I saw those reels you sent yesterday,” Avni groaned, smacking Shiksha lightly on the head. “Girl, stop sending me brainrot.”
Shiksha laughed, swaying slightly in her seat. “That’s what my feed’s full of! I’m not in a relationship like you, so mine’s just cats and chaos. Sorry, girl.”
“I told you to not say that so casually,” Avni whispered, glancing around the classroom. “It’s a secret. I don’t want these donkeys to find out.”
“Okay, okay,” Shiksha smirked. “But at least tell me who he is.” Her bottom lip folded into a pout, all innocent charm. “Just his name. And what if he’s toxic? I need to protect you.”
Avni hesitated. “You’ll understand when I tell you. He’s popular, okay? And he’s not toxic. We’re just a cute little couple, that’s all.”
“So you don’t trust me, huh? Vyakhya knows about him—”
“She saw me with him, okay? I didn’t tell her either. I’ll tell you … after asking him first.”
Shiksha let out a breath, feigning cool. “Hmm. So I have to earn your trust now?”
“No! It’s not like that…”
“I was just checking if he treats you well.”
“We barely even meet,” Avni admitted, a pout forming on her lips again.
Riiiiiiiiiing-Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
The bell sliced through the air, pulling the students back in from P.E. Avni and Shiksha had stayed behind—someone had their period, but they hadn’t told the teacher which one.
“Vyakhya! Oi, Vyakhya!!” Avni shouted, waving her hand.
Vyakhya flinched, snapping out of her daze. “Ye–yeah?”
“What do you mean ‘yeah’? I’ve been calling you since you walked in. What happened during P.E.?”
“They told us to run. Then I watched… the girls were playing badminton… volleyball…”
“You on your period too?”
“No. Just… feel uneasy.”
She dropped her head to the desk, her arms curled tightly around it. Whom to trust, and whom not…
“What happened to her?” Shiksha whispered, eyeing Avni.
“I don’t know. She’s been like this all week.”
School ended. Vyani walked slowly, dragging her feet and bag behind her. The afternoon was strangely quiet. Too quiet. Her thoughts were louder—croaking and restless, like a frog waiting to snatch a fly. Searching for something… anything… she didn’t even glance back when she heard footsteps—Ayaan’s? Could’ve been. But she didn’t care.
She used to react to every sound that resembled him, it was a habit. But now, she thought—
Habits break themselves when you're about to die.
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---
“Apoo!! Didn’t I tell you to get ready?! We’re going to the market!” her mother screamed from the living room.
Vyani sat quietly, eyes on her rice and daal, ears alert. Creeeak—her sister’s door opened.
“Maa, I’m not feeling up to it today.”
“Its already 15 may, We need to buy stuff for your hostel!”
“Twenty days isn’t ‘barely,’ Maa! I’ll go with Ridha. Just stop yelling.”
“How does she know what to buy?”
“I don’t care! Just shut up for now!” Apoorva snapped. The house froze. Vyani’s spoon slipped from her hand. Even Adbhut looked away from the TV.
“Apoo—! Come back here!” their mother shouted.
The door slammed shut.
Fights weren’t new, but Apoorva skipping shopping? That was.
She’s not excited, Vyani thought. Something’s wrong.
She approached the locked door. In a desi house, a locked door was practically a federal crime. Vyani placed her ear against it. She loved her sister too much not to worry.
Just footsteps.
Dham. Dham. Dham.
Pacing? Dancing? Reading? It was her room after all.
And then, Vyani’s mind going spiral…. it's true:
You can’t know what’s happening inside a room unless the person inside lets you in. Doesn’t matter if your knuckles bleed from knocking—if they won’t open the door, you’re just a stranger judging the crying kid by the river.
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---
It was Ayaan’s room… but Nishkarsh laid on the bed like he owned it.
A big poster of Ronaldo and Messi hung on the wall. A cricket bat leaned nearby, and a lot of white sheets were stacked next to the bed—kind of hidden, but still easily visible. Different types of art pencils sat beside Ayaan’s laptop on the table. Books of Maths and Accounts lay nearby—basically untouched, just there for show. A dirty football kit was shoved under the bed.
And amidst it all, Nishkarsh lay sprawled across the mattress, scrolling through his phone, while Ayaan typed away on his laptop—until he finally turned around, irritation written all over his face.
“Why did you send her a follow request? Are you totally out of it, man?” Ayaan snapped.
“Bro, I don’t know about you, but she’s Avni’s closest friend. And Avni…” Nishkarsh sighed, a dreamy look on his face, “…the love of my life.”
“Shut up, you asshole,” Ayaan muttered, glaring. “Like literally—why would you send her a follow request ? You know our history.”
“Bro, your history. Not mine,” Nishkarsh replied, not even bothering to look up from his phone.
“Weren’t you the one who came running to me—‘Brooo, the_mysterious_human_01 is that girl, blah blah’?”
“I just told you for the sake of telling, man. I didn’t know we were gonna—”
“—Just send the request to Avni directly!” Ayaan cut him off. “Why the hell are you dragging Vyani into this?”
“Because Avni doesn’t accept any requests. She’s so loyal to whoever her boyfriend is… ugh, lucky asshole,” Nishkarsh muttered, still scrolling.
“So why Vyani?” Ayaan said, frustration in his voice. “Pixel doesn’t even post!”
“So?” Nishkarsh shrugged. “I saw on Pratham’s ID she reposts Avni’s pics. I’m gonna follow her—and I know she’ll accept my request.”
“Why would she? She isn’t—”
“She did! Yassss!” Nishkarsh grinned, pride blooming on his face. “Told you, didn’t I? She feels thankful to me after that day.”
Ayaan’s eyes narrowed. “Unfollow her.”
“Why?” Nishkarsh asked, confused….I need tabs on Avni. I have no other option.” He said desperately.
“I said, unfollow her.” Ayaan’s voice echoed again.
“No. I’m not doing it.”
“Okay, I have your ID. I’ll do it.”Ayaan reached for his phone.
“I changed the password.” Nishkarsh said bluntly.
“What? Bro, WTF? Give me the password.”
“You don’t want to see her, right? So it’s good you don’t have my ID now.”
“You have mine too, assho—”
“Because you wanted me to deal with that girl who kept messaging you. Now you can take it back.”
“Nishkarsh, you pest!” Ayaan smacked him on the head.
The evening ended with Nishkarsh, as always, giving his password to Ayaan again. He and his ways.
Nothing ever really went wrong when Ayaan Mishra asked for something.
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---
“Do… do we have a lead?” Vyani whispered, crouched in the washroom, Tis leaning against the tiles beside her. Her brother was on her PC—no privacy in the room.
“Yes,” Tis said. “But it’s horrifying.”
“Wh–what do you mean?” Her voice trembled. “Yo
u know I’m already scared.”
“I didn’t tell you earlier because of that.”
“You’re hiding something?”
Tis looked at her. “You’re not going to like it.”!!!
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