Aadhya's POV
He didn't say anything after that.
Just… walked to a bench.
Sat down.
Like king of the ruined kingdom.
Wow.
So obviously—
I also went and sat.
Opposite side.
Because why not?
Silence.
Heavy.
Clock ticking.
Sky getting darker.
My patience?
Already dead.
—
"I need to go home."
I finally stood up.
"Vivaan."
He didn't respond.
Of course.
"Vivaan!"
This time louder.
He looked at me.
Annoyed.
"Let's finish this."
I picked up the broom and walked to him.
Thrust it in his hand.
"Just clean where YOU messed."
Simple.
Logical.
Fair.
—
He just… stared at me.
Like I asked him to solve world hunger.
"This is too—ugh…"
He made a face.
Excuse me??
I rolled my eyes and went back to cleaning.
—
He was still sitting.
DOING NOTHING.
—
"For God's sake, Vivaan!"
"I want to go home!"
My voice cracked a little this time.
Frustration.
Tiredness.
Everything mixed.
—
He noticed.
I know he did.
Because for a second—
His expression softened.
Just a little.
Then gone.
—
He picked up the broom.
Finally.
Started cleaning.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Like—
"Turtle mode ON."
—
"VIVAAN!"
I snapped again.
"Okay, okay!"
He replied, irritated.
And finally—
Actually started cleaning properly.
—
We worked in silence.
Dust.
Benches.
Floor.
Strangely…
Peaceful.
In a weird way.
—
Then—
My brain started doing its thing.
Questions.
Always questions.
—
"Hey Vivaan…"
He didn't look up.
"Hmm?"
"Who's Dheeraj?"
"Is he the same one Naman mentioned?"
—
No reply.
—
I paused.
Looked at him.
"Wow."
"So you don't even talk?"
"What an attitude."
—
After a long pause—
"Yeah."
He finally said.
"He was the original class president."
Tone—flat.
Bored.
—
"Original?"
I tilted my head.
"So… you stole his position?"
A small smirk formed on my face.
—
"Not new."
He replied dryly.
—
I blinked.
"…what does that even mean?"
—
"Then why isn't he here?"
"If he's the president?"
—
This time—
He looked at me.
Properly.
Sharp.
Warning.
—
"You ask too many questions."
"I'm done cleaning."
—
Conversation over.
Just like that.
—
He dumped everything into the dustbin.
And stood up.
We were done.
Finally.
—
He walked to the door.
Knocked.
Hard.
Impatient.
—
We waited.
Footsteps.
Door opening—
—
And—
Not Nikansh.
—
Reyansh.
—
My breath hitched.
"What is HE doing here?"
—
"What are YOU doing here?"
Vivaan asked.
Tone controlled.
But I could hear it—
That anger.
Hidden.
Burning.
—
But Reyansh didn't even look at him.
Not once.
—
His eyes—
Locked on me.
—
"You need to come with me."
He said.
No explanation.
No greeting.
Just command.
—
Before I could react—
He grabbed my arm.
Pulled me forward.
—
"Okay—okay wait!"
"My bag!"
—
"Just come. Fast."
—
And he walked out.
—
I quickly grabbed my bag and followed.
Heart racing.
Confusion level: MAX.
—
And then—
Scene.
Actual scene.
Section E.
Section A.
Walking side by side.
—
Eyes.
Everywhere.
Glares.
Sharp.
Tense.
Like war about to start.
—
"What the hell…"
I whispered.
—
Then it clicked.
"…bhaiyya?"
"Did he find out something?"
—
A small smile formed.
"Good."
"Serve him right."
—
We reached home.
—
And suddenly—
That uneasy feeling came back.
Something wasn't right.
Not at all.
—
Because Reyansh—
Was too quiet.
Too angry.
And when he's like this—
It never ends well.
I was done.
Like—not just tired…
existential crisis level tired.
My brain had officially resigned from its duties.
I walked upstairs like a zombie, dragging my bag like it personally betrayed me. Didn't even bother eating. Food? Luxury. Sleep? Priority.
I changed into my pajamas—didn't even fold my uniform (sorry Masi)—and just collapsed on the bed.
No overthinking.
No drama.
Just—
Sleep.
—
Morning came like an uninvited guest.
I woke up with half my soul still in dreamland.
Stumbled to the washroom, picked up my toothbrush like it was a weapon, and started brushing with my eyes half closed.
Up-down.
Left-right.
Random zigzag.
"Technique doesn't matter… result matters."
Gargled. Done.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
"Wow."
"Teeth shining like diamonds."
Pause.
"…cheap diamonds."
I snorted at my own joke.
—
Then shower.
Hot water.
Instant therapy.
Honestly, if life gives problems—
take a shower.
Everything feels manageable after that.
Existential crisis? → Shower.
Heartbreak? → Shower.
Section E trauma? → Two showers.
—
I got ready properly this time. Uniform neat, hair tied (okay not perfect but decent), bag packed.
Walked downstairs.
Breakfast was already on the table.
Masi smiled. Bhaiyya looked serious as always. Rey… well, Rey existed.
"So you're both going together," Bhaiyya said firmly.
No arguments today.
Both of us just nodded like obedient children.
Miracle.
—
I sat in the passenger seat.
Car started.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Like someone pressed mute on life.
I looked outside. Trees passing. People walking. Normal world.
And then—
My eyes froze.
Wait.
That hair.
That walk.
"...no way."
My brain suddenly woke up.
"WAIT STOPPP!"
I shouted like my life depended on it.
—
SCREEECH
The car jerked to a stop.
"What the f—" Reyansh snapped.
"Sorry!"
"I'll get down here!"
Before he could say anything, I opened the door.
"Just tell Bhaiyya you dropped me," I said quickly.
He sighed in irritation. "Yeah, yeah."
But I was already gone.
Running.
—
"Avi!"
I reached him and lightly smacked his arm.
"HEY!"
He turned sharply—
Gave me a glare—
Then instantly smiled.
And that smile—
God.
Idiot has no right to look that nice.
—
But then—
I saw it.
Cuts.
On his face.
Near his lip.
On his cheek.
Still fresh.
Still red.
My smile vanished instantly.
"Hey—what happened to you?"
I stepped closer, touching his face without thinking.
He pulled back slightly.
"I'm fine."
—
"No you're NOT fine!"
"Wait—wait I have bandage—Dettol—"
I started unzipping my bag in panic.
He immediately grabbed it and closed it.
"I said I'm fine, Adi."
Still smiling.
Like nothing happened.
—
I stared at him.
"You fought."
Statement.
Not question.
He didn't answer.
—
"Idiot," I muttered softly.
But didn't push further.
"Okay."
—
We started walking together.
—
"So… how's class?" he asked casually.
I laughed.
"Same circus."
"Except now the clowns ignore me."
—
He stopped walking.
"What?"
"Why?"
—
I sighed.
"They didn't tell him."
—
"I'm Aadhya Mahajan Verma."
I said slowly.
Let that sink in.
—
He blinked.
Still confused.
—
"…Mahajan."
"Reyansh is my cousin."
—
"Ohhh…"
Understanding hit.
He nodded slowly.
Then… went quiet.
—
I noticed.
Of course I noticed.
My steps slowed.
A little.
"…now you'll ignore me too?"
I asked lightly, but there was something underneath.
Something real.
—
No answer.
He just kept walking.
—
My chest felt weird.
Stupid feeling.
—
Then suddenly—
He slowed down too.
Matched my pace.
Placed his hand casually on my shoulder.
"Of course not."
"I didn't even know about that issue."
He smiled.
—
And just like that—
Everything felt okay again.
—
"Good."
"Because if you ignored me…"
"I would've punched you."
—
He laughed.
"Violent girl."
—
"Self-defense trained."
I corrected proudly.
—
We walked.
Talking.
Teasing.
Like normal teenagers.
For once.
—
We reached school.
Avi suddenly stopped.
Near a tree.
His expression changed.
Focused.
I followed his gaze.
A boy.
Tall.
Standing alone.
—
"Who's he?"
I asked.
—
Avi looked at me like I just failed life.
"Seriously?"
"That's Samar."
—
Samar.
The name hit me.
The letter.
Jiya.
Music room.
Ohhhhh.
—
"What's he doing there?"
I asked.
Avi shrugged.
"Don't know."
"He wasn't like this before."
—
"Before?"
"What happened?"
—
"Nothing."
He cut me off.
—
"Liar."
But I didn't push.
—
We walked toward our building.
—
And then—
Chaos.
Full chaos.
Crowd.
Noise.
Energy.
"I bet 1000 on Vivaan!"
"500 on Dheeraj!"
—
I blinked.
"What is this…"
"Underground fight club?"
—
"What's happening?"
I asked Avi.
—
But Avi?
Excited.
Eyes shining.
He literally dropped his bag and sat like he bought VIP tickets.
"Dheeraj is back."
—
Oh.
So THAT'S Dheeraj.
—
I looked ahead.
There he was.
Tall.
Lean.
Sharp.
And that scar—
Running along his jaw.
—
He didn't look loud like Vivaan.
He looked…
Quiet.
Controlled.
Dangerous in a calm way.
—
Vivaan vs Dheeraj.
"Perfect."
"Bas popcorn reh gaya."
—
"Nope."
"Not my problem."
"Not today."
—
I turned away.
Walked straight into class.
Sat on my bench.
Opened my notebook.
—
"Study."
"Focus."
"Be a good student for once."