Ivaan Singh~

Akira pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, a few strands slipping free along the sides of her face.

"Janna zaruri hai?" she asked.

[Is it necessary to go?]

I nodded. "Jii haan, zaruri hai."

[Yes, it is.]

We walked silently toward the medical room. As soon as we entered, it was empty. I called out for the doctor, thinking she might be inside the medicine room, but there was no response.

"Maybe she's somewhere else," Akira said, her hands tucked behind her back. The way she said it-cute and slightly clueless-made a chuckle slip out of me without thinking. She noticed.

"You laughed again," she grinned, catching me just as I stepped out of the medical room, my lips still betraying a faint smile. My right hand instinctively went to the back of my neck.

She followed me, her fingers wrapping around my arm. I glanced back at her, my gaze shifting from her face to her hand holding me.

"Tell me why you laughed," she said, trying to look angry. I took a breath, placed my right hand on her shoulder, and gently guided her to my side. The sunlight fell perfectly here.

Yeah... perfect, I thought.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I stepped back and opened the camera. "Are you going to click my pictures?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes. Give some poses."

Once I was done, I stared at the pictures longer than I should have. I finally handed her the phone. She immediately began fixing the loose strands of her hair.

"Ayye, why didn't you tell me I'm looking this ugly?"

she whined, lightly hitting my chest, her eyes still glued to the screen.

"You look great, calm down," I smiled, holding her wrist to stop her. But the frown didn't leave her face. I bent down slightly so I could look at her properly.

"Trust me, you look... funny," I teased. She shot me a glare and walked away. I shook my head, smiling, and followed the angry bird. "What did you expect me to say?"

"Shut up," she muttered, stomping ahead. "I was just joking," I added quickly. "I was saying you look cute."

She stopped and turned, looking straight into my eyes-then walked again.

Except this time, she went back toward the medical room.

Such an idiot.

"Akira, this is the wrong way!" I called out.

She stopped again, turning her back to me, her hand rising to her face as I watched from behind.

She's definitely scolding herself for being absent-minded.

She came back, head lowered, walking fast. As she passed me, I grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Why are you looking down?"

She stayed quiet.

"Oh God, now what's this new thing? Look at me."

She refused. I gently slid my finger under her chin, coaxing her to lift her face.

Ah.

Got it.

"So you were blushing-that's why you wouldn't look at me," I said, biting my lower lip to keep myself from laughing.

She pushed me back and ran ahead, stopping a few steps away from me. She shouted,

"You're... you're-"

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "I'm all ears. Speak up."

"Bahut bolte ho tum. Annoying bhi ho," she blurted out.

[You talk alot, You're also annoying]

I suppressed a laugh. I couldn't help shaking my head, a quiet smile forming as warmth lit my eyes. I watched her retreating figure as she ran off-with my phone.

She was so busy being shy that she forgot to return it.

I turned toward a pillar, placing my hand against it, trying to control my smile.

"Act serious, Ivaan," I told myself. I cleared my throat, attempting to look composed-but failed miserably as her blushing face replayed in my mind.

Blushing because of me.

I turned back toward the pillar just as a voice startled me. "What are you doing here?" I jerked and looked ahead. The doctor stood there.

Thank God the doctor wasn't here today. Varna yeh sab kaha hota

"Umm... nothing. Just-just walking. Yeah, walking," I said, rubbing the back of my neck absentmindedly.

"Why? Indigestion?" she asked casually.

"Yeah-no, no! I'm fine," I replied too quickly.

I felt like slapping myself.

"There's no need to be shy. It happens. Come inside, I'll give you medicine. You'll be okay," she said.

"Arey, no... I'm fine. It's just-bye, bye! It's my lecture time," I said nervously, taking a few steps back before practically running away.

When I entered the class, it was empty. I turned around and bumped into someone-Ishvin.

"Heyy, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"You stink," I said, as he was wiping sweat by lifting his shirt. I shot him an annoyed look. "Weren't you in art class?" I asked, stepping aside as he walked in, turned on the fan, and collapsed onto the floor.

"Yeah... but I was completing the punishment, so I didn't attend the class," he said between heavy breaths.

"Punishment?" I stepped closer.

"Kriti hit a girl with a brick," he said. "That girl was bitching about her and-"

He stopped.

"And?"

"And she kept saying I'm her boyfriend. That maybe that's why Kriti was... jealous," he said, staring at the ceiling.

"You... like her?" I asked.

He looked at me and quickly sat up. "No. No."

"Then why did you take her punishment? And how?" I asked, sitting beside him on the floor.

"I told the teacher she was on her periods and couldn't run thirty rounds," he said. "I reasoned with her, tried explaining why Kriti behaved like that. Still wasn't enough. Tomorrow her parents are coming."

He fell quiet, clearly lost in thought. Then he looked at me.

"If you were in my place, you'd do the same for Akira. Right?"

"Shut up," I snapped.

Of course I would.

Why?

I don't know. But I would.

"You and Akira have chemistry, yaar," he said, already back to his annoying self.

I stood up. "Akira hates chemistry."

"But she loves biology," he grinned. "Maze hai tumhare, bhai. Meri wali ko toh arts pasand hai-ab main kya karu, batao?" He sighed dramatically and lay back down.

"Pagal ho tum," I muttered, walking out-then stopping right outside the classroom.

A voice echoed from the speakers fixed along the corridor. There were three or four on this floor, one after every few classrooms.

"Good morning, students. I hope your day is going well. I'm Tushar Malhotra, your mathematics teacher. I'd like to inform all students to assemble in Hall No. 4. The Chairman of Moon Willow Institute will be addressing you all.

I request everyone to maintain discipline. All teachers are asked to gather in the staff room of Department 2 within ten minutes. Students have thirty minutes to assemble in the hall.

We'll see you all in Hall No. 4 after thirty minutes. Thank you."

"Lessss goooo-" Ishvin jumped onto my back.

I pushed him off. "Change your uniform first, or else everyone will die in the hall."

"Whatever," he said, acting like a drama girl before walking away.

Where are you, Akira?

I had to bear this guy all alone.

🐇🌷