-•19th October 2019•-

Burdwan, West Bengal

"And, the student who has secured first position in the class is...."

The loud shrill voice of Mrs Tripathi was replaced with murmurs of names of different students. The air was thick with tension. Some were sitting with eyes tightly closed and their index and middle fingers crossed, sending silent whispering prayers to their Durga Ma for the name to be theirs, others were leaning back on their chair, twirling or ruffling their hair or competing over whose chewing gum with make the bigger bubble, and some were looking at the teacher with an over confident smile, as if God had given them a written confirmation about them coming first.

"Aadhira Chatterjee"

The air was now a mix of applauses and groans. Yet, the real applauses of the closed ones were drowning the groans of jealousy like the Sun drowning the darkness with its rise.

"Aadhira? Aadhira! MS CHATTERJEE!"

"Aadhira!"

Aadhira woke up from her deep slumber when her friend, Mishri shook her violently and whisper yelled in her ear.

"Huhh?" She rose her head from the pillow of her arms and looked dazed at her friend(sister-like) and then around the classroom, with slightly blurred eyes. The students were whispering in each other's ears and laughing amongst themselves, probably talking about how careless and lazy she is to sleep in Mrs Tripathi's period.

"QUIET EVERYONE!" Mrs. Tripathi's voice boomed through the classroom, silencing it instantly. Aadhira felt her last gulp of saliva dry up as terror seized her.

"Ms. Aadhira Chatterjee, what made you think it was okay to sleep in my class? Have I been too lenient?" Mrs. Tripathi asked with terrifying calmness.

"S-Sorry, ma'am," Aadhira stammered, her voice steadier than she expected.

Mrs. Tripathi struggled to hold back a smile as she made her way towards Aadhira's desk with an intentionally slow pace. She dramatically slammed Aadhira's report card on her desk. The result practically screamed about Aadhira being the top student in the class.

With a raised eyebrow, Mrs. Tripathi patted Aadhira's head and said, "It's great that you aced your exams, but that doesn't give you a free pass to practice for the next Sleeping Olympics."

The class, sensing the humor in her voice, let out a collective giggle. Aadhira managed a sheepish smile, relieved that Mrs. Tripathi's wrath had a humorous twist.

"Anyways, keep it up," Mrs. Tripathi said with a smile at Aadhira before returning to her desk to distribute the rest of the report cards. Aadhira, still riding the wave of relief, drifted back into her thoughts.

"Akshay, you can do better, beta."

"Preeti, very good."

"Ishan."The names kept coming.

"Aadhira, see! I got above-average marks this time!" Mishri said excitedly after receiving her report card.

"That's great! I'm proud of you, Mishu," Aadhira said with a smile, giving her friend a supportive pat on the back.

"It's all because of your tutoring-"

Mishri was cut off by a boy sitting behind them. "Look who's getting happy over just above-average marks even after studying day and night," he sneered.

"At least it's better than your barely passing marks," Mishri retorted, sticking her tongue out.

"I know, but I didn't waste my time studying when I knew it wasn't my thing, unlike you," the boy shot back with a smirk.

"You-"

"Bas karo tum dono. And Vyom, could you please stop irritating her?" Aadhira interjected, rolling her eyes.

"Okey-dokey," Vyom replied with an exaggerated salute.

The bell rang loudly, signaling the end of the period.

**TRINGGGG~~~**

As students began to get ready for their next class, keeping their English books in their respective bags and pulling out their Maths registers, the classroom was a flurry of activity. There were some crying faces, some beaming with happiness, some proud, and others nonchalant. This kaleidoscope of emotions filled the room with a unique energy.

Mishri turned her attention to Aadhira. "So, what now, Ms Topper? Planning to conquer the world?"Aadhira laughed. "Nah, just planning to take a really long nap."

"Wow, ambitious," Vyom chimed in. "I might join you in that competition."

"Sure, Vyom. Maybe you'll actually win something for once," Aadhira teased.

"Hey, I'm great at napping! It's a skill," Vyom defended, puffing out his chest.

"Just don't put it on your college applications," Mishri giggled.

"Yeah, 'Professional Napper' might not impress the admissions board," Aadhira added with a grin.

Amid the stress and pressure, moments like these made school a little more bearable. The blend of emotions and camaraderie truly made their classroom a special place.

"You know what, I am really not in the mood to study today," Aadhira said, leaning on her desk nonchalantly.

"Why are you so down today, Aadhu?" Mishri asked, her voice filled with concern.

"You know, my brother is quite an asshole," Aadhira replied, pouting angrily.

"Did you get into a fight with him again?" Vyom guessed.

Aadhira nodded sadly and began recounting the morning's incident.

"So, it all started this morning when I was peacefully enjoying my breakfast," Aadhira began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I made the mistake of mentioning that I needed the bathroom first because, you know, I actually have a life and places to be."

Mishri stifled a laugh, "Let me guess, your brother had other plans?"

"Oh, did he ever," Aadhira groaned. "He decided that it was the perfect time to practice his latest drum solo... in the bathroom. I mean, who does that?"

Vyom, who had been eavesdropping, chuckled. "Maybe he's planning to start a bathroom band. Sounds like a hit."

"Yeah, a hit to my sanity," Aadhira rolled her eyes. "So, there I am, banging on the door, begging him to let me in, while he's drumming away like he's on stage at a rock concert."

"What happened next?" Mishri asked, her eyes wide with amusement.

"Finally, after what felt like forever, he opened the door with the smuggest look on his face," Aadhira continued, "and he had the nerve to say, 'Good morning, princess. Did you enjoy the show?'"

Mishri burst out laughing. "I can totally picture that."

"Tell me about it," Aadhira sighed. "So, by the time I got ready, I was already running late. And guess who conveniently forgot to leave me any hot water?"

"Classic brother move," Vyom said, shaking his head. "You should start charging him for all the trouble he causes you."

"I wish," Aadhira replied. "But instead, I'm stuck with him and his antics. So yeah, I'm not exactly in the mood to hit the books today."

Mishri patted her friend's shoulder. "Don't worry, Aadhu. We'll get through this day together. And who knows, maybe your brother will decide to join a real band and give you some peace."

"One can only hope," Aadhira said with a small smile.

"Or we could just form our own anti-brother alliance," Vyom suggested. "Membership includes free snacks and no drumming."

Aadhira laughed. "Deal. Now, let's just survive the rest of the day."

All the hustle and bustle of the class came to an abrupt halt as soon as Mr. Bhattacharya entered the room.

"GoooooD MOOooooOOORNing SiiiiiIIIIRRRRRRRRRR~~~~~" The class echoed in unison, performing the ancient melody that had been sung since the dawn of school.

"Good morning, students. Sit down. Ummm... Aadhira, beta, could you do me a favor?" Mr. Bhattacharya asked, his eyes scanning the room.

"Sure, sir. How can I help you?" Aadhira tried to maintain her composure, even though her entire being protested against doing any extra work.

"Beta, could you please give this notebook to Ansh Verma, a student in Class 12th-B and bring Viaansh's notebook?"

Mishri and Vyom exchanged sympathetic glances, knowing all too well that Aadhira's brother, Adrit Chatterjee, was also in 12th-B. The last thing Aadhira wanted was to see his face right now.But nevertheless, Aadhira had no choice.

"Sure, sir," Aadhira said, taking the notebook from him and mentally preparing herself for the ordeal. She trudged towards Adrit's class, feeling like she was walking towards her doom.

"Class mein 32 students, 13 girls, and still sir chose me? Am I wearing some kind of 'on-your-service" placard or something!?"

As she reached the door of 12th-B, she took a deep breath and pushed it open. The room was just as noisy as hers had been before Mr. Bhattacharya's entrance. She scanned the room and spotted Ansh Verma chatting animatedly with his friends, with Adrit not far away, grinning like he owned the place.

"Ahem, Ansh Verma?" Aadhira called out, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. "Mr. Bhattacharya asked me to give you this."

Ansh turned around, surprised, and took the notebook from her. "Thanks, Aadhira! That's really nice of you."

Just then, Adrit noticed her. "Well, well, if it isn't my dear sister, gracing us with her presence. Couldn't stay away, huh?"

Aadhira gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "Just doing a favor, Bhai. Not here for a family reunion."

Adrit smirked. "You know, if you wanted to see me, you could've just said so. No need for excuses."

"Yeah, right," Aadhira shot back. "Next time I'll bring popcorn and make it a show."

The students around them started laughing, and Aadhira turned to leave, her mission accomplished. As she walked out, she could hear Adrit's friends teasing him.

"Looks like your sister has more guts than you, Adrit!"

"Better watch out, she's coming for your throne!"

Aadhira couldn't help but smile as she made her way back to her class. Maybe seeing her brother wasn't so bad after all, especially when she got to have the last word.

When she returned, Mishri and Vyom were waiting eagerly.

"So, how was it?" Mishri asked, eyes twinkling.

"Surprisingly satisfying," Aadhira replied with a grin. "Turns out, embarrassing my brother can be quite therapeutic."

"That's the spirit!" Vyom cheered. "Who knew sibling rivalry could be so entertaining?"

Aadhira laughed. "I guess it's just another day in the life. Now, let's get back to surviving this school day."

"Aadhira, you didn't bring Viaansh's notebook?" Mr. Bhattacharya asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Shit," Aadhira muttered under her breath. "Sorry, sir, I forgot. I'll just go and bring it."

Mr. Bhattacharya nodded, and Aadhira reluctantly made her way back to 12th-B. She pushed open the door and found the classroom empty. Perfect, she thought. No audience for my humiliation.

As she walked towards Viaansh's desk, she couldn't help but notice the myriads of unattended items scattered around on Adrit's desk. A mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" she murmured to herself.

She spotted a whiteboard marker on the teacher's desk and, with a wicked grin, picked it up. Aadhira couldn't resist. She quickly drew a funny caricature of her brother, complete with exaggerated features and a caption that read, "Adrit, the Bathroom Rockstar."

Stifling a giggle, she put the marker back and looked around for more opportunities.

Just as Aadhira turned around to leave, a group of boys emerged from the doorway. They were unfamiliar to her, each wearing an evil smirk that made her uncomfortable.

"Well, well, look who we have here," one of them drawled, stepping forward.

Aadhira's heart raced, but she kept her cool. "Just grabbing a notebook for my teacher. I'll be on my way now."

The boys blocked her path. "What's the hurry? We just want to chat," another boy said, his tone mocking.

Aadhira's mind raced for a way out. She spotted the whiteboard with her caricature of Adrit still there. An idea sparked. "You guys like jokes, right?" she said, pointing to the board. "I left a little something for my brother. What do you think?"

The group of boys' curiosity was piqued by the whiteboard. As they moved towards it, she saw her chance and quickly darted towards the door. But before she could escape, one of the boys grabbed her by her hair.

Aadhira let out a startled scream. "Let go of me!"

The boy yanked her back, causing her to stumble. The other boys laughed, their faces a mix of amusement and malice. They began to circle her, each taking turns making snide comments.

"What's the rush? We just want to have a bit of fun," one boy said, grabbing her notebook and waving it mockingly.

Another added, "Yeah, let's see if you can handle a bit of real entertainment."

Aadhira tried to pull away, but her hair was tightly grasped. She felt a mix of anger and panic, her mind racing for a way out. One of the boys began to erase the caricature on the whiteboard with exaggerated gestures, making it clear they were enjoying every second of her discomfort.

"Stop it! This isn't funny!" Aadhira shouted, her voice trembling.

The boys only laughed harder, pushing her towards the desk and making comments that stung more than the physical roughness. Her face flushed with humiliation, and she felt trapped.

Just then, the classroom door burst open, and in walked a tall, lean and masculine boy, his chocolate brown orbs absorbing the scene unfolding before him, and then landing over Aadhira's teary eyes. His sharp gaze immediately narrowed to slits and he clenched his jaws.

"Hey! What the hell is going on here?" Viaansh's voice boomed through the room, making the boys freeze.

Aadhira's heart leapt with hope. Viaansh strode forward hurriedly, his presence shifting the air of fun to fear in an instant . He quickly approached the boy holding Aadhira's hair.

"Let her go, now," Viaansh growled, his tone brooking no argument.

The boy hesitated, caught between his desire to push his luck and Viaansh's intimidating presence. Before he could make a move, Viaansh grabbed his wrist and wrenched it away from Aadhira, freeing her.

"Get out of here before I report this to the principal," Viaansh said coldly.

The boys exchanged glances, their bravado fading quickly. They muttered apologies and retreated, grumbling as they left the room.

As the door slammed shut behind them, Viaansh turned to Aadhira. "Are you alright?" he asked, his expression softening.

Aadhira nodded, trying to regain her composure, and tried to wipe the tears cascading down her cheeks like a waterfall with her shaky palms. "Y-Yes, thanks to you."

Viaansh offered her a reassuring and charming smile. "Don't mention it. They won't be bothering you again."

Aadhira felt a rush of relief and something else she couldn't quite identify. Her heart fluttered as she looked at Viaansh. There was a kindness in his eyes that contrasted sharply with the roughness of the situation she had just experienced.

"Thank you, Viaansh Bhaiya," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

He nodded, his smile widening. "Anytime. Just be careful, okay?"

As Viaansh turned to leave, the classroom door swung open once again, and Adrit stepped in, his eyes immediately locking onto Aadhira. His face, initially filled with concern, quickly morphed into a look of exasperation.

"Aadhira, what on earth are you doing here? I told you to stay out of trouble!" Adrit scolded, his voice sharp with irritation. "And you-" he shot a disapproving look at Viaansh, "why did it take so long for you to step in? You're supposed to be the class president!"

Aadhira's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "I was just trying to deliver a notebook and got caught up in... well, a bit of a mess," she said, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Viaansh held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm sorry, Adrit. I came as soon as I heard the commotion. I didn't know what was going on until I got here."

Adrit's glare softened slightly, but he still looked troubled. "Just make sure this doesn't happen again. Aadhira, you need to be more careful. You can't just wander into other classes like that."

Aadhira bristled at the scolding but tried to keep her voice steady. "I wasn't trying to cause trouble. I was just doing a favour."

Viaansh stepped between them; his tone firm yet gentle. "Maybe we can discuss this later. For now, let's make sure Aadhira is okay."

Adrit sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Fine. Just... be careful next time, okay?" His tone softened, showing a hint of concern as he looked at his sister.

"Will do," Aadhira said, feeling a mix of relief and irritation. She glanced at Viaansh, who gave her a reassuring nod before turning to leave.

As Viaansh exited the room, Aadhira couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude mixed with the lingering sting of her brother's scolding. Adrit's protective nature was both comforting and a bit frustrating, but she knew he had her best interests at heart.

"Come on, Aadhu. Let's get out of here before you get into more trouble," Adrit said, his voice softening as he motioned for her to follow him.

Aadhira nodded and followed her brother, her thoughts still swirling from the unexpected turn of events and the newfound admiration she felt for Viaansh.

It was that day, when Aadhira was just 14, and now, as she stands on the threshold of turning 19 and embarking on her college journey, the memories of Viaansh Sehgal remain vivid and poignant. Back then, she was a timid girl caught in a moment of vulnerability, rescued by a boy who seemed to embody everything she admired-brave, kind, and effortlessly charming.

As the years passed, her feelings for Viaansh grew deeper, nurtured by the many encounters that followed. He would come over to their house to hang out with her brother Adrit, and each visit became a cherished occasion for her. Each time she brought him a glass of water, her heart would race, a mix of nervousness and excitement swirling within her.

In those moments, as she watched him casually chatting with Adrit, she would marvel at how his presence seemed to brighten the room. She'd steal glances at him, noting how his laughter could instantly lift her spirits, how his smile felt like a warm embrace on a cold day. It was in these small, everyday interactions-handing him that simple glass of water, watching him playfully tease Adrit-that her affection for him deepened.

Every conversation, every shared laugh, became a piece of a puzzle she had been piecing together for years. Viaansh's effortless charm, his genuine kindness, and the way he made her feel seen and appreciated left an indelible mark on her heart. Each encounter, each seemingly insignificant moment, only served to remind her of why she had fallen for him in the first place. It wasn't just the hero of that day but the countless ways he had touched her life since then.

Yet, a terrifying truth looms over her-a dark cloud that tarnishes the warmth of her memories. No matter how much she longs for more, Viaansh only sees her as a sister. The realization hits her like a chilling gust of wind, piercing through the warmth she had carefully built up. It's as though the castle of her dreams, lovingly constructed over the years, stands on a foundation of sand.

In the quiet moments, when the laughter fades and the room empties, Aadhira feels the weight of this truth pressing down on her heart. It's like a cold, unyielding stone resting in the pit of her chest, a stark contrast to the warmth of her feelings for him. The more she tries to ignore it, the more it gnaws at her, a relentless reminder of a love that might never be returned in the way she hopes. The beautiful garden of her affection is shadowed by this unspoken reality, leaving her to navigate the bittersweet t

errain of hope and heartache.

✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

Heya lovelies 🌹 👋 😊

So We hope that you guys liked the prologue of the story. I hope it caught some of your's interest.

So, we'll upload the first chapter as soon as possible. Till then, take care and Ta-ta 👋 👋