Prathyav’s POV:

Hello, hello, helloo!!

Good morning guys!

Myself Prathyav.

You guys can call me Prath or anything you love, girls I don’t have any problem wink emoji.

I’m a student… unfortunately. But still, I am.

And right now? I’m on my way to school. With whom? My dad.

#schoolteacher

Prathyav Kapoor.

That’s me.

My life? It’s wilder than a rollercoaster ride—full of fun, jokes, friendships, drama...

But... but but but...

There’s that person “WOH”.

You're wondering what that is, right?

There’s a girl.

Name? 

I also don't know.

Our story began with a name, and somehow, and  in present too still it's right there.

Today, I stand here once again—

Right in that same corridor

Where I first met her.

Back then, I had no idea

That a single encounter

Would leave an imprint

On my soul for a lifetime.

Two years ago,

I walked away from school.

Why?

I don’t really have an answer.

Some things are just too heavy to explain,

And some memories—

They’re better left unspoken.

Now, after two long years,

I must gather the courage to walk in again.

Many here still remember me,

And many faces are new...

But I wonder—

Is she still here?

Slowly, I stepped inside.

Everyone was busy talking, caught up in their own world—no one noticed me.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Amit!"

It was Amit Shukla—my childhood friend.

The one I’ve known since we were kids,

The one who shared the same hostel walls with me.

And now, as I stood there, back after all these years,

There was no one happier to see me than him.

His eyes sparkled with surprise,

And mine—

With memories.

Amit, holding my shoulder, said with a smile, "Aah, gaya bhai, tu acha hua chal. Tereko teri seat dikhta hu.”

[“Ah, you're here, brother. Good, come on. Let me show you your seat.”]

“Haa bhai, chalta hu-chalta hu." Before walking to my seat, I wanted to search for someone. 

[“Yeah, bro, I’m coming—I’m coming.”]

My eyes scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Quickly glancing in every direction,

Hoping—just maybe—

I’d catch a glimpse of those eyes.

The reason I came back.

The biggest reason for returning at all.

I was still looking…

And then suddenly, my gaze stopped.

But something made me pause.

Hazel brown.

Those same hazel brown eyes.

But I wasn’t sure—

Was it really her?

Fourth desk, right by the window,

Sunlight falling perfectly across her face.

Her black brown hair was tied in two ponies,

And that smile—

A smile so magnetic,

It pulled something inside me.

The tender beauty that seems to brighten the room itself. Her twin braids fall neatly over her shoulders, framing a face where innocence dances with a quiet, knowing joy. Her smile, soft yet full of life, reflects a soul that is both kind and courageous, someone who embraces the world with open arms and a fearless heart. 

Her raised eyebrows showed confusion, and I was stuck, drawn to her. Why?

Her eyelashes are long and delicate, and there's a faint, gentle smile on her lips—like she's lost in a sweet thought or a quiet moment of happiness

I froze there.

Why?

I don’t know.

It just… pulled me in.

Why again?

I still don’t know.

"Kaha kho gaya tu, baith bhi ja abb," Amit said, looking at me with a grin.

[“Where did you get lost? Sit down now”]

I quickly took a seat—next row, next desk.

But her desk... it was just across from mine.

Only a small gap separated us.

Still, my eyes couldn’t help but wander toward her.

She was busy talking to someone—

Someone she probably knew.

And there I was... just staring.

What the hell, Prathyav!

You can’t just stare at someone like that, dammit!

You came here to find your GOLA,

Not to lose yourself in someone’s eyes.

Not to sit here, staring like an idiot.

All of my friends who had studied with me since 4th class came to talk to me, and within a short period of time, I was comfortable here again.

But my eyes—my eyes were betraying me.

I was looking at her again.

The hazel brown one.

She’s distracting me.

She is a major distraction for me.

“Kya kar raha hai, pagal? Ussi waqt se ghur raha hai!”

[“What are you doing, you madman? You’ve been staring since the moment we got here!”]

Amit shook my shoulders, snapping me out of my trance. My concentration shifted from her... to him.

“Bhai, kya kar raha hai tu? Kidhar dekh raha hai?”

[“Bro, what are you doing? Where are you looking?”]

I didn’t have any words. I fumbled.

“Woh… woh main…”

[“Uh… I… I was just…”]

Amit followed my gaze, then looked back at me with a smirk. I quickly looked here and there, trying to avoid his eyes.

“Beteee… samajh raha hoon main! Aate aate sabse popular ladki par nazar daal di… sahi hai, sahi hai!” Amit teased, nudging me.

[“Ohooo… I get it now! First day and you’ve already laid eyes on the most popular girl… nice, nice!”]

“Sabse popular ladki matlab?” I asked, confused.

[“The most popular girl? What do you mean?”]

“Bhai, popular hai woh. Kyunki sundar hai,” Amit said casually.

[“Bro, she’s popular. Because she’s pretty”]

“Sundar se popular? Waah, yeh kuch naya suna maine,” I said, shaking my head in disapproval.

[“Pretty makes you popular? Wow, that’s a new one for me”]

“Chhod na bhai… waise tu bata, wapas aa ke kaisa lag raha hai?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.

[“Leave it, man… Anyway, tell me—how does it feel to be back?”]

“Sach kahoon… bahut acha lag raha hai. Wapas yahan aa ke apna sa feel ho raha hai,” I replied, smiling.

[“To be honest… It feels really good. Coming back here feels like coming home”]

“Achi baat hai, kyunki main nahi chahta tu akela feel kare,” he said, smiling warmly at me.

[“That’s great, because I don’t want you to feel alone”]

“Nahi kar raha hoon bhai,” I smiled back.

[“I’m not, bro”]

And then the bell rang. Everyone started moving out to the assembly. I stood up and was about to move when suddenly—

someone bumped into me.

Hazel brown eyes. Big eyelashes.

She bumped into me—

And for a moment, time froze.

She looked at me.

Really looked at me.

And just as she was about to say something—

someone called her.

She turned and ran off without saying a word.

I stood there, still staring in the direction she went, heart slightly racing.

“Arey! Bhai!” Amit’s voice snapped me out of it.

[“Hey! Bro!”]

“Chal jaldi! Nahi toh teacher se daant pad jayegi! Assembly ke liye late ho rahe hain!”

[“Hurry up! Or we’ll get scolded by the teacher! We’re getting late for the assembly!”]

I blinked, shook my head slightly, and rushed after him.

I didn’t want to be late on the first day. Not at all.

I was standing in the assembly row.

And trust me, being tall has its side effects.

But you know what’s worse?

Your own father standing right behind you—

Not too far, not too close. Just there. Watching. Judging.

What could be worse than that?

Amit was right behind me, and I was looking around, trying to keep my cool.

Suddenly, the girls' row started forming beside us.

And again—

That same girl, the one with the hazel brown eyes, ended up standing right next to me.

Bhagwan bhi chahte hain, Pratyav beta, tu isey ghurta rahe.

I swear, wherever I go, she somehow ends up right beside me.

Fate’s playing games.

She was looking straight ahead, totally unaware of the chaos she was causing in my head.

And then—

The teachers started shouting:

“Take a one-hand distance!”

I tried to step back, step back again—

But I accidentally stepped right on Amit’s shoes.

Because honestly?

My focus was not on the hand distance.

It was on her.

Amit slowly shouted at me, just enough for me to hear:

“Oyee! Dhyaan kahan hai tera?”

[“Hey! Where’s your attention at?”]

I whispered back nonchalantly, eyes still fixed in that direction:

“Wahaan…”

[“There…”]

Amit couldn’t hear properly because of all the noise.

“Kyaaa?” he asked, confused.

[“What?”]

I snapped back to reality and quickly stood up straight.

“Kuch nahi, kuch nahi,” I replied, trying to brush it off.

[“Nothing, nothing”]

And then the prayer started.

I swear, I did the prayer… mostly.

But from time to time, my eyes would open—just a little.

And I looked at her.

She wasn’t praying either.

Just had her hands joined, eyes wandering, lost in thought.

A small smile crept onto my lips.

But then—

I spotted my father walking towards our side.

I immediately shut my eyes and pretended to be deep into the prayer.

A few moments later, I couldn’t resist.

I opened my eyes again—

She was still in her own little world.

And I

Well… I was in mine.

Busy with my own very important task:

Staring at her.

Okey So now I have a beautiful distraction and I'm liking it.

After assembly, we were in class when the teacher came in and everyone stood up.

"Good morning, class. I'm your class teacher Mr. Anantesh Singh. Nice to meet you all," sir said in a loud voice — too loud, I’d say.

"So let's begin the attendance, then we will start our class," he spoke while flipping through the pages of the attendance book.

He started the roll call by mentioning names.

"Roll no. 14 — Aranya Tanwar." sir call out and look for the person 

"Present, sir," came the reply.

I turned to look at the person — none other than the hazel-brown-eyed girl. Her name is Aranya Tanwar, and her voice... sweet, sweet like mishri. Can a voice be that sweet? SWEETY Or SHONA.

Aranya Tanwar — the hazel brown.

Uff, kaafi pyaara naam hai.

I was in my delusional world when I suddenly heard sir calling my name.

"Roll no. 28 — Parthyavv Kapoor." sir shouted 

"Yes, sir," I said as I stood up, but awkwardly — the reason? Sir had already called my name more than five times, and I was busy thinking about her.

"Bahut khoye hue lagte hain aap. Aaiye, khud ko introduce kijiye aur bataiye kis soch ke khoye hue the," sir said while eyeing me to come in front of the whole classroom.

[“You seem very lost. Come, introduce yourself and tell us what thoughts had you so distracted”]

I walked in front of all the students, thinking, Kaha fas gaya yaar…

"Hello guys! Good morning! I'm Parthyav — Parthyav Kapoor. You guys can call me anything you want."

And I was about to continue, “I was thinking about…”

And hell — my eyes fall on her.

And she… she was looking at me. Seriously.

She was looking at me for the first time.

She noticed me. Now. Right now. Her brown eyes… are on me.

What the hell… what the hell…

Why can't I say anything now?

Why am I not breaking the eye contact?

She is beautiful. So beautiful.

Her eyes — her eyes, her presence is distracting my whole concentration.

Tu toh gaya, Parthyav Kapoor… tu gaya…

[You’re done for, Parthyav Kapoor… you’re done for…] 

Aranya's  POV:-

Late hu, late hu, late hu!

I know I’m late — but as if I care.

Here I am, sitting on my bed, eating food and scrolling through my phone, not even caring about my sister who's shouting at me like the house is on fire.

Hello to my world.

Aranya Tanwar — eldest daughter of the family.

But not by brain or heart. Zimmedariyon ka bojh hai mujh par.

Main kyu uthao sab zimmedari? Theka leke baithi hu kya?

[But not by brain or heart. It’s the weight of responsibilities on me. Why should I carry all the burden? Did I sign up to take care of everything?]

My sister, Samridhi, was shouting at the top of her lungs — why?

Just for me to get ready fast. But I’m the lazy one.

Eventually, I stood up and packed my books.

New session, new bakchodi unlocked!

Kaun kehta hai main padhne school jaati hu?

Sirf aur sirf kaand karne ke liye jaati hu!

[New session, new madness unlocked! Who says I go to school to study?I go only to stir up chaos!]

Suddenly, we heard a horn.

Oppss! I think the van’s standing outside.

I hurriedly grabbed my bag, shoes in one hand, and started running while trying to wear them on the go.

Samridhi was waiting for me in the van.

She passed me my lunchbox.

Hehehe… I forgot this too.

Meri duniya bahut chhoti hai.

Ghar pe main alag, bahaar alag.

Ghar ki shant beti… school ki sabse badi baddie.

[My world is very small. At home, I’m someone else… outside, someone else entirely. The quiet daughter at home… the biggest baddie at school.]

I entered the class and saw the group —

Aman, Aditya, Khushi, Akriti, Danish, Arpit, and Alay.

Hum 8 ke 8 ka group khatarnak hai!

Aur humari dosti kyu hui? Sabse best reason — exam mein ek dusre ko cheat karke!

[We, the 8 of us, are a dangerous group! And why did we become friends? The best reason — cheating off each other during exams!]

Khushi and Akriti — my bestest friends.

They’re like sisters to me.

“Kya bhai log, yeh jhund banake kya discussion ho raha hai?” I said while placing my bag on the bench and sitting down.

[“What’s up, guys, what’s this gang discussion going on?”]

“Kuch nahi… Aman ki bandi hai ek. Yahi hai jo single nahi hai. Warna hum sab single hi hain,” Aditya said in a sad voice.

[“Nothing… Aman’s girl is one of us. She’s the only one who isn’t single. Otherwise, we’re all single,”]

“Oyee kauve Ram! Tujhe koi milegi bhi nahi, kyunki tu usko bhi gussa dila dega aur woh tujhe kut degi pakad ke,” I said, pointing at him.

[“Hey, crow Ram! You won’t even find anyone, because you’ll piss her off and she’ll beat you up,”]

All of us burst into laughter, roasting each other like always.

The fact is — we don’t care about anybody when we’re busy talking.

Suddenly, the bell rang.

I was walking, not looking straight — and bump! I ran into someone.

I was about to look at the person and say sorry, but I was in such a hurry…

I just ran without saying anything.

Urrggh! Morning assembly.

Babar Ajam ke pille kahin ke! Subah-subah assembly mein laa ke khada kar dete hain, upar se itni dhoop! Ek ghanta pura... Aur aaj toh ye motka princie bhashan dega, isliye mere ko behosh hone ka natak karne ka mann karta hai — par kar bhi nahi sakti, izzat chali jayegi.

(Jaisi ki hai, bohot zyada!)

[Babar’s little brat, wherever they are! They bring us here for assembly so early, and on top of that, it’s so sunny! An entire hour… And today, this chubby principal will give a speech, and I feel like faking unconsciousness — but I can’t, I’ll lose my dignity.]

(As if I have much dignity left!)

Teachers are shouting at the top of their lungs, "Make a row! Make a row!"

Dyaan se dekho bhai, dhyan se! Kab ka line mein khade hain hum!

[Look carefully, bro, carefully! We’ve been standing in line forever!]

Then the prayer starts. I never actually do the prayer, I just act like I’m joining my hands. In reality, I spend that time looking around at the whole assembly.

I love doing this — when everyone else is busy praying, I close one eye, keep the other one open, and let it wander around.

Finally, after 1 hour and 10 minutes, the torture called assembly is finished. I'm back at my seat now — and I love this window seat for real!

Kyuki jab padhne ka mann nahi hota, toh bahar dekh leti hoon.

Iska matlab yeh hai ki din bhar main bahar hi rehti hoon.

[Because when I don’t feel like studying, I just look outside. This means, I spend the whole day outside.]

Akriti is my bench partner, and Khushi sits in the front seat with one of our classmates.

Then, here comes our class teacher...

Anantesh Singh — a rude Science teacher who always thinks he is the superior one here.

He starts calling out roll numbers one by one. Then he calls mine — and continues.

Then he called roll no. 28 again and again, but no one responded.

Suddenly, one boy stood up and said, "Present, sir."

I looked at that person sitting to the right side of the desk — not too far, not too close to mine — looking at the teacher. And for the first time, I noticed him.

New one, I think so... but why did I feel like I already knew him?

Urrggh! Don’t start again, Aranya! Control your delulu mind!

But... one second... he looked nice... means, nice nice.

Akriti, while coming close to me, whispered,

"Acha dikh raha hai yeh toh tere liye."

[“Looks good for you.”]

"Kya bol rahi hai, pagal! Mereko kya karna achha dikh raha hai ya nahi usse," I said, rolling my eyes.

[“What are you saying, you crazy girl! Why should I care if it looks good or not?]

"Oyee rehne de," she said, giggling. "Aaj tak itna accha ladka school mein tha nahi, sab chomu the. Aur jab achha aaya hai toh dekhne mein kya burai hai? Kya pata tujhe pasand aa jaye," she added, looking at me hopefully.

[“Leave it,” “There’s never been a guy this good-looking in school, all the others were losers. And now that one is here, what’s wrong with looking? Who knows, you might even like him,]

“Bete, prem ka chakkar maut se takkar!

Don't you know?”,I said to akriti she ignored my words like we ignore vegetables when we get our favourite dish.

[“Kid, love’s a game where you’re up against death! Don’t you know?”]

“Aur bhai prem karne se pehle,

Mujhe toh papa ka chehra dikhne lagta hai ladko mein — dur rehna is better”, I said, shaking off the disturbing thought of seeing my father's face again.

[“And bro, before falling in love, I start seeing my dad’s face in every guy — staying away is better,”]

And just then...

my eyes fell on him.

Then Sir called him in front of the classroom to explain where he was lost.

Haa ha! Jaise woh bata dega aapko kya soch raha tha... bade aaye!

[“Yeah, right! As if he’ll tell you what he’s thinking… big shots, huh?”]

He came in front of the class, and now I could look at him clearly.

Hell! Kitna chikna hai yeh bencho----

Mera matlab hai, ekdum doodh ki tarah gora hai, chiknaaaa!

[Hell! He’s so handsome, damn— I mean, he’s fair as milk, super smooth!]

In the soft light of the classroom, his presence was both calm and striking. His hair, carefully brushed back, crowned a face carved with quiet strength and youthful pride. The lines of his jaw, the subtle arch of his brows, and the gentle, knowing curve of his lips created an image of someone who carries dreams within his heart and determination in his gaze. The rich maroon of his uniform wrapped around him like a shield of ambition, hinting at the boy who is swiftly becoming a man — someone whose silence speaks louder than words, whose simple glance holds stories untold.

One second, one second... Tu wapas se writer waale line mein kyun ghus gayi, Aranya?

Tu Wattpad writer hai iska matlab yeh nahi ke jidhar sundar ladka dikhega, udhar hi explain karne lagegi!

[One second, one second... Why did you slip back into writer-mode, Aranya? Just because you're a Wattpad writer doesn’t mean you start explaining every handsome guy you see!]

By the way, haan, main ek writer hoon — chhoti moti books likhti hoon Wattpad par — magar is harkat ko ignore kare!

[By the way, yes, I’m a writer — I write small books on Wattpad — but just ignore this little habit of mine]

And then he looked at me — and for some reason, I didn’t look away.

Time didn’t stop... but maybe, just maybe, it slowed down a little.

His eyes — black, deep, endless.

Not just black...

Black like forgotten dreams, black like midnight skies you could fall into and never want to come back from.

For a second, it felt like the whole noisy classroom faded, and only his gaze stayed — stubborn, steady, and impossibly real.

He looks good.

No, scratch that — he looks damn good.

And for a second, that's the only thing my brain manages to say on repeat.