Vivaan's POV
I knew something was off the moment the corridor went quiet.
Not normal quiet.
That kind of quiet where people are watching something.
I stepped closer to the door, already irritated, expecting some useless drama.
And then I saw it.
Avi.
Sitting there like he'd been hollowed out.
And in front of him—
Aadhya.
Of course.
I leaned against the frame, arms crossed, my gaze fixed.
She wasn't loud.
That was the first thing that felt… wrong.
No shouting. No stupid comments. No unnecessary chaos.
Just her… standing there.
And then she started singing.
Soft.
Controlled.
Like she actually thought before doing something for once.
I frowned slightly.
This wasn't her usual way.
She didn't try to grab his attention like others would. Didn't shake him, didn't force a reaction.
She just stood there and sang.
Like she was… waiting.
That annoyed me more than it should have.
People don't wait.
Not like that.
She moved closer, bending slightly, trying to meet his eyes.
No response.
Still nothing.
And yet—
She didn't break.
Didn't get frustrated.
Didn't walk away.
Just adjusted.
Sat beside him.
Kept going.
Like she had already decided she wasn't leaving.
My jaw tightened a little.
Pointless.
If someone doesn't respond, you walk away.
Simple.
But she didn't follow that.
She stayed.
And that's where it started getting… irritating.
Because it was working.
I noticed it before anyone said anything.
The slight change in Avi's posture.
Barely visible.
But there.
She saw it too.
Of course she did.
Her expression shifted immediately—like she had caught onto something the rest of us would've missed.
Then she moved behind him.
Wrapped her arms around his shoulders like it was nothing.
No hesitation.
No awareness of who was watching.
No boundaries.
Just… contact.
I looked away for a second.
Tch.
Too comfortable.
People don't act like that without thinking.
Or maybe she just doesn't think.
That sounds more accurate.
But even then—
That kind of… presence.
It's not easy to fake.
She rested her chin on his shoulder, still humming softly, her fingers tapping lightly against him in rhythm.
Like she was grounding him.
Pulling him back.
Piece by piece.
I exhaled slowly, my expression hardening again.
Unnecessary.
Overdoing it.
That's all it is.
And yet—
Avi didn't push her away.
Didn't react negatively.
Didn't move at all.
He let her stay.
I shifted my stance slightly, pushing myself off the door.
This is getting dragged out.
But I didn't leave.
Didn't interrupt.
Didn't say a word.
Because somewhere in between all that noise she usually carries—
This version of her…
It was quieter.
More precise.
And annoyingly effective.
I think need comeup with a plan on my own.
My gaze lingered on her for a second longer before I looked away.
"Ridiculous," I muttered under my breath.
But even then—
I didn't stop watching.
Aadhya's pov
Few days had passed, but nothing really changed—at least not the way I wanted it to. Avi didn't laugh anymore, didn't argue, didn't even fake a smile. He just… existed. Quiet. Lost. And that silence was louder than all his nonsense combined. I hated it.
"Nothing, Adi…" Samar muttered when I asked him again, like he had already given up.
Given up? On Avi?
Ugh. I clenched my jaw and walked out of the classroom, frustration bubbling inside me. If they were done trying, I wasn't.
Of course, my next stop was the king of demons himself.
Vivaan.
He was leaning against the wall like always, hands in pockets, face unreadable. I walked straight up to him.
"Nothing yet?" I asked, hoping—just a little—that he had something.
Silence.
Not even a proper look.
"Tch…"
That was it.
That stupid sound.
I stared at him, irritation rising. "If you don't have a plan, just say it," I snapped.
He didn't answer.
Fine.
"Okay," I said, my voice flat now, and turned away.
If he won't do anything… I will.
—
I walked back inside, my steps slower now, heavier with the decision forming in my head. My fingers tightened around the bag as I pulled out the money—the same money that had been lying there, useless, like a reminder of everything wrong.
My eyes found Avi.
Still staring out the window.
Still not here.
That was it.
I didn't think twice.
I turned and walked out again.
Behind me, I could feel eyes on my back—Vivaan's, probably. But I didn't stop. Didn't explain. Didn't wait.
This was mine to fix.
—
The main building felt colder today.
Or maybe it was just me.
I pushed open the cafeteria door, and just like that—silence.
Every single head turned.
Of course.
Section E entering their sacred space.
I ignored it.
Walked straight through the stares, the whispers, the judgment.
Right to them.
Section A.
"E aren't allowed here," that buzzing bee—Riya—said, her tone dripping with superiority.
I didn't even look at her.
Instead, I pulled out the money… and threw it straight at Manik.
"Your 30,000."
For a second, even he looked surprised.
"What is this?" he asked, picking it up.
"Your money," I said, my voice steady, even though my heart was beating way too fast.
"Why are you returning it?" he smirked.
"Maybe Avi felt guilty," Riya jumped in again, like she couldn't breathe without interfering.
My patience snapped.
"No."
My voice was louder now. Clear.
"He didn't steal it."
I took a step forward.
"I did."
There.
Said it.
The room shifted.
Eyes widened.
Whispers grew.
But I didn't stop.
"He didn't even know. I took the money and handed him the bag," I continued, forcing my voice to stay calm, logical—convincing.
"You sound defensive," Riya said, and I could see that slight tilt of her phone… but my mind didn't catch it. Not fully.
"Why did you steal?" Reyansh asked, his tone serious.
Ugh.
Why is he here?
"Needed money," I said simply. "Couldn't tell him why."
A pause.
"Okay," he said finally. "So you stole it."
Good.
That's what I wanted.
Without another word, I turned and walked out.
—
I should've known.
I should've known it wouldn't stay there.
The moment I reached our building, something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too still.
And then—
Everyone stood up.
All eyes on me.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Vivaan's voice cut through the silence, sharp and furious.
I blinked, confused.
"What—"
Dheeraj stepped forward, holding out his phone.
I looked.
And my stomach dropped.
It was me.
The entire scene.
Recorded.
Posted.
My eyes shifted to the name.
Riya.
Of course.
I scrolled—34,000 views.
In minutes.
Wow.
Famous, huh?
I almost laughed.
—
"Why did you do that, Adi?"
That voice.
I froze.
Avi.
Finally.
I looked at him—and for the first time in days, he wasn't empty.
He was here.
That was enough.
I smiled instantly.
"It's okay," I said lightly. "Thought you were suffering alone… so I joined you. Let's suffer together."
For a second, nothing.
Then—
A small laugh.
Barely there.
But real.
God… that was enough.
More than enough.
He walked up to me and hugged me—tight, sudden—and even spun me around like his old self for a second.
"But what about you?" he asked, his voice worried now. "People will talk… internet is forever."
I blinked.
Then smiled.
My stupid, overthinking, soft-hearted friend.
I patted his head gently.
Then pulled away and walked to my seat, starting to pack my bag like nothing just happened.
Because honestly?
Nothing mattered more than that one smile.
"It doesn't matter," I said simply, adjusting my bag. "What people think about me… doesn't matter."
And it didn't.
Not compared to him.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and turned.
"Let's go. Home time. I said dragging him along.
Vivaan's POV
I knew she was planning something the moment she walked past me without stopping.
That moment I knew this idiot would act impulsive. That head doesn't think before doing anything.
I watched her leave, my eyes narrowing slightly. Something about her steps felt different—too steady, too decided. Not confused. Not dramatic.
Resolved.
I didn't like that.
"Where is she going?" someone muttered behind me.
I didn't answer.
Because I already had a feeling.
—
When she came back…
Everything made sense.
The classroom atmosphere had changed before she even stepped in.
Phones out.
Whispers.
Tension thick in the air.
And then she entered.
Like nothing happened.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I snapped before anyone else could speak.
She looked confused.
Genuinely.
Dheeraj showed her the phone.
I didn't need to see it again.
I had already watched the video once.
That stupid, reckless confession.
"I did it."
Her voice echoed in my head again.
I clenched my jaw.
Idiot.
Complete idiot.
Who walks into a room full of enemies and hands them a weapon against themselves?
Her.
Of course.
She scrolled through the video, and I watched her face closely.
Shock.
Then realization.
Then—
Nothing.
No panic.
No regret.
That… threw me off guard.
Most people would break right there.
She didn't.
—
"Why did you do that, Adi?"
Avi's voice.
Finally.
I shifted my gaze to him.
He looked… alive again.
Not fully.
But enough.
And her reaction—
Immediate.
She smiled.
Like that was all she needed.
Like everything else didn't matter anymore.
"It's okay… let's suffer together," she said, brushing it off like it was nothing.
Nothing?
My hand tightened slightly at my side.
Do you even hear yourself?
But then—
He laughed.
A small one.
Barely there.
But real.
The room shifted.
And suddenly… I understood.
This wasn't about clearing his name.
This wasn't about proving anything.
She just wanted him back.
And she got it.
At her own cost.
Tch.
Stupid.
Unnecessary.
…Effective.
I looked away for a second, exhaling slowly through my nose.
This kind of thinking doesn't make sense.
You don't destroy your own standing for someone else.
You don't hand your enemies control.
You don't—
She did.
Without hesitation.
—
He hugged her.
Spun her around like nothing had happened.
And she let him.
Like that was the only outcome she cared about.
Then he worried about her.
Of course he did.
"But what about you?" he asked.
She smiled again.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"It doesn't matter."
I looked at her again.
Properly this time.
And for the first time—
I couldn't read her.
Not fully.
There was no calculation.
No hidden intention.
No fear.
Just… decision.
Final.
I hate people like that.
—
She packed her bag like the entire situation was irrelevant.
Like the video didn't exist.
Like 30,000 people hadn't just watched her confess to something she didn't do.
And then—
"Let's go."
Simple.
Like always.
Dragging him out of that mess she created… and solved… at the same time.
I watched her walk toward the door with him.
Didn't stop her.
Didn't say anything.
But my gaze didn't leave her.
—
Around me, Section E was unusually quiet.
No jokes.
No comments.
No bets.
Samar leaned back, silent.
Dheeraj lowered his phone.
Even Nikansh didn't say anything.
That alone was enough to tell me—
They felt it too.
That shift.
—
I scoffed lightly, shaking my head.
"Idiot," I muttered under my breath.
But it didn't sound the same this time.
Not mocking.
Not dismissive.
Just… restrained.
Because somewhere in that mess—
She proved something.
Not to them.
Not to the school.
But to us.
And I didn't like what it implied.
That someone like her…
Could walk into chaos…
Break it…
And walk out like it cost her nothing.
That kind of person—
Is dangerous.
And I'll make sure she learns that soon enough.
"Is it done?" I asked Maddy, my voice steady, controlled.
"Almost," he replied, fingers moving fast across his system. I didn't need to look to know he was handling it well. Maddy never failed when it came to this.
My phone rang.
I picked up.
"Sir, we have removed the video from all the sites," the voice on the other end said.
"Good," I replied shortly and ended the call.
Done.
I looked back at Maddy.
"Done, Vivaan," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.
I gave a slight nod. Of course. He's reliable like that. A tech genius when it comes to situations like this.
Neel leaned back casually. "Riya must be fuming right now."
" She might as well cry" it was Nikansh.
I didn't respond immediately. My eyes stayed on the screen.
"Should I return it?" Maddy asked.
For a moment, silence.
The account wasn't the concern anymore. The video was.
I nodded looking at the screen. Her face isn't that pretty for me to look at. She had left me long ago.