At night,
Shivaksh was lying comfortably on his bed, while Ivaan’s bunk was directly above him and Samar’s bed was placed right beside his. The three of them shared the same hostel room, making it their little world away from the rest of the university.

Ivaan was calmly sorting out some academic problems, focused and composed, while Samar sat nearby scrolling through his phone. In contrast, Shivaksh lay lost in his own thoughts, a soft, unexplainable smile lingering on his face. He pulled a pillow close to his chest, squeezing it lightly as he shut his eyes, almost as if he were quietly blushing at something only he could see.

Noticing this, Samar glanced up from his phone, his expression filled with confusion as he tried to figure out what exactly was going on with him.

Samar: "Ivaan"

Ivaan glanced at Samar and raised his eyebrows, silently questioning him. In response, Samar subtly gestured toward Shivaksh. Following the cue, Ivaan looked down from his bed toward Shivaksh’s. Both Ivaan and Samar then stared at him in confusion, trying to figure out what was going on.

Ivaan: "Kaha khoya hai tu??"
(Where are you lost?)

Shivaksh remained lost in his own dreamy world, a faint smile still lingering on his face. Frustrated, Samar threw a pillow straight at him. The impact pulled Shivaksh back to reality, and he immediately looked up at Samar, confused and startled.

Shivaksh: "Kya hai??"
(What?)

Samar: "Tujhe kya, kidr khoya hai"
(I’m asking where you’re lost.)

Ivaan: "Konsi Duniya me magan hai tu bhai"
(Which world are you dreaming in, bro?)

Shivaksh looked up toward Ivaan, but since Ivaan was leaning over and peering down from his bed, his face appeared upside down from Shivaksh’s angle. The unexpected sight startled him slightly, and he instinctively shifted back a little.

Shivaksh: "Ahhh"

Ivaan: "Whatt???"

Shivaksh: "Ye kya raat ko horror story banayega kya"
(What is this, are you going to turn it into a horror story at night?)

Ivaan: "Bhakk, jaa vapas apni khayal duniya me"
(Ugh, go back to your imagination world.)

Ivaan quickly turned his attention back to his books, as if nothing had happened. Shivaksh, on the other hand, picked up his pillow again and settled back with a faint smile on his face. Samar continued to watch him closely, his gaze still filled with curiosity, trying to make sense of his mood.

Shivaksh: "Tu kyu dekh raha hai??"
(Why are you staring at me?)

Samar: "Tu itna smile kyu kar raha hai??"
(Why are you smiling so much?)

Shivaksh: "V..vo toh main soch raha tha"
(I… I was just thinking.)

Samar: "Aisa kya soch raha hai??"
(What are you thinking about?)

Shivaksh: "She’s so cute, right Samar?"

Shivaksh startled again when Ivaan suddenly jumped down and sat right beside him. His eyes widened at the unexpected movement. Before he could react, Samar also came over and took a seat next to him. Both Ivaan and Samar turned toward him with teasing looks, clearly enjoying his reaction.

Ivaan: "Don’t tell me you’re talking about your enemy."

Shivaksh: "Bhakk, enemy thodi hai, special hu main uske liye"
(No, she’s not my enemy. I’m kind of special to her.)

Samar: "Ohh bhai, pyaar vyaar ho gaya hai kya??"
(Oh wow, is this love or something?)

A slight blush crept onto Shivaksh’s face. Before he could even process it, Ivaan and Samar suddenly pulled him into a tight hug, catching him completely off guard.

Samar: "Wow, humme se kisi ki toh love story dekhne milegii"
(Nice, at least we’ll get to see someone’s love story.)

Shivaksh: "Guys, calm down. I’m not in love… maybe just a little crush. I mean, I was enjoying teasing her… her sweet voice, her cute red nose, those baby hairs on her forehead… I found everything cute."

Ivaan: "Ohh dammnnn, Shivaksh dekh bhai ye Crush nahi hai, ye pyaar hai pyaar. Main toh kehta hu tu propose karde phir tumlog ka dating era start hoga. But pehle 12th and then graduation yahi university se karna aur date karna, phir engagement kar lena, masters ke baad shadi... Phir kuch saal me bachche, jo mujhe chachu bolenge. How cute is that, isn't it???"
(Damn… Shivaksh, this isn’t a crush. This is love. I say you should propose to her, then start dating. Do 12th and graduation together from this university, then get engaged, masters after that marriage… and then kids who will call me “uncle.” How cute, right?)

Samar and Shivaksh both stared at Ivaan in shock, their expressions clearly taken aback, while Ivaan sat there grinning like he had just pulled off something amusing.

Ivaan: "Kya hua??"
(What happened?)

Samar: "Yehi sab khayali pulao likhta hai kya answer sheet me, tabhi top karta hai tu"
(Is this what you write in your answer sheets too? No wonder you top.)

Ivaan: "Arehhh, toh normally yahi hota hai na"
(Hey, that’s normally how it goes, right?)

Samar: "aur Ishaanvi isko pasand bhi nahi karti hai bhool mat"
(And don’t forget, she doesn’t even like him.)

Ivaan: "Haa vo toh hai, iski Harkatein bhi hai aisi, tease kar raha tha usko"
(True. He was just teasing her.)

Samar: "Pagal toh hai hi, bina muh band rakhe iska chalta kaha hai"
(He’s already crazy. His mouth never stops.)

Shivaksh, looped his arms around Samar and Ivaan’s necks and pulled them in, giving a light but frustrated squeeze.

Shivaksh: "Reh gaye the na dono bole bina, bakwas kara lo bas dono se"
(Both of you didn’t say a word earlier, now suddenly talking nonsense.)

Ivaan: "Ahhh, chod pagal, murder 4 banayega kya"
(Ahh, leave it, man. Are you going to make this into Murder 4 or what?)

Shivaksh finally let them go, stepping back with a huff. Samar and Ivaan shot him a glare in response, both rubbing their necks slightly as they recovered from his playful grip.

Samar: "Aur kya galat bola?? Dekhna kal tujhe apne baju baithne nahi degi vo"
(What did we even say wrong? Just wait, tomorrow she won’t even let you sit beside her.)

Ivaan: "Vahi na, aaya bada Crush hai, Huhhh"
(Exactly. Big talk about crush, huh?)

Samar: "Soja chup chap, kal Economics ki class me Viva ho sakta hai"
(Go to sleep. Economics viva might happen tomorrow.)

Ivaan: "udar iska muh nahi chalega, bakwas karne me hi chalta hai"
(His mouth won’t work there anyway. It only works for nonsense.)

Samar returned to his bed, settling back in, while Ivaan climbed up to his bunk again. Shivaksh, left in the middle of it all, sighed in mock frustration, clearly fed up with his friends’ antics.

Shivaksh: "kitne ghatiya dost ho dono, zara sa support nahi kar sakte mujhe"
(You’re such terrible friends. You can’t even support me a little.)

Samar: "Bhai, vo agressive ladki hai, maar peet kar leti hai, ek ye bhi reason hai uske yaha transfer ka"
(Bro, she’s aggressive. She might actually hit people, that’s also why she transferred here.)

Ivaan: "Aur kahi galti se pit gaya na, toh sari captaincy dhari ki dhari reh jayegi"
(And if you get beaten, your captaincy will be gone.)

Shivaksh: "Phir bhi she didn't hit me today, aur vapas aake mere baju me bhi baithi thi, mujhe enemy bhi boli... Matlab andar se pasand karti hai, par ladki hai na isiliye bol nahi payi hogi bechari, koi baat nahi main toh hu hi samajhdar, main samajh gaya"
(Still… she didn’t hit me today. She even came back and sat beside me. She called me her enemy… that means she likes me deep down but can’t say it. Poor girl. I understand everything.)

Ivaan: "Samar, bhai lights off karde, iska delusion khatam nahi hoga"
(Samar, switch off the lights. His delusion won’t end.)

Samar: "Haaa, vaise tu bhi kum nahi hai, uski puri zindagi plan karli tune"
(Yeah, and you’re no less. You’ve already planned his whole life.)

Ivaan: "Vahi sochu ab tak taana kyu nahi aaya"
(I wonder why the taunts haven’t started yet.)

Samar: "Soja yaar, ye phir dreamland me gaya"
(Just sleep. He’s gone into dreamland.)

Shivaksh once again drifted into his dreamy thoughts while lying on his bed. After a while, Samar switched off the lights, and the room slowly fell into darkness. Gradually, all three of them settled down and drifted off to sleep.

In Girls hostel,
Ishaanvi was alone in her room, seated at her study table and focusing on her studies. After a while, she pulled out the notes she had taken in class earlier that day. As she flipped through them, she suddenly remembered Shivaksh’s comment about her handwriting. Her expression shifted instantly, and she made a few annoyed faces, clearly not impressed by the memory.

Ishaanvi: "Kitna irritating ladka hai, uper se kitni gandi handwriting likhta hai, teachers toh pakka iski answer sheet phaad dete honge"
(What an irritating boy… and his handwriting is so bad. Teachers must be tearing his answer sheets.)

Ishaanvi shook her head, pushing the thought aside, and then refocused on her studies. She continued reading for a while longer before finally closing all her books. Getting up from the study table, she moved to her bed, picking up one of her fictional novels to unwind.

Ishaanvi: "Ahh finally aaj ye school romance book start karungi, I just hope is series ki next book release tak ye complete kar lu"
(Finally, I’ll start this school romance book. I just hope I finish this series before the next book releases.)

Ishaanvi settled comfortably on her bed, slipping on her reading glasses. Her hair was already tied up in a neat bun, and she began reading her novel. After nearly ten pages, she paused and frowned slightly, as if something in the story had caught her attention.

Ishaanvi: "Friendship??"

Ishaanvi's POV,

“Friendship is the first stage of love,” the novel I’m currently reading says. It somehow made me pause and think, because even I ended up making two friends today.

Ivaan is quite a nerd like me, but there’s this unexpected bubbliness in his nature that makes him easy to talk to. On the other hand, Samar feels very calm and composed, he prefers listening more than speaking, which gives him a very grounded presence.

Today was my first day at this school, and honestly, I didn’t expect to make friends so quickly. I usually prefer staying alone, keeping to myself. Even back in the Delhi branch, I only had two friends.

But today was different. Somehow, I ended up with two more people I can talk to. I guess I won’t be completely alone here… at least not for now, if they choose to include me in their circle.

I’ve never really liked the idea of groupism in institutes, but I also know that’s how things usually work. People naturally gravitate toward groups where they feel comfortable.

Let’s see what life has planned for me here.

Apart from the two friends, I also ended up with someone I wouldn’t exactly call an “enemy,” but more like someone I really struggle to tolerate.

He talks a lot, like, constantly, and I prefer peace and silence. He feels like the complete opposite of me. He can’t even sit quietly for two minutes, and honestly, that alone gets on my nerves. On top of that, he ended up sitting right next to me. I like my space and usually prefer sitting alone, but there wasn’t really any other seat available, so I didn’t have much choice.

What bothers me more is that he keeps commenting on everything I do. I wish he would just sit quietly and focus on his own work instead of testing my patience while I’m trying to solve problems.

I just hope he doesn’t sit beside me again tomorrow, because I already feel myself getting too irritated around him. I need to keep myself in control, getting into any kind of trouble over something like this isn’t worth it, especially when I already have a history of getting into fights at school. My father still brings it up sometimes, and I know he won’t take it lightly if anything similar happens again.

Back then, things got out of hand during an incident with another student, and I ended up breaking his nose, getting into serious trouble. I don’t want anything like that repeating itself.

So yeah… I just need to stay calm and deal with it without letting my temper take over.

Anyways, it’s time to sleep now. I’ll need to catch up on the notes from the classes I missed today, maybe Samar can help me with them. If not, I’ll ask Ivaan.

I’ll figure it out tomorrow. For now, rest sounds better.

Author's POV,

With that, Ishaanvi carefully slipped her novel under her pillow, quietly believing it might let the story drift into her dreams. It was a small, childish habit she never really questioned, something she secretly enjoyed. She settled down on her bed, hugging her plushie close to herself, and pulled up her Barbie duvet, wrapping herself in its comfort.

Though she still loved Barbie movies and all things soft and whimsical, she made sure to keep it hidden from everyone, guarding her image of being strong, sharp, and a little distant so that her aggressive, arrogant persona wouldn’t be affected or questioned.

Slowly, she closed her eyes, letting the room fade away as sleep finally took over.

The next morning,
Ivaan was busy packing his bag, organizing his books for the day ahead. Samar stepped out of the washroom, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, still half-dry. Meanwhile, Shivaksh was already fully dressed and calmly putting on his shoes, completely lost in his own world.

Samar: "Ye aaj itna jaldi kaise uth gaya?? Aur ready bhi ho gaya??"
(How did he wake up so early today? And even got ready?)

Ivaan: "Chaar baar puch chuka hu, par khayalon ki duniya se bahar aaye Sir tab na"
(I’ve asked him four times, but he’s still stuck in his imagination world.)

Samar noticed that there was still some time left before their breakfast call. He quickly grabbed his shirt and headed toward Shivaksh while slipping it on. At the same time, Ivaan shook his head at the books scattered across Shivaksh’s desk, picked them up, and neatly packed Shivaksh’s bag as well.

Samar then gave Shivaksh a light shake, finally pulling him out of his thoughts, and Shivaksh looked up at him.

Shivaksh: "Haa bol"
(Yes, tell me.)

Samar: "Sabse pehle toh shoes ulte pehne hai, right ka left me, left ka right now vo sahi kar"
(First of all, your shoes are on the wrong feet, right on left, left on right. Fix them.)

Shivaksh glanced down and realized he had put on the wrong shoes. He let out a small chuckle at his own mistake, shaking his head in mild amusement.

Samar: "Vo pehle hi tujhe enemy bolti hai, ye ulte pair ke shoes dekhegi toh pagal bhi samjhegi, hosh me aaja"
(She already calls you her enemy. If she sees this, she’ll think you’re insane. Get serious.)

Shivaksh: "Vo mujhe samjhegi??? Hayy, samar tere muh me chocolate fudge"
(She’ll notice me? Aww Samar, may you have chocolate fudge in your mouth.)

Shivaksh quickly corrected his shoes and slipped them on the right feet, then stood up with a satisfied grin. Samar watched him in mild shock, still processing his absent-mindedness. Meanwhile, Ivaan calmly handed Samar his blazer, getting him ready as well.

Ivaan: "Tu ready hoja, iska pagalpan nahi rukne wala hai"
(Get ready. His madness won’t stop.)

Samar: "Ab toh lag raha hai ye pit hi jayega"
(I feel like he’s going to get beaten today.)

Ivaan: "Vaise mazaa toh aayega na, sab ladkiyan iske aage peeche ghoomti hai, pehli baar koi ise pitegi"
(Honestly, it’ll be fun. All girls run after him, and for the first time someone might actually beat him.)

Samar: "Haa yaar, phir kal school gossip ki headline Football captain Mr. Shivaksh Oberoi pite apne hi crush se"
(Yeah, tomorrow’s headline: “Football captain Mr. Shivaksh Oberoi beaten by his own crush.”)

Ivaan: "dauda dauda ke maara gaya hai chappal se"
(Chased and hit with slippers.)

Samar: "Chappal nahi shoes, ye school Wale yehi toh pehle check Karte hai"
(Not slippers, shoes. They check that at school.)

Ivaan: "Ohh yes, usse yaad aaya aaj Elite monitors honge entrance pe, proper uniform pehenna padega"
(Oh right. Today there are Elite monitors at the entrance too, proper uniform needed.)

Samar: "Haa bas 5 min me ready hota hu"
(Yeah, I’ll get ready in 5 minutes.)

Samar and Ivaan both turned around and found Shivaksh standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, glaring at them. The two of them exchanged a quick glance and raised their eyebrows.

Ivaan: "Kya hua??"
(What happened?)

Samar: "Aise kyu dekh rahe ho??"
(Why are you staring like that?)

Shivaksh: "Thank you aap dono ka, Sir"
(Thank you, both of you.)

Ivaan: "Hainn?? Ohh achcha tera bag lagaya iske liye??"
(Huh? Oh, you’re thanking me for the bag?)

Samar: "Tujhe shoes correct karne bola uske liye.... Isme kya yaar Shivaksh, dost hai tu itna toh karenge hi na"
(Or for fixing your shoes? We’re your friends, of course we’ll help.)

Shivaksh suddenly pushed both Ivaan and Samar, making them fall back onto his bed. Before they could react, he grabbed their hands and gave them a light, playful twist, pinning them in place just enough to stop their teasing.

Shivaksh: "Nalayako, abhi thoda aur rukte toh meri Jaan leke hi mante, sharam nahi aati dono ko"
(Idiots… if you had waited a little longer, I would’ve died.)

Samar: "Hattt, chod hume pehle"
(Go away first.)

Samar and Ivaan quickly pushed him back, freeing themselves, and stood up to straighten their school uniforms. Shivaksh rolled his eyes at them in annoyance.

Ivaan: "Taiyaar hai toh chal ab, Varna kal ke jaise phir late hoga"
(If you’re ready, let’s go. Otherwise you’ll be late again.)

Samar: "and for god sake, breakfast ke baad seedhe se chal dena, mess wale bhaiya se panchayat karne mat lagna"
(And for God’s sake, don’t gossip with the mess guy after breakfast. Just walk straight out.)

Shivaksh: "Bhakk, pagal hai kya... Ishu bhi toh hogi na breakfast ke liye mess me"
(Ugh, are you crazy? Ishu will also be there in the mess for breakfast.)

Samar, Ivaan: "Ishuuuu????"

Samar and Ivaan spoke in unison, then both pulled exaggerated faces at Shivaksh. Shivaksh only grinned in response, nodding slightly as he slung his bag over one shoulder. He then turned toward the mirror, quickly fixing his hair to look more presentable before he headed out.

Samar: "Ye kab hua??"
(Since when??)

Shivaksh: "Haa toh main bahaut open minded ladka hu, I accept mujhe Ishu pe crush hai toh, crush ko toh aise names se hi bulate hai na"
(I’m very open-minded. I accept I have a crush on Ishu. That’s what you call a crush name, right?)

Ivaan: "Ohhh saste Romeo, uske samne mat bol dena Varne tera crush ko crush karke gutter me baha degi"
(Oh Romeo, don’t say that in front of her or she’ll crush your crush and throw you in a gutter.)

Samar: "Aur tujhe bhi"
(And you too.)

Shivaksh: "Huhhh, disgusting people, zara sa positive soch raha hu subah subah toh aa gaye mood ka gud gobar karne, hatoo idhar se idiots"
(Disgusting people. I try to think positive in the morning and you ruin my mood. Move aside, idiots.)

Shivaksh playfully pushed both of them aside and walked out of the room. Samar and Ivaan stayed where they were for a moment, still staring at the direction he had left in. Then they slowly turned to each other, exchanging shocked looks.

Samar: "Likh ke leke ye aaj maar khayega Ishaanvi se"
(Mark my words, he’s getting beaten by Ishaanvi today.)

Ivaan: "Ishaanvi nahi Ishuuuu, Shivaksh ki ishuuu"
(Not Ishaanvi… Ishuuu. Shivaksh’s Ishuu.)

Samar and Ivaan broke into laughter, sharing a quick high-five at the moment. After that, they got themselves ready for the classes and soon headed out together toward the school mess for their breakfast.

In the mess,
Shivaksh arrived first, a faint grin still lingering on his face, and casually took the exact seat where Ishaanvi had been sitting during lunch the previous day. The mess attendant, already familiar with him, noticed his presence and walked over to take his order.

Mess Uncle: "Areh Shivaksh beta, Aaj jaldi aa gaye, bhookh zyada lagi hai kya aaj"
(Oh Shivaksh, Son, you came early today. Are you extra hungry today?)

Shivaksh: "Good morning, Uncle, nahi bas aaj ready ho gaya toh aa gaya"
(Good morning, Uncle. No, I just got ready early, so I came.)

Mess Uncle: "vaise pata hai, kal Batra Sir aur Mihika Ma'am, sath me lunch kar rahe the"
(By the way, you know? Yesterday Batra Sir and Mihika Ma’am were having lunch together.)

Shivaksh: "Chodo na Uncle, hume kya"
(Forget it, Uncle. Why should we care?)

Mess Uncle: "Hain?? Kal tumne hi toh bola tha ki Uncle kuch gossip mile toh batana"
(Huh? Yesterday you were the one saying, “Uncle, if you get any gossip, tell me.”)

Shivaksh: "Ye sab Panchayat main chod chuka hu uncle, aap bhi chod dijiye"
(I’ve left all that gossip business, Uncle. You should leave it too.)

The mess man looked a little surprised, since Shivaksh’s usual routine every morning was to catch up on all the school gossip during breakfast. But today, Shivaksh seemed different, quiet and restless, his eyes repeatedly drifting toward the entrance as if he was waiting for someone.

Mess Uncle: "Ivaan aur Samar sath nahi aaye??"
(Ivaan and Samar didn’t come with you?)

Shivaksh: "Uncle, un dono ko chodo, ye bataiye aaj beverages me kya hai??"
(Uncle, leave them. Just tell me, what’s in beverages today?)

Mess Uncle: "Kya chahiye batao ban jayega"
(Tell me what you want, I’ll make it.)

Shivaksh: "Uncle please 2 glass chocolate milkshake bana dijiye na, aur uske uper kuch mat daalna vo main karunga"
(Uncle, please make two glasses of chocolate milkshake, and don’t add anything on top, I’ll handle that.)

Mess Uncle: "2 glass kyu?? Ivaan ya samar me se koi nahi aayega?? Theek toh hai dono??"
(Two glasses? Won’t Ivaan or Samar come? Are they okay?)

Shivaksh: "Areh uncle, dost main hu aapka, aap kya dono ki fikar kar rahe hai... Bana dijiye na jaldi se please"
(Uncle, I’m your real friend, why are you worrying about them? Just make it quickly, please.)

Shivaksh actually whined a little, making the mess man chuckle as he lightly patted his head before heading off to prepare the milkshakes. Meanwhile, Shivaksh sat there, tapping his leg impatiently, a habit he had whenever he couldn’t sit still, his eyes still fixed on the entrance, waiting for Ishaanvi.

Soon, Ivaan and Samar walked in, but Shivaksh didn’t even notice them, still completely focused on the doorway.

Ivaan: "Itna chehak raha hai subah se, jaise aate hi isko hi good morning bolegi"
(He’s been so cheerful since morning, as if she’s going to say good morning to him first.)

Samar: "Itna jaldi toh aaj tak kisi match ke liye nahi utha hai ye ladka"
(He has never woken up this early even for a match.)

Ivaan and Samar took their seats, settling in comfortably, but Shivaksh remained fixated on the entrance, barely acknowledging their presence. After a moment, the mess uncle returned.

Mess uncle: "Shivaksh, beta Milkshake ban gaya hai, aao dekho kya karna hai"
(Shivaksh, Son, the milkshake is ready. Tell me what to do.)

Ivaan: "Areh waah Milkshake ye banayega kya aaj"
(Wow, is he going to make it himself today?)

Samar: "Isko aata bhi hai kya ye sab"
(Does he even know how to do this?)

Mess uncle: "Pata nahi, lagta hai tum dono ke liye hi hai, 2 glass bola tha"
(I don’t know, but it looks like it’s for both of you. He said two glasses.)

Shivaksh: "Chalo Uncle jaldi Chalo, aur Ivaan, Samar, Ishu aa jaye toh use yahi bithana kaise bhi"
(Come on, Uncle, hurry up. And Ivaan, Samar, if Ishu comes, make sure she sits here somehow.)

Ivaan: "Sure, Optimistic baba"

Samar chuckled softly as Shivaksh headed into the kitchen along with the mess uncle. Meanwhile, students gradually began gathering for breakfast, all neatly dressed in their uniforms with their bags slung over their shoulders, filling the place with early morning chatter.

After a few minutes, Shivaksh returned, holding two glasses of milkshake carefully in his hands. However, Ishaanvi was still nowhere to be seen. As he set the glasses down, Ivaan and Samar noticed something unusual, on one of the glasses, Shivaksh had drawn a tiny smiley face. The two exchanged a knowing glance, teasing him without saying a word.

Ivaan: "Humare liye toh aaj tak pani garam nahi kiya hoga"
(He probably hasn’t even made water warm for us till now.)

Samar: "Aur Ek din ke Crush me pagla gaya hai"
(And now he’s gone crazy over a one-day crush.)

Both of them shook their heads at his behavior and went to get their breakfast. Knowing he wouldn’t move from his spot, they picked up food for Shivaksh as well, since he was still busy staring at the entrance.

Ivaan: "Oye bawle chore, chal kha le, kitni der intezaar karega?"
(Hey crazy boy, eat now. How long will you wait?)

Shivaksh: "Par vo ab tak aayi kyu nahi, breakfast time toh start ho gaya hai, 20 min class bhi hai, uska breakfast miss na ho jaye"
(But why hasn’t she come yet? Breakfast has started, and class is in 20 minutes. I hope she doesn’t miss breakfast.)

Samar: "Areh vo aa jayegi, tu pehle kha le tu slow khata hai pata chala phir late ho jayega"
(She’ll come. You eat first, you eat slowly anyway, or you’ll be late.)

Shivaksh started eating, but his attention kept drifting toward the entrance. Every few seconds, his eyes would lift, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ishaanvi walking in. Time passed, and soon they were done with their breakfast, everything except the chocolate milkshake that still sat untouched on the table.

Ivaan and Samar noticed it and exchanged amused smirks, their eyes flicking between the glass and Shivaksh. The teasing was unspoken, but obvious.

With barely five minutes left for class, Shivaksh finally leaned back, exhaling softly. He knew Ishaanvi well enough already, she wasn’t someone who would skip a lecture without reason. If she hadn’t shown up by now, it simply meant she wasn’t coming.

Shivaksh: "Thus lo ab dono, aur kya"
(Have it, what else)

Ivaan and Samar burst out laughing at Shivaksh’s sulking expression, clearly enjoying his misery. Shivaksh shot them an annoyed glare before getting up and leaving for class without another word. Unbothered, the two of them casually finished the milkshake and then followed him, still grinning to themselves.

Shivaksh walked into the classroom with the same dull, disappointed look, but the moment his eyes fell on Ishaanvi, sitting at the exact same seat as yesterday, his entire expression changed. A bright grin spread across his face, and his eyes lit up instantly. But just as quickly, the smile faded, replaced once again by a faint sulk, as if he remembered something that didn’t sit right with him.

He made his way over and sat beside her. The moment he did, Ishaanvi subtly glanced around, searching for another place to sit. Only two seats were empty, but before she could even think of moving, Ivaan and Samar quickly occupied them, leaving her with no option.

Shivaksh sat there quietly, clearly sulking, while Ishaanvi remained completely engrossed in her book, not sparing him a single glance. Her behavipour only annoyed him more. Letting out a soft huff, he finally reached out and tugged the bag she had placed between them, pulling it aside just enough to grab her attention.

Ishaanvi: "Kya hai??"
(What is it?)

Shivaksh: "Main tumse naraz hu"
(I’m angry with you.)

Ishaanvi: "Toh yaha kyu baithe?? Jaao kidr aur baitho"
(Then why are you sitting here? Go sit somewhere else.)

Shivaksh: "Jagah khali nahi hai"
(There’s no empty seat.)

Ishaanvi: "Ivaan, tum please aage aa jao ise peeche jaane do"
(Ivaan, please come forward and let him sit behind.)

Ivaan: "Sure, I don’t have any issue."

Shivaksh: "Tujhe hi issue bana dunga, baith udhr hi"
(I’ll make it your issue, just sit there.)

Ishaanvi: "Samar, tum aa jao.. mujhe aap dono me se koi kal ke notes de sakta hai kya... Actually, my documentation took longer than expected and I couldn’t attend the remaining classes."
(Samar, you come here. Can either of you give me notes from yesterday? Actually, my documentation took longer than expected and I couldn’t attend the remaining classes.)

Samar: "Sure, I'll share it with you after the lectures, main kal ki books laya nahi hu abhi"
(Sure, I’ll share them after the lecture. I didn’t bring my books today.)

Ishaanvi: "No problem."

Shivaksh shot sharp glares at Samar and Ishaanvi, his irritation clearly visible, while Ivaan sat back, thoroughly enjoying the scene, if anything, he kept provoking Shivaksh further, amused by his obvious jealousy.

Ivaan: "Bechara tu Shivaksh, aaj teri handwriting aur harkatein achchi rehti toh vo tujhse hi notes mangti"
(Poor Shivaksh. If your handwriting and behavior were better, she would’ve asked you for notes instead.)

Shivaksh: "Tu ye bhi bol sakta tha ki Samar zyada padhaku type hai teri tarah, lekin tujhe meri kamiyan hi ginani hai na"
(You could’ve just said Samar is more studious like you, but you only know how to point out my flaws.)

Ivaan: "Ab Jo hai vahi count karunga na"
(I’ll only count what’s there.)

The two of them slipped into their usual bickering, their whispers sharp and continuous, until Ishaanvi and Samar both grew tired of it. Almost in sync, they turned their attention forward just as the economics teacher walked into the class, bringing the chatter to an end as the lecture began.

Shivaksh glanced at Ishaanvi a couple of times, clearly wanting to say something, but each time he held himself back. The thought of her not showing up for breakfast still lingered, and it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. So, instead of speaking, he stayed quiet, trying to focus on the lecture.

Ishaanvi, however, was subtly observing all of this, his hesitation, his glances, his silence. And though she didn’t fully realize it herself, there was a quiet amusement building within her. Watching him struggle between wanting to talk and choosing not to… she was, in her own way, enjoying his dilemma.

Sir: "Okay class, for the next chapter we will have a presentation. You will form groups of five members of your choice and submit it to me. I will assign topics after that. Any doubts?"

Student: "Sir, will there be a viva on this?"

Sir: "Yes. You will prepare a virtual presentation, but the details must be submitted in assignment format. After presentations, other groups will ask questions and you will answer. I will evaluate based on that. Is that clear?"

Students: "Yes, Sir."

Sir: "You have 10 minutes. Decide your group and come to me for topics."

The students got up from their seats and began moving around, forming groups with their friends and familiar faces. Shivaksh grinned to himself and, without giving Ishaanvi even a moment to think, turned straight toward his friends, already deciding his group.

Shivaksh: "Hume toh bas ek aur member chahiye, baaki hum chaar toh hai hi"
(We just need one more member. The four of us are already here.)

Ishaanvi: "Meri taraf se bolne se pehle pucho toh"
(At least ask me before speaking for me.)

Samar: "Baba Optimistic ko pata hai tum haa hi bologi"
(Baba Optimistic already knows you’ll say yes.)

Ivaan: "And Ishaanvi tumhe koi problem hai kya?? I mean now toh we are friends na toh...."
(Ishaanvi, do you have any problem? I mean, we are friends now, right?)

Ishaanvi: "Areh baba, main toh khud puchne wali thi ki if I can join you group lekin ye dekho noodle handwriting ko kitni jaldi hai"
(I was actually about to ask if I could join your group, but look at Mr. Noodle Handwriting, so impatient.)

Shivaksh: "Oh Miss Calligraphy, I’m fast, okay? And accurate too."

Ishaanvi: "But I think you were upset with me, right?"

Shivaksh: "Haa vo maine Maaf Kiya tumhe tum bhi kya yaad rakhogi"
(Yeah, I forgive you. You can just remember that.)

Ivaan: "Tu naraz kyu hai use ye bhi nahi pata hai"
(He doesn’t even know why he was upset.)

Samar: "Pata chalega toh ye pitega aur kya"
(He’ll realize later, and probably get beaten.)

Shivaksh: "Dushman paal rakhe hai maine"
(I’ve kept enemies around me.)

Ishaanvi: "toh phir tum toh humare group me nahi aaoge na?? Hum sab toh Dushman hai"
(Then you won’t join our group, right? We are your enemies.)

Ishaanvi teased Shivaksh, earning a sharp glare from him, while Ivaan, Ishaanvi, and Samar burst into laughter and shared a high five. But Shivaksh’s sulking expression softened the moment he noticed Ishaanvi laughing, his annoyance fading as a small smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Excuse me"

Someone called out to them, and except for Shivaksh, all three turned around. They saw a pretty girl standing there, her expression calm with a soft smile on her face. Samar returned her smile and stood up to acknowledge her.

Samar: "Yes?"

Nainika: "Hi, I’m Nainika Ramisetty."

Samar: "Oh, you’re the other new girl who joined this year, right?"

Nainika: "Yes."

Ivaan: "How can we help you?"

Nainika: "I don’t really have any friends here… so can I join your group for the project, if there’s space?"

Ivaan, Samar, and Ishaanvi smiled warmly at her and extended their hands forward in greeting.

Ishaanvi: "Sure. Welcome to the group, Nainika. Friends?"

Nainika: "Thank you."

Nainika shook hands with Ishaanvi and Ivaan, and then finally with Samar, the two exchanging a brief, warm smile. Meanwhile, Ishaanvi glanced at Shivaksh and noticed he was still staring at her. She frowned slightly, then nudged his shoulder with her pen, snapping him out of his little dreamland.

Shivaksh: "Huh?"

Ishaanvi: "Mr. Noodle Handwriting, we have a new member. Please welcome her."

Shivaksh finally stood up, and the three of them turned their attention to Nainika. But she was still holding Samar’s hand, the two of them sharing an easy smile. Ishaanvi frowned at the sight, while Shivaksh and Ivaan exchanged amused smirks, clearly catching the moment.

Ishaanvi: "Samar, Nainika… what happened?"

Samar: "buttabomma laga undhi"
(She looks like doll.)

Ishaanvi: "Kyaaa???"
(What???)

Ishaanvi didn’t quite understand what was going on, but Nainika caught on. She smiled softly, and both of them glanced around for a moment. Shivaksh stepped forward and welcomed Nainika, while Ivaan continued smirking at Samar, who simply rolled his eyes in response.

Soon, the group approached the teacher and were assigned their topic, “Fiscal Policy.” After that, they attended the lectures together, settling into their group for the task ahead.

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Hey pretty readers 🌷🧿

Finally, the 2nd chapter is here 😁
How was it??

Precap:
🕊️ Ishaanvi’s number on Shivaksh’s hand
🕊️ Krishika proposes to Ivaan
🕊️ Samar and Nainika stealing glances

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Happy reading 🌸💙
Lots of love 💙🫂