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DIYA

"Ahhhhh!!!!!"

I fall straight off the bed. My one hand clutching my very much non-existent injury, while the other rubbed my eyes.

"Subah-subah hi din ka shubhaarambh ho gaya, mummyyyy!!!" she groaned.
"Itta dukh raha hai!"

I lay on the floor, for a moment longer, accepting my fate. Then I streched my arms to find my phone to check the time.

7:40. Hardly 20 minutes left.

"Ahhhh...." I let out a small, frustrated cry, already fed up of my life.

I tried to search my uniform, but found it crumpled in a corner. My school bag, unpacked, I ran towards the study table, quickly putting the nearest book I got.

After around 10 minutes later, I hopped in pulling up my socks.

"Ek din bina girre nahi nikalta kya mera?" i muttered, glaring at the floor, because he was the one responsible for this chaos!!.

Slunging my bag on my shoulder, i moved out of the room - only to stop midway, rush back in, and grab my phone.

My Priorities.

Standing in front of the mirror for barely three seconds, i tied my hair with a clutcher, half of it still left open. looking at my reflection i smiled.

At least something went right in my morning chaos.

"Mummyyy, kidhar ho? Byeee!" I rushed into the kitchen and kissed my mumma's right cheek - a thing i always does.

"Arre diya, aise thodi bina breakfast kiye jaogi?"
"Kuch toh kha le."

"Mumma, aap extra lunch de dena. Waise bhi hamko first period mein apna breakfast karna hi hai," I replied casually, because ofc i owned the school. And noone dares to scold me.

Before mumma could even start lecturing me, papa stepped into the scene, diverting her attention towards him - he always saves me from mumma's scolding. I love him soo much. HE IS THE BESTT!!!

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I luckily reached school on time — well, not exactly on time. The announcement for the morning prayer had already begun.

I hurried into my classroom, dumping my bag on the nearest bench without a second thought, and rushed right back out.

The assembly was being held on the ground today, which meant,
I absolutely could not be late.

I ran down the hallway, my mind screaming "jaldi, jaldi late nhi ho sakte"

And then-
Thud.

I crashed into something.
Or rather... someone.
"Oof-!"

My forehead collided with a solid chest, and before I could even process what had happened, I stumbled back.

In the sudden hustle, I didn't even realise when my fingers clutched onto the fabric of their shirt.

My feet barely balanced me.
"I'm so-"

The apology was already on my lips when my eyes lifted. And suddenly... the noise around me faded.

I steadied myself, my balance slowly returning.

It was a He, He stood there, frozen, one hand instinctively holding my elbow, making sure I wouldn't fall.

Brown eyes met mine.
Calm. Unrushed.

It was the first time, in my life when I looked into someone's eyes, only to not look away, his eyes were strangely captivating.

I quickly looked away, nervousness rushing through me. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"I-I'm very sorry!!" I blurted out.

"It's okay," he said gently, his voice polite and respectful. "It was my fault too."
Ofc, it was your fault gadhe!!

Before I could respond, a teacher's voice echoed through the corridor, calling out to the students who hadn't reached the assembly yet.

"I'm very sorry," I rushed, embarrassment creeping into my cheeks. "I wasn't looking... I need to go now. Thank you, for saving me."

────୨ৎ────

After the assembly, Naira and I entered the classroom, still giggling about the most unimportant lecture our principal had given that morning.

"Bhaiii, kya faltu chiz boli us saanp ne, itta jhooth!!!" I scoffed, throwing my bag onto the bench.

Naira instantly copied the principal's serious tone. "I want you all to enjoy your school life. We don't only focus on studies."

I rolled my eyes. "Chor us principal ko. Chal tiffin khaate hain, bahut tej bhookh lag rahi hai. Aaj breakfast bhi nahi kiya."

Sitting down, I pulled out my tiffin, and within seconds, both of us were eating my lunch -more like stuffing it into our mouths without chewing. After all, it was our favourite pasta.

"Good morning, class." We were mid-bite when the teacher walked in. But neither of us panicked.

We already knew, this teacher would just smile and say, "Have... have."

"Sit down, everyone." the teacher said warmly.

"Welcome to 11th class. I hope this year you don't procrastinate and study consistently." Huhh... Everyone knows how consistent we would stay, i smirked knowing the real truth of life.

A few instructions followed -routes, subjects, study phases.

"Sir," one student suddenly asked, "where are the new students? Didn't anyone take admission this year?"

"They have, They're seated in a different room for now, since the course system is new for them. They'll probably be shifted here after a two or three days."

"Brooo, Diya, tujhe pata hai maine subah subah ek naya ladka dekha. Bhaiii, he was sooo handsomeeee!!!" Sara, one of my friend whispered excitedly from behind.

"Achha?" I leaned closer instantly, my tharki instincts kicking in.

"Idhar aa na, photo li??"

"Arey nahi le paayi," she said dramatically.

"Lunch break mein le lungi. Pakka, tujhe bhi bhej dungi"

Just like that, the class went on - mostly free, considering it was the first day.

────୨ৎ────

During the Lunch break, Sara and I sat scrolling through our phones, while naira went for lunch in canteen. When suddenly a notification popped up on mine.

A photo from tharki gang gc.

I already knew what it was.
Heart racing, I opened it only for my eyes to almost pop out of their sockets.

The boy in the picture was the same boy I had collided with that morning.

"Arey ye dekh na -" Sara started, showing me a reel.

She stopped mid-sentence.

Then grabbed my phone.
"OH BHAIII! Itna mast chiknaa, ye to vahi ladka haiii?!" she gasped.

"Bhaiii... tujhe pata hai aaj  hamare sath kya hua?".

By the time I finished, Sara looked just as shocked as I was. "Bhaiii... tune toh mere se pehle hi dekh liya isse??"

"Behen, idhar ham traumatise hoke baithi hoon aur tu daant rahi hai ki main usse pehle mil li?!"

"Achha achha, sorry... sorry," Sara said, though the mischief never left her eyes.

"Par soch na, kitni embarrass hui hogi tu."

"Puchh mat, par galti to us bande ki hi thi, bhai use dikh nhi rha tha kya ki ek insaan uske samne dor rha hai, use hat jana chahiye??" I sighed, rubbing my forehead in frustration, rolling my eyes.

"Par dekh na yaar..." Sara nudged me, sliding the phone closer.
"Kya chikna hai."

I glanced at the photo again, despite myself.

"Yeh toh hai..." I muttered.
"Bahut hi mast maal haiiii."

Behind us, someone coughed softly, as if trying to say something.

And the very next moment, when Sara and I turned around, it became the most haunted moment of our lives.

Because standing right there...
was him.

The same boy.

The one from the morning collision.

The one from the photo.

For a second, I froze.

He stood still, eyes calm but unreadable, as if he was traumatized with our words.

And suddenly, all the words I had been laughing about moments ago are the same words i am regretting now.

"Ahh... I hope he hasn't listened to our horny intensitive thoughts" I prayed silently, my heart thudding against my ribs.

Behind us, he cleared his throat.
"Umm..." he said softly.

"Teacher gave me your last year's notebook... for reference, so it could help me.

"H-hmm... tha-thank you."
The words barely left my mouth.

He gave a small nod.Calm. Normal.

Okay, I told myself desperately.
He definitely didn't hear anything. Bach gayi.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, towards his classroom, which was opposite to ours.

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The school bell rang soon after, signalling the end of the day.

I packed my bag quickly, because, All I wanted was to go home, as fast as possible.

Because the last thing I wanted...
was to face him again. Like literal 2 times in a day. same person. different scenario. same embarassed me.

Yet, as I walked out of the classroom, one thought refused to leave my mind.

Why I felt a strange feeling around him? I just met him this morning. But I felt like I had some connections with him.

✧✧✧

SOO MY PANDASSS!!!! KAISA LAGA FIRST CHAPTER???

IS IT GOOD ENOUGH TO READ?

DID YOU LAUGH ALONG THE WAY?

DID YOU RELATE TO DIYA?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART FROM THE CHAPTER? MINE WAS THE PHOTO ONE (BECHARA IKSHIT 😭😭)

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED READING IT.

EXCITED FOR NEXT CHAPTER???

OKAY, BYEE BYEEE

ACHE SE KHAANA PIO AUR MOZ KARNA

~ <3 ~

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