Aadhya's POV
After roaming around like a rejected background character, I finally decided—
"Bas. Yahin khaungi."
(Ill just have it here)
Near our building, there were a few benches lying around like they had given up on life.
"Perfect," I nodded.
"Mere jaise hi."
( Just like me)
I walked to one of them, placed my tiffin down… and then paused.
"Yeh toh ganda hai…"
(It's dirty)
I picked up a tissue and started wiping it—
here… there… thoda idhar… thoda udhar…
(Little here and little there)
"Done." I stepped back proudly.
"Clean clean… washing powder Nirmaaa…"
(It's an old washing powder AD song)
I froze.
"…main bench saaf kar rahi thi ya ad shoot kar rahi thi?"
(Was i cleaning the bench or shooting an ad)
I shook my head.
"Focus, Aadhya. FOOD."
I sat down and opened my tiffin.
And then—
Silence.
Pure silence.
"Wow…"
The smell hit me.
Straight. To. The. Soul.
Aloo curry…
ghee wali roti…
jeera rice…
daal…
"OH MY GOD."
"Mujhe lagta hai aunty mujhse bhi acha khana banati hai…" I said.
( I think the Cafeteria aunty cooks better than me )
honestly, staring at it with full respect.
"Matlab main bhi bana leti hoon… nani ne sikhaya hai… but STILL…"
(I mean I do little cooking too my Grandma taught me )
I leaned closer.
"Yeh smell toh illegal honi chahiye."
( This smell is illegal)
For a solid ten seconds, I just stared at the food.
Like I had just found my first love.
"Bas ab kha leti hoon…"
(Enough now I'll just have instead of admiring it)
I picked up a roti—
And suddenly—
PLATE GAYAB. (Gone)
…
"…"
"Wait."
I blinked.
"WHAT THE HELL??"
I looked up—
And there they were.
Those idiots.
Standing a little ahead…
EATING. MY. FOOD.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS??"
"Arey tum pulav le aati, jeera rice thoda phika hai," one of them said casually, his mouth stuffed like a storage box.
(Oh no you should have got Pulav instead of jeera rice it's little you know bland )
I stared at him.
Bhai… TU ABHI MERA KHANA KHA RAHA HAI.
( Bro you're just eating my food)
"What the hell!" I shouted. "That's my lunch!"
"It's your fault," another one shrugged. "Yahan kyun laayi?"
(Why did you bring you're food here)
…
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Wow."
"So now it's my fault… ki main khana kha rahi thi?"
(That i was eating here)
Unbelievable.
Before I could say anything else—
They finished it.
Just like that.
And walked back inside.
LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.
I stood there.
Frozen.
Mouth slightly open.
Brain loading…
Still loading…
Then—
FACEPALM.
"Okay… calm down, Aadhya…"
"No violence…"
"No drama…"
"No—"
I picked up the bench and shoved it angrily.
"DAMN IT!"
"Hey—"
I jumped.
Actually jumped.
"AHH!"
I turned around dramatically, hand on chest.
"Ugh! Tumne dara diya!"
( Ugh you just scared me)
A guy stood there.
Taller than me.
Messy hair—of course.
Same species as the rest of the monkeys.
He raised his hand.
"Hi, I'm Mahesh. You can call me Mahi"
I blinked.
Suspicious.
Yeh prank toh nahi hai na? I thought.
(I hope it's not a prank)
Still… I slowly shook his hand.
"Uh… nice to meet you…" I said awkwardly.
"Sorry for the trouble," he said. "Woh bas bhookhe the. Normally aise nahi hote."
(They were just hungry normally they aren't like that)
"Yeah…" I nodded slowly. "Sure."
(Bilkul believe kar liya maine.)
(Like I believed it)
"Par… why are they like this?" I asked.
"Cafeteria hai na… wahan se khana le lete."
( Theres a cafeteria they could have gotten food from there)
He went quiet.
For a second.
Then looked away.
"We're not allowed there."
I blinked.
"Since when students get banned from cafeteria?"
Like… what kind of school is this??
He didn't answer properly.
"Bas… aisa hi hai," he muttered.
(It's just like that here)
Hmm.
Weird.
Very weird.
I opened my bag, trying to find something—anything—to eat.
"Please bhagwan… kuch toh bacha ho…"
(Please god ..I hope something is left)
And then—
"KURKURE!"
(Indian cheestos)
My eyes lit up.
"My saviour."
I smiled and opened the packet—
—or at least I tried to.
Because—
SNATCH.
"…."
I slowly looked up.
Mahesh.
Holding my Kurkure.
Grinning.
"Sorry… but it's my favourite," he said—and walked away.
…
"…"
I stood there.
Empty hands.
Empty stomach.
Empty soul.
"Wow."
"Just… wow."
I looked towards the door.
And there—
Vivaan.
Standing.
Watching.
Like he had seen everything.
Like he knew.
And then—
He turned.
And walked inside.
I narrowed my eyes.
"He is also a gossip."
"Jerk."
I crossed my arms, staring at the door.
"Why can't I have a normal school?"
Seriously.
Is that too much to ask?
Break khatam. (Over)
Aur main?
Still hungry.
"Great," I muttered, dragging my feet back towards the classroom. "Pehle dimag kharab, ab pet khali… perfect combination."
(Before a headache and now empty stomach)
I pushed the door open and walked in—
And froze.
"…"
Oh.
OH.
MY.
GOD.
Mahesh.
Sitting there.
Comfortably.
Eating my Kurkure.
"THE AUDACITY."
And not just him—
Vivaan.
Yes.
Mr. Attitude himself.
Also eating them.
I blinked slowly.
"Yeh… snacks bhi khata hai?"
(Does this guy snack too )
I whispered under my breath, genuinely shocked.
I don't know why, but in my head he only survived on ego and arrogance.
But no.
Apparently Kurkure bhi.
I stood there for a second, just staring at them.
And then—
Vivaan noticed.
Of course he did.
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
And slowly…
That annoying smirk appeared.
Again.
Then—
He picked up another Kurkure.
Looked straight at me.
And deliberately—
Ate it.
Slowly.
With full expression.
Like he was tasting something five-star level delicious.
My eye twitched.
And Mahesh?
That traitor.
He copied him.
Same expression. Same drama.
"Wah," I muttered. "Oscar de doon kya tum dono ko?"
(Should I award you with an Oscar )
"Seriously… mera hi packet tha…"
(That was mine )
But I didn't say anything out loud.
No.
I just took a deep breath.
Ignored them.
And walked to my seat.
Sat down.
Kept my bag beside me.
Folded my arms.
"It's okay…" I told myself.
"I'll go home… and cook myself amazing Maggi."
Yes.
Maggi.
My true love.
The classes went on.
One after another.
Teachers came.
Teachers went.
Some taught.
Some confused.
Some just existed.
And somehow—
Time passed.
But in between all that…
Every now and then…
I could feel it.
That gaze.😳