Nikansh's POV
"Hahaha—"
I seriously couldn't stop laughing.
We had already left the auditorium and were near our building now, leaning against the side wall like nothing big had just happened—but my brain was still replaying that scene again and again.
Vivaan's face…
No—his eye.
Completely ruined.
And the best part?
Aadhya did that.
I bent slightly forward, one hand on my stomach, trying to control my laughter but failing miserably. "Respect," I muttered between breaths. "Full respect."
Honestly, none of us saw that coming.
We expected drama. Of course. It's Aadhya.
But that?
Punching Vivaan so hard he actually went down?
That wasn't just drama.
That was impact.
Around me, the others were trying hard to keep straight faces, but I could see it—their shoulders shaking slightly, lips twitching. They were holding it in. Barely.
"Keep laughing," Vivaan said, his voice cold as he pressed the ice pack harder against his eye, "I'll give one to all of you."
That only made it worse.
I laughed again. Louder this time.
Stopping now would be a crime.
I mean seriously—was the kiss that deep that she went full destruction mode?
My eyes drifted for a moment, remembering her expression back then.
Her face had gone completely red. Not shy. Not soft.
Angry. Embarrassed. Shaken.
And for some reason…
I didn't like it.
The way he kissed her.
Something about it didn't sit right with me.
I clicked my tongue lightly and looked back at him. He was still holding the ice pack, jaw tight, but then—
He smiled.
Just slightly.
That caught my attention.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"It's Reyansh," he replied casually. "He keeps surprising me."
Of course.
That guy lives to provoke him.
I glanced ahead where Reyansh had gone earlier. He looked… off. Not angry. Not shouting. Just… silent.
Weird.
I leaned a bit toward Vivaan, smirking. "Hmm… I thought you enjoyed what you did to Aadhya."
His smile disappeared instantly.
Like I hit something real.
"Tch. Not," he said flatly. "I only did that to annoy that bastard."
But there it was—
That slight flush on his face.
He can deny it all he wants.
I saw it.
And that made me laugh again.
He shot me a glare. "Piss off."
I raised my hands in surrender, still grinning. "Alright, alright…"
But slowly… the laughter faded.
The air shifted.
I pulled out a cigarette, placing it between my lips and lighting it. He did the same. The smoke curled up between us, familiar and unwanted at the same time.
We had quit.
Months ago.
But stress has a way of dragging you back.
"So," I said after a pause, exhaling slowly, "is the plan starting?"
He didn't even think.
"Yeah."
Simple. Cold.
"What can Reyansh do when Aadhya cries in pain?"
…
I frowned slightly.
Turned my head toward him properly now.
"Are you planning to hurt her?" I asked, my voice quieter but sharper.
He arched a brow, like I was asking something obvious.
"Yeah," he said. "Physically or emotionally… depends on the situation."
There it was.
No hesitation.
No guilt.
Just… a plan.
I looked away. Took another drag.
But something inside me didn't settle.
It should've.
This is normal for us.
This is how things work.
So why did it feel… wrong this time?
I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke disappear into nothing.
"Is something bothering you?" he asked, glancing at me.
I paused. Just for a second.
Then shook my head.
"No."
Maybe I'm just overthinking.
Maybe it's nothing.
Maybe it's just because she's a girl.
Aadhya's POV
Next day.
Cough… cough…
I wore a mask… and yet here I am, ready to spread bacteria like it's my life purpose.
I barely slept last night.
I told myself I was studying for the exam—books open, notes scattered, highlighter in hand… but in reality? I was sitting there with a glass of cold coffee, sipping it slowly like some depressed heroine. So cold… that I actually ended up finishing the whole thing.
Brilliant. Genius. Now suffer.
But no… that wasn't even the problem.
The problem was him.
Vivaan.
That moment kept replaying in my head like some cursed reel.
His hand. My waist. My neck.
That smirk.
And then—
I froze.
"IT WAS TASTY—"
My brain said.
"YUCK WHAT THE HELL—"
I slapped my own face lightly.
"Get back to your senses, Aadhya! He DISRESPECTED you!" I muttered to myself, horrified at my own thoughts.
What is wrong with me?!
I shook my head aggressively and entered the classroom.
The moment I stepped in—
Silence.
Complete silence.
Good.
Maintain that.
I'm not in the mood for anyone's nonsense today.
I walked in slowly, dragging myself like a lifeless rag, each step heavier than the last. My body felt like it weighed double… my head spinning… throat burning…
Cough… cough…
Great. Perfect timing.
I reached my bench and just… dropped into my seat.
Before I could even breathe properly—
Avi suddenly leaned in and placed his hand on my forehead.
"Ahh— you're burning!" he jerked his hand back dramatically like he touched fire.
Overacting much?
"Hey are you okay? Do you have fever? Since when? Why didn't you tell—"
He kept firing questions one after another.
I just nodded weakly.
Talking? Impossible.
My throat hurts so much it feels like if I say even one word, it'll tear apart.
"Did you take medicine?" he asked again, worry clearly written all over his face.
Oh my God…
This child.
I nodded again, reluctantly.
There was still half an hour left.
I just need to go to the washroom… breathe… maybe come back alive.
I grabbed my tissues and stood up.
"Hey where are you going?" Avi asked instantly.
Damn it.
I turned back, walked to him, snatched his notebook, and scribbled quickly—
washroom
I showed it to him.
Happy?
He read it… then nodded seriously.
Seriously??
I gave him a tired look and walked out.
Inside the washroom…
I stood in front of the mirror.
And looked at myself.
…
Wow.
A ghost.
No wait—
A witch.
Red eyes. Messy hair. Pale face.
And this voice? Already gone.
Perfect. Complete transformation.
If someone sees me right now, they'll start chanting mantras.
I was busy cleaning my nose—very elegant, I know—when suddenly Saanvi walked in.
She looked at me… paused… and then immediately, "Hello."
I nodded and waved back weakly. Talking? Not possible. My throat is on strike.
But she didn't leave.
She kept staring at me for a second longer… then stepped closer and touched my forehead.
"Are you not feeling well? Do you have fever?"
Wow.
Why does everyone suddenly have the same dialogue pack installed?
I nodded again.
"Did you take medicine?" she asked, her voice softer this time.
I nodded.
Then suddenly… she went quiet.
Too quiet.
I frowned and looked at her properly.
She glanced around, checked the cubicles like we were in some spy movie, and then leaned slightly closer.
"I wanted to ask you how you were… I mean after that Riya incident…" she said carefully.
I shook my head.
Of course I'm not fine. Do I look like I'm fine? I look like I just survived a horror movie.
"I knew it," she said quickly. "I know her. She's like that. If she's not satisfied, she'll do it again and again… she'll come back to you in different ways."
…
Wow.
Superpower unlocked. Future prediction.
I just stared at her… then nodded slowly.
"She did that to me before," she continued in one breath, "and not only that—she involved Avi in it too… just because she had something going on with Reyansh."
…
Wait.
Pause.
Rewind.
Avi?
Reyansh?
WHAT did I just hear?
She instantly froze like she realized she said too much.
"Okay then bye, see ya," she said quickly, turning to leave.
Oh no.
No no no.
Not happening.
I stepped forward and grabbed her wrist lightly.
"Saanvi… please," I forced the words out.
My throat burned like I swallowed fire, but I didn't care.
She hesitated. Looked at me. Then sighed.
"Okay… but don't tell anyone this came from me."
I nodded instantly.
Promise sealed.
"We were in 8th standard," she began slowly. "Avi liked me. And apparently… she liked Avi too."
My eyes widened slightly.
"She saw Avi kiss me… and she got mad. Not just at me… but she wanted me to suffer. And for that, she involved Avi."
"Involved… how?" I whispered hoarsely.
"She accused him of stealing."
…
My brain froze.
Avi?
Stealing?
No.
That idiot is childish, annoying, dramatic… but thief?
Never.
And he never told me.
Why?
There must be a reason…
But still…
Why didn't he tell me?
The bell rang loudly, snapping both of us back.
We looked at each other.
"Take care, Adi," she said softly, lifting my chin slightly.
I nodded… and forced a small smile.
But my brain?
Completely jammed.
Too much new information.
Too much confusion.
I walked back to class slowly.
Sat down.
Papers were passed.
Pen in hand.
"Come on, Aadhya… just write something… anything…" I muttered internally.
But my vision blurred.
The words danced.
My head felt heavy.
Maybe the medicine finally kicked in…
Good.
Perfect timing.
My head slowly dropped onto the table.
"I'll just sleep for two minutes…" I thought.
Worst decision of my life.
"Adi… wake up…"
Avi.
"Adi let's go home…"
Dheeraj.
"Adi wake up soon, exam is over…"
Samar.
"Hmmm…" I hummed weakly.
"Get up, there."
That voice.
Annoying king.
"Just stand up."
And his loyal hunchman.
I ignored all of them.
Then suddenly—
"Aadhya, if you don't wake up on the count of three… Vivaan will kiss you…"
WHAT THE—
My brain woke up before my body did.
"ONE…"
"TWO…"
"THREE—"
"I'M UP I'M UP—"
I shot up instantly… but kept my eyes tightly shut.
No risks.
"Open your eyes," came that same irritating voice.
I shook my head.
"No."
"Maybe you want me to kiss you," he said slowly.
And behind him—
"Ooooooooohhhhhh—"
These monkeys.
I instantly opened my eyes and glared straight at him.
You lunatic.
I quickly looked around, panic hitting me like a truck.
"My paper—where's my paper—"
"Hey Adi, what are you searching for?" Samar asked.
"My paper!" I almost cried.
"I already gave it to sir," Vivaan said casually.
…
Silence.
Complete silence in my brain.
What.
WHAT.
"I didn't even write anything…" I whispered, my voice breaking.
I'm dead.
Gone.
Finished.
Bhaiyya is going to bury me alive.
My head dropped back onto the table dramatically.
Goodbye world.
It was nice knowing you.
They all went quiet for a second… probably shocked.
Then—
"Let's go home. Come."
Avi's voice.
I felt my bag being picked up.
And without arguing… without thinking…
I just stood up.
And followed him.
Like a sick, tired, defeated child following her guardian.