Akira Mehra

I was standing with my friends in Hall No. 4 when the maths teacher announced that the chairman was coming to inform us about something.

Almost everyone was present—except Ishvin and Ivaan. Manya and Riva excitedly told me how Ishvin had saved Kriti from the punishment of running thirty rounds of the ground.

“He isn’t that bad,” Manya said to Kriti, who stayed silent, looking rather annoyed.

Where is Ivaan?

I shouldn’t leave him alone.

I still have his phone. I thought, glancing at the hall’s gate while touching the pocket where I’d kept Ivaan’s phone. Just then, Ishvin entered, looking around—probably searching for us. When he spotted us, he waved and jogged over.

I looked around once more, hoping to see Ivaan, but he didn’t appear. I sighed and asked, “Ishvin, do you know where Ivaan is?”

“I don’t know. He left before me,” he replied.

I stayed quiet for a moment before saying, “I’ll go and find him.”

As I turned back, I bumped into someone. I raised my head and found Ivaan standing right there. I turned around and glared at Ishvin “He gestured us to stay silent”

“Missed me, Akira?” Ivaan whispered, his breath brushing against my neck. He stood close—so close that I could feel his chest almost touching my back.

This is giving me butterflies… no, no, shut up, Akira.

But It felt safe. Protected.

I looked back at his face. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes were.

Maine bhi isse kaha chedh diya, bhagwan ji.

“Everyone, make lines. The chairman will arrive in five minutes,” a senior announced on the mic. I was about to step away when Ivaan gently pulled me back.

“We’ll stand together,” he said softly, “varna phir mujhe har jagah dhoondhti firogi.”

What an excuse huh!

Then he added, handing something to me, “And here—your specs. You forgot them in the classroom.”

We stood together—Riva ahead of me, Ivaan right behind. As the chairman arrived, the students wished him good morning.

He waved at us with a warm smile and walked toward the dais. He was almost seventy now

“Good morning, students. I hope you all are enjoying your high school life—meeting new friends and learning new things every day.

I arranged this meeting at the last moment because I wanted to inform you about this personally. It may sound a little stressful, but remember, it is only meant to build a strong future for you.

Starting from now, monthly tests will be conducted. These will not be like your regular class tests. They will be different.

On the last date of every month, there may be a combined test of all your subjects. The question paper will be of 250 marks. It will include two main language subjects—English (compulsory) and one additional language such as German, Italian, French, or whichever you have chosen.

For Classes 9 and 10, the paper will also include Science, Mathematics, and Social Science.

For Classes 11 and 12, the subjects will be based on your respective streams and their core subjects.

Each subject will carry 50 marks, and the test will be MCQ-based. Your semester examinations will remain the same as they have always been.

Before Semester 1, only four tests will be conducted. From February to May, during your summer vacation, you will get time to prepare for Semester 1, which will be held in July.

After that, from August to October, three tests will be conducted each month.

No extra tests will be taken in class. Focus on understanding what your teachers teach you, make proper notes, and revise regularly and—”

My legs felt weak, my head heavy as I heard his long speech. After a point, I couldn’t hear anything else. My mind went blank.

How will I study this much?

I stumbled, almost falling, but Ivaan held my arm in time.

“Hey, that girl in specs, are you alright?” I heard the chairman’s voice.

I shook my head slightly, looking at him.

“Itna kese padhugi mai,” I said out loud.

The chairman didn’t hear me, but the students around me surely did. A burst of laughter spread through the hall.

“Akira, stop your dramas,” Ivaan scolded.

I frowned. “Drama kya. I only watch Pakistani, Chinese, Korean, Turkish dramas. I don't do dramas. This is so bad how will everyone study itnaa sab kuch, i prefer dying aur naaa koi games na koi function sirf padhai, high school life ko kya yaad rakhenge apne bacho ko mai kya bataugi ki high school mai maine sirf padhi kii aur har mahine 250 marks ke tests diye summer vacation mai maine sirf semesters ke liye padhai ki, kya sochenge vo kii unki mom itni boring high school life jee kar aayi hai sir ne toh khe diya future banne ke liye , future mai bach payi itna padhke tab hi future banega na, aur pata hai—”

“Shh… bass bhi karo, Akira. Sab hass rahe hai,” Ivaan whispered, placing his hand over my mouth.

Everyone really was laughing—but who cares?

“Iwbshsh—” I tried to speak, but Ivaan shot me a glare.

“Chup karo. Sab samajh gaye tumhara future plan. Sir ko bhi pata chal gaya vo bhi hass rahe hai,” he said quietly.

I gave him a thumbs up. He finally removed his hand from my mouth. I glanced toward the chairman, who smiled before speaking again.

“Every month, there will also be different sports, arts, or other competitions. Two free periods will be given to you every day. Annual functions will be conducted every year. So your high school life won’t be boring—you’ll have plenty to tell your future kids.”

I lowered my head, completely embarrassed. Everyone’s eyes were on me.

“I hope now you’re not angry, Miss—”

“Miss Akira Mehra. I’m going to remember your name for my whole life,” he added with a chuckle, “maybe not just me—everyone over here.”

I’m famous. Yayay.

“That’s it for today. See you all soon,” he said, walking out. Everyone bid him goodbye. As the teachers left, I turned around and found my friends laughing uncontrollably, holding their stomachs—everyone except Ivaan.

He was just standing there, smiling.

“Apne bacho ko mai kya bataugi aww,” Manya mimicked, and everyone burst out laughing even harder. I rolled my eyes. Why was everyone glancing at me once and then walking away laughing?

“Bass na, hogya sab. Chup karo sab,” I tried to stop them, but no one listened. “Ivaan was really trying to save you, but you just didn’t listen to him,” Aviraj said, laughing as he lightly hit Shaarav.

“Now we all will tease you today by this,” Riva declared. “Bhagwan ji mujhe bachaa loo,” I muttered helplessly.

“Stop it now, guys,” Ivaan said, though he was even smiling. “Only you are my true friend. Save me from them, Aan.”

“Aan? Ohhoo… kyaa chakkar hai, guyss?” Ishvin teased. Before he could ask anything more, Ivaan suddenly held my hand.

“I will count to three. Just run, okay? Or else we both will be in trouble,” he whispered in my ear. I nodded, already preparing myself.

But instead of saying one, he directly said, “Three,” and ran, dragging me along with him.

“Ayye, stop! You both—we are not done right now!” I heard them shouting behind us.

Everything else faded away as my gaze fixed on our intertwined hands. We were already on the sixth floor.

“Oyyee premi jodoo ruko,” someone shouted.

I glanced down toward the fourth-floor area. Everyone was there, staring up at us.

“They are following. They are not gonna leave us alone,” I said as I saw them running toward the stairs leading to the fifth floor.

“You want to be all alone with me?” Ivaan raised an eyebrow.

“Ha—nahi.” He pulled me forward again. We passed empty class sections, the corridors unusually quiet. After crossing a few more classrooms, he turned toward a backside area.

Just then, Ivaan’s phone vibrated in my pocket.

“Here, Akira. This is the last time we’re climbing stairs, I promise,” he said. I sighed, already tired—but still moving with him.

He pushed the wooden door—it looked really old.

“Yeh konsi jagha hai?”

“This is secret place,” he said.

I pulled out Ivaan’s phone and handed it to him. “Phone aa raha toh koi shayad.”

He checked the screen.

“Dadi hai,” he said, calling her back as he closed the door.

I looked around. It felt like a terrace—one no one really knew about. I walked a little and noticed a few broken benches and chairs scattered around. When I looked back, Ivaan was still on the call. As soon as he was done, he smiled at me and slipped his phone into his pocket.

“We can see the whole view from here,” he said, walking toward me.

“And you can also talk to me here—no one will disturb us.”

“Tum matt shuru ho jao ab.”

He chuckled. “If you want to sit, we can sit over there. Not all chairs are broken.”

He examined a couple of chairs, picked two that seemed fine, cleaned them properly, and gestured for me to sit. I thanked him, and he simply nodded.

We sat side by side, looking at the view—tall buildings, birds flying freely, clouds drifting from one place to another, a soft, sweet scent in the air.

“When did you find this place?” I asked, breaking the silence, turning to look at him. But he was still looking ahead.

“When I was in 9th. Whenever I feel alone, I just come here.”

“Do you used to come here with someone else?” I asked.

“mhm. I used to come alone. Staying in a class full of people who hated me made me feel lonelier than ever. For peace, I used to come here. Every day,” he said, his eyes fixed on the sky.

“I never saw you coming here. It’s been more than a week since 10th started,” I said curiously.

“I didn’t need to,” he replied softly. “I don’t feel lonely next to you.”

His gaze met mine, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Um… I mean, you talk a lot na. Every hour you have something to tell me,” he added quickly.

“But you’re not annoying. Neither are they—I mean Aviraj, Shaarav, Manya, Kriti, and Riva. But Ishvin is. He’s really a pain in ass.”

He paused, then added seriously, “I can relate to Kriti—why she always wants to choke him to death. Sometimes I feel like doing the same.”

I burst out laughing at the way he described Ishvin.

“Aww, cutuu Ivvu,” I said, pulling his cheeks. “Did he annoy you or something?”

He nodded. “I went to class when you left. He was there, talking nonsense, didn’t leave me alone—and he jumped on me when he was stinking with sweat.”

Okay, Ishvin really irritated him—I could tell just by Ivaan’s expression.

I pulled his cheeks again, this time harder.

“Awellee, Ivvu bachee. Next time I’ll not leave you alone with that animal, okay?”

I felt like biting him—he is so cute.

Stay in your limits, Akira. As I released his cheeks, he rubbed them, almost making a fake crying face. I giggled. He smiled softly, inhaling a deep breath.

“You talk a lot in front of me,” I said quietly. I loved this. I swear. I loved it when he smiled and talked like this.

“You bring out my real self,” he said.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The wind brushed past us, and the silence felt… comfortable.

“In two weeks we have a test, so how will you study?” he asked.

“I don’t know, you’re assigned for that,” I said casually.

He hummed for a moment. “Then you can come to my house after school. We’ll study together—if you’re okay with that.”

“Yes! I’m okayyy. Aaj se hi padhenge,” I said excitedly, clapping my hands.

“Waise padhne ka naam lete hi maut aa jaati hai,” he teased.

“And now you’re saying you’ll start studying from today?” He leaned closer, his forehead lightly touching mine. I stopped breathing as he said “You’re more excited to stay with me from morning to evening.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

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