The corridor outside the principal's office was unusually silent — the kind of silence that made even whispers sound loud. Two boys stood near the door like regular visitors of trouble.
Aarav leaned against the wall, completely relaxed, hands in his pockets, a half-smirk on his face — as if suspension slips were loyalty cards he had already filled.
Mayan, on the other hand, looked stressed.
Mayan (slow whisper):"Bhai sun, andar jaake bolna ki maine tujhe disturb kiya tha… tune mujhe padhne se mana kiya, fir tu khud padh ke aaya. Exam time pe bas usi baat pe behas ho gayi."
Aarav laughed under his breath.
Aarav:"Main sab sach bolunga. Tu toh gaya aaj."
Mayan:"Tu dost hai ya dushman?"
Aarav:"Sach ka brand ambassador."
The office door suddenly opened.
A girl stepped out.
For one second — just one — time slowed.
Her eyes met Aarav's.
Soft eyes. Calm face. No fear. No attitude. Just quiet composure.
Aarav felt a strange flicker of recognition.
Aarav (thought):"Yeh maine kahin dekhi hai… par kahaan?"
Siya recognized him instantly — not personally, but by reputation.
Siya (thought):"Phir se yehi ladka principal office ke bahar. Iske kisse toh poore school me famous hain."
She spoke calmly.
Siya:"Principal ma'am tum dono ko bula rahi hain."
She walked away without waiting for a reply.
Aarav watched her go.
Aarav (softly):"Interesting…"
Inside the office.
Principal ma'am removed her glasses and looked directly at Aarav.
Principal:"Ab kya kiya tumne, Aarav?"
Aarav (straight face):"Ma'am maine kuch nahi kiya. Aapko toh pata hai main kitna seedha bachcha hoon. Jo bhi kiya hai Mayan ne kiya hai."
Mayan:"Ma'am—"
Principal:"Exam ke time baatein kyun kar rahe the?"
Mayan:"Ma'am woh…"
Aarav turned his head slowly and stared at him.
Aarav (low voice):"Sach bol."
Mayan swallowed.
Mayan:"Ma'am Aarav bol raha tha woh padh ke nahi aaya… phir extra sheet le raha tha… us par behas ho gayi."
Principal sighed deeply.
Principal:"Chhoti si baat. Aur woh bhi exam ke time. Amazing."
Mayan:"Sorry ma'am."
Principal:"Rules rules hote hain. Tum dono — two days suspension."
Aarav (shrugging):"Roz ka hai ma'am. Aadat si ho gayi hai."
Principal:"Tum kabhi nahi sudhroge."
Outside again. walking back to their class.
Aarav:"Mayan, woh ladki kaun thi jo bahar mili?"
Mayan:"Kaun?"
Aarav:"Office se nikli thi."
Mayan:"Haan haan, 10th class ki hai. Naam… Siya! Haan. Meri girlfriend ki class me hai."
Aarav:"Teri girlfriend bhi hai? Kab se?"
Mayan:"Badalti rehti hai bhai."
Aarav:"Character certificate pending hai tera."
They reached their Class 12-D.
Shruti (class monitor):"Phir suspend?"
Aarav:"Haan monitor ji. Do din ki shanti ka gift le lo."
Class laughed.
Scene shift — Siya's classroom.
She sat quietly. Her best friend Manya leaned forward.
Manya:"Principal ne kyun bulaya tha?"
Siya:"Kuch nahi. Annual day arrangements ke baare me pooch rahi thi."
Manya:"Organizer madam."
Siya:"Bas studies ka bhi poocha."
Pause.
Siya:"Tu Aarav ko jaanti hai? 12th ka."
Manya (laughing):"Poora school jaanta hai. Shararat department ka head hai."
Siya:"Aaj fir office ke bahar tha."
Manya:"Uska permanent address wahi hai. Lekin Siya, woh kitna handsome h. Uski height bhi ekdam perfect h."
Then suddenly—
Dev (loudly at the door):"SIYAAAA!"
The class turned.
Siya:"Ha bolo Dev?"
Dev:"Main breakup kar raha hoon."
Siya shocked.
Silence fell.
Siya:"Kya? Kyun?"
Dev:"Bas. Nahi rehna tumhare sath muje."
He walked away before Siya could say a word. No explanation. No pause.
The bell rang.
School over. Everyone started packing their bags and moved out of class.
Manya helped Siya pack.
She noticed tears.
Manya (softly):"Tu strong hai. Roh mat uske liye. Chal, bahar chalte hain."
Outside the gate, Manya left with her mom. Siya waited alone.
Meanwhile—
Aarav:"Plan bana? Suspension vacation ka? Kaha jana h soch na "
Mayan:"Soch raha hoon—"
Siya suddenly remembered.
Siya:"Oh no — file! Me submit karna bhul gyi. "
She turned and hurried back inside —
—and collided straight into Aarav.
She lost balance.
He caught her before she fell.
One hand at her waist. One holding her wrist steady.
Both froze.
Eye contact.
Closer than strangers should be.
Closer than comfortable.
Aarav (softly):"Careful."
Siya:"Sorry…"
But neither moved for a second longer than needed.
— End of chapter 1