Tuesday - Practice Session #2
The library was quieter than usual. Neel and Shanaya sat across from each other, laptops open, but neither was focusing on debate prep.
"So," Shanaya said, breaking the silence. "Your online friend. The one from our college."
"What about them?"
"Have you figured out who they are yet?"
"Working on it. You?"
"Same."
Neel leaned back in his chair. "What if it's someone you already know? Would that change things?"
"Depends on who it is," Shanaya said carefully. "What if it's someone you... don't like?"
"I don't dislike many people."
"But there are some."
"Maybe." Neel looked directly at her. "What if I said my online friend talks about someone they can't stand at college? Someone they think is loud and annoying?"
Shanaya's breath caught. "What if I said my online friend talks about someone who's cold and distant?"
They stared at each other.
"Shanaya—"
"Neel—"
They spoke at the same time, then stopped.
"You first," Shanaya said.
"No, you."
"Okay. Fine." Shanaya took a deep breath. "What's your online friend's initial?"
"S. Yours?"
"A."
The air between them crackled with electricity.
"What's your fake account's name?" Shanaya whispered.
"I... I can't tell you that."
"Why not?"
"Because it's embarrassing."
"More embarrassing than admitting you have a fake account at all?"
Neel laughed despite himself. "Fair point. It's... it's a girl's name. Akanksha Oberoi."
Shanaya's eyes went wide. "You chat as a girl?"
"Don't judge me. Your turn."
"I... I chat as a boy. Arnav Seghal."
They sat in stunned silence.
"So we're both hiding behind opposite genders," Neel said finally.
"And we both have online friends from our college who we talk to as ourselves."
"And those online friends both complain about people they don't like."
"And we both hate each other in real life."
"Hated," Neel corrected. "Past tense."
"Right. Hated."
Another pause.
"Neel," Shanaya said softly. "When did you start talking to S?"
"About three weeks ago. Late night, unknown chat feature."
Shanaya's hand flew to her mouth. "11:47 PM?"
"How did you—"
"Because that's when I started talking to A."
They stared at each other, the realization dawning slowly, terrifyingly, wonderfully.
"Show me a message," Neel said urgently. "From A. Just one. Don't show me the name, just the message."
Shanaya pulled out her phone with shaking hands and showed him a message:
A: Because you're always so dramatic, someone has to balance it out 😂
Neel's face went pale. "I wrote that. I wrote that exact message to S."
"And I sent it to A," Shanaya whispered.
The Moment of Truth
"We're A and S," they said together.
Then, simultaneously:
"Oh my god."
"This is insane."
"We've been talking to each other this whole time?"
"You're S?"
"You're A?"
They both stood up, chairs scraping loudly against the floor. Other students looked over, annoyed, but neither noticed.
"I have to go," Shanaya said, grabbing her bag.
"Wait, Shanaya—"
"I need to think, Neel. This is too much."
She practically ran out of the library.
Neel stood there, stunned, watching her go. Then he sat down heavily and pulled out his phone.
A to S:
A: S, we need to talk
A: I think I know who you are
A: I think you know who I am too
A: Please don't run away from this
No response.
A: S?
A: Shanaya?
Still nothing.
A: Fine. I'll wait. But we need to talk about this.