Aadhya's POV
Oh shit!
It's already 8 AM!
School ka time ho gaya!
"AADHYA!" I shouted at myself while tripping over my own blanket. "Pehle din hi late hojayegi tu!"
I grabbed my towel which was half hanging from the chair like it also gave up on life, picked my inner clothes and sprinted straight into the washroom before Masi launched another morning attack.
Whole night I couldn't sleep.
New school. New people. New disaster waiting for me.
Excitement?
Haha. Cute joke.
No no no. Bilkul nahi.
Dar. Khauf. Anxiety. Full package.
2 baje tak neend hi nahi ayi. Aur jab finally ayi toh teen baar sapne mein gir gayi… aur chauthi baar asli mein bed se gir gayi.
Wonderful start.
Now here I was—half showering, half brushing at the same time because multitasking is important when your life is falling apart. Shampoo in hair. Toothbrush in mouth. Fighting for survival. Average girl struggles.
And suddenly—
Knock knock knock!
"Aadhya! Jaldi karo! School nahi jana kya? Breakfast karlo!" Masi shouted from outside.
"Ayi masi!" I screamed back with foam still inside my mouth.
Not sure whether she heard me or I accidentally summoned a ghost.
After somehow surviving my morning routine, I rushed back into my room and started wearing the uniform.
And honestly?
The uniform was weirdly cute.
Not cute-cute. But… decent.
Red checked skirt. White shirt. Red tie. There was also a frock option but absolutely not. Skirt is enough torture already. Then the badge—
Name: Aadhya V. Mahajan
Class: 12th
School: PSK
I was still hopping on one leg trying to wear my socks when Masi shouted again—
"AADHYA!"
"Ayi ayi ayi!" I yelled dramatically and ran downstairs holding one sock in hand because priorities.
I sat at the dining table.
And then my eyes widened.
POHA.
Ohhh hooo.
My favorite.
"Prabhu… aaj takleefon ke saath thodi khushiyan bhi bhej di?" I whispered emotionally before attacking the plate.
It was just me and Masi at home with two maids Ritu didi and Manju didi quietly doing their work. The house felt peaceful.
Unlike my future school life probably.
I finished eating in literally five minutes.
"Bas bas aaram se kha," Masi laughed. "Pata chala poha pet mein jane ke bajaye lungs mein chala gaya."
I grinned immediately. "Koi na Masi, mere lungs ko bhi poha pasand hai."
She shook her head while laughing.
After breakfast she dragged me into her room and made me sit on the edge of the bed.
"Aaram se baith," she said and started making my twin braids.
And honestly?
No matter how old I grow, getting ready by Masi makes me feel like a little kid again. Before Nani used to do it.
I quickly wore my second sock, ran back to my room, grabbed my bag, almost slipped near the stairs, recovered somehow because God knows I'm His strongest soldier, and rushed downstairs again.
"Yeh lo," Masi handed me some money. "Bus stop jao aur B3 wali bus lena. Seedhe school chod degi. Samjhi?"
I nodded so fast my neck almost snapped.
"Ji samjh gyi!"
"Phone sambhal ke. Kisi se zyada baat mat karna. Aur—"
"Masiii…" I whined dramatically.
She sighed. "Accha jao."
I grinned and started running out.
"Radhe Radhe, Masi!" I shouted while leaving.
"Haan haan. Radhe Radhe!" she waved back.
I was already late.
"Bhaag Aadhya bhaag!" I muttered while sprinting through the street with my bag bouncing violently behind me.
And then…
Of course.
KUTTHE.
Dogs started chasing me.
"WAHHH!" I cried dramatically while running faster.
"Bas isi cheez ki kami thi!"
Four dogs.
FOUR.
"Prabhu sach batao… sabke paapon ka sabka mujhe hi milta hai kya?" I complained internally while running for my life.
Finally I stopped.
And surprisingly—
The dogs stopped too.
Now they were just standing around me wagging their tails.
I blinked.
"…Oh."
Not killers. Bhook ? (Hunger)
I immediately opened my bag and pulled out my emergency Parle-G packet.
Yes.
Emergency.
Don't judge me.
Every zip in my bag has snacks. One for me. One for random emotional situations. One for animals. Basic survival skills.
"Dekho bhaiyon," I said seriously while opening the packet.
"Mujhe school ke pehle din shaheed mat karo."
I threw the biscuits far away.
The dogs instantly ran toward them happily.
"Pssstt—HAHAHA!"
I laughed watching them fight over Parle-G like politicians fighting elections.
But then suddenly—
OH SHIT.
TIME.
"Hasne ka time nhi hai bhaag Aadhya!"
I adjusted my bag again and sprinted toward the bus stop with half-open braids flying behind me, one sock slightly sliding down, and enough chaos around me to qualify as a moving disaster.
I ran straight toward the bus stop like my life depended on it.
And honestly?
It actually did.
Because if I got late on the very first day, Masi would give me that disappointed look. And trust me—Indian disappointment hurts more than physical injuries.
I finally reached the stop breathing like I had just completed a marathon.
And then—
My soul almost left my body.
The bus was already moving.
"AREYY WAITTT!" I shouted dramatically and started banging on the door.
THAK THAK THAK!
The conductor uncle looked at me through the glass with the most tired expression ever, probably thinking another late student.
But thank God, humanity still existed.
He opened the door.
I immediately climbed inside while gasping for air.
"Thankyou uncleji," I said dramatically like he had just saved me from death.
He simply pointed toward the ticket.
Right. Money first. Emotions later.
I quickly paid the fare and stood near the front because obviously I was already late. Sitting peacefully was not in my destiny today.
Also—I didn't even have my ID card yet. I had to collect it from school first.
Amazing.
First day and already incomplete human being.
The bus ride took exactly fifteen minutes like Masi said.
But those fifteen minutes?
Pure struggle.
One uncle kept sneezing. One child kept crying. Someone's earphones were leaking music loud enough for the whole bus. And the driver uncle?
Bhaiya thought he was in Fast & Furious.
Every speed breaker felt personal.
Finally the bus stopped.
The moment the door opened—
CHAOS.
People outside started pushing in while people inside tried getting out.
"Huh??" I blinked in confusion. "Ek second ..aur yahan insaano ka tariff lag gya?"
I tried stepping out.
Impossible.
One aunty elbowed me.
I elbowed back.
One boy pushed me.
I pushed him harder.
One girl glared at me.
I glared back with full emotion.
"Ek..siuz..mi..? Mujhe bhi jana hai!" I snapped while squeezing through the crowd like toothpaste.
After fighting for my survival for what felt like thirty years—
I finally escaped the bus.
Sweating.
Hair ruined.
Tie half twisted.
Dignity gone.
And then the bus sped away dramatically—
Leaving behind a cloud of smoke directly on my face.
COUGH COUGH COUGH!
"Waahhh," I coughed aggressively. "Bas isi cheez ki kami thi jeevan mein."
I waved the smoke away dramatically and finally turned around toward the school.
And then—
…
"WOAAAHH…"
My mouth literally fell open.
The school was HUGE.
Like movie wala huge.
Massive black gates. Tall cream-colored buildings with red details matching the uniform. Huge glass windows shining under sunlight.
"Moth ka kuaan"
(Well of death ☠️)
I stopped mid-thought and sighed. "Wow. Great start, Aadhya. Very positive."
I stood there for a second, just staring at the huge school board in front of me, my fingers tightening slightly around my bag strap.
"Prestigious School Of Knowledge"
Wow ..what a big name.
"Nayi school nayi shuruwat..hushhh" I whispered to myself, like saying it softly would somehow make it less scary.
"Hey bhagwan please Aaj bachalo," I added quickly, just in case He was listening.
Then I looked up again…
And my confidence? Gone. Finished. Evaporated.
"Ye school hai?"
As I slowly walked in.
It didn't look like one. It looked like one of those places rich people casually walk into like,
"Oh yeah, I own half of this."
For a solid ten seconds, I genuinely thought I had come to the wrong place.
I quickly pulled out my badge. checked the symbol.
It was right.
"Okay," I exhaled slowly. " Finally ye mein kar rhi hun..."
I adjusted my bag, straightened my shoulders a little, and walked inside. Students everywhere.
Some entering in fancy cars. Some laughing loudly in groups. Some already looking way too cool for 8:30 in the morning.
And then there was me.
Sweaty. Traumatized by bus smoke. Carrying emotional damage and Parle-G crumbs in my bag.
Wonderful comparison.
I slowly walked toward the gate trying not to look shocked but my eyes were literally wandering everywhere like tourist mode activated.
And exactly at that moment—
I tripped on the entrance step.
"OH TERI—"
I stumbled forward dramatically but somehow balanced myself before falling face first.
Two students nearby stared at me.
I straightened up immediately.
"....mein wo aise hi warmup kar rhi thi..."
Then I walked inside pretending nothing happened.
The school literally looked like someone picked up a huge institute straight out of a Karan Johar movie set and dropped it in the middle of the city.
Everything was too shiny. Too perfect. Too rich.
Even the trees looked expensive.
I was still staring around like a lost tourist when suddenly—
Three guards near the gate stood up at once.
I immediately stumbled back in shock.
"Hain??"
For one terrifying second I thought I accidentally broke some rule already. Maybe breathing incorrectly was illegal here.
But then they gestured me to move aside.
Oh.
I obediently moved away and finally understood why.
A huge black Hyundai slowly entered through the gate.
Not normal huge. Rich-people huge. The kind of car that probably had AC better than my entire room.
I blinked.
"Amir baap ki aulaad…" I muttered internally.
The car glided inside smoothly while students casually looked at it like it was normal.
Normal??
Students drive here??
Wait… aren't we all under eighteen?
Or maybe rich people are born with licenses.
Who knows.
This school itself already felt like a giant mystery.
I slowly walked inside while looking around everywhere like my eyes had their own independent thinking system.
The car went straight toward the parking area.
Late huh?
Like me.
But then my eyes landed properly on the parking lot and—
What the fudge.
My eyes widened instantly.
Cars.
SO MANY CARS.
At least twenty-five to thirty.
Some SUVs. Some sports cars. Some fancy sleek ones that looked like they belonged in music videos.
"School hai ya car ka showroom?" I whispered dramatically.
I kept walking straight but apparently the shocks weren't over yet because now I could properly see the campus.
Six buildings.
SIX.
I only knew the main building because Bhaiyya brought me there during admission. But now? I felt like I accidentally entered a rich people maze.
I walked into the main building carefully.
And instantly—
Students everywhere.
Girls walking around looking like models. Looking like those Barbie dolls form childhood.
Not because of studies or discipline. No no.
Because of makeup. Perfect hair. Expensive bags. Heels. Jackets tied around waists. Fancy accessories. Long nails. Glossy lips.
And then there was me.
Twin braids. Sweating. Slightly traumatized by public transport.
Wonderful.
Only a few girls had braids. The rest looked straight out of Netflix high school dramas.
"Huh…" I thought internally. " Toh sirf school nhi ...bache bhi karan johar ki picture se bhage hue lagte hai...."
For a second I genuinely wondered if there was some film shooting happening nearby.
But then reality slapped me again.
Late.
You are late.
Move.
I looked around nervously.
The classrooms had biometric attendance systems outside. But for that I needed an ID card first.
Except… I had no idea where I was going.
That small realization slowly turned into panic.
"Okay…dar mat pagli kisi se puch le..," I told myself, even though my stomach had already started tying itself into knots.
I walked up to the reception, trying to look confident and failing miserably.
"Um…meri .. class?"
They asked for my details. I told them.
One of them glanced at me… then at the monitor… then back at me.
Something about that look made my chest tighten.
They frowned.
And then one girl, without even trying to hide it, went, "ew."
I blinked.
For a second, I genuinely didn't know how to react.
Was that… for me?
Kya meh itni buri lag rhi thi?
I looked around slightly, just to be sure there wasn't someone worse standing behind me.
There wasn't.
"Section E?," the other one said flatly, handing me a card like it weighed nothing.
Section E.
I nodded slowly, taking the card, pretending like that didn't just happen.
"Meh chali jaungi ..," I told myself as I turned away, even though something about their reaction stayed with me.
They pointed me towards the back.
Of course. I know section e is the last section here. And ...little worse but based my on my records I had no choice. Besides I don't think it's going to be that bad.
I walked around the building, the polished floors slowly disappearing, the noise fading a little…
And then I reached it.
I stopped.
" ..Wahhh ye kya majak hai...?."
The building in front of me looked nothing like the rest of the school.
It didn't even look like it belonged here.
They must have used
Ambuja cement Sasta nhai sabse acha.
Must be why this building is still standing. Ugh.
The paint was peeling off the walls, the windows looked tired, and for a very brief moment, I actually wondered if it was safe to go inside.
I hesitated.
"Yeh kisi tarak ka test toh nhi ...jaise soldiers ke liye hota hai.?," I murmured. "Ya… survival training Takeshi's castle ka setup. "
Still, I stepped in.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Who knows when it might collapse.
The air felt different. Quieter.
The benches were scattered, not arranged—like no one really cared where anything was supposed to be.
I walked further in, my steps echoing slightly, until I found a classroom.
"Section—"
I paused.
That's all it said.
Just Section.
The "E" was gone.
I stared at it for a second, then let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
"E ne bhi khud Khushi karli...," I whispered.
There were a few boys standing nearby, talking among themselves.
I took a breath and walked towards them.
The moment my footsteps got closer, their voices stopped.
And then… all of them turned to look at me.
At the same time.
"Kya?Ise pehle sunder ladki nhi dekhi inhone?"
My steps slowed.
There's something very unsettling about being looked at like that—like you've just interrupted something you weren't supposed to.
"Um…" I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly very aware of myself.
"..Kya yeh..Section E hai..?"
They didn't answer immediately.
They looked at each other first, exchanging something I couldn't quite understand… then looked back at me.
And then one of them stepped slightly forward.
He was taller than the others, standing a little lazily, a lollipop resting between his lips like he had absolutely nothing better to do in life.
"Nhi yaha nhi hai...it's been moved..," he said, voice flat. "Main building."
"Huh? But unhone toh kaha—"
"Isaid it's moved."
His tone was sharper this time and louder.
I flinched.
It wasn't even that he shouted… it was just so sudden.
"Okay," I nodded quickly. "Jaa rhi hun"
I turned around almost immediately, not trusting myself to say anything else.
My grip tightened around my bag as I walked away, my steps a little faster now.
And then, once I was out of their sight—
"Maa kasam—" I muttered under my breath, my frustration finally slipping out, "pehla din na hota toh uski lollipop uske muh me nah hoti..."
Aisi lat marti ki Nani Mami Masi Kaki Chachi sab yaad aa jate.
I let out a breath, trying to calm myself down.
"Relax…shant hoja Aadhya," I whispered. "Tum ne promise Kiya hai bhaiya se. No fighting. No trouble. No shaitani"
I slowed down a little, forcing myself to breathe normally again.
I reached the main building.
And looked around like a lost puppy.
No, scratch that—like a kidnapped puppy who just realized the kidnapper forgot to leave breadcrumbs.
Kya karun kaha jaun isse acha ghar chali jati...
Students passed by like they had built-in GPS.
Meanwhile, I was out here buffering.
Inka wifi slow hoga...
Then—finally—I spotted a classroom across the corridor.
"Section… C…?" I squinted.
There was something else scribbled near it that kind of looked like an E.
"Mama masi ka farq hai...," I decided, because clearly my life decisions peak under pressure.
I walked in and quietly slipped into the back seat, placing my bag down like I was trying not to wake a sleeping dragon.
And instantly—
Whispers.
Soft at first. Then not so soft.
"New girl?"
"Yaar dekh ye toh maal hai"
"She's pretty…"
" Nayi hai? "
"Do we have a new classmate?"
I froze.
I can hear all of you. I'm not deaf, just new.
Mujh mein itna interest? mai kya Tmkoc ki charater hun.?
I kept my face neutral, pretending I wasn't internally combusting.
Then suddenly—
A girl walked up to me.
And for a moment… I forgot how to breathe.
Haye swarg se kokilkanthi Apsara!
She was beautiful.
Like unfairly beautiful.
Soft black hair, perfectly shaped lips, rosy cheeks—
She looked like the kind of person who says "hi" and flowers bloom in the background.
So beautiful. So elegant. Just looking like a wow.
She smiled. And wow, even her smile had manners.
"Hi, I'm Meher Desai. I'm the class leader of section C," she said gently.
"Actually, we weren't informed about a new student… so we were a bit surprised. Id card dena check karke batati hun ?"
Her voice was so polite I almost apologized for entering. Englishi...
"Haa ha ye lo..," I quickly handed it over.
She looked at it.
Her expression changed.
And then—
"Oh no, Adi… this is the wrong section. This is Section C." Huh? Section C. Damnit.
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
And then—
The entire class burst out laughing.
I swear I felt my soul leave my body and sit in the corner like, "I'm not part of this."
"I—I—what?" I stammered, my brain officially shutting down.
And then I recalled —
Ohh… that lollipop guy.
Uski toh aisi ki taisi....
Pause.
You're gone. You just wait bastard I'll make you taste raw chilli.
No flying juta is good rather than chappal.
That was it.
I grabbed my bag so fast it nearly slapped someone and walked—no—stormed out of the class.
At this point, I wasn't even walking anymore. I was a mission. A disaster with legs.
I reached the building again, anger bubbling so nicely inside me like a perfectly heated revenge plan.
And then—
I didn't open the door.
I attacked it.
It burst open with a loud bang.
Inside, the teacher literally paused mid-sentence, chalk in hand, staring at me like I had just entered through a wall instead of a door.
"Is this Section E?" I asked, slightly out of breath, slightly possessed.
He blinked once… then nodded.
Good. Finally. Civilization.
I walked in, trying to regain whatever dignity I had left.
"Sorry, sir… good morning," I said quickly.
"Hmm… you're Aadhya Verma, right?" he asked.
I nodded.
And then—
I looked at him.
That idiot.
Ye sala kamina iski toh ...bhais ki aankh int se int nhi bajaii toh main bhi Aadhya nhi ...
Sitting there like he owns the school.
Tere baap ka raaj hai.
Lollipop in his mouth. Remove that lollipop from his mouth and shove it down through that throat of his.
Same bored face.
Same audacity
Except now—
There was a smirk.
A small, irritating, punchable smirk playing on his lips.
You absolute menace, I thought. I will ruin your life.
"Why don't you introduce yourself, Miss Aadhya?" sir said, calling me forward.
I walked to the front, feeling every pair of eyes on me.
"Hello… I'm Aadhya Verma, from Gyan Sarvottam School. I'm a new transfer student here. I look forward to—"
I stopped.
Because no one was listening.
Absolutely no one.
They were busy talking, laughing, existing like I wasn't even there.
Except…
Him.
He was staring.
Not casually. Not curiously.
Intensely.
Dark eyes fixed on me like he was trying to figure something out… or destroy it.
Why is he staring like that? Does he have a death wish.
Marne ka shok rahta hai ...
His hair was a mess—like a comb had personally offended him.
Uniform? Equally tragic.
Uniform mein ... Dhurandar ka Ranveer Singh lag raha tha...
But none of that was the problem.
The problem was his aura.
There was something… off.
Not loud. Not dramatic.
Just… heavy.
And then—
He smirked again.
I narrowed my eyes.
Keep smirking. I'll wipe it off personally.
"Does anyone have any questions for the new student?" sir asked, looking around.
Silence.
" Class president?"
Wow.Just amazing. The class president must be absent.
"Vivaan," sir called out.
Oh. So the president is named Vivaan.
Acha laad sahab ka nam Vivaan ji hai....kya baat hai.
Nice.
I looked around—
And then slowly…
He stood up.
…
No.
No no no.
You have got to be kidding me.
THIS idiot is the class president??
God really said, "Let's make her life interesting."
Ye.?....Iski toh
"Any questions?" sir repeated.
Vivaan tilted his head slightly, that annoying smirk still there.
And then—
"Are you still a virgin?"
…
The class exploded.
Laughter everywhere.
Someone even clapped. Thumping the benches. Laughing like idiots.
I stood there, stunned. Not embarrassed—just… shocked at the audacity.
Ye aaj marne ke mood mein hai mere hathon...
Sir immediately started scolding him.
"Vivaan!" Sir scolded him.
"It's just a question, sir," he said, completely unbothered.
Oh. Oh he's that type.
I took a step forward, folding my arms slightly.
Isko jawab toh dena padega!
"Sir is asking for a decent question," I said, looking straight at him.
Ab bol beta...
"Maybe you don't know the meaning of 'appropriate.'"
The class went—
"OHHHHHH—"
What are they, paid audience??
Kapil Sharma show chal raha hai yahan?
His smirk dropped.
Eyebrows pulled together.
Ohhh. Did I hit a nerve? Good.
Serves you right.
"You want an appropriate question?" he said, voice colder now.
"Then when are you leaving our section?"
What's his problem? Why does he care of I'm in this section?
Who's he to decide if i stay here or not..if you are asking for a fight..then.
I smiled slightly. Not sweet. Not friendly. Just enough.
"Why don't you go first?"
Chal chal nikal paheli fursat mein!
"OHHHHHH—"
Again.
Seriously, do they rehearse this??
Ye pakka waha se bhaag ke ayein hai...
Sir stepped in immediately before we turned the classroom into a boxing ring.
"Okay, enough! Both of you. Aadhya, take your seat."
I exhaled slowly and stepped away, scanning the class.
And wow.
Even the seating arrangement had issues.
All the benches were pushed to the sides and back, leaving the middle weirdly empty—forming this awkward U-shape like some failed group therapy setup.
Kala jadu toh nhi karte ye log, kise pata?
"Of course," I muttered. "Why would anything be normal?"
I walked to the middle and sat down, dropping my bag beside me.
For a moment, I just stared ahead.
Then slowly…
I turned back.
Our eyes met again.
This time—
He wasn't smirking.
He was glaring.
Good.
I glared back.
What, you think only you have eyes?
Next time I'll attach lasers to mine.
Idiot....