Chemistry was finally over, and we shuffled to computer class. Today, we weren't going to the lab—Bully sir had us working in our notebooks instead. Not that it was a huge relief; computers are fun, but notebook exercises… well, at least we could talk and joke while pretending to work.
Ayush slid into the seat beside me. "Notebook day, finally. Less chance of making a total fool of yourself on screen."
I grinned. "True… but we'll still find a way to mess around."
Tanmay was already scribbling in his notebook, smirking. "Watch this, I'm drawing Bully sir in my notebook. Best caricature ever."
I peeked. Sure enough, he'd exaggerated Bully sir's tall, stern figure—arms crossed, frown deep, eyebrows like angry birds. Aryan snickered quietly. "Dude, she—uh, he's gonna kill you if he sees that."
Tanmay whispered back, grinning. "Then it's perfect. Extra fun."
I opened my notebook too, doodling a little logo I'd made up for fun, while still writing down the notes we needed. I leaned toward Ayush. "Think you can beat Tanmay at making Bully sir look ridiculous?"
He laughed. "No way. That's a masterpiece."
Puneet peeked at my notebook. "Honey, you're too neat. Try exaggerating a little. Make him look like he has three heads or something."
I shook my head, smiling. "Nah… some things are better subtle."
The class went on with a mix of note-taking and quiet mischief. Aryan kept whispering jokes to Tanmay, and they'd laugh without even looking up. Kartikey stayed focused, meticulously copying notes, occasionally glancing at everyone else with an unimpressed frown. Caz leaned back, scribbling a tiny doodle in the margin.
Even though we were technically "working," the room was alive with quiet chaos: pencils tapping, laughter muffled behind hands, jokes whispered, tiny pranks written in margins. I joined in when I felt like it, nudging Tanmay lightly or teasing Aryan with a comment.
By the end of the period, our notebooks were a mix of proper notes and little drawings—some hilarious, some strange, some just mine. I leaned back, observing everyone for a moment. Even in a class where we weren't supposed to have fun, the stories, jokes, and patterns of behavior were everywhere. And I loved noticing them.
: Free English Period
The last bell of the day rang, but instead of the usual shuffle and groan, we stayed put—our English teacher didn't show up. A free period. Finally.
Puneet immediately leaned toward Kartikey. "Man, seriously… how do you see the board without a telescope? You sure you're not secretly a giant?"
Kartikey barely looked up. "Funny… very funny. Keep it up."
Tanmay snorted. "C'mon, Kartikey, don't be so serious. We're just joking!"
Aryan laughed, adding, "Yeah! If height was an Olympic sport, you'd at least win a medal… maybe bronze."
Kartikey grunted, scribbling in his notebook. He wasn't interested in arguing. Sometimes silence was the best comeback.
I leaned my head down on my arms, pretending to sleep. Not because I was tired, but because I wanted to watch the chaos quietly. Puneet, Tanmay, and Aryan whispered jokes, nudging each other, exaggerating stories from other classes, and laughing softly.
Uday was doodling in the corner, Kartikey focused on notes, and Caz was flipping through a book. The classroom felt lighter, almost empty in spirit, even if the desks were full.
Every now and then, someone would burst out laughing quietly at a story or comment. I kept my head down, barely moving, but listening to every joke, every whisper. My pencil idly scratched a line in the margin of my notebook—another habit, another way to keep track of small stories.
By 3:00 pm, the bell rang for the day. Students packed their bags, joking all the way to the door. I stood slowly, slinging my bag over my shoulder, following Ayush into the corridor.
The corridors buzzed with chatter, footsteps, and laughter, but for me, it was just another set of patterns, another flow of tiny stories to notice. School was over, but the observations—the subtle gestures, the whispers, the jokes—stayed with me, ready for the next day.