MYRA'S POV
I'm just an Indian ordinary girl from class 10th, school has been overwhelming since the 1st week of the school. My school session started a 2 weeks ago. Well when I sit in my class, my hipbone hurts so bad, social science — boring as hell. I'd rather study Sanskrit instead of social science. First day was overwhelming, I liked the class teacher — Mrs. Muskan. I didn't make any new friends, teachers were strict except Muskan ma'am, the maths teacher. I bought 100 rupees on first day because, why not eat in canteen when you didn't bring your tiffin? So in the recess, I went to the canteen and the crowd was acting like they were beggers. So I just took 10 rupees sandwich and 10 rupees mango juice, classic meal.
There were a few classmates of previous class, Adrisha, Stuti and Ishika. But still I didn't make any new friends, why? I don't know, I just have less friends as always. I've had more friendship break-ups than any other type of dramatic break-up. I'm a chill girl but when situation is serious, I also become very serious, I barely laugh.
The sandwich was decent and the juice was so good, obviously. At the end of the day, the dismiss was simple, prayer was simple. After the prayer ended, I muttered "Jai Shree Ram", I did that every day, I was a devotee of Lord Rama. I walked over to my school van, first all of before I continue — let me tell me past. In 8th class, I made 2 friends, Anika and Mysha, both were my besties for life, we 3 promised that we will never break our friendship, yeah no shit. I also had a giant crush on a boy who I admired since I was in 7th class. That was my past. You'll know more.
When I reached the school van, I saw my friends talking, so I sat beside them, we laughed and talked every day.
"Yeah, I know I fell in love with his personality" I spoke in a not too loud voice because I told this crush secret to 3 people, Mysha, Anika and Yashvy.
"I hope you both get married soon" Mysha said in a teasing tone, bro we both won't, because I'm too shy to talk to him now.
"Oh stop it, Mysha. You know its not true, or is it?"
"It is indeed truth"
Me and Mysha continued to chat until I saw Anika look at me like she was giving me a death stare,
"What happened, Anika?" I raised one eyebrow, she still looked at me like that, she didn't say anything. Yashvy started talking to Anika and Anika laughs at what nonsense Yashvy said. Did Anika had some personal beef with me? I hope no.
When my house came, I went out of the van, Mysha and Yashvy said bye to me, but Anika didnt, I just left, and oh — I had a sibling, Divy, who was in 12th. He also had a crush since 7th class. I wasn't allowed to go outside in the evening even for a walk. I don't know why, parents being unfair is the universal truth.
In the evening, I played games and watched some gameplays of Beast Boy Shub, backbone of Indian gaming community. Why should I study? I would study in May. Why now? First term exams will start in July and my Hindi teachers says that "It is very early" yea It is very early clearly.
At night, I thought about my crush literally everyday, his name was Areeman, his personality was unique as hell, we shared so many things in common. It was my little secret since I was in 7th class. His looks were good, I don't care about looks though. I care about personality and loyalty.
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The next day, I went absent, then another day was holiday (Sarturday), So I went to school on Monday, I walked over to my class as usual. I saw Muskan ma'am was already there, after the assembly, she started teaching us maths, then she asked something,
"I want 2 monitors, 1 cupboard incharge, 1 Cleanliness incharge and 2 black board incharge. Who wants to be?"
I raised my hands in the air, hopeless as usual, it happens everytime, I raise and then my teacher ignores me like I'm a ghost. I was once a monitor in class 8th but only for a month.
"Hm...Vivaan and Myra, you two are black-board incharges, you both have to write date, day and the subject which is going on, change the subject after every period."
"Okay" I smiled and said that, I was like — Me? No...That is impossible! Oh wait - me AND vivaan...okay fine
After the classes, I went to the van that same boring ass days, but I felt Anika wasn't happy with me, in the morning whenever I boarded the van, she never talked to me, in the afternoon also...It was somewhat scary, I fear losing my loved ones.
That fear isn't loud. It doesn't scream or cry. It just sits quietly in your chest, making everything feel… off.
The next few days went like that.
Same van. Same seats. Same people.
But something was different.
Anika.
She wasn't the same Anika who used to laugh at my dumb jokes or randomly talked about my crush. Now she barely even looked at me. Whenever I tried to talk, she would either nod or just ignore it completely.
At first, I thought — maybe she's just in a bad mood.
Then I thought — maybe I did something wrong.
But what?
I kept replaying every conversation in my head like some hologram. Did I say something rude? Did I ignore her? Did she find out about something?
Nothing made sense.
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One afternoon in the van, I finally gathered the courage.
"Anika… did I do something?" I asked, trying to sound normal, but my voice betrayed me a little.
She looked at me for a second.
Just a second.
Then she looked away.
"No."
That's it.
Just one word.
But that "no" didn't feel like a no. It felt like a wall.
Mysha noticed it too. She nudged me slightly and whispered, "Don't worry her mood is just spoiled nowadays"
"Yeah… I know," I replied, staring out of the window.
The roads looked the same. The people looked the same. But everything felt… distant. That night, I couldn't focus on anything. Not games. Not YouTube. Not even Beast Boy Shub.
For the first time in days, even thinking about Areeman didn't feel comforting. It felt complicated. What if… he was the reason, No… that's stupid.
Right?
But then again… Anika knew about him, she was the another person I told about this secret. What if she told someone? Or worse… did she tell that to her sister? My enemy? Anisha?
That thought hit me harder than expected. Iquickly shook my head. "No. Anika wouldn't do that," I whispered to myself.
But doubt is a dangerous thing. Once it enters, it doesn't leave easily. The next day at school, During maths period, I stood up to write the date and subject on the board — like a responsible blackboard incharge (still can't believe I got that role).
I picked up the chalk and wrote the date, day and subject. I sat on my bench and teacher started teaching us. I was thinking about how Anika and me got distant...she seemed bored and not happy with me. I remember how me and Areeman used to talk and blush so much in 7th class.
Does anyone else know about that? I was confused...My life wasn't ruined...it was just the tension and the pressure. I was also a big fan of Dhurandhar, I noticed in the movie how the main character took the revenge of the people who ruined his country.
Anisha and Geetika also ruined my school life, when I was in 9th class, they used to bully me and and my brother. I didn't have the courage to do anything before, but now I have...I want to take revenge, I can't just tolerate it. I'm thinking of leaving Anisha and just take revenge of Geetika, because geetika said innopropriate bad thing about my brother.
We'll see about that...
End of chapter 1