As the first light of dawn crept into the room, it painted everything in a soft golden hue. The once dim and tranquil space gradually warmed, the golden rays caressing the walls, casting gentle shadows, and illuminating the few scattered books and clothes that adorned Palak's room.

The alarm blared, shattering the peace, but Palak, barely awake, instinctively reached out and snoozed it, her eyes still shut, resisting the pull of the morning.
She rolled over, nestling deeper into the warmth of her blankets, hoping to steal a few more precious moments of sleep.

Just as she was drifting back into her dreams, the shrill ring of her phone pierced the silence. Groaning, she fumbled around her bedside table before finding it. Without checking the caller, she answered, her voice thick with sleep.

"Uth jaa, maate! Mai 15 minute mein tere ghar ke paas aa rahi hu. Phir saath mein Manya ko lete hue chalenge. Aaj Trivedi ka lecture hai, toh late nahi ho sakte," Anushka's lively and impatient voice echoed through the line, jolting Palak slightly awake.

["Wake up, girl! I'll be near your house in 15 minutes. Then we'll pick up Manya on the way. We can't be late today since it's Trivedi's lecture."]

Palak, still half-asleep, grumbled into the phone, "Yaar... ye Trivedi toh humare piche hi pad gaya hai. Pata nahi kya dushmani hai," she yawned, her words trailing off as she considered the comfort of her bed.

["Man... this Trivedi is really after us. I don't know what grudge he has against us."]

"Jaldi tyaar ho jaa! Mai nikal rahi hu," Anushka insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument before cutting the call.

["Hurry up and get ready! I'm heading out now."]

Palak sighed, the lingering warmth of sleep now replaced with the urgency of the morning. She dragged herself out of bed, feeling the coolness of the floor beneath her feet as she reluctantly made her way to the bathroom. Quickly freshening up, she slipped into her school uniform, the crisp fabric a stark contrast to the softness of her bed, and finally felt ready to face the day ahead.

Meanwhile, across town, Manya was still deep in slumber, curled up under a thick quilt. In her dreams, she was far from the obligations of school, lost in a world where Rhys, her fictional crush, existed. Her mother, knowing well how difficult it was to wake her up, gently shook her shoulder, calling out, "Uth jaa..."

[Wake up!!]

Manya, groggily and unwilling to leave the comfort of her dreams, mumbled, "Sone do na, Mummy..." pulling the quilt tighter around herself.

["Let me sleep, Mom."]

"School hai tera... jaldi uth! Papa ko bula dungi," her mother warned, knowing the threat would work like magic.

["You have school... wake up quickly! I'll call your dad."]

The moment Manya heard Papa, she bolted upright, the lingering drowsiness evaporating in an instant. She darted to the washroom, the urgency of the morning finally catching up to her. Her mother, amused by her daughter's predictable response, couldn't resist teasing, "Aur ye neend mein kya bad-badaati rehti hai?"

["And what are you mumbling in your sleep?"]

Manya, flustered, her mind still lingering on her dream of Rhys, quickly brushed off the question. "Mummy, jaldi karo! Palak aur Anushka aate honge," she said, rushing to get ready, her earlier drowsiness completely forgotten.

["Mom, hurry up! Palak and Anushka must be on their way."]

---

Outside Manya's house, Anushka and Palak waited, the morning air filled with the sounds of a city waking up. Birds chirped in the trees lining the street, and the occasional car passed by, leaving a trail of exhaust in the cool morning air.

Palak, already irritated from the rushed morning, crossed her arms and muttered, "Aaj iss Manya ko chhod dete hain. Hamesha late karti hai."

["Let's leave Manya today. She's always making us late."]

Anushka, always the peacemaker, tried to calm her down, "Cool down, Palak baby. Usko chhod diya toh school mein humse ladne lagegi."

["Cool down, Palak baby. If we leave her, she'll start fighting with us at school."]

Just as Palak was about to retort, the door of Manya's house flew open, and Manya came rushing out, her uniform slightly askew. She was gulping down a sandwich, one ponytail half done while the other side of her hair hung loosely, framing her face in a messy but endearing way.

Anushka raised an eyebrow at her, "Cycle?"

Manya, realizing she had forgotten, hurried back inside and reappeared with her cycle in tow. But as she tried to move it, the cycle wouldn't budge-it was still locked. With a sheepish grin, she awkwardly dragged it out.

Anushka, her voice dripping with sarcasm, asked, "Ma'am, chabhi laane ka kasht bhi kar leti?"

["Ma'am, could you have at least bothered to bring the key?"]

Manya, now completely flustered and not wanting to waste any more time, dropped the cycle right there and hopped onto the back of Anushka's. "Chalo ab! Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" she said as if nothing had happened.

["Let's go now! Why are you just standing there?"]

Palak, shaking her head in disbelief, sighed, "Ab chal bhi lo," and the three of them finally set off for school, the early morning rush hour beginning to unfold around them.

["Come on, let's go already."]

As they neared the school entrance, the campus was already bustling with activity, a whirl of energy and chaos. The expansive grounds of St. Marry's were teeming with life. Students of all ages filled the paths, their laughter and chatter mixing with the distant hum of the city beyond the gates. The air was alive with the sounds of a new day at school-bells ringing, the murmur of conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter.

Clusters of students gathered in groups, some engrossed in last-minute study sessions, others catching up on the latest gossip. A group of boys played cricket in one corner of the grounds, their shouts of excitement carrying across the campus. The ball occasionally soared dangerously close to the building windows, earning them a stern warning from a passing teacher. Nearby, a few girls practiced dance moves for an upcoming event, their movements graceful and synchronized, oblivious to the world around them.

The loud honking of bikes announced the arrival of seniors, who rode in with an air of authority, making younger students scurry out of their way. The seniors parked their bikes haphazardly, their loud banter filling the air as they made their way to their hangout spots.

The trio finally reached the main building, just in time to avoid the tardy bell. But before they could catch their breath, a group of students descended upon them, their faces a mix of desperation and hope, each holding out notebooks.

"Anushka behen, ye solve kar de!" one of them pleaded, shoving a notebook towards her.

["Anushka, please solve this!"]

Anushka, overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught, held up her hands in surrender, "Rukk jao, saans lene do!" She glanced at the mass of equations and problems in front of her, shaking her head with a half-smile.

["Hold on, let me catch my breath!"]

Meanwhile, Palak and Manya, uninterested in the chaos and preferring to avoid the academic rush, continued walking ahead, weaving through the sea of students, eager to reach their class.

Palak, still irritated from the morning's rush and now annoyed by the crowd, turned to Manya and snapped, "Bhai, tu jaldi ready ho jaya kar. Main aur Anushka tujhe chhod denge agar late aayi toh."

["Bro, you should get ready quickly. If you're late, Anushka and I will leave you behind."]

Manya, trying to defend herself, protested, "Sirf 15 minutes hi toh late thi!" her voice carrying a hint of guilt.

["I was only 15 minutes late!"]

Palak, not ready to let it go, shot back, "Sirf!? Sirf 15 minute?" She rolled her eyes, her exasperation clear as she walked on.

["Only!? Only 15 minutes?"]

As they approached the entrance to their classroom, Palak, still fuming, was too distracted to notice a figure coming towards them. Before she realized it, she collided head-on with someone, the impact sending both of them stumbling back. Books flew out of their hands, and for a split second, the noisy campus seemed to freeze.

Palak, her frustration now reaching its peak, instinctively shouted, "Ouch! Andhe ho kya!!! Dekh ke nahi chal sakte?" She glared up, her annoyance evident, but her words faltered as her eyes met those of the stranger-a boy she had never seen before.

["Ouch! Are you blind or what? Can't you watch where you're going?"]

He was tall, with a sharp jawline and an air of quiet confidence that caught her off guard. His hair, slightly tousled, framed his face in a way that made him look effortlessly cool. For a moment, Palak forgot her irritation, her mind going blank as she stared at him. She couldn't recall ever seeing him around, which meant he had to be new. She, who always had a retort ready, who was never at a loss for words, found herself completely speechless.

The boy, equally surprised by the sudden collision, quickly recovered and bent down to gather the scattered books. He looked up, a polite smile softening his features, and extended his hand to help her up. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Palak, still stunned and slightly flustered, hesitated for a moment before accepting his hand. As she stood up, she could feel her cheeks growing warm, the unfamiliar sensation of embarrassment washing over her. She mumbled something unintelligible, trying to regain her composure, but her usual confidence had deserted her.

Manya, who had been watching the entire exchange, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Yeh kya, Palak? Pehli baar kisi ne tumhe chup karwa diya!" she teased, her voice ringing with amusement.

["What's this, Palak? For the first time, someone made you quiet!"]

Anushka, who had caught up to them, raised an eyebrow at the sight of Palak's unusual silence. "Yeh kya ho raha hai yahan?" she asked, looking between Palak and the new boy with curiosity.

["What's happening here?"]

The boy, still holding a few of Palak's books, glanced at Anushka and then back at Palak, who was now fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you," he repeated, his voice sincere as he handed the books back to her.

Palak, finally regaining her voice, shook her head, trying to act nonchalant. "It's... it's okay," she stammered, still a bit flustered. She took the books from him, avoiding eye contact, her usual boldness nowhere to be found.

The boy offered a small smile, seemingly unaware of the effect he had on her. "I'm Pranjal Mishra. I'm new here," he introduced himself, holding out his hand for a handshake.

Anushka, sensing the awkwardness, quickly stepped in and shook his hand with a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you, Pranjal. I'm Anushka, and this is Palak and Manya," she introduced the group, trying to ease the tension.

Manya, still grinning from Palak's uncharacteristic reaction, added, "Welcome to St. Marry's! And don't mind Palak; she's usually more... talkative," she said, unable to hide her amusement.

Pranjal chuckled, nodding at Manya's words. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind," he replied, glancing at Palak, who was now focused on arranging her books.

As they headed to class, Palak walked a little behind, her mind racing with thoughts about Pranjal. She couldn't believe how tongue-tied she had become, especially in front of a boy. It was so unlike her, and her friends were quick to pick up on it.

When they finally reached their classroom, the usual buzz of activity filled the air. The teacher walked in, silencing the chatter, and began with the announcements. "Class, we have a new student joining us today," she said, gesturing towards Pranjal. "This is Pranjal Mishra. Anushka, I'd like you to show him around the school."

Before Anushka could respond, Palak suddenly found her voice.
"Ma'am, actually, I know the campus really well. I can show him around if that's okay? Actually Anushka is really busy with the competition preps." she said, surprising everyone, including herself.

The teacher, pleased by the offer, nodded. "Alright, Palak, you can take Pranjal on the tour."

As soon as the teacher turned away, Manya leaned over and whispered, "Waah, Palak! Pehli baar tumhe kisiko impress karne ka itna shock laga hai."

["Wow, Palak! It's the first time you've been so eager to impress someone."]

Anushka, hiding her smile, added, "Isliye toh keh rahi thi, Palak ko sach me kuch ho gaya hai."

["That's why I was saying something really must be wrong with Palak."]

Palak, trying to keep her cool, shrugged, "Chup raho tum dono. Main bas help kar rahi hu."

["Be quiet, both of you. I'm just helping."]
---
As Palak and Pranjal walked through the campus, Palak was lost in her thoughts. She snapped out of it when Pranjal asked, "Yeh competition har saal hota hai St. Marry mein? Bohot popular hai na?"

["Does this competition happen every year at St. Marry? It's quite popular, isn't it?"]

Palak, who had no idea about it, still managed to say confidently, "Haan! Har saal hota hai."

[Yes! Every year.]

Pranjal, curious, asked, "Tum bhi participate karti ho?"

[Do you also participate?]

Palak, flexing a bit, replied, "Hnn... Bohot tough hota hai, par phir bhi main do baar jeet chuki hoon."

["Yeah... It's very tough, but I've won it twice."]

"Oh wow!" Pranjal said, clearly impressed.

---
After the tour, they headed back to class. It was Trivedi Sir's lecture again, and Palak was already annoyed since she didn't want to attend it.

As they entered the class, Sir asked, "You're the new student?" Before Pranjal could speak,
Palak quickly responded, "YES, Sir!"

Sir looked at her for a moment and then turned to Pranjal, "What's your name?"

Once again, Palak answered, "His name is Pranjal Mishra."

She then leaned closer to Pranjal and whispered with a mischievous grin, "Yeh sir na, uncha sunte hai. Toh inse chilla chilla ke baat karna, varna inhe sunai nahi dega."

["This sir, he has poor hearing. So, you'll have to shout when talking to him, or he won't hear you."]

Pranjal, processing the new information, nodded, "Okay."

Trivedi Sir, looking at Palak sternly, said, "Usse bhi bolne dogi? Jaake apni seat pe baitho."

["Will you let him speak too? Go and sit at your seat."]

Palak, feeling slightly embarrassed, went and sat behind Anushka and Manya.

Sir turned back to Pranjal and asked, "Earlier you were in which school?"

Pranjal, remembering Palak's advice, shouted back, "SIR, MAIN YAHAN NAHI, PATNA MEIN REHTA THA!"

["SIR, I USED TO LIVE IN PATNA, NOT HERE!"]

Trivedi Sir burst out in anger, "Toh itna chilla kyu rahe ho!?"

["Then why are you shouting so much!?"]

Pranjal looked at Palak, who was trying hard to hide her smile. Embarrassed and flustered, he quickly apologized, "I... I'm sorry, Sir."

Trivedi Sir, now slightly calmer, said, "Naye ho isliye chhod diya. Jaake baith jao." Pranjal, still a bit red-faced, took the seat beside Palak since she was sitting alone.

["You're new, so I let it go. Just go and sit down."]

Palak, now feeling shy and nervous because of her little prank, quietly said, "Vo... voh main bas mazak kar rahi thi."

["Uh... I was just joking."]

Pranjal, finding her cuteness amusing but keeping a straight face, just hummed in response, "Hmm..."

The class finally ended, and it was time for the break. As the students began to relax, Trivedi Sir made an announcement before leaving the room, "Ok students, toh har saal ki tarah iss saal bhi St. Marry ka annual day aane wala hai, and participation of all students is expected. Jaise har saal hota hai, St. Marry ka annual function isko bhi outstanding banana hai-best in all!"

["Okay students, just like every year, St. Marry's annual day is approaching, and all students are expected to participate. As always, the annual function needs to be outstanding- the best of all!"]

As soon as Sir left the class, the room filled with excited whispers and discussions about the upcoming event.

Pranjal, looking a bit clueless, turned to Anushka, who was busy solving a question, and asked, "Yeh itna craze kyu hai logo ko iske liye?"

["Why is there so much craze among people for this?"]

Anushka, with a pleasant smile, replied, "Yeh St. Marry mein festival ki tarah celebrate hota hai."

["It's celebrated like a festival at St. Marry."]

Manya, who was munching on Anushka's tiffin, chimed in, "Haan! Aur bohot saari activities aur competitions bhi hote hain."

["Yes! And there are many activities and competitions as well."]

Palak, who had been dozing off, yawned and added, "Haan, yahan pe uski preparation ke liye sab log excited rehte hain."

["Yes, everyone is excited for the preparation here."]

The excitement about the annual day was palpable, with everyone looking forward to the big event.

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