Siya's POV
Every morning, when I wake up, I pray.
To God.
To my family.
To my mumma who tells me to study well.
To my papa who tells me to enjoy life too.
And honestly, when I hear both of them, I realize something—
I'm doing neither properly.
I'm living in between.
A classroom full of people…
yet somehow, no one.
"Why, God?" I whispered while walking through the corridor.
Then sighed. "Okay, fine. Let it be."
That's when I noticed Shela making faces at me—
Not surprising. Just… extra dramatic today.
Era was smiling, as usual.
And then—
I saw her.
Anisha.
I didn't think.
I didn't breathe.
I just ran.
I hugged her so tight that even I was shocked by my own strength.
She hugged me back just as tightly, like she never left.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I'm doing great," I lied easily.
For the first time in days, great didn't feel like a crime.
We four—me, Anisha, Era, and Shela—sat together.
And God, everything felt… lighter.
Like someone finally turned the fan on in a suffocating room.
Then Anisha pulled out four different workbooks and placed them dramatically in front of us.
"Complete these."
We stared at her.
"No."
She blinked. "Why not??"
"Because—no."
She immediately started complaining.
"Guys, please understand, I'm already so late. I can't complete all this alone. I have so many things to do. Please, just help me."
She begged.
She forced.
She annoyed.
We gave up.
The day officially began.
Tanev came first.
"Hi."
Anisha smiled politely. "Hey."
Then came Ayyan.
And before I could stop myself, my brain said—
Oh no. Headache is here.
Anisha laughed. "Oho, please shut up."
And just like that…
everything felt normal again.
Later, when things calmed down, Anisha leaned closer to me.
"So," she said softly, "what's been going on in your life?"
I hesitated.
Then I told her.
Everything.
About the place changes.
About Vani ma'am.
About feeling watched.
About being misunderstood.
And then…
that part.
"The boys," I said quietly. "They used to come together. Ask me weird questions."
Anisha frowned. "Weird?"
"Double-meaning ones," I admitted.
"They'd ask, then look at me and say, 'What do you think it means?' And when I answered seriously… they laughed."
She went silent.
"At that time," I continued, "I didn't understand. I was confused. But I thought… at least I wasn't alone. At least people were talking to me."
My voice dropped.
"Ayyan was there too. Laughing. Talking like it was normal."
Anisha exhaled slowly.
"Ohoo," she said after a pause. "So everyone was with you. Don't you think that's good?"
"They were making fun of me," I replied. "Not with me."
She nodded, eyes sharp now.
"Okay. We'll see."
Just then, a few boys walked over.
"Hey Anisha! You're back!"
Then, casually—
"Hey Siya."
Like I was… part of the gang.
Like a buddy.
Anisha smiled.
But this time, it wasn't just happiness.
It was observation.
And I knew—
something had shifted.
Because now, she was here.
And she was finally seeing what I had been living through.