Third Week of August – Devgarh High School
The monsoon still whispered through the leaves, but inside the classrooms, it was the sound of pen scratching paper and whispered prayers.
The scholarship mock tests had entered their second round — tougher, longer, and more competitive.
---
📚 The Pressure Builds
Class 12 sat in rows, heads down, sweat sticking paper to forearms.
Ishanvi's fingers twitched, warm as always.
Abhay's sleeves dampened, even though the fan was running.
But neither said a word.
Behind them, Raghav and Vaidehi scribbled answers furiously in Class 9.
Vrinda and Aariv faced new logic puzzles in Class 7.
And Vivaan, next to Meera and Simran in Class 5, bit his pencil in frustration.
> "These word problems are evil," he muttered.
> "I think they're worse than bullies," Meera whispered.
Simran passed Vivaan her eraser with a grin.
---
📝 After the Bell
After the exams, the eight gathered near the stone bench in the courtyard.
> "How was it?" Aariv asked, tossing his bag like a warrior dropping his shield.
> "I blanked out on the last question," said Vrinda, chewing her braid.
> "I drew a flowchart," Abhay said.
> "For chemistry?" Ishanvi asked.
> "For how I was panicking."
The group burst into laughter.
Even with the stress, there was relief in knowing they weren't alone.
---
🧍🏽♀️ Teachers' Talk
Inside the staffroom, one of the teachers spoke quietly to another.
> "The Nandanpur students… especially Ishanvi and Abhay. They're outperforming everyone."
> "They don't cheat. They don't complain. They just… grow."
> "They've been through too much not to," the other replied.
At that moment, a droplet fell from the edge of a table — even though nothing had been spilled.
No one noticed.
---
🔥 A Quiet Flicker
That evening, while helping with dinner, Ishanvi reached for the iron tawa and didn't realize it was hot until her mother gasped.
> "It'll burn—!"
But Ishanvi had already touched it.
And nothing happened.
Sunita stared.
Ishanvi quietly said,
> "Maybe it cooled faster than usual."
But she knew it hadn't.
---
🌧️ Water and Fire Meet Again
Later that night, near the Sudarshini, Abhay stood alone, watching the river.
As his fingers grazed the surface, the ripples followed his hand—exactly.
He whispered,
> "I think… it's growing."
Behind him, Ishanvi appeared, holding two rotis and jaggery in a cloth.
> "Eat," she said gently.
"You need strength for tomorrow's test."
They didn't speak of powers.
But they stood together by the water, watching the world shift around them.