Ep-1~Rainy day

...-AADYA'S POV-...

I was walking toward my coaching when suddenly it started to rain causing me to run, as I had forgotten to bring my umbrella.

After running for sometime I finally reached my coaching, but didn't went inside, as i was all wet and if I go inside like that it will be very embarassing. After trying to dry myself for sometime I gave up and turned around to go inside, knowing very well that I will be doomed if I get late.

Being emerged in my own thought, I entered not noticing that someone too was coming outside, causing me too unfortunately bump into the persons chest hardly.

The sudden hustle threw me off balance. I barely managed to stay on my feet, but in the chaos, my hands instinctively grabbed someone's shirt. To my surprise, they caught my left hand, steadying me.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. I didn't even notice who I'd grabbed or what exactly I had done, but I quickly regained my footing and stood up properly.

"Sorry, I'm really sorry," I blurted out, looking up to see a boy I didn't recognize. He must be new to the coaching center, as I'd never seen him before.

Our eyes met, and I quickly looked away, feeling a surge of nervousness.

"It's okay, it was my fault too," he replied. I smile awkwardly and hurried to my seat.

As I reached my seat, I noticed my best friend wasn't in our usual spot but had moved elsewhere.

"Afriiiii!!!" I called out, catching her attention.

"What is it, Aadu? You just walked in and already you're shouting," she replied with an irritated look, making me roll my eyes.

"Why aren't you sitting here-" I stopped mid-sentence when I realized she was sitting with Zaid, her crush.

I gave her a teasing look as she blushed and turned back to her conversation with him.

Afrin and I go to the same school and, luckily, the same coaching center. Being from the ICSE board, we have to sit with the seniors since our syllabus is the same.

I sat down, pulling my books out and quietly cursing my best friend under my breath.

Suddenly, I flinched as a guy stood in front of my seat. Looking up, I realized it was the same guy I had bumped into earlier. I mustered a forced smile, feeling awkward remembering the earlier encounter.

"If you don't mind, can I sit here? All the other seats are full," he asked politely.

Glancing at the seat beside me and then back at him, I hesitated for a moment.

"It's okay, you can sit here," I replied quickly, noticing his awareness of my discomfort.

He nodded understandingly, pulling the chair a little further away to give us both some space before settling in.

Sitting there, I couldn't help but glare at Zaid and Afrin, who were lost in their own little world of flirtation. I mentally vowed to exact revenge on Afrin for abandoning me like this.

After some time, our teacher, whom everyone fondly called 'bhaiya' because of his young age and gentlemanly demeanor, entered the room.

Bhaiya glanced at me and flashed a knowing smile. "Ah, so today Aadya is not sitting with her best friend," he remarked, clearly teasing me, his observation sharp enough to cut through my sullen mood.

Afrin looked at me, her smile mischievous, which only intensified my glare. I quickly shifted my gaze back to bhaiya, pretending not to be affected.

"I don't have any best friend, bhaiya," I retorted, crossing my arms defensively. The entire class burst into laughter at my response.

"Alright, you can save your bickering for later. Let's first welcome our new students," bhaiya interjected, knowing our tendency to argue.

"Abir and Naksh," bhaiya called out their names, and the guy sitting near me stood up, followed by another guy near him.

"So, this is Abir and this is Naksh. They're both new, so let's be nice to them, my little fools," bhaiya said with a playful smile, glancing at the rest of us.

"Alright, alright, my bad. Let's move on, shall we? Get your books out," he swiftly changed the subject, sensing the attention directed towards him.

As the lesson began, the classroom buzzed with a mix of studying, laughter, and friendly chatter. Two hours flew by in a blur of learning and camaraderie, making the time spent studying together feel like a breeze.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Tomorrow, you all have a chemistry test," bhaiya announced, eliciting sighs from everyone in the class.

"Please, bhaiya, have mercy on us," Rohan, one of our senior students, pleaded, his desperation echoed by the rest of us.

"Alright, Rohan, let me call your mother and ask about your chemistry exam marks," bhaiya teased him, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"No, no, bhaiya, you can give the test whenever you want. I'm ready for it," Rohan quickly retracted his plea, sparking laughter among us before we all began to leave the coaching center.

As I was about to leave, a voice called out my name -"Aadya."

Turning back, I saw Abir, the new boy, approaching me with my pencil in his hand. He returned it to me, offering a polite thank you.

"You're welcome," I replied with a smile before continuing on my way.

As I made my way out, someone tapped me on the shoulder. Turning around, I found Naksh standing there, his hand briefly touching mine before he quickly withdrew it, flustered.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to grab your hand. I just needed to ask for history notes, as bhaiya mentioned," he explained, looking embarrassed.

"It's okay. Wait here, I'll get you the notes," I assured him, retrieving the copy and handing it to him. He thanked me with a smile before I continued on my way.

Exiting the classroom, I spotted Afrin waiting for me. She hurried over as soon as she saw me.

I tried to ignore Afrin and walk away, but she surprised me by hugging me from behind. I gently pushed her away, feeling a mix of annoyance and affection.

"Sorry, Aadu, Zaid asked me to sit there, and I thought you wouldn't make it since you were late," she apologized, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.

I tried to maintain my fake angry expression, but her puppy eyes melted my resolve, and I couldn't help but smile.

"It's okay, but what were you two blushing about?" I teased, watching her cheeks turn pink.

"I'll tell you, I'll tell you! But first, let's go to our favorite gol gappa stall," she suggested, and I eagerly agreed, already imagining the tangy taste on my tongue.

I playfully pushed her and took off running, she too followed me as we both laughed out.

" jo baad mai pahunchega usko Paisa Dena padega" i shouted speeding my pace.

(the one who will reach at last will have to pay)

"Mumma!" I called out as soon as I stepped inside the house.

"What happened, beta? I'm in the kitchen!" came my mom's voice from the kitchen. I dashed towards the sound, finding her busy cooking.

I quickly wrapped my arms around her from behind, inhaling the comforting scent of home-cooked food. "What are you making, mumma?" I asked eagerly.

"Gajar ka halwa," she replied with a smile, her hands deftly working the ingredients. "Now go and freshen up," she added, and I nodded, heading towards my room with a sense of warmth and anticipation.

As I sat down at my study table after dinner, thoughts of the day's events at coaching flooded my mind, causing an involuntary blush to creep onto my face.

"Hey, why are you blushing, idiot?" I muttered to myself, giving myself a slight slap on the cheek to snap out of it.

...-AUTHOR'S POV-...

Next Day-

"Okay, ma, I'm leaving!" Aadya yelled from the living room, hanging her bag and rushing out of the house.

Stepping outside, she spotted Afrin waiting at the entrance. Afrin quickly waved at her best friend, and a smile instantly spread across on both of their faces. Hugging each other they walked toward the school as if they hadn't seen each other for years.

"Aaaah!" Aadya shrieked as someone suddenly appeared in front of her, causing her to jump in fright.

"Boo!" Abhisek chuckled, thoroughly enjoying her reaction.

"Kamine!!!, I'll get you for this!" Aadya exclaimed, her playful threat turning into action as she chased after him. Afrin stood nearby, unable to contain her laughter at their playful banter, a witness to their enduring friendship.

Leaning wearily on her desk, Aadya sighed with relief as the class finally ended, signaling her freedom to indulge in some much-needed food. Afrin and Abhisek approached her with mischievous grins.

"Hey, kiddo, let's go!" Abhisek exclaimed, nudging her playfully.

"I don't even have the energy to walk, Abhi," Aadya

Replied, her fatigue evident in her voice as she avoided looking at him.

"Are you sure you don't want to walk?" Abhisek teased, his smirk signaling mischief. Aadya simply hummed in response.

Afrin caught on to their plan without a word exchanged, and before Aadya could react, Abhisek scooped her up into his arms, causing her to protest loudly.

"Let me go, you kutta, or I'll kill you!" Aadya screamed, her protests mixed with laughter as Abhisek carried her towards the cafeteria, with Afrin following closely behind, amused by their antics.

Abhishek and Afrin couldn't contain their laughter as they watched Aadya squirm in Abhishek's arms.

"Let me go, Abhi!" Aadya shouted, her voice a mix of amusement and irritation.

"Are you sure, baby?" Abhishek teased, his grin widening.

"Yes, yes, just put me down!" Aadya insisted, eager to escape his playful grasp.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Abhishek complied, releasing her from his arms. Aadya's feet barely touched the ground before she let out a yelp of pain, her tailbone absorbing the impact.

As Afrin and Abhishek continued to laugh, Aadya shot them a fierce glare from her spot on the ground, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.

As Aadya struggled to stand, she felt a hand extend towards her. Looking up, she was surprised to see Naksh standing there. Her eyes widened in disbelief; she hadn't realized they attended the same school.

Tentatively, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to help her up.

"Um, thank you," she said, a smile gracing her lips despite her surprise.

"No problem," Naksh replied, returning her smile with warmth.

Aadya nodded in gratitude before turning her gaze towards where Abhishek and Afrin had been standing, only to find them gone. Anger flared within her as she realized they had fled the scene.

Just as she was about to storm off, Naksh gently halted her with a word.

"Sunoo..." Aadya glanced at Naksh.

"Ha, boliye," she replied, attentive.

"Agr tumhe koi problem nahi hai to kya tum mujhe school ke raste bata skti ho? Main school mai naya aaya hu," he asked, his tone earnest.

("If you don't mind, can you show me the way to school? I'm new to school,")

Aadya paused for a moment, considering. It wouldn't be fair to deny help to her fellow senior. "Haan, zaroor," she agreed.

(Yes, of course)

She swiftly began to guide him, mindful of not being late for her own classes.

As they reached the school garden, Aadya was in the midst of giving Naksh directions when he interrupted.

"Which grade are you in?" he inquired.

"9 A," she replied, meeting his gaze.

Nodding, Naksh extended his hand once more. "Wanna be my friend?" he asked with a friendly smile.

Returning the smile, Aadya shook his hand. "Sure," she replied warmly.

"Are you on social media?" Naksh queried, curiosity evident in his tone.

"Yeah, why?" Aadya responded, intrigued.

"If you don't mind, can I have your Instagram ID?" Naksh asked, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

Aadya smiled, reassured by his friendly demeanor.

"Sure, no problem," she replied, sharing her ID with him.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, Aadya and Naksh made their way to their respective classes. Entering her classroom, Aadya was greeted by the sight of Afrin and Abhishek, both wearing mischievous smirks.

"What's up with you two? Why did you leave me alone back there?" Aadya questioned, puzzled by their expressions.

Afrin's teasing look intensified as she asked, "You never told me you and that new guy Naksh are friends?"

"We're not that close, he just asked for help, so I obliged," she replied curtly.

Abhishek joined in with a teasing tone, "Oh, then why didn't he ask someone else?"

Rolling her eyes, Aadya shot back, "I don't know, go ask him yourself. And why are you both trying to change the subject? Do you think I'll forget about you two almost k!lling me?" With that, she playfully punched Abhishek's back, her frustration dissipating into laughter.

Abhisek was about to 'pay her back' when the teacher entered the class and she went to her seat while showing him her tongue.

As the school day drew to a close, students began packing their bags to head home. Aadya glanced towards her bench mate, Rahul, who was beaming at her. Returning the smile, she awaited his words.

"Um, Aadya..." Rahul began, his smile widening as he reached into his bag. "I have extra chocolate, so here," he offered, extending a Dairy Milk towards her.

Aadya's eyes lit up with delight as she accepted the sweet treat. "Thanks for the chocolate, Rahul!" she exclaimed, her love for food evident in her eagerness to indulge.

Rahul's smile grew wider at her happiness. "You're welcome. Okay, bye now, or I'll be late and my driver will leave me at school," he joked, chuckling as he hurried towards the door.

"Bye, and once again, thank you!" Aadya called after him, waving farewell.

Turning to her best friends, she noticed their amused expressions, their wide grins hinting at the camaraderie they shared.

"Ohhooo..." Afrin teased, shooting a playful glance at Aadya.

"Please, not again, you two," Aadya responded, preempting their banter.

"Leave her be, baby. Tell me what's going on," Abhishek interjected, taking Aadya's hand and leading her to a quieter corner.

"There's nothing going on, Abhi dear, and stop calling me baby, or your baby will kick your-"

"Fine, fine, you're the baby," Abhishek chuckled, only to receive a sharp slap from Aadya.

"He just gave me a chocolate. Now let's go, Afrin, or Mom will kill me," Aadya said, pulling her best friend away from the teasing duo.

...-AADYA'S POV-...

"I'm back, Mom!" I yelled as I entered the living room.

"Alright, I'll be setting your lunch. Go and get fresh quickly," Mom replied from the kitchen.

"Okay, Mata Shri," I joked as I made my way to my room.

After freshening up, I emerged from my room, still engrossed in my phone. Spotting Mom in the dining area, I hurried over to join her.

We chatted and laughed as we enjoyed lunch together, exchanging gossip and bantering with my brother.

(Ps: Aadya have a brother named Vivek, who is a last year university student. So, that's why he doesn't live with them and Aadya's father is in police that's why he is also not stay with them. Right now, Aadya's brother came to spend his holidays)

After yet another round of bickering with my brother over the same old thing, I finally retreated to my room, seeking solace in the pages of my favorite book, "Haunting Adeline."

Lost in the captivating world of the story, I devoured the pages, losing track of time until I glanced at my phone and realized it was nearly time for coaching. Hastily, I set the book aside and went to change.

Opting for comfort and style, I slipped into a black tank top and shirt, pairing it with flared jeans for a casual yet chic look. With my hair pulled back into a neat bun, I grabbed my bag and hurried out the door, ready to

...-AUTHOR'S POV-...

As Aadya sat at her place in coaching, accompanied by Abir, she found herself immersed in solving a particularly stubborn math problem. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't seem to crack it, frustration mounting with each failed attempt.

For the fifth time, she found herself arriving at a different answer, and she let out an exasperated sigh, running her fingers through her hair in frustration.

Unbeknownst to her, someone had been observing her struggle. Abir couldn't help but chuckle at her actions, finding her frustration amusing yet endearing.

ABIR

Do you think a butterfly can ever see there beautiful wings Aadu

...-ABIR'S POV-...

Observing Aadya's struggle with the math problem for what seemed like the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but find her actions amusing yet endearing.

Deciding to offer my assistance, I approached her cautiously. "If you don't mind, I can help you," I offered

meeting her frustrated gaze with a sympathetic smile.

She looked at me with a mix of irritation and relief before nodding in acceptance. As I moved closer to her, I began explaining the solution, pointing out the error she had been making.

"It's so easy, you were just going wrong in this part," I reassured her, hoping to ease her frustration.

Her widened eyes reflected a mix of surprise and admiration as she exclaimed, "Oh my god, you're so intelligent!" I simply nodded in response.

"By the way, which school do you attend?" she inquired.

"XYZ School," I replied gazing at her face.

"Wow, I'm also in the same school, but I never saw you!" she exclaimed, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, that's because I recently joined," I explained, watching as understanding dawned on her face.

"So you must not have many friends," she observed, catching me off guard.

"Yeah, right now I just know Naksh, who's been my childhood best friend," I admitted.

"Oh, wanna be friends?" she asked, her smile brightening the room.

Caught off guard by her sudden proposition, I stumbled over my words before finally replying, "Uh, yeah, okay."

She glanced at me, then looked away with a nod, signaling the beginning of a new friendship.

As the coaching session came to an end and the other students began to file out, Aadya continued to chatter away, seemingly unaware of my presence. Normally, I would have tuned out or found an excuse to leave, but there was something about her voice, the way she spoke about her passions and experiences, that held my attention.

She talked animatedly about her love for playing the guitar and her fondness for cats, painting vivid pictures with her words. Even as she mentioned her best friend's crush on Zaid, there was a sincerity in her tone that drew me in.

Lost in her stories, I found myself simply staring at her, captivated by her energy and authenticity. In that moment, her voice was like music to my ears, and I couldn't help but listen, entranced by the beauty of her words.

"sorry, mai bas bole ja rhi hu.. aap bore hogye honge"

she suddenly said, realizing my silence.

("Sorry, I've been rambling on....You must been bored)

"Nahi to aisa nahi...mujhe tumhari baatein sunker acha laga "I replied, the words slipping out before I even realized what I was saying.

("No, it's not like that. I've just been enjoying listening to you")

In that moment, her eyes widened slightly, and a soft

smile graced her lips. It was as if time slowed down, and I felt a flutter in my chest, realizing the depth of connection that had formed between us in that simple exchange of words.

"Thankyou" she replied smiling as I nodded and looked away from her face.

"Aadya..." Naksh's voice broke through our conversation, drawing both Aadya and me to look in his direction as he approached us.

"Hey, Aadya, I've sent you a follow request, and here's your history notebook," Naksh said, offering a warm smile.

"Thank you so much! I'll accept it right away," Aadya replied, returning his smile with one of her own.

"Waise kya kl bhi tum mere sath lunch break mai rahogi?" Naksh asked to Aadya to which she nodded with a smile.

Then Naksh looked at me "Bhai wanna join us in lunch break!?" He asked as I looked at Aadya to see if she have any problem with it but she was smiling at me.

I just nodded at them.

After that she left with her bestfriend and I also left.

Whole time I was thinking what was that feeling and why was I feeling something unusual when aadya was talking to me but, i shrugged the thought.

Throughout the day, I couldn't shake the feeling of something unusual whenever Aadya spoke to me. Yet, I pushed aside those thoughts, opting instead to focus on the present moment.

My bunny do you also think I am chubby?

-AADYA'S POV-

After returning home and freshening up, I made my way to the dining room, where I found my crazy brother indulging in a bowl of ice cream. With a sudden craving for something sweet, I headed to the kitchen to ask Mom where mine was.

"Hey, where's my ice cream?" I called out, peeking into the kitchen but he ignored me.

"Kutte, where is my ice cream?!" This time i shouted at my brother, who nonchalantly threw a pillow in my direction. "Gadhe ice cream nahi khate hai..." he retorted between bites of his treat.

"I'll show you what this 'gadhi' can do!" I exclaimed, retaliating by throwing the pillow back at him before darting away. With my brother in hot pursuit, our playful chase echoed through the house, filling the air with laughter and the warmth of sibling banter.

"Rukh, main tujhe batata hu bacchu tune kisse panga liya hai!" he screamed, chasing after me as I dashed into my room. Just as I was about to close the door, he pushed it open, and I fled towards my bed.

But he caught me by the leg, pulling me down and launching into a tickle attack.

"Hahahahaha... hahahahah bhai, choro... hahahahaha... main maar dungi... hahah, aapko," I gasped between fits of laughter, trying to squirm away from his tickling fingers.

After dinner, I sat in my room scrolling through Instagram when I noticed two follow requests. With a knowing smile, I accepted them, knowing exactly who they were from.

After sometime I recieved a text, it was from Naksh. He once again thanked me for giving him the notebook.

'the pair of eyes locked, unlocking thousands of untold stories'

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