Mahir had expected some fancy, glamorous café. But when they stopped in front of a small place with a fading sign that read "Our Café", he blinked in disbelief. Inside, the place looked almost abandoned — a single elderly man sat at the counter, while one quiet waiter moved around. The rest of the café was completely empty.
"Guys… are you sure we came to the right place?" Mahir asked, raising a brow.
Anabiya grinned. "Yes. This is our secret study spot."
Mishal nodded quickly. "Exactly. Nobody else ever comes here, so we can study in peace."
Urhaan leaned back, smirking. "If you don't like it, you're free to go back."
Anabiya shot him a sharp glare.
"What?! What did I even say?" Urhaan threw his hands up innocently, but Zaki chuckled and gave Mahir a push from behind, forcing him inside. The rest followed.
The elderly uncle stood up as soon as he saw them and smiled warmly. "Welcome kids. How are you all?"Everyone greeted him with respect before sliding into a table. One by one, they pulled out their books. Mahir hesitated, but then copied them, not wanting to seem out of place.
The old uncle joined them briefly. "So, which subject is troubling you today?"
Anabiya pulled a face. "Chemistry…"
"Good! Then bring out the chapter and start." His eyes landed on Mahir. "How is this new kid ?"Zaki smiled. "Uncle, this is our new friend — Mahir."Mahir looked at Zaki when he heard the word friend, then politely greeted the uncle. The man asked about his well-being and then waved for everyone to continue. Soon after, the group scattered to different tables.An 5 mins later, Anabiya came to Mahir's table. "Time to hand over your phone."Mahir frowned. "Excuse me?"
She pointed to a small wooden box where everyone's phones were kept. "We don't use phones while studying. Uncle's rule."
Mahir stared at her, annoyed. "I thought we came here to eat, not… this."Anabiya slid into the chair beside him, a smile tugging at her lips. "This café is our study place. Uncle runs it, but nobody else ever comes here. If someone does, we quietly switch tables. It's our little secret."
"Hmm." Mahir exhaled. "So you guys are a study party?"Anabiya made a face. "What does that even mean?"
"Nothing." Mahir ruffled his hair, finally giving her the phone. "Take it.
The hours slipped by. The waiter quietly served them tea, sandwiches, and even a plate of nuts. Between bites, they studied, quizzed each other, and laughed. To Mahir's surprise, they weren't the fools he had thought them to be. They actually helped each other, solved problems together, and turned even studying into something fun.
For the first time, he felt oddly impressed.
———
The next day came the real shock. When the physics and maths test results were announced, Mahir learned that Anabiya and Zaki were toppers, Mishal had scored well too, and even Urhaan wasn't as average as he seemed.
Later, during break, Mahir looked at Urhaan curiously. "Honestly, I didn't think you guys were this smart."
Urhaan laughed, clapping his back. "Don't worry. Slowly you'll realize everything you assumed about us is wrong." His eyes flicked towards Anabiya, who was laughing with Mishal across the room. "And especially about her. One day, you'll admit she's awesome. Just… talk to her properly. She deserves that much."
Mahir blinked. "What do you mean?"
Urhaan's tone turned serious. "I mean don't be rude to her. She's been through enough already. She doesn't show it, but harshness hurts her. She wants you to be her friend. If you want that too, be genuine. If not, then stay away. I won't let anyone hurt her."
Mahir stared at him for a moment before smirking. "If I didn't want to be friends, would I still be standing here listening to your lecture?"
Urhaan laughed loudly. "So you do have a sense of humor. And look—you actually smile!"
Mahir shook his head, amused. "I'm human. I can laugh sometimes."
For the moment since he'd come, Mahir felt like maybe—just maybe—he belonged here.