PART 1:
The first thing Avni heard was noise.
Not birds.
Not the alarm.
Snoring.
Loud. Deep. Continuous.
Krrrrr… khhhrrr…
She stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open.
"How," she muttered, "can one human being sound like a broken engine?"
She turned her head slowly toward the other side of the room.
Ryan Malhotra lay sprawled on his bed, one arm hanging off the edge, hair a complete mess, mouth slightly open—sleeping peacefully while the entire room suffered.
Khhrrrrr…
Avni pulled her blanket over her head.
It did nothing.
She sighed, threw it off, and sat up.
"Ryan," she said quietly.
No response.
"Ryan," she said louder.
The snoring only grew stronger, like it was challenging her.
She grabbed a pillow and threw it straight at him.
It bounced off his chest.
Nothing.
"You've got to be kidding me," she whispered.
She stood up, walked over, and shook the side of his bed.
Still nothing.
Finally, she snapped.
"RYAN!"
He jerked awake instantly. "What? Fire? Earthquake?"
She crossed her arms. "You snore."
He blinked. "So?"
"So? The walls were vibrating!"
He yawned lazily and lay back down. "That's talent."
She glared at him. "One day, I'll smother you with your own pillow."
"Good morning to you too," he replied calmly.
Before she could answer, a voice echoed from downstairs.
"Are you two awake," her uncle called, "or should I come there with a bucket of water?"
Avni jumped. "We're awake!"
Ryan stretched comfortably. "Speak for yourself."
She rushed to her cupboard. "Why didn't you wake me up? I'm late!"
"You wake up every morning yelling," he said. "I assumed today was no different."
She grabbed one sock. "Where's the other one?!"
Ryan pointed. "On your bed."
She spun. "Since when?"
"Since you threw it there while panicking."
She paused. "…I did?"
"Yes. You also accused the cupboard of hiding your books."
She groaned.
Downstairs, her uncle sighed loudly. "Five minutes."
"I'm dead," Avni whispered.
She tied her hair hurriedly, nearly dropping her comb.
"Relax," Ryan said, sitting up. "You're still breathing. That's a good sign."
She searched the table. "My bag. Where's my bag?!"
Ryan picked it up from beside him. "Looking for this?"
Her eyes widened. "You had it the whole time?!"
"Of course," he said casually. "Morning chaos is more entertaining when prolonged."
She snatched it. "You're impossible."
"And you're dramatic," he replied.
She rushed toward the door.
"Shree!" her uncle called. "Breakfast!"
"No time!" she shouted, already slipping on her shoes.
Ryan followed her to the gate.
As she opened it, he leaned against the wall lazily.
"Try not to start a war today," he said.
She turned sharply. "Try not to snore the house down!"
The gate slammed shut.
Ryan laughed softly.
The house fell quiet again—briefly peaceful, briefly normal.
For a moment, everything felt almost… ordinary.
And in a life built on secrets, that was rare.
PART 2:
Avni had barely crossed the lane when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
"Avni—wait!"
She turned just in time to see Ryan jogging toward her, school bag slung lazily over one shoulder.
"Shut up!"
"Just call me with that name again to see me killed"
"Okay...Alright..."
He shrugged. "Uncle said I should drop you halfway. Something about 'safety'."
She rolled her eyes. "I can walk."
"Clearly," he replied. "While running."
They had just reached the main road when someone suddenly collided into Ryan from the opposite direction.
Thud.
Both of them stumbled back.
"Hey—watch it!" Ryan said.
The boy straightened quickly. "Sorry. I wasn't looking."
He looked about their age—neatly dressed, calm eyes, school badge shining under the morning sun.
"I'm Aryan," he said politely. "Aryan Sen."
Ryan blinked. "Ryan."
There was a brief pause.
"…That sounds confusing," Aryan said.
Ryan smirked. "Tell me about it."
Avni watched them awkwardly.
Aryan's gaze shifted toward her. "You're from St. Alaric's, right?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Ryan noticed the way Aryan looked at her—curious, not rude, just observant.
He tilted his head slightly. "You know him?"
She hesitated for half a second.
"He's my uncle's son," she said smoothly. "Dad adopted him."
Ryan glanced at her.
She shot him a warning look.
"Oh," Aryan said. "That's… nice."
There was something in his tone—not disbelief, just quiet surprise.
The school gate appeared ahead.
"I should go," Aryan said. "Nice meeting you."
"Yeah," Ryan replied. "Try not to crash into people next time."
Aryan smiled faintly and walked away.
Avni exhaled. "You didn't have to stare like that."
"I wasn't staring," Ryan said. "I was thinking."
She frowned. "About what?"
He opened his mouth—and then, without realizing—
"Avni—"
She froze.
The air shifted.
"What did you just say?" she asked slowly.
Ryan's expression changed instantly.
"…Shree," he corrected. "I meant Shree."
Her eyes searched his face.
For a second, he thought she might question him.
But she looked away.
"Don't make that mistake again," she said quietly.
He nodded. "It won't happen."
They walked toward the gate in silence.
Neither of them spoke.
But something unseen had slipped out.
And once a name escapes—
it never fully disappears.