🙏 ॥ श्री गणेशाय नमः ॥
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Happy Reading! 🌸
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The golden rays of the morning sun filtered through the hostel room curtains, painting the room in a warm golden glow.
The peaceful morning, however, existed for only three people.
Mouli was peacefully arranging her books inside her bag while humming a random tune under her breath. Rishika stood in front of the mirror, carefully adjusting her tie before giving herself a satisfied nod. Kaira had already worn her shoes and was waiting near the door, repeatedly glancing at the wall clock.
And then...
There was the fourth roommate. One bed looked exactly the same as it had looked the previous night.
A blanket had completely swallowed its owner, making her look less like a student and more like a sleepy burrito.
Wani Deshmukh was still asleep. Kaira looked at the clock.
Then at Wani. Then back at the clock. She slowly closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Again?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Mouli followed her gaze before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Aiyyo... every single morning, same story," she complained dramatically, placing a hand over her forehead as though she had accepted this as her daily fate.
The two quietly walked towards Wani's bed.
Mouli bent down and gently patted the blanket.
"Wani..." she called softly, her voice sweet enough to wake even a sleepy kitten.
Nothing.
Not even the blanket moved. Kaira leaned down and lightly shook Wani's shoulder. "Wani..." she tried again, a little louder this time.
Silence.
Wani didn't even flinch. Kaira slowly straightened herself.
A dangerous smile appeared on her face. She calmly rolled up her sleeves as if preparing for an important mission.
"Theek hai... ab pyaar se nahi uthne wali," she declared with fake disappointment.
She turned towards the study table and picked up the water bottle.
The moment Mouli noticed that bottle, her entire expression changed. Her eyes widened. "Oh no..." She hurried forward and stretched out her hand. "Kaira... don't..." she pleaded.
"Too late." A devilish grin spread across Kaira's face. Without the slightest bit of guil —Splash!
The icy cold water landed perfectly on Wani's face.
For one second...
Everything froze.
The next second—
Wani shot straight up from the bed as if someone had attached springs underneath her mattress.
Her blanket flew to one side.
Her messy hair stood in every direction possible.
Her eyes were still half closed while water dripped from her face.
"AHHH!" she screamed, frantically wiping the water away before finally opening her eyes.
The moment she saw Kaira standing there with the bottle...
She froze.
A dangerous smile slowly spread across Wani's face. Kaira instinctively took one tiny step backwards.
Wani pointed a finger straight at her.
"Jyada jaldi ho rahi hai tujhe? Aisa repta maarungi na... rengte-rengte Rajasthan ke registaan jaa giregi, samjhi!" she warned, narrowing her eyes dramatically. Kaira pressed her lips together, desperately trying not to laugh.
Mouli quietly turned her face away, pretending to examine her bag because she knew if she looked at Wani, she'd burst out laughing. Still grumbling, Wani looked down at her bed.
Her expression instantly changed into pure heartbreak. She touched the soaked bedsheet with both hands. It was completely wet.
She gasped dramatically. "Arre Deva! Pura mera bed geela kar diya," she cried, staring at the tragedy in front of her.
She slowly placed the back of her hand on her forehead like the heroine of an old dramatic serial.
"Kay re Deva... kasle rakshas mitra dile ahes mala!" she complained to the ceiling as if personally filing a complaint to God.
There was exactly two seconds of silence.
Rishika completely lost it. She burst into uncontrollable laughter, holding onto the study table because her legs almost gave up.
Trying to catch her breath, she pointed at Wani.
"Abey dost, agar tu roz Kumbhkaran bani rahegi na..." she managed to say between laughs. She wiped away a tiny tear forming from laughing too much before continuing,
"...toh humein bhi rakshas banna padega." This time even Mouli couldn't control herself anymore.
She covered her mouth, giggling softly. Kaira proudly folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin.
"Dekha? Ek second mein uth gayi," she said with the satisfaction of a scientist whose experiment had worked perfectly.
Rishika picked up her bag and adjusted it on her shoulder before glancing at the clock.
Her laughter immediately disappeared. "Waise bhi hum already late hain," she reminded everyone.
She pointed towards the door. "Tu ready hoke direct school aa." As she reached the door, she suddenly remembered something.
Turning around with an excited grin, she added, "Waise bhi mujhe mere Reyu se milna hai."
Wani dramatically rolled her eyes so hard it looked like they might disappear into another dimension.
She lazily waved her hand in the air. "Haan haan... girlfriend mode on," she teased. Rishika winked proudly. "Bilkul."
She opened the door but paused halfway, raising one finger like a strict teacher. "Aur sun... exactly ten minutes."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Pehle hi din teachers ki daant mat khana."
Then her serious expression instantly melted into a cheerful smile. She waved enthusiastically.
"Bye!"
The three girls walked out together, their laughter echoing through the hostelb corridor until it slowly faded away. The room suddenly became silent.
Only Wani remained. She let out an exaggerated sigh before scratching the back of her head. Yawning loudly, she stretched her arms until her shoulders cracked.
Still half asleep, she lazily dragged her feet towards the window. She absentmindedly looked outside.....and froze.
Everything around her seemed to disappear.
Near the school gate stood a tall boy wearing the school uniform, laughing with his friends. Her sleepy eyes instantly widened.
She leaned closer to the window. A smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"Arey..." she whispered under her breath.
Recognition flashed across her face. "Ye toh wahi hai..." she murmured, unable to blink.
Her smile grew even wider. "Kal mandir wala ladka!" Excitement sparkled in her eyes. "Ye hamare school mein hai?" she asked herself, sounding almost too happy to believe it.
Without thinking, she looked up towards the bright blue sky. Joining her hands together, she smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Bappa..." she whispered.
Then she looked outside once more. Her grin became impossible to hide. "...maza aa gaya."
For the first time that morning... Wani voluntarily ran towards the washroom.
Miracles really did happen.
Outside the School
The school campus buzzed with excitement as students streamed through the main gate, chatting animatedly with their friends while hurrying towards the assembly ground. The crisp morning air was filled with laughter, footsteps and the occasional sound of teachers reminding students not to run.
Meanwhile, the three girls had just reached the school gate.
Suddenly—
"RISHUU!"
A familiar voice echoed across the entrance.
Reyansh came jogging towards her with the brightest smile on his face. Slowing down right in front of her, he spread his arms dramatically as if he had made the grandest entry of the century.
Without taking his eyes off her, he placed one hand over his heart and gave her an exaggerated admiring look.
"Oye meri makhan vargi sohni kudi..." he greeted proudly.
(My butter-like beautiful girl...)
He shook his head in fake disbelief before continuing with a lovestruck smile."...aaj taan tu hor vi sohni lag rahi ae." (Today you look even more beautiful.)
Rishika blinked twice before looking at him from head to toe, clearly surprised.
Tilting her head, she folded her arms.
"Excuse me..." she said suspiciously. She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Tumhe Punjabi bhi aati hai?" she asked.
Reyansh immediately straightened his collar and puffed out his chest with fake pride.
A smug grin appeared on his face. "Seekhni toh padegi na," he replied confidently. His playful expression softened as he looked into her eyes.
"Aakhir meri girlfriend Punjabi jo hai." Rishika tried her best to maintain a straight face and failed.
A smile slowly spread across her lips. Noticing it, Reyansh's smile grew even wider.
He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice dramatically as though he was about to reveal the world's biggest secret.
"Waise ek baat bataun?" he asked. Rishika looked at him curiously. "Hmm?"
Reyansh sighed dreamily before placing a hand over his heart once again. "Agar roz aise hi ready hokar aaya karo na... toh attendance se pehle mera dil present ho jaya karega."
For a second...
Rishika simply stared at him. Then she burst into laughter before lightly smacking his arm.
"Drama band karo," she said, trying to stop herself from laughing. Still smiling, she shook her head.
"Ab samajh aa raha hai Shrey bhaiya itna kam kyun bolte hain." Reyansh's eyebrows shot up.
He looked genuinely offended. "Kya matlab?" he asked dramatically.
Rishika folded her arms again, unable to resist teasing him. "Tum unke hisse ka bhi bol dete ho." She gave him an innocent smile. "Bas naam ke twins ho tum dono."
Reyansh dramatically gasped before placing both hands over his heart. He looked up at the sky as though life had deeply betrayed him.
"Ye toh insult ho gaya," he declared with fake heartbreak. Watching his over-the-top reaction, Rishika couldn't control herself anymore. She burst into laughter again.
A second later...
Even Reyansh started laughing.
Still smiling, the two of them walked towards the school building together, occasionally bumping shoulders playfully.
*Author POV*
A few steps behind them...
Kirt, Hriday and Shreyansh walked towards the school at an unhurried pace.
Hriday was talking about something enthusiastically while Shreyansh silently listened, nodding every now and then.
But Kirt...
Kirt wasn't listening to either of them. His attention had wandered somewhere else entirely. Without realizing it, his footsteps had slowed slightly.
A familiar voice echoed inside his mind once again. "Nice eyes..."
The words replayed so clearly that it almost felt as if she was standing right beside him. A faint smile unknowingly appeared on his lips.
"Kaun thi woh?" he wondered, staring absentmindedly ahead. His fingers tightened slightly around the strap of his bag. "Uski awaaz..."
He let out a quiet breath. "Pata nahi kyun... dimag se ja hi nahi rahi."
He lowered his gaze for a brief moment, thinking carefully. Then a tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Bilkul..."
After a few seconds, he silently completed his own sentence. "...Miss Sweet Voice."
Hriday, who had been walking beside him the whole time, immediately noticed the smile Kirt was trying so hard to hide.
A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face. Without warning, he nudged Kirt's shoulder with his elbow.
"O Kuvar sa..." he called, raising an eyebrow.
Kirt blinked and snapped out of his thoughts.
Turning towards Hriday, he looked at him in confusion. "Kiske baare mein soch rahe ho?" Hriday asked with a teasing smile.
He leaned a little closer. "Humein bhi bata."
Kirt looked away almost immediately, pretending nothing had happened. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Kuch nahi yaar," he replied casually.
Hriday wasn't convinced for even a second. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"Jhoot," he said confidently. Pointing a finger at Kirt, he smirked. "Bata bhi."
Kirt couldn't help but chuckle. He shook his head helplessly before finally giving in.
"Bas..." he began.
He hesitated for a second. "Kal mandir mein ek ladki mili thi." Hriday's eyes instantly lit up.
His mouth slowly formed a wide "O."
"Ohooo..." he teased, stretching the word deliberately. He immediately moved closer to Kirt, curiosity written all over his face.
"Kaunsi ladki?" Before Kirt could answer, Hriday fired another question.
"Kya naam tha?" Kirt simply smiled awkwardly before shaking his head.
"Pata nahi." He shrugged helplessly. "Main usse jaanta bhi nahi."
After saying that, he looked towards the school building, subtly ending the conversation before it could go any further.
Adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder, he gestured ahead.
"Chhod na..." he said with a small smile. Then he started walking again. "Chal..."
He glanced towards the assembly ground where students were already lining up.
"Assembly ka time ho jayega." Hriday looked at Kirt suspiciously for another second before smirking to himself.
"Kuch toh gadbad hai..." he thought, deciding he'd definitely tease Kirt about this again later.
The three boys continued walking towards the assembly ground as the morning bell echoed across the campus.
The moment Wani stepped inside the school gate, her footsteps automatically slowed.
A cool morning breeze brushed gently against her face, carrying with it the familiar sounds of students chatting, laughing, and rushing towards their classrooms. For a brief moment, she simply stood there, quietly taking everything in.
Her eyes wandered across the campus.
The same tall school building...
The same huge playground...
The same old banyan tree where students secretly finished their lunch before recess...
The same long corridor that had witnessed countless memories...
Almost everything looked exactly the way she had left it a year ago.
A soft smile slowly curved her lips.
"So... I'm really back," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.
The noise around her gradually faded into the background.
Instead...
Her memories came rushing back.
A little girl running through these very corridors with endless energy... Getting scolded almost every week for talking too much... Winning inter-school competitions with a proud grin on her face...
Standing outside the classroom as punishment... yet smiling as if it were an achievement...
Teachers introducing her to guests with pride."She's our school topper."
The memories played one after another like scenes from an old movie.
A tiny chuckle escaped Wani's lips.
She shook her head, unable to stop smiling. "Kitni choti thi main..." she murmured fondly.
After a brief pause, she laughed softly at herself. "Waise... shararat tab bhi kam nahi karti thi."
Just then—
"Areyyy..." A familiar voice called out from behind.
"Wani beta?" Wani immediately turned around.
Standing a few steps away was Shalini Ma'am, holding a few notebooks in one arm.
For a second, the teacher simply stared at her.
Then recognition flashed across her face.
A warm smile spread across her lips.
"Arre wah!" she exclaimed happily as she walked towards Wani.
Stopping in front of her, she looked at her carefully from head to toe.
"Sach mein tum ho?" she asked, almost unable to believe it.
The moment Wani saw her favourite English teacher, her face lit up with genuine happiness.
"Shalini Ma'am!" she greeted warmly. Without wasting another second, she bent down slightly in respect.
"Good Morning, Ma'am," she said politely. Shalini Ma'am's eyes softened with affection.
She lovingly patted Wani's head.
"Good Morning, beta," she replied with a proud smile. Still looking at her, she couldn't help but smile wider.
"Kitni badi ho gayi ho," she said warmly. She chuckled as another memory crossed her mind.
"Kal hi ki baat lagti hai jab tum poore school mein tufaan machati phirti thi."
Wani instantly placed a hand over her chest, widening her eyes in fake disbelief.
"Ma'am..." she protested dramatically. She pointed at herself with an innocent expression.
"Maine kab tufaan machaya?" Shalini Ma'am raised one eyebrow knowingly before folding her arms.
A playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Sach bataun?" she asked. Without waiting for an answer, she continued.
"Hamare staff room mein tumhare marks se zyada tumhari complaints discuss hoti thi."
Wani gasped dramatically. She placed both hands over her heart as if someone had deeply hurt her feelings.
"Ma'am!" she exclaimed. She shook her head with exaggerated disappointment.
"Character assassination!" For a second, they looked at each other.
Then...
Both of them burst into laughter, their cheerful laughter blending perfectly with the lively morning atmosphere of the school.
As their laughter slowly faded, Shalini Ma'am looked at Wani with the same warmth and pride that had always reflected in her eyes whenever she spoke about her favourite student.
A gentle smile lingered on her face as she affectionately placed a hand on Wani's shoulder.
"Waise..." she began softly. Looking at Wani with genuine happiness, she continued,
"Tumhe dekhkar bahut khushi hui." Her smile widened. "Hamare school ki topper wapas aa gayi." A faint blush crept onto Wani's cheeks. She smiled shyly before lowering her gaze for a second.
"Thank you, Ma'am," she replied sincerely.
Looking back at her teacher, she smiled with the same affection. "Main bhi yahan aakar bahut khush hoon."
Just then, something suddenly clicked in Shalini Ma'am's mind. "Oh!" she exclaimed, lightly tapping her forehead with her fingers.
She looked at Wani hopefully. "Ek kaam karogi?" she asked. Without even thinking twice, Wani nodded enthusiastically.
"Ji Ma'am," she replied immediately. Shalini Ma'am glanced towards the assembly ground before looking back at her.
"Aaj Head Girl absent hai," she explained.
Pointing towards the stage in the distance, she added,
"Tum uski jagah assembly conduct kar logi?"
A bright smile instantly appeared on Wani's face.
She placed her right hand over her heart with playful sincerity.
"Of course, Ma'am." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Anything for my school." Shalini Ma'am smiled proudly.
There it was again...
The same confidence.
The same enthusiasm.
The same love for the school that Wani had always carried in her heart.
"That's my girl," she said proudly.
Then, narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, she raised a finger as if she were about to issue a very important warning.
"Lekin..." Wani blinked innocently.
Tilting her head, she looked at Ma'am with an adorably confused expression.
"Ji?" Shalini Ma'am tried to maintain a serious face. "Zyada shararat mat karna." She shook her head with an amused sigh.
"Tumhare naam se aaj bhi junior teachers darte hain."
Wani's jaw dropped dramatically. She pointed at herself again in complete disbelief.
"Itni badnaam hoon kya?" she asked, sounding genuinely offended.
Shalini Ma'am folded her arms, already struggling to suppress a laugh.
"Tumhe yaad hai..." she began. A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"Ek baar poori class ko lekar chemistry lab ke peeche picnic mana li thi?" Wani instantly scratched the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact like a child caught red-handed.
"Ma'am..." she mumbled sheepishly. She smiled awkwardly. "Wo picnic nahi..."
After a tiny pause, she defended herself with complete seriousness. "Emergency lunch meeting thi."
For a moment...
Silence.
Then Shalini Ma'am completely lost it. She laughed so hard that she had to hold the notebooks against her chest. After finally controlling herself, she looked at Wani with an amused smile.
"Bilkul," she replied sarcastically. Still chuckling, she continued,
"Aur principal ko tumne bola tha..." Trying to imitate Wani's confident tone from that day, she smiled.
"'Sir, practical life mein bhi to practical hona chahiye.'" The moment those words left her mouth...
Wani immediately covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.
A groan escaped her lips. "Please Ma'am..." she pleaded dramatically from behind her hands.
Peeking through her fingers, she smiled helplessly.
"Purani files reopen mat kariye." Shalini Ma'am laughed once again before finally calming herself.
She gently patted Wani's shoulder.
"Jao," she said warmly. Glancing towards the stage, she added, "Sab wait kar rahe hain."
Wani immediately straightened her posture.
With a bright grin, she gave Ma'am a playful salute.
"Yes, Ma'am!" she replied cheerfully. Shalini Ma'am shook her head with an affectionate smile as Wani happily walked towards the assembly stage.
Watching her leave, the teacher couldn't help but smile to herself.
"Ek saal baad bhi..."
"Bilkul waise hi hai."
Still smiling to herself, Wani adjusted the strap of her bag and started walking towards the assembly stage.
The morning sun cast a soft golden glow across the school campus as students hurried past her from every direction. Some rushed towards their respective lines, while others exchanged quick greetings before the assembly began.
Wani walked at an unhurried pace, her smile still lingering after meeting Shalini Ma'am.
Then...
For no reason at all...
A strange feeling crept over her. Almost instinctively, her footsteps slowed.
A faint crease appeared between her brows.
"Hmm..." she hummed softly, unconsciously looking around. It was an odd sensation.
As if...
Someone's eyes were fixed on her.
Someone was silently watching her every move.
She slowly turned around. Her curious eyes scanned the surroundings.
Students hurried towards the assembly ground.
A few teachers were busy guiding the juniors into neat lines.
Parents waved goodbye to their children before leaving through the main gate.
Everything looked completely normal. There wasn't a single face that seemed unusual.
Wani stood there for another second before letting out a small breath.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She lightly tapped her forehead with her fingers.
"Lagta hai overthinking shuru ho gayi," she murmured to herself with an amused smile.
Shaking her head, she shrugged her shoulders and continued walking towards the stage.
Completely unaware...
That her instincts hadn't been wrong.
Someone really had been watching her.
Assembly Ground
The entire school stood neatly arranged in perfectly straight rows.
Students whispered among themselves while the prefects moved from one line to another, reminding everyone to maintain discipline.
Teachers stood near the stage, exchanging a few final words before the assembly began.
The entire atmosphere carried that familiar mix of excitement and Monday laziness.
On the boys' side...
Reyansh stood in line with absolutely zero enthusiasm.
His hands rested lazily inside his blazer pockets as he stared at the stage with a sleepy expression.
Standing beside him, Hriday let out a dramatic yawn.
He stretched both his arms above his head before complaining,
"Yaar..." he sighed dramatically.
Rubbing one eye sleepily, he continued,
"Mujhe Monday se personal dushmani hai." Reyansh nodded with complete seriousness, as though Hriday had just delivered an inspirational speech.
"Same," he agreed immediately.
He folded his arms and looked up at the sky. "Monday ko illegal declare kar dena chahiye."
Hriday's sleepy eyes suddenly lit up.
He snapped his fingers excitedly.
"Main petition likhta hoon," he declared with full confidence.
A few students standing nearby couldn't help but chuckle after overhearing their conversation.
A step behind them...
Shreyansh quietly witnessed the entire exchange.
He simply shook his head in silent disappointment before adjusting his spectacles.
A helpless smile appeared on his face.
"Tum dono sudhroge nahi," he remarked calmly.
Reyansh proudly placed a hand over his chest.
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Talent hai," he replied without a hint of shame.
Hriday immediately nodded in agreement as if Reyansh had spoken an undeniable fact.
Shreyansh closed his eyes for a brief second.
"Hopeless..." he thought, deciding it was better not to argue any further.
A few steps ahead...
Kirt casually adjusted the sleeves of his blazer before straightening the Head Boy badge pinned neatly to his chest. Slinging his bag over one shoulder, he made his way towards the stage with calm, measured steps.
Being the Head Boy, he had to stand beside the Principal during the morning assembly.
One step...
Two...
Three...
Then—
His footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
Almost instinctively, his eyes lifted.
Standing near the microphone...
Wani was adjusting its height with complete concentration. A few loose strands of hair danced across her face as the cool morning breeze drifted through the open stage.
She gently tucked them behind her ear before leaning closer to the microphone.
"Hello..." she spoke softly.
Her melodious voice echoed through the speakers.
She glanced towards the sound system before speaking once again.
"Testing..." The words were ordinary. But the moment they reached Kirt's ears... His heartbeat missed a beat. His eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
"Ye awaaz..." Recognition flashed across his face . A thousand memories from the temple came rushing back.
"Miss Sweet Voice...?" His fingers unconsciously tightened around the strap of his bag.
His gaze remained fixed on her. "Ye....yahan?"
Almost as if she had sensed someone staring at her...
Wani slowly turned around. Her curious eyes travelled across the stage......before stopping on him.
For one brief moment...
Their eyes met.
Neither of them blinked.
The chatter of students...
Teachers giving instructions...
Prefects maintaining discipline...
Everything around them faded away.
Only silence remained.
A flicker of surprise crossed Wani's face. "Mandir wala ladka..."
She stared at him for a second longer than she intended. On the other side... Kirt stood rooted to the spot.
Questions flooded his mind one after another. "Purani student hai kya?"
His gaze shifted towards the microphone.
"Lekin... Ye stage pe kya kar rahi hai?" He noticed how comfortably the teachers were interacting with her.
Almost as if she belonged there. "Head Girl?"
He frowned thoughtfully before dismissing the idea himself. "Nahi... Teacher ne bulaya hoga..."
Yet one question refused to leave his mind.
His eyes unknowingly found hers once again. "Par..."
"Miss Sweet Voice..... aur is school ka connection kya hai?" Before he could think any further—
"Head Boy!" One of the teachers called from the side of the stage. "Please come here."
Just then...
Khushi slowly walked towards Sid, who was standing with the senior prefects, making sure every row was perfectly aligned.
A soft smile rested on her lips as she stopped beside him.
"Hi," she greeted casually. Sid turned towards her and gave a small nod.
"Morning," he replied calmly before shifting his attention back to the students.
Khushi's gaze slowly drifted towards the stage. The smile on her face remained unchanged.
For a few moments...
She simply stood there, silently watching. Teachers spoke to Wani with warm smiles.
The Principal exchanged a few words with her before taking his place.
Everything seemed so... effortless. A faint smile appeared on Khushi's lips.
"She's lucky," she murmured almost absentmindedly, her eyes still fixed on the stage.
Sidharth followed her gaze before looking back at her.
A slight frown settled on his face.
"What do you mean?" he asked curiously. Khushi shrugged lightly.
"Nothing..." she replied with an innocent smile. After a brief pause, she spoke again.
"Bas..." She tilted her head ever so slightly. "Ek saal baad bhi..."
Her eyes remained fixed on Wani. "...teachers usse kitni importance dete hain."
Sid looked towards the stage once before answering without a second's hesitation.
A small smile appeared on his face. "Because she deserves it," he said confidently. Khushi slowly turned to look at him.
For a second...
Neither of them spoke.
Then she smiled again.
A calm...
Unreadable smile.
"Maybe..." she said softly. She looked back at the stage.
"Kabhi-kabhi na..." she began, her voice thoughtful. "...kuch logon ko dekhkar lagta hai..." She paused deliberately. "...ki unke liye sab kuch kitna aasaan hota hai."
Sidharth's eyebrows drew together in confusion. He looked at her carefully.
"Tum kehna kya chahti ho?" he asked Khushi blinked before letting out a small laugh. She waved her hand dismissively.
"Arre..." she said with a playful smile. "Main to bas aise hi bol rahi thi." Before Sidharth could ask anything else
Trinnnnnnng...!
The school bell echoed throughout the campus. Almost instantly, the whispers across the assembly ground died down.
Students stood straight in their respective lines. Teachers moved towards their designated places.
Khushi glanced at the stage one last time before looking back at Sid.
"Oops..." she said with a light chuckle. "Assembly shuru."
With that, she turned and walked towards her position as if the conversation had never happened.
Sidharth remained standing there for a brief moment.
His eyes unknowingly shifted towards the stage. Khushi's words echoed faintly in his mind. "Weird... Achanak usne aisi baat kyun boli?" On the stage...
Wani took a slow, steady breath.
She gently adjusted the microphone, glanced across the sea of students standing before her, and a confident smile spread across her face.
"Good Morning, everyone..." Her voice echoed clearly across the entire school.
The morning assembly officially began.
The morning assembly continued smoothly.
The announcements were made, followed by the Principal's brief address to the students.
As the National Anthem came to an end, the entire ground echoed with,
"Jai Hind!"
"Jai Hind!" the students replied in unison.
"Class prefects, lead your respective classes," one of the teachers instructed.
At once, the neat rows began to disperse. Students started walking towards their classrooms, filling the corridors with cheerful chatter and laughter once again.
Some discussed the Principal's speech...
Some complained about Monday...
While others were already busy talking about the upcoming classes.
Within a few minutes...
The lively corridors slowly settled down as students entered their respective classrooms.
The first day had officially begun. Wani carefully placed the microphone back in its stand before taking a small step back.
The music teacher looked at her with a proud smile.
"Thank you, beta," she said warmly. "You handled everything beautifully."
A humble smile spread across Wani's face.
She politely folded her hands. "Thank you, Ma'am," she replied respectfully, giving a small nod.
The teacher smiled once again before turning towards the other staff members.
Adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder, Wani stepped down from the stage.
The moment her feet touched the ground...
Her eyes instinctively wandered through the crowd.
Rows of students were slowly dispersing towards their classrooms.
Teachers were guiding the juniors.
The once-disciplined assembly ground had once again turned into a sea of cheerful chatter.
Almost unconsciously...
Her eyes searched for someone. "Mandir wala ladka..."
Suddenly...
Her gaze stopped. There he was.
Walking away with three boys, his hands casually tucked inside his trouser pockets while one of his friends animatedly spoke about something. He simply listened with a faint smile, occasionally nodding his head.
Before Wani could get a better look...
A group of students hurried past, completely blocking her view. She instinctively took a tiny step to the side, trying to look past them.
When the crowd finally cleared...
He was gone. Wani blinked once. Then let out a soft, amused sigh.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips as she lightly shook her head.
"Kya ho gaya hai mujhe?" she murmured to herself, almost laughing at her own thoughts.
She absentmindedly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Subah se bas usi ke baare mein soch rahi hoon." A small chuckle escaped her lips.
"Huh..." Lightly tapping her forehead with her fingers, she smiled at herself. "Focus, Wani," she reminded herself softly.
She adjusted her bag properly on her shoulder and took a deep breath.
"Class ka pehla din hai." With one last glance towards the now-empty corridor...
She turned around and confidently walked towards the Class 10-A corridor.
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