I woke up on time. I am not a late person, I said to myself proudly, puffing my chest like I had just won a gold medal. But the pride lasted only two seconds before the butterflies in my stomach started their morning marathon. The thought of a new school made my head spin.
I dragged myself up from bed and stood in front of the mirror. For a second, I just stared. This wasn't the "old Kriti" staring back at me. I'd grown taller, 5'6" now. Yay! Then another thought hit me. Wait… what if my husband ends up shorter than me? Then I can't even wear heels. Disaster!
I slapped my forehead. Oh, shut up, Kriti! Who's marrying you? You're literally sixteen. My brain rolled its eyes at me and moved on.
I examined my skin next. Smooth. Glowing. No trace of the forehead acne that once made kids treat me like I had some contagious disease. "Is it spreading?" they used to mock. I almost laughed. If only they could see me now.
I did my usual skincare routine—simple face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen, lip balm—and sprayed the perfume Maya had gifted me. You'll miss me too, won't you? I whispered into the air, wondering if somehow she could hear.
I braided my hair neatly, grabbed my brand-new bag, shiny bottle, and neatly packed tiffin… everything felt new. I felt like a kid heading off to school for the very first time. Except this time, it wasn't just excitement. It was nerves, too.
At the gate, my parents stood watching as I climbed into the bus, their eyes betraying their worry. Can she handle a new school? Their faces seemed to ask. I forced a smile, even though nervousness was twisting me from the inside. You got this, Kriti, I whispered to myself like a pep talk.
The bus was a nightmare. AC or not, the smell was so suffocating I felt like screaming, Open the doors, let me out! But I sat still, clutching my bag and avoiding everyone's eyes as unfamiliar faces scanned me from head to toe.
Finally, the bus screeched to a halt. I stepped out and froze. The building loomed in front of me—huge, intimidating, and beautiful all at once. I had no clue where to go. "Excuse me, where's the hall for Class 11?" I asked a teacher. He shrugged. "I'm new too." Seriously? I thought, trying not to laugh and cry at the same time.
It felt like a maze. I first dropped my little brother off at his classroom, acting like I totally knew what I was doing. Only after that did I manage to find my own section.
I stepped inside. Three girls stood near the window, giggling and chatting. Two boys sat quietly in the back. I placed my bag down silently, trying not to disturb anyone, but the girls noticed me. One of them, with sharp eyes and an easy smile, walked up.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"I'm Kriti," I replied softly.
"You know… You look so good."
For a moment, my heart actually skipped. Someone called me beautiful on my very first day? It felt like the universe was giving me a little wink.
Soon, they asked about where I'd come from. When I told them the name of my old school, the girl smirked. "Oh! My mother told me about you."
My brain screeched. Wait. Your mother? How? And then it hit me. She was the principal's daughter. A blessing or a curse? I couldn't decide yet.
As more students trickled in, the classroom filled mostly with girls. The boys were either late or just missing. One curious girl leaned toward me.
"You're not… you're straight, right?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah. I'm straight."
Almost instantly, the principal's daughter jumped in with another question. "So… are you in a long-distance relationship?"
And there it was. A name flashed in my mind like lightning: Abhi. For a second, sadness washed over me. But I snapped out of it. "No. I'm single."
She tilted her head. "How many exes?"
I laughed nervously. "Zero. I've been single my whole life. Do I look like I've had an ex?"
She grinned. "You're so beautiful. You could have as many exes as you want. Look at me—I already have two. And you don't even have one?"
Her words lingered. Was this… peer pressure? Some new achievement scale I didn't know about? I didn't answer. Just smiled and let the moment pass.
The rest of the day blurred into routines. Thanks to the principal's daughter, I figured out the canteen, the labs, and even where to find the stationery shop. I interacted with teachers, got my first notebooks, and navigated the campus like I'd been there for years.
By the time I returned home, I was exhausted but secretly proud. I messaged her, Thank you for helping me today. And please guide me about the notebooks too. She replied warmly, which made me smile.
That was my first day. Smooth. Neat. No boys stealing my attention, no drama. Just me finding my place, one cautious step at a time.
But as I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, a strange thought lingered.
Sometimes, life doesn't change on the first day. Sometimes, it waits for the second.
And the next day… that was the day everything shifted.