Aadhya's POV
I was actually studying. Like properly. Head down, pen moving, notes looking almost… intelligent. I was even proud of myself. "Waah Adi, sudhar rahi hai tu," I muttered under my breath like a proud parent.
And then…
That feeling.
You know that creepy "something is about to go terribly wrong" feeling? Yeah. That one.
I slowly looked up.
Door.
Nikansh.
Standing there like some silent villain entry scene. No background music missing, just my bad luck.
"Great," I whispered. "Ab yeh bhi aa gaya."
But before I could even process his dramatic entrance, the chaos outside decided to relocate… INSIDE.
Literally.
Boys barged in like wild animals. Punches flying. Benches shaking. Someone yelling. Someone cheering.
And in the middle of this WWE Royal Rumble—
Vivaan came FLYING.
Straight.
Onto.
ME.
"AAAHH—" I fell off my chair like a tragic heroine, but instead of violins, I got footsteps on my hand.
"SHIT— MY HAND—" I hissed, clutching it.
And what did this man do?
He got up.
AND WENT BACK TO FIGHTING.
"Wah. Amazing. Main toh mattress hoon na," I muttered angrily.
Around me, the rest of these idiots were cheering like it was IPL finals.
"Maar usko!" "Vivaan ko support karo!" "Dheeraj jeetega!"
"ARE YOU ALL INSANE?" I shouted, standing up, hair already turning into a bird's nest.
No one listened.
Of course.
Why would they?
So I did the only logical thing.
I picked up a BENCH.
Yes.
A whole bench.
And threw it.
"STOP ITTTTT!"
Silence.
Dead silence.
Everyone froze.
Vivaan.
Dheeraj.
Even the audience.
All staring at me like I just summoned a demon.
One idiot was laughing though.
Of course.
Nikansh.
"Yeh pagal hai kya," he muttered, clearly enjoying this.
Dheeraj looked around, confused and slightly offended.
"What the hell is a girl doing in this section?" he said like I was some illegal entry.
Excuse me???
Before I could reply, Vivaan walked up to me slowly. Too calmly.
Dangerously calm.
Oh no.
Not good.
He grabbed my collar.
"WHAT THE— LEAVE ME!" I snapped, trying to push him away.
"Stop meddling and mind your own business!" he shouted, his face way too close.
"First of all, YOUR SALIVA IS SPLASHING ON MY FACE," I said straight to his face.
The class went—
"OHHHHHHHH—"
He tightened his grip.
His jaw clenched.
"Vivaan, leave her—" "Bhai chhod—"
And then.
The traitor spoke.
"Yes, she threw the bench," Avi said cheerfully like he just exposed me for fun.
I turned my head slowly.
"Tu ruk… tujhe baad mein dekh lungi," I mouthed.
He grinned.
Dead.
I will kill him.
"Stop it," Nikansh finally said, stepping in like some bored referee. "We'll hold elections tomorrow."
Elections???
WHAT IS THIS? STUDENT COUNCIL OR GANG WAR?
Everyone slowly backed off.
Class started like nothing happened.
Like I didn't just almost commit attempted murder with furniture.
Vivaan kept glaring at me.
I glared back.
"Tu dekh… main bhi dekhti hoon," I muttered.
But this time…
I focused.
Properly.
Notes. Understanding. Writing.
"I will pass. Main pass ho jaungi. Tum sab dekhna," I whispered like I was preparing for war.
—
Lunch Break
The bell rang and I immediately grabbed Avi.
"TU IDHAR AA—" I headlocked him and smacked his back.
"OYE SORRY SORRY!" he shouted, laughing.
"Tu ne mujhe phasaya!" I complained.
"I helped!" he argued.
"HELP?? Tu mujhe jail bhej deta aaj!"
He laughed again.
Ugh. This boy.
"Fine," I sighed dramatically. "Kya khayega? I'll get it for you."
His face lit up like Diwali.
"Sach?"
We started walking towards cafeteria and suddenly something clicked.
"Wait… tu yahan 12th mein kya kar raha hai?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
He looked proud.
"I was accelerated," he said casually.
"Matlab?"
"I gave my 10th in 8th. Direct 12th."
I stopped walking.
"WHAT??"
"Genius hoon main," he said flipping imaginary hair.
"Phir Section E kyun?"
He paused.
Then smiled.
"I kissed a girl."
…
I blinked.
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
"Bas??"
"Chaos erupted," he added proudly.
I stared at him.
"Tu… tu danger hai."
"I know."
"Tu chota packet bada dhamaka hai."
"I know."
I smacked his arm.
"Ninja moves."
We reached the cafeteria door.
And stopped.
A notice.
"Section E not allowed. Including you, girl."
I blinked again.
"Wow."
Avi burst out laughing.
"Adi… welcome to the club."
"These rules don't apply to me," I said confidently.
"They do."
"They don't."
"They do."
I tried to open the door.
He grabbed my hand.
"Adi, don't. Punishment milega."
I sighed dramatically.
"Great. Bhook se marenge."
So there we were.
Sitting on broken benches.
Like two abandoned puppies.
"Next time I'll bring food," I said.
"Bring for me too," he said instantly, clinging to my arm.
"NO."
He made a sad face.
"Wow. Koi care hi nahi karta."
"Tumhare parents?" I asked.
"Busy."
"Bhai-behen?"
"Busy."
His voice cracked slightly.
I looked at him.
Then sighed.
"Fine. I'll bring for you too."
Instant transformation.
He lit up like sunshine.
"ADI BEST HAI!"
"Haan haan pata hai."
And then—
Grrrrrrrrrrr
Both our stomachs growled.
At the same time.
We looked at each other.
"Food rain ho jaye?" he suggested.
"Ya koi hume thappad maarke khana de de," I added.
We nodded seriously.
"Yes. Acceptable."
"HEY WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?"
We both turned.
Saanvi.
Great.
"Hi," I said awkwardly.
"Hello," she smiled.
Avi suddenly flipped his hair dramatically.
"Aren't you going to greet me?"
I looked at him.
Then at her.
Then back at him.
"Kya nautanki hai yeh."
Saanvi rolled her eyes.
"Of course not. Clearly you've been in a fight."
They started bickering.
Like a married couple.
I froze.
…
"NAHIII," I whispered. "Mere dimaag ke worms phir se active ho gaye."
Saanvi looked at both of us like we were some abandoned stray animals sitting there waiting for food to magically fall from the sky.
Actually… we kinda were.
She sighed dramatically. "Come. I'll get your lunch."
And just like that—
LIFE HAD MEANING AGAIN.
"YES YES FOOD!" me and Avi said at the exact same time, almost jumping from the bench like someone just announced free biryani.
I stood up instantly, fixing my imaginary dignity.
"I'll have one student meal… veg one," I said trying to sound calm and composed.
Inside?
Dhol nagade.
I turned to Avi. "What about you?"
And this idiot—
THIS ABSOLUTE DRAMA KING—
He tucked his hair behind his ear, tilted his head, and smiled like some shy Bollywood heroine.
"I'll have special order, Saanvi…" he said in the most sugary voice possible.
I froze.
Then slowly turned to him.
"…Damn."
I blinked.
"Gross."
Saanvi didn't even hesitate. "Idiot."
Without missing a beat, Avi switched sides.
"I'll have the same as her," he said, clinging to my arm like I was his emotional support human.
"EXCUSE ME?!" I tried to shake him off. "Main kya buffet hoon?"
Saanvi just shook her head, smiling like she had accepted her fate with these two idiots, and walked away.
Within minutes— actual miracles exist —she came back with food.
REAL FOOD.
HOT FOOD.
BEAUTIFUL FOOD.
We both stared at it like we just found treasure.
"Thank you so much!" we said together, almost folding hands.
"Relax," she said, amused.
We sat down instantly and started eating like our ancestors hadn't seen food in generations.
For a few seconds there was only silence.
Pure.
Sacred.
Food silence.
Then my brain decided to wake up.
I slowly looked at Avi.
"Hey…"
He was too busy stuffing his mouth. "Hmm?"
"What was THAT?" I asked, narrowing my eyes like some detective.
He blinked.
"What what?"
"THAT SAANVI BEHAVIOUR," I said, squinting so hard my eyes probably disappeared.
He paused.
Then…
He smiled.
That same stupid shy smile again.
"Oh… that," he said softly.
My suspicion level increased.
"Bol."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"She's the one I kissed."
…
I stopped chewing.
My brain stopped.
Time stopped.
Even the pigeons probably stopped flying.
"WHAT."
I stared at him.
Then at Saanvi in the distance.
Then back at him.
"YOU?!"
He nodded proudly.
"Wow."
I leaned back dramatically.
"Waaah Adi… kya story chal rahi hai yahan."
And then—
I smiled.
A real one.
"Nice," I said, looking between them. "You both suit each other."
He looked surprised.
Then grinned.
I shook my head, taking another bite.
"Dono pagal. Perfect match."
And honestly?
For the first time in this crazy school…
Something felt a little normal.