Aadhya's POV
The evening air at school was electric start of
🎙️ Voice Inferno 🎙️
the singing contest. But my mind was a million miles away, stuck on the visit from Jivin's parents.
If Reyansh hadn't lied and said I wasn't home, I would have had to face him. What if he's mad? I couldn't stop shaking the thought.
"..Adi… why?"
Vivaan's voice snapped me out of it. I blinked, realizing I'd been staring into nothing.
"You've been quiet.. since that call," he said, looking straight at me.
"N-Nothing! I'm just nervous for Nikansh," I said quickly, cutting him off.
He didn't ask more. And honestly, I was thankful.
I just wanted to cheer for Nikansh… without my past pulling me down.
But of course, things never stay simple.
Romy suddenly came running toward us, his face pale.
"Guys, Nikansh's audio tape is missing!"
My heart dropped.
Without the track, he'd be disqualified.
Vivaan didn't waste a second. He started giving orders to Romy and Maddy, telling them to run to the music room and get a guitar.
I kept looking back again and again, my heart beating fast as the host filled the silence with bad jokes.
Then finally—
"From Section E… Nikansh Mittal!"
Right on time, Romy and Maddy rushed back with the guitar.
I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
Thank God.
Nikansh took the stage, and the moment he started singing, the world seemed to slow down. His voice was incredible—slow, lovely, and deep.
He also has good vocals like Vivaan. Nikansh has rather good personality compared to Vivaan because this guy is just possessed.
"You know… Nikansh only sings for a certain person," Vivaan whispered beside me.
I nodded, assuming he must know the secret girl Nikansh liked they are best friends afterall. But then I looked up at the stage.
Nikansh wasn't looking at the crowd.
He was looking directly at me.
A strange, heavy feeling settled in my stomach—not love, just… something unsettling. I stood up abruptly.
"Hey Adi, where are you going?" Avi asked as I pushed past him.
"Washroom!" I called back quickly, needing to get away from that gaze.
Inside the washroom, I froze at the sound of sobbing.
It was Gracy.
She looked at me with red, accusing eyes. "I thought you were going to talk to him!" she cried.
My heart sank. I had thought everything was settled, but seeing her like this broke something inside me.
"He told me he's ready to take responsibility for the baby, but he still treats me the same way," she sobbed.
I couldn't stand seeing her like that. Besides she was pregnant. I stepped forward and hugged her tightly, my protective instincts taking over.
"Don't cry," I said softly. "It's not good for the baby. I'll talk to him… and if he doesn't listen...,I'll break his teeth."
Once she had calmed down, we headed backstage.
Nikansh approached me immediately, his expression hurt. "Where did you go in the middle of my performance?"
"Something important," I replied sharply, not having the energy to explain.
I grabbed Devit's arm and dragged him toward the empty school building.
"What's wrong, Aadhya?" he asked, confused.
"You tell me. What are you planning with Gracy?" I demanded.
He looked stunned. Then, suddenly, he started crying.
"I don't know what she wants," he said. "I'm ready for the baby, I'm ready for her… but I'm scared. I'm scared she'll hate me."
I sighed, realizing they were both just scared and terrible at communicating.
"Do you think the same, Gracy?" I asked loudly.
Gracy stepped out from behind the door, and Devit froze.
"From now on, you both share everything," I said firmly. "No more secrets. Stop hurting each other."
I turned and walked away, leaving them alone to finally talk.
I realized that problems don't solve themselves, so I finally dialed Jivin's number. His mother answered, her voice trembling with hope. "Aadhya… I hope you visit Jivin once," she pleaded. I nervously agreed, but the fear in my head didn't go away. It only grew.
The next day at 7:55 AM, I woke up late, the exhaustion from patrolling finally catching up to me. My phone was buzzing with messages from Avi and the others about the "Miss Elegance" contest at 1:00 PM.
I took a quick bath and headed out, only to receive a frantic call from his parents.
"Aadhya, please come now," she said the moment I picked up. Her voice wasn't just hopeful this time—it was desperate.
"He keeps asking for you. He won't calm down. Please, beta… come right now."
"I—I have something important today," I tried, my voice uncertain. The "Miss Elegance" contest flashed in my mind.
"Aadhya, please," she interrupted, almost breaking down. "I don't know what to do anymore".
That was it.
There was no room left to refuse.
The fear in my chest tightened, but guilt swallowed it whole.
"Okay… I'm coming," I said quietly.
I didn't waste another second. I got ready as fast as I could, my hands slightly trembling the whole time.
Panic rushed through me, and I agreed to go immediately, taking a bus to my old village an hour away.
My phone kept buzzing with messages from Avi and the others about the contest, but I ignored them. I'll check on him soon and return before the contest.
When I stepped into the hospital room, my breath hitched. Jivin was covered in bandages—his head wrapped, arm fractured, leg in a plaster cast. He's been in a coma because of me, I thought, guilt suffocating me. His sister, Sia, snapped the moment she saw me.
"What is she doing here? She's the reason Bhai is in this state!" Her mother tried to quiet her, but the damage was already done.
"Aadhya…" Jivin called out weakly. His family left us alone. He took my hand, his eyes filling with tears. "How are you? They said you don't go to our school anymore."
"I study at Reyansh's school now," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Are you and Reyansh on good terms?" he asked, his grip on my hand tightening. His eyes changed—the softness fading, replaced by a familiar, dark intensity. "Tell me about your new friends," he said, almost like an order.
I gave him vague answers, but my eyes kept drifting to the clock. It was 10:56 AM. I needed to leave for the contest. "I have to go, Jivin. People are waiting for me," I said, trying to gently pull my hand back.
"Don't… don't leave me! Stay!" he cried, but as I pulled away, his grief twisted into anger.
Before I could react, he lunged forward and grabbed my neck, trying to strangle me. I struggled to pry his hands off me. I also saw the fire in his eyes—he was the same Jivin as before.
"She can't leave! She'll only leave if I tell her to!" he shouted, his fingers tightening against my skin. His mother and Sia didi rushed in, desperately trying to pull him away from me.
"Jivin, let her go!" his mother screamed. He stared at me with that look that said he wanted to kill me right then and there. My heart was beating carzily and body trembling.
Finally they managed to pull him off. Sia didi walked me down and then offered to drop to bus stop.
"Don't come near him again," she warned as she drove.
" Di what did I really do to him?" I asked, my voice trembling.
She looked at me with full disbelief and anger.
" You hurt him like monster. We tried to stop you, but you wouldn't listen to anyone," she sneered.
It's like this. Same as what Vivaan told me.
What's happening to me?
" I know he didn't treat you well when you were together but he didn't deserve this," her voice little calm now.
" I'm really sorry..," I said, my voice almost whisper.
" Thank God he is ok now after few months being in coma they said now he is fine," she said looking ahead.
I nodded simply and looked out the window.
I took my bus at 11:40 AM, her words echoing in my head, A monster.
I can't help but recall the Kaal incident. I relieved a heavy sigh. I looked at the time, trying to push the trauma down.
It's okay Adi you're going to make it before 1:00 PM. You have to.
After reaching.
I didn't even stop to breathe. I ran home, grabbed my belongings for the contest, and bolted to the school. My heart was hammering against my ribs, a frantic of please-make-it-on-time.
When I finally skidded into the building, I saw DJ.
" Aadhya ...where were you?" He asked, his voice kind of heavy with disappointment.
Bhavik came running toward me, his face pale. " The contest is over," he said.
My world stopped.
"Huh? Wait, it's still early!" I checked my watch—it was only 12:30 PM. I still had half an hour to prepare. " But—"
Before I could finish, the rest of the section e and Vivaan surrounded me. Vivaan looked like he was ready to set the entire hallway on fire.
" Where have been? " He snapped, his voice cutting through the air.
"I had something important —" I tried to say, still panting, my lungs burning.
" Does it have to be today?" He shouted, steping into my space.
" You knew you had a contest now, and you still went along with whatever it was!"
The hallway went silent. Everyone watching. "I thought the contest was at 1:00 PM," I said, my voice came out as bare whisper.
" Riya changed the time...we messaged you," Avi said, looking at me with concern. I felt a pure wave of frustration wash over me. I should have checked my phone at least once. I bit my lip so hard that I tasted copper, regretting every second I spent on the bus.
" Where are you coming from?," Vivaan snapped again, his anger only intensifying.
" I went to my province," I answered.
" Really? Now? Did you mean to miss this?" He barked.
That was it.
The first tear escaped, hot and stinging. I wanted to explain, but he was just glaring at me as if I had betrayed the entire section on purpose.
Nikansh grabbed Vivaan's arm, to calm him down, but Vivaan wouldn't budge. He just kept burning me with that gaze.
" Because just like you all, I have my problems too!" I finally snapped, the tears I have been holding back flooding down my face. The guys tried to come closer, but I motioned them not to.I looked at Vivaan, my vision blurred.
" What? Do you want to know my problem is? My ex, Jivin...I don't even know what I did to him that caused him to be hospitalized! His mother kept pushing me to visit him..and it's just happened to be today!" I screamed the words, my voice cracking.
Damn it.
I never wanted to cry infront of them. Not infront of all these people. I felt exposed, raw and utterly deafted. I looked away a little.
" I didn't mean to miss it..but I had no choice..." I muttered.
Without waiting for a response, I turned my back on them and walked away as fast as I could. I didn't want them to see me like this. I don't want to show them I was weak.... 😢