[ Aadhya's POV ]
And that's when I saw him.
He walked in with an easy confidence, adjusting the strap of his bag as his dark eyes scanned the room. His crisp white shirt, though slightly creased, fit him well, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal his forearms. The top two buttons were undone, hinting at a laid-back attitude beneath his composed exterior. He wore well-fitted black trousers, the fabric smooth and unwrinkled, hanging just right over his polished sneakers. His hair, dark and slightly tousled, had that frustratingly perfect look. There was an air about him, something unspoken but undeniable, as if he belonged anywhere he chose to be.
My stomach did a weird little flip, a sensation so sudden and unexpected that I almost placed a hand over it, as if that could steady the rush of warmth spreading through me. It wasn't just the way he looked, it was something else, something deeper, like a quiet hum in the air, an invisible thread pulling me toward him.
I don't know what is happening to me. My throat went dry. My surroundings faded, my pulse thrummed in my ears, my skin tingling with a nervous energy I couldn't quite name. A strange kind of awareness settled over me, a whisper of something unfamiliar yet intoxicating, blooming like the first hint of spring after a long winter.
I came out of my trance when someone at the back straightened up, subtly fixing their hair. From the corner of my eye, I caught a few girls exchanging glances.
"New student?" Rohit sir, our tuition teacher asked, adjusting his glasses.
He gave a polite nod. "Yes, sir. Shaurya Sehgal." His voice was deep, steady, like he wasn't even slightly nervous.
Mr. Mehta scanned the room, looking for a seat. I should have guessed what was coming next.
"There," he said, pointing right in front of me.
Shaurya walked over, setting his books down without a second thought. He didn't look at me, not in any special way, at least. Just a quick glance before he focused on pulling out a pen.
Meanwhile, I was struggling to act normal. I wasn't staring at him. Okay, maybe I was. But just a little! Just enough to notice the way his fingers tapped lightly on the desk while he listened, or the slight crease in his brow when he was concentrating.
Oh God! Concentrate Aadhya, concentrate.
As I struggled to look anywhere but at Shaurya, sir began his lecture. I gripped my pen to focus but, my concentration on the lecture lasted only for five minutes.
"Let's solve this question" Mr. Mehta said, scribbling an equation onto the board. "Shaurya, since you're new, why don't you try it?"
He leaned forward slightly, eyes flicking over the equation. Then without hestitation, he walked up to the board, he picked up the marker and started solving the equation. I blinked. He was fast. His handwriting was annoyingly neat, and he solved the problem within seconds, underlining the final answer. Rohit sir barely glanced at it before nodding in approval "Correct. Quick thinking."
After what felt like an eternity, the tuition ended. I quickly stuffed my books into my bag, trying my absolute best to ignore the teasing glances of my friends. Though I knew, I've to face this.
As soon as we stepped out into the road, Aarohi started, "Toh Maharani Aadhya Devi, kaisa tha aajka apka tuition ka experience?"
"Jaisa har roz hota hai, boring" I retorted still looking at my phone.
Kiara raised her eyebrows "Huh? Boring? Aadhya? Tu ab humse jhooth bolegi?"
"Guys tumlog jaisa soch rahe ho waisa kuch nahi hai. Wo naya hai toh bas -"
"Are humne toh kisi ka naam bhi nahi liya aur tujhe samajh bhi aa gya" Kaashvi said dramatically.
I rolled my eyes "Tum teeno milke ek din mujhe pagal kar doge"
Kiara wiggled her eyebrows "Woh toh Shaurya bhi kar sakta hai, shayad aur ache tareeke se"
I was about to snap back when I heard footsteps behind us. Before I could react, all three of them turned to me at once "Your Shaurya is right behind us"
I turned.
And there he was.
Shaurya had just walked out, hands casually in his pockets, looking completely unbothered. But as our eyes met for a split second, I snapped my head forward, face burning, mentally cursing myself for looking.
He walked forward and stopped right in front of us.
Aarohi leaned forward and whispered into my ears "Lagta hai aag dono taraf barabar lagi hai. Propose karne wala hai kya?" I shot her a glare before reluctantly looking back at him.
"Hi guys! I'm Shaurya. Shaurya Sehgal. Actually sir told me to take down the previous notes from someone. So could you guys just help me with it?" he asked casually but in a polite tone.
"Yeah sure" Kiara pushed me a little further "This is Aadhya. She is a brilliant student and takes down all the notes. She will help you with the notes. Right Aadhya?"
My eyes widened at Kiara's statement and I momentarily paused.
"Ye... Yeah sure, why not? But actually today I forgot my notebook at home"
"No problem, you can give it to me the next day. I can wait"
"Okay" I blurted gulping nervously.
"Okay then bye guys."
As he walked past, I found all three of them singing together-
"Chan se jo toote koi sapna, jag soona soona lage"
"Stop it guys. What sapna?" I flinched at a slightly higher tone.
"Expectation: 'Aadhya, I think I like you.' Reality: 'Aadhya, mujhe notes de de.' "Kiara declared dramatically.
"Tumlog thoda sa pagal ho kya? Wo pure class mein sir aur apne notebook se mundi bhi nahi hatayi aur aise hi aake mujhe like you bol dega?"
"Chori pakdi gayi" Kaashvi jumped in excitement.
"Matlab tu admit karti hai na ki tune pure class mein bas usse ghoora?" Aarohi inquired pointing a finger towards me.
"Ha..... matlab nahi waise nahi dekha but-" a slight blush spread over my face.
"Dekha. Dekha. Dekha" all three started dancing together in the middle of the road.
"Hey bhagwaan kaise pagalon se pala para hai mere. Ha nachte raho tumlog mein chali apne ghar" saying this I walked forward and they quickly followed me.
No matter how much I try to ignore their words, I have to admit that, Yes! I had found a new distraction at tuition.
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[ Authors's POV ]
[ After three days ]
Due to an emergency reason, Rohit sir had granted a three days holiday to his students. Being a diligent student, Shaurya was keen on catching up with the missed lessons, so without much hesitation he had borrowed Aadhya's phone number from sir collect the notes.
Aadhya had always shared everything with her friends- from the smallest inconvenience to the biggest drama of her life. But she chose not to inform her friends about her conversation with Shaurya. She could already picture their dramatic gasps, teasing grins, and exaggerated Bollywood dialogues, if they found out.
In the evening, Aadhya, Aarohi, Kiara, and Kaashvi settled into their seats, waiting for the class to begin. Shaurya, effortlessly composed, was flipping through his notes, his sharp profile illuminated under the bright classroom lights. He had taken the seat just opposite to Aadhya. His crisp white shirt, the same one he always wore with an air of nonchalance, stretched perfectly over his shoulders, the sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows. There was something frustratingly captivating about the way he carried himself.
Every now and then, as he skimmed through the pages of his notebook, his dark eyes flickered up, stealing glances at Aadhya-intentionally or unintentionally. His gaze lingered on her for just a second too long before he looked away, as if catching himself in the act.
Aadhya, oblivious to his glances, was engaged in conversation with her friends, her hands moving expressively as she spoke. Shaurya noticed how her face lit up when she talked, the way her lips curved into a small smile even when she wasn't trying. It was an annoying realization-one he wasn't ready to dwell on.
Just then, she turned slightly, their eyes meeting for the briefest moment. Shaurya immediately dropped his gaze back to his notes, shifting in his seat as if the pages had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.
Aadhya frowned slightly, sensing something off, but before she could think too much about it, Shalini walked in. As she scanned her surroundings, her eyes landed on the figure seated across Aadhya. A small smirk played on Shalini's lips as she watched him for a moment longer than necessary. "No wonder those three were teasing Aadhya about him" she thought.
Just earlier in the day, she had overheard Kiara, Aarohi and Kaashvi nudging Aadhya with knowing grins, whispering dramatic lines about love blossoming over shared notes and the new guy in their tuition. Aadhya had dismissed them with an eye-roll, but her flustered expression hadn't gone unnoticed by Shalini. There was a slight sting of envy in her chest. Aadhya always had people around her-friends who doted on her, people who liked her without her even trying. This had always made Shalini dislike her, though she had claimed to be her best friend.
Determined not to be left behind, Shalini strode across the room and, without hesitation, took the empty seat right beside Shaurya. She placed her bag down, brushing her hair back as she offered him a soft smile.
"Hey, Shaurya," she said, tilting her head slightly. "So you are a new student here. I heard you were catching up on the notes. Let me know if you need anything."
Shaurya barely looked up, offering a polite nod before returning to his notes. His lack of reaction irked her, but she masked it with an easy smile, shifting in her seat so that she was angled slightly toward him.
Across the table, Aadhya caught the entire exchange. Kiara, Kaashvi, and Aarohi exchanged glances the moment Shalini took the seat beside Shaurya. Their playful smiles instantly turned into scowls as they watched her lean slightly toward him, flashing a sugary smile that made their blood boil.
Kiara let out a loud gasp "Unbelievable," she muttered, narrowing her eyes. "This girl has no shame. She just planted herself next to him like she owns the place."
Kaashvi folded her arms across her chest, shaking her head "Ugh, this is so predictable. She had heard us teasing Aadhya at college. And look, now she is clinging to Shaurya as if he is her possession."
Aarohi, who had been silently observing with an unimpressed look, finally spoke "Why does she have to insert herself into everything?"
Kiara scoffed, flipping her hair back "Mark my words, she'll start offering him help he didn't even ask for, giggling at things that aren't even funny, and pretending she's the only one who understands him."
Kaashvi smirked "Oh, she already started. 'Let me know if you need anything, Shaurya~'" she mimicked Shalini's actions, making Aarohi and Kiara stifle their laughter.
Aadhya, who had been silently listening to her friends' muttering, sighed "Guys, let it go. It's not like I own the seat next to him."
But Kiara was having none of it "It's not about the seat, Aadhya. It's about her shamelessness. She couldn't bear the thought of you having a normal conversation with Shaurya, so now she's throwing herself into the picture."
At that, all three turned to glare at Shalini again, who was now twirling a pen between her fingers and pretending to be oh-so-interested in whatever Shaurya was reading.
Aadhya shook her head, biting back a smile. Her friends were impossible. But before she could brush off their dramatics, Aarohi leaned in, lowering her voice.
"You guys know this isn't just about Shaurya, right?" she murmured "It's not only today. Shalini's always been like this with Aadhya."
Kaashvi and Kiara exchanged knowing looks "Ugh, don't even get me started," Kiara huffed. "Ever since childhood, she's been weirdly obsessed with everything Aadhya does."
Aarohi nodded, her voice laced with irritation "Remember in school when Aadhya won that inter-school poetry competition? Shalini went around telling people she had also written a poem, but she 'chose not to submit it' because 'she didn't care about winning'"
Kaashvi scoffed "Oh, and let's not forget the time Aadhya got selected for that prestigious summer camp. Shalini whined for weeks about how unfair it was, saying she 'deserved' the spot more but just wasn't given the chance."
Kiara crossed her arms "And what about the college fest last year? Aadhya got selected as the event coordinator, and suddenly Shalini wanted to be a coordinator too, despite never showing an ounce of interest in it before!"
Aadhya sighed, but this time, she didn't try to argue. Deep down, she knew her friends weren't wrong. Shalini had always been this way-hovering in the background, watching, wanting, and sometimes even trying to take what Aadhya had. She had seen it before, felt the weight of it, but she had never called Shalini out on it.
Because how could she?
"You guys know how it is," Aadhya muttered after a pause, her voice softer this time. "Our parents are close, our families are connected. If I make this an issue, it'll turn into something much bigger than just a silly rivalry."
Kiara rolled her eyes "So what? She gets to walk all over you just your families are related?"
Aadhya let out a tired chuckle "No, but I'm not going to start a fight over this either. If she wants to compete with me, let her. It's not like I've ever actively tried to take anything from her."
Aarohi groaned in frustration "That's the problem, Aadhya! You never try, and yet you always get what she wants. That's why she can't stand you."
Aadhya shook her head "Look, I get it. I really do. But I'm not going to play her game. If she wants to sit next to Shaurya and act like she's helping him, let her. He's smart enough to know what's real and what's just for attention."
Kaashvi scoffed "I don't know about him, but I swear if she pulls one more fake 'Oh Shaurya, let me help you' act, I will throw my notebook at her."
Aadhya smiled but stayed silent. She knew her friends had her back, and while she wasn't going to pick a fight with Shalini, she also wasn't blind to what was happening. Shalini had always been envious of her-always watching, always wanting. But Aadhya wasn't going to let it bother her.
Before her thoughts could fully consume her, their teacher strode into the class, his presence instantly commanding attention. The murmurs and whispers died down as everyone straightened in their seats, pulling out their notebooks.
The lesson began and time passed in a blur. Equations sprawled across the whiteboard, getting more intricate with every passing minute. Aadhya was taking down notes, glancing at the clock now and then, her focus slipping in and out. Kaashvi on the other hand stifled a yawn beside her, nudging Kiara, who was already doodling in the margins of her notebook and Aarohi was still trying her best to focus.
Somewhere in between solving numerical problems and listening to their teacher's explanations, Aadhya's gaze flickered toward Shaurya. He was still focused, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against the desk as he processed the information. Shalini, beside him, had leaned in slightly, pretending to be engrossed in her notes but clearly looking for an excuse to talk to him.
Another half-hour passed, and the class began to drag. Even the brightest students shifted in their seats, their energy draining. The sound of pens clicking and soft sighs filled the room. By the time the teacher wrapped up, closing his book with finality, relief swept across the classroom like a wave.
"Alright, we'll continue from here in the next class. Make sure to revise what we covered today," the teacher instructed before exiting.
The moment he left, an audible sigh of relief echoed through the room. Kiara stretched dramatically "I swear, I aged ten years in this class."
Kaashvi groaned, rubbing her temples "I stopped understanding things about halfway. Aadhya, I need your notes."
Aarohi leaned back in her chair "Same. And I need food. Let's go get something before I collapse."
Aadhya smiled, closing her notebook.
As the group stepped outside the tuition center , the cool evening air was a welcome relief after the long, exhausting class. The streetlights flickered to life, casting a soft glow over the bustling area. Students were chatting in small groups, some leaving while others lingered, discussing the lesson or making plans.
Just as Aadhya was about to respond to something Kiara said, a familiar voice interrupted her. "Aadhya" Shaurya's deep, steady voice called out.
She turned to find him standing a few steps away, his expression composed but sincere. His bag was slung over one shoulder, fingers idly tapping against its strap.
"Thanks for the notes" he said, meeting her gaze. "They really helped."
Aadhya blinked, a little surprised that he had actually come over to say that. She nodded, offering a small smile "Oh, um, it's no big deal. I'm glad they were useful."
Before anything else could be said, a voice cut in- "Oh, Shaurya! You don't have to be so formal with Aadhya."
Shalini.
She suddenly appeared beside him, her steps light but purposeful, as if she had been waiting for the right moment to insert herself. She placed a hand on his arm, just lightly enough to seem casual but with clear intent.
"She helps everyone, you know," Shalini continued, flashing a too-bright smile. "That's just how she is. Right, bestie?" She turned to Aadhya, emphasizing the word with an almost possessive undertone.
Aadhya resisted the urge to sigh.
Kiara and Kaashvi, standing nearby, exchanged irritated glances. Aarohi, on the other hand, looked ready to roll her eyes into another dimension.
Shaurya, for his part, simply glanced at Shalini with a neutral expression before looking back at Aadhya. Even if he found the sudden interruption annoying, he didn't show it.
Aadhya forced a polite smile "Yeah... I try to help when I can."
Shalini, as if completely oblivious to the tension, stepped even closer "You know, Shaurya, since Aadhya and I are so close, you can always ask me if you need help too. I mean, what are best friends for?"
The air felt heavier with the forced cheerfulness in her tone. "Desperate" Kiara muttered under her breath, while Kaashvi let out a soft groan.
Shaurya remained as composed as ever, offering Shalini a curt nod before turning his attention back to Aadhya "Anyway, thanks again."
And with that, he walked off, bidding a goodbye to all the girls except Shalini. She stood there, her overly sweet smile faltering just a little.
Aadhya bit back a smirk. She realized, Shaurya definitely wasn't the type to entertain unnecessary drama.
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