ep 3.0 Noise behind the scene

The moment Aira stepped into the house, the silence of school was gone.

“You took forever!” her oldest sister, Meera, shouted from the kitchen. “Did you get caught reading again?”

Aira kicked off her shoes and rolled her eyes. “I stayed back to finish a project.”

“No, she was probably avoiding boys again,” teased the second sister, Neha, flopping on the couch. “You scare them away with your ‘don’t talk to me’ face.”

Aira snorted. “It’s called being normal.”

Their mother walked in holding a plate of samosas. “Normal girls smile once in a while, you know.”

“Can I just eat in peace?” Aira grumbled, grabbing one and heading to her room.

“Not until you tell us if any cute guy talked to you today!” Meera shouted.

“Don’t hold your breath!” Aira yelled back.

Her room was the only place she felt quiet again. It was small, shared with Neha, but she had her own desk, her own window, and her own thoughts.

Lying on her bed, she stared at the ceiling.

Why do people act like there’s something wrong with not wanting attention?

Aira liked making friends. She wasn’t cold. But people didn’t try. Maybe she didn’t give them a reason. Maybe they just got bored when she didn’t play along with their drama.

Her phone buzzed.

Sana: Want to sit together again tomorrow?

She smiled.

At least one person didn’t mind the quiet.

Later that night, all three sisters sat on the floor, pretending to study. The room was a mess of clothes, half-written notes, and open chips packets.

“I’m telling you,” Meera said with a grin, “You’ll fall in love soon. It’ll hit you like a truck.”

Aira threw a pillow at her. “What am I, in a drama?”

Neha joined in. “You’re seventeen! At least have one crush. Didn’t you even like anyone in middle school?”

Aira paused.

They didn’t notice, but her mind wandered for a second — back to that quiet classroom, a soft-spoken teacher, always kind, always calm. He was married, mature, and completely unreachable. That’s what made it safe. That calm energy stuck with her.

She shrugged. “There was someone. But it was nothing.”

Meera gasped. “Who?!”

“None of your business.”

Neha groaned. “You’re no fun.”

Aira laughed. “Exactly.”

Their mom called from outside. “Lights out in ten minutes!”

“Ma, we’re literally revising!” Meera yelled, holding up a book she hadn’t opened in an hour.

Aira leaned back, watching her sisters argue.

She liked this chaos. It was warm, annoying, real. This was where she could speak, laugh, roll her eyes, and no one called her cold.

Outside, she felt like a quiet ghost.

Here, she was just… Aira.

And honestly?