Aadhya's POV
I went straight home that afternoon and cried a whole river in my room for hours. I might have caused floods in our area.
If only I had checked my phone once… just once. If only...
Bhaiyya got to know I had come back, but I didn't tell him what Jivin did.
Honestly, I didn't even want to show up for night duty. But I'd already disappointed them enough, and now avoiding it would just make it worse.
So here I am—sitting in our classroom while everyone else is in the auditorium.
Before the confrontation, my phone had turned into a graveyard of missed connections. Notifications kept piling up while I sat there breaking down, each one screaming how badly I had messed up.
📩
Avi: "Adi, where are you?? The judges are calling for the lineup! Please pick up!
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Dheeraj: "Aadhya, we're outside your building. Come down, we'll pick you up. Don't be late!"
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Neel: "Hey, have you disappeared or what? We're waiting at the gate. Riya is looking way too smug, Adi. Get here now!
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Nikansh: "Aadhya, is everything okay? You're not answering. Just tell us where you are."
And then Avi again…
📩
"Adi… the contest started. Riya changed the time to 11. Why didn't you check the group? We tried to stop them…"
Each message hit harder than the last.
The classroom felt… too quiet.
Not peaceful quiet.
The kind that presses against your ears until you start hearing your own thoughts louder than you'd like.
I sat on the desk, legs dangling slightly, phone still clutched in my hand. The screen had dimmed, but I could still see those messages in my head—line after line, guilt after guilt.
My vision blurred again.
Great. Not again.
I blinked rapidly, dragging my sleeve across my eyes—once, twice—like that would magically fix everything. It didn't.
Click.
The classroom door creaked open.
I stiffened.
Footsteps. Slow. Familiar.
Nikansh.
"Are the mosquitoes not bothering you here?" he asked softly, like he wasn't walking into the middle of my breakdown. Like this was just… normal.
He pulled a chair and sat beside me.
I quickly turned my face away, wiping my eyes again—faster this time. "Why are you here?" I said, a little too quickly. "Aren't they announcing the winners? You were in the singing contest, right?" I asked, because he should be there.
"I'm disqualified," he said.
Huh? Why?
I blinked, turning to him. "What?"
"Riya said only one person per contest," he added, a bitter edge slipping into his voice. How cruel they didn't mention that before.
Rules change when it comes to Section E.
Of course they do.
My jaw tightened slightly. Figures.
He looked at me then—really looked. His expression shifted, something heavier settling in his eyes. "How was your visit?"
Should I tell him. He is a good listener maybe telling him a little wouldn't hurt much.
I let out a small breath, staring at my hands. "Not good," I said quietly. " Can you tell me..only if you're comfortable," he asked, quitely.
"He didn't want me to leave. He wanted me there… with him."
My fingers curled tighter around each other.
"He was so furious…" I swallowed. "He even tried to ...strangle me just because he was angry,"
I forced a smile.
Nikansh went still.
Then I saw it—his face darkening, jaw clenching, eyes hardening in a way that made my stomach twist.
"He really did that?" he asked, voice low now. Controlled. Too controlled. "He laid a hand on you?"
I shrugged lightly, like it didn't matter. "It's okay," I said quickly. "His parents were there. They stopped him."
(So technically I didn't die. Wow, gold star for survival.)
Silence stretched between us for a second.
Then—
"You're not thinking of going back to him, are you?"
"What?" I frowned, almost offended. "Ofcourse not. I'm never going back to him."
"Thankgod," he whispered. I just stared at his hand holding the guitar the one he used for contest. I was just lost in thought.
He followed my gaze then raised it "Should I play something for you?" He offered, with a small smile.
Out now where? I was just lost in thought but it's fine..
I nodded. He started playing a soft, soothing melody. Wow he plays amazing. I closed my eyes letting his voice calm the storm in my head. It was peaceful until his breath hitch and then...
....his lips were on mine.
I froze and immediately pulled away, my heart hammering.
" Nikansh.....why?"
" Nikansh..."
We both froze. The voice from the door was like ice. We both turned to see him... Vivaan
He was standing there, his eyes completely empty, holding the gold "Band Blitz" trophy 🏆
Did they win? Wow our class won.
" Did you win?" I asked, standing up and trying to fix the suffocating air. He didn't say a word. He walked over and handed me the trophy, his eyes locked onto Nikansh with a silent, burning fury. Nikansh stared back, neither of them backing down.
Ah why do i feel a storm incoming.
" I'll ... I'll go catch up with others," I bolted out of the room. The room was suffocating. In the hallway I ran into Avi and Mahi.
" Adi! Have you met Vivaan?" Avi asked excitedly. " He was so happy earlier! He kept saying he wanted to show you first that we won. He ran to classroom to find you!"
I looked at the trophy in my hand. Happy?
He didn't look happy. He looked like he wanted start another Mahabharat.
We were on duty as usual—me, Avi,Bhavik,DJ,Vivaan, andNikansh. But man, it was awkward.
Bhavik andAvi were completely oblivious to the drama, just walking along and teasing each other like always.
"Honestly, Bhavik, your hair looks like a bird's nest today," Avi laughed, tripping him slightly. Bhavik just shoved him back, grinning, "At least birds want to live in my hair; your head is a total desert, bro." They were in their own world, but for the rest of us, the air was thick.
We were all walking so slowly, like we were moving through invisible walls.
Suddenly, Vivaan leaned in close to me. He wasn't himself at all—it was like some angry ghost had taken over his body. His eyes were cold and he looked totally possessed by this weird, dark energy.
" Decide whom you want to be with!" he snapped sharply, his voice sounding nothing like his usual self. Before I could even blink, he turned and stalked away. I just stood there frozen.
What? He is acting up again. Did he eat something unusual.
What is wrong with him? Ever since Nikansh kissed me—Vivaan has been acting like a complete stranger. It's like he's haunted by it.
Finally, I got a moment with Nikansh near the 10th-grade building. I needed to know why he did it.
"Umm, Nikansh... why did you do that?" I asked.
"Umm, I thought you'd never ask that," he replied, acting all mysterious. What an absolute idiots.
"What do you think?" he pushed back. Huh?
"What... of course you won't just go kissing around anyone simply," I snapped, losing my patience.
Then he came out with this annoying defense: "Aadhya... if you think I like you... then you'll stop talking to me... and if I refuse, you won't look at me. So I'd rather not say anything."
It was all over my head.
He was basically admitting he likes me but was too scared to actually say it or deal with the consequences.
He wanted to keep me close without the risk of rejection. What an asshole. I didn't even know what to say to that, before I could say anything he walked away.
Jerk.
What this now? Does he like me ? ...but then what about my feelings for ..Vivaan ?