"Stuti, you're here,"
Yash gasped, eyes snapping open suddenly.
No—it was just a dream. Yash sighed deeply.
"Forever and Ever" echoed in his mind.
Grabbing his transparent blue bottle, Yash drank a ton of water.
"Damn, ten o'clock—missed class yet again."
Massaging soothing ointment onto his throbbing head, he surrendered to sleep once more.
Phone buzzing abruptly, Yash answered with a sneeze: "Hey Aj—WhatsApp!"
"Yash, tell me have you started working on Khadgatma novel"
Yash made a face. "No, I didn't, sis—as you can see how great my health is right now."
Eyes narrowing at the background picture, she quipped: "Now it clicks—why you're moping like a broken heart."
"Why are you taking her in? Stop it—we'll talk later." Yash while rubbing his nose.
Aj murmured: "Okay-okay, my bad." Call disconnected.
(FLASHBACK)
"Hey, Yash, slow down—you'll crash in this crazy traffic!" the boy yelled from the back seat of the bicycle, air flaring sharply through his nostrils.
Chill, Ram, it's fine," Yash called out, bicycle roaring. "Oi, Dheeru, Vini—race me if you can You're already losing and school's near" seeing backward Yash cried.
"Yash, stop. Someone's right there," Ram whispered, his hands trembling against Yash's arm.
"God, help us" Yash screamed.
They slammed into a wheelchair, the world spinning for a second—but Yash's foot hit the brake just in time.
the impact was jarring, but they were alive.
"It hurts! My arms!" the girl cried out, clutching herself as she lay fallen from her wheelchair.
"I'm... I'm so sorry," Yash said, his hands trembling as he lifted her back into the chair.
"She fell— She fell" Dhiru and Vini cried out, running straight for the school in front of them.
"Back off You shouldn't talk to a girl like that" Ram yelled.
"I'll pay for everything, I promise. I'm just so sorry—
school starts in two minutes" Yash said, his hands folded toward her.
They leaped back onto the bicycle, pedalling for the entrance.
"Did she say anything? Are we in trouble?" Dhiru whispered, leaning between Yash and Ram as class began.
"No, relax," Yash said, rubbing his scraped palm.
"It was kind of funny how she tumbled, though," Vini whispered with a stifled laugh, sitting behind Yash.
Vini's snickering grew too loud.
The teacher's eyes landed on Yash by mistake. "Yash, focus. Give me the roots for this equation."
"It's... 2 and -2, sir," Yash said, his palms slick with sweat as he stood.
"Good. Now sit down, and don't speak again in my class—or I'll throw you out."
He took a sigh and sit down.
"You almost got Yash kicked out," Ram, digging his nails into Vini's skin.
"The bell rang minutes later. Their bickering trailed off into easy chatter, the incident already a blurred memory."
"It's lunch time and we have forty-five minutes, we should play." Dhiru said.
"You know, we're in the perfect spot," Yash said, idly twirling a lock of Vini's hair.
"One jump out that window and we're right in the park."
The classroom window connects through a park.
"Bad idea," Ram cut in. "We're going to get in serious trouble if we try that."
"Oh, come on, Ram Don't be such a scaredy-cat," Yash, pinching Ram's cheeks.
"Alright, let's vote. Hands up if you're in."
"Three votes—it's settled." Yash grabbed Ram's hand and leaped through the window, with Dhiru and Vini right on his heels.
"See? Totally worth it," Dhiru added, glancing at Ram.
Yash led them deeper into the grass. "Told you," he said, glancing around. "Not a soul in sight."
"Hold it right there, tall guy" A girl called out, her wheelchair suddenly rolling into view as she cut across the grass.
"Hey, sorry about today," Yash said, looking her right in the eye.
"Are you alright? Do you need a hand with anything?"
"Nice act, where was this 'gentleman' during the morning incident?" she said, rolling her eyes.
"I'm so sorry, really. It was my fault—let me pay for it."
"Forget the money. I never got your name, though?"
"Sharma… Yash R. Sharma."