn't come today."
My fingers tapped lightly on the desk.
"Did he get into trouble… because of me?"
That thought sat heavy.
"…I hope he's fine."
I took out my phone.
"Call karu?"
Paused.
"Nahi… baad mein."
—
Classes somehow ended.
Now—
War zone time.
Cafeteria.
I walked in like a soldier going to battlefield.
"Ek din… yeh jagah meri dushman ban jayegi."
I handed over the list.
The saleslady looked at it.
Then at me.
Then at the money.
"…₹10,000."
Her expression = priceless.
Mine = innocent smile.
"Hehe."
She started packing—fast.
Very fast.
Probably best order of the day.
I just stood there like a sponsor.
Finally done.
I paid.
Lifted the boxes—
"DAMN."
"Yeh log khaate hain ya stock karte hain?"
I tipped her.
Not my money anyway.
"Business grow karo aunty."
She smiled.
Mission success.
—
I turned to leave—
Door opened.
And time stopped.
Reyansh.
And—
Yuvika.
"…oh."
"SO THIS IS HER."
My brain connected all dots in 2 seconds flat.
"Wait… then that means…"
"Reyansh Mahajan = THAT guy."
"…then backer kaun hai?"
"Arre yaar—focus!"
I tried to walk past—
But he stepped in front of me.
Blocked.
"Is this for Section E?" he asked.
Voice calm.
Too calm.
But his eyes—
Angry.
Very angry.
"Rey… mujhe jaana hai," I said quickly.
"You're not going anywhere until you answer me."
Authority.
Pure authority.
"Shit."
"I need to go… I'm sorry," I said and slipped past him.
Then—
I ran.
Fast.
"ADI!"
He called out.
"I'm really sorry Rey!" I shouted back.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
—
Reached the building.
Breathing like I ran a marathon.
One idiot saw me—
"Perfect, help aa gayi—"
And ran inside.
"Of course."
"Informer."
I dragged the boxes inside and dropped them on the table.
Breathing heavy.
Sweating.
"Delivery complete."
Within seconds—
They attacked the food.
"Where is mine?" one shouted.
"Wait! Ek aur hai!"
I ran back again.
Cafeteria → building → cafeteria → building.
"Main delivery girl nahi hoon… main athlete hoon."
Came back.
Dropped the last box.
Hair messed.
Breathing gone.
I tied my hair into a bun quickly.
Looked up—
They were sitting.
Food in front.
But not eating.
"…what now?"
Oh.
Change.
I took out the money.
And threw it on Vivaan's table.
Coins scattered.
"Sorry Lakshmi maa… situation samajh lo."
"Let him bend and pick it up once in his life."
I glared at him.
He glared back.
Good.
Balance maintained.
—
I sat down, almost collapsing.
Opened my own lunch—
And suddenly—
Mahi dragged his bench next to me.
Then others.
One by one.
Encircling.
"…acha."
"So they WERE waiting."
"Let's eat together!" Mahi shouted.
And chaos began.
Again.
Fighting.
Snatching.
Arguing.
"Animals…"
But…
somehow funny.
—
My eyes went to Nikansh.
He wasn't eating.
Just sitting.
Silent.
"Strange…"
"Bhook nahi hai kya?"
I dug into my bag.
Chocolate.
"Perfect."
He stood up to leave.
I grabbed his hand.
Gave him the chocolate.
"If you don't like the food… eat this."
He looked at it.
Then at me.
Then again at it.
"Come on yaar," I said.
"Better than starving."
"Lele na, Nik," Mahi added.
Finally—
He took it.
And left.
But…
He kept looking back.
At me.
"Creepy."
"Very creepy."
—
Lunch done.
Chaos done.
Packets?
Thrown out the window.
"WHAT THE HELL??"
"Why are you doing that?!"
"It's normal," someone said calmly.
"…kya?"
"Yeh log environment ke dushman hain."
—
My eyes drifted again.
Avi's seat.
Empty.
"…"
"I miss that idiot."
"Is he okay?"
I turned to Mahi.
"Mahi… Avi ka number hai?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Chahiye."
He showed his phone.
I quickly typed it.
"Waah… Samsung Galaxy…"
"Main? Nokia."
"Progress slow hai… but hai."
I saved it.
He grabbed my arm.
"Your number?"
"Oh."
I typed mine too.
He smiled.
I smiled back.
Sat down.
Saved Avi's contact as—
"Little Idiot"
I typed:
"Hey… why didn't you come today? Are you okay?"
Sent.
—
Bell rang.
Phone away.
Class started.
Teacher started asking questions.
"Bas… yahi baaki tha."
"I didn't study."
"Bhagwan… aaj bacha lo… kal pakka padhungi."
—
"Miss Aadhya Mahajan Verma."
Full name.
Danger sign.
I stood up.
"Yes ma'am."
"Are you familiar with Reyansh Mahajan?"
Pause.
Class silent.
"Why this question now…"
"Yes ma'am…"
"…we're cousins."
I said it slowly.
Carefully.
The air changed.
Immediately.
Heavy.
Dark.
"Why?"
"Do you know the answer?" she asked.
I shook my head.
Sat down.
Something felt… off.
I looked around.
Everyone wasn't looking at me.
They were looking—
Behind me.
I turned slightly.
And froze.
Vivaan.
His eyes—
Dark.
Angry.
Controlled.
Barely.
Nikansh—
Same.
Worse, maybe.
Like he wanted to bury me alive.
I turned back instantly.
"WHAT THE HELL."
And then—
It hit me.
"…oh."
"Oh shit."
"Now I remember why."