Ivaan Singh~

“Close the book, ma’am is coming towards you,” I whispered near her ear. She immediately shut the book and pulled out the notes I had given her that morning.

“What are you doing?” ma’am asked curiously.

Akira calmly placed the notes in front of the teacher. I quietly picked up the book resting on her lap and hid it inside my bag.

“Ivaan wrote this for me,” she said with a smile.

The teacher carefully scanned the pages.

“Ohhoooo…”

I lifted my head at the sudden hoot, only to find three boys grinning like little kids. One of them was sitting next to Riva.

“These are really good. It’s so easy to understand from this,” the teacher said, nodding in approval.

“Well done, Ivaan.”

I simply nodded. Just then, the bell rang, and everyone bid her goodbye. It was a self-study period now, so most students headed towards the library.

“Thank you, Ivaan,” Akira said softly.

“No worries,” I replied without looking at her, busy zipping my bag. “We’re going for a basketball match. Are you all coming to watch?” the same guy who was hooting earlier asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Manya replied. “By the way, you might not know them,” Akira began. “He’s Ishvin, this is Shaarav—Manya’s boyfriend—and he’s Aviraj, Riva’s deskmate—”

She stopped mid-sentence when a knock echoed through the classroom. I tilted my head towards the door.

And froze.

Kartik. Dev. Nivin.

From my past section.

I already knew why they were here.

Drama.

My eyes drifted to Akira. She looked confused.

I hoped she wouldn’t misunderstand me.

Wait.

Why did I even care?

I pushed the thought away and turned back to them.

“Why are you here?” Kartik walked up to me and shoved me harshly, making me stumble back.

Shaarav immediately grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away.

“Take it easy, man—”

“Just stay the hell out of this,” Kartik snapped.

Before I could react, Akira stepped in front of me.

“Stay here. You’ll get hurt,” she whispered.

Things escalated quickly. Aviraj picked up Riva’s bag and slammed it against Kartik’s head. The rest of the boys jumped in, chaos filling the room.

As Kartik tried to stand up again, Ishvin grabbed Kriti’s compass and pointed it at him dramatically. “Yehi maarunga, neeche baith.”

(I’ll hit you right here—sit down.)

“Is this how they fight?” I whispered near Akira’s ear.

“Not really,” she replied, amused. “They’re just having fun.”

“Ohhh…”

She handed her maths book to Ishvin, who promptly used it to smack Nivin’s head. “Now tell us,” Shaarav said, yanking Kartik to his feet. “What’s the problem?”

Nivin, still held tightly by Aviraj, pointed at me.

“He—he murdered our friend. We’re here to make sure he never forgets his sin.”

Their grips loosened.

It was happening again.

The same accusation.

The same silence.

Kartik straightened his shirt and stepped closer to me.

“Move away,” he ordered Akira. She didn’t budge.

He forcefully grabbed her arm, making her gasp.

That was it.

My fist connected with his jaw, and he collapsed to the floor. “Don’t you dare touch her with your filthy hands,” I growled.

“Leave right now,” I warned, pulling Akira gently behind me. “Or I’ll call the school authorities. They can file a case against all of you.”, “We can file one against you too—for murder,” Dev spoke up.

Akira grabbed Kriti’s Milton bottle and threw it straight at him. It hit his… third leg.

“Aage se Ivaan ke aas-paas bhi dikh gaye na, toh tum teeno ka sar tod dungi.”

(If I ever see you three anywhere near Ivaan again, I’ll break your heads.)

“He didn’t do anything. Stop blaming him.”

Dev collapsed to the floor, crying in pain.

Kartik and Nivin dragged him out of the classroom. Aviraj shut the door behind them.

“We’ll meet you outside the school,” Kartik muttered before leaving

“Shh. Calm down,” I chuckled, pulling Akira closer.

“You’re laughing?” she scolded, just like my dadi used to. “They’re accusing you of something you never did, and you’re laughing?”

“How do you trust me so easily?” I asked quietly.

“We just met yesterday.”

She paused.

“You don’t look like someone who could do something like that.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded.

“Thank you,” I said, adjusting her slipping glasses.

“But I’ll walk you home today.”

“There’s no need—”

“Chup raho. Main jaa rahi hoon tumhare saath.”

(Be quiet. I’m coming with you.)

“We all are,” the others said together.

“Even better,” she grinned.

“Bro, don’t let them bully you,” Shaarav said.

“If they come again, just text us.”

“I alone can protect him,” Akira said proudly, patting her shoulder.  My eyes lingered on her a second longer than necessary.

🐇🌷

I turned around—and she bumped straight into me.

“You okay?” I asked. She nodded. “I was trying to scare you.”

“What?”

“Dhappa!”

I shook my head. “You’re in high school.”

“So what?”

“Be serious.”

“Like you? You’re so boring.”

I sighed. “Fine.”

A few minutes later, the others joined us. “Let’s go,” I said. The girls walked ahead. “By the way, where’s your house?” Ishvin asked, throwing an arm around my shoulder.

“Not far. We’ll catch the bus from here. My stop comes next.”

“Oh, that’s near ours. Nice.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Aviraj asked.

“Nope.”

“Why? You’re handsome,” Ishvin whined. “Still single?”

“Yep.”

“If you’re not interested in girls, give them my number,” he grinned. “You’re so ugly, Ishvin,” Kriti snapped.

“Don’t think badly about any girl.”

“You shut up, shortie,” he winked. “Don’t be jealous imagining me with other girls.”

Kriti chased him with her shoe. “Don’t worry, sweetie pie,” he laughed.

“I’ll only marry you.”

“ISHVIN, YOU’RE SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS!”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Do you live alone?” Akira asked.

“No. I live with my dadi.”

🐇🌷

I opened the door. “Dadi, dekho kaun kaun aaya hai.”

(Dadi, look who’s here.) She walked in slowly from the backyard, carrots in one hand.

Before she could even react, Ishvin ran towards her.

“DADIIIII!”

Everyone followed, hugging her, laughing.

I stood a little away, smiling softly, watching her caress their cheeks. “Dadi,” I said quietly,

“They're my… friends.”

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Guimmzzz guimzzz bhaag naa matt note padhkkee jannaaa

Pheli baattt harr chapter ke aesthetics dekhne ke liye character accounts aur author yani mera acc folloowww krlooooooooo pllsss pllsss pllsss auurrr votee krnnnaa matt bhullnnnaaa kesaaa laggaa chapter yeh bhi batana

Abb mere mood ke hisab se chapter aayenge kabhi bhi double update kr sakti hoon

Seeee yyyaaaa sooonnn jaldi miltee tulip aur khargoshh ki kahani padhne ke liyyeee🐇🌷