After that best Academic year of my life , I was excited- not just for a new class,
not just for a fresh start, but I can see him.
Even if it was just for a fleeting glance and everyday I was praying to sit next to him.
Priya came and told me, "We are in the same class."
"Ohhh, okay nice! , What about Vihaan and Raj ?" I asked.
"I don't know ." She said.
Panic rising in my chest , I ran down stairs, stopping breathlessly on the second floor.
The moment I saw the B division list, my heart dropped. Not in the same class.
Maybe i had read it wrong. Maybe there was a mistake.
My eyes darted across the names on the list again. And then-there it was . Not in the same class ?
A hallow ache settled in my chest.
It felt like someone had ripped my heart out and placed it in a classroom far from me.
How was I supposed to go through the year without him in my class ?
Still I refused to let this separation to be end. Lunch break , Hallways crossing, Morning Assembly.
I would find ways-even if it meant running out the door the second the bell rang.
I was sitting beside my best friend, Priya. I was happy but sad at the same time.
Thats when I realised that "Nothing goes according your plans."
Yes, I missed my cold face desk patner or you can say my crush and my future🤭🙈.
I want to create more memories with him on the same bench, but we are not even in the same class what type of Memories I should create with him that was the question pop up in my mind. I got distracted.
Meanwhile me thinking about this.
Priya was gossiping about her crush "Raj."
She understood I was thinking about Vihaan.
So she just slapped me and "Aanya , are you with me mentally? , Are you paying attention to what I'm saying ?" She asked.
"YES, YES OFCOURSE GURL. I'm hanging on your every word." I said.
But i know i was not. It's okay, everyone in there life get's distracted in some situation.
"Yes , I know you're, so what was I talking about ?" Priya said .
"You were taking about Vihaan , See I knew that." I said.
"Shut up gurlll ! Why would I talk about him? You're the one thinking about him." Priya said.
"Okay , I was thinking about him." I admitted.
"What happen ? , just tell me now ." She said.
I told her everything , she laughed.
Mam entered.
Somehow three periods got over.
The moment recess bell rang , I was already at the door .
The first one out, heart racing , feet moving on their own. Just to see him.
I hurried down the hall, stopping right infront of his classroom.
There he was.
Sitting in his usual spot, lost in whatever world his mind wandered to.
He didn't noticed me.
But that didn't matter - I just wanted to see him.
Priya stood beside me , arms crossed , smirking.
And just then, Raj appeared. The mischief in his eyes was unmistakeble.
He took one look at me, then at Vihaan's bench, and grinned.
"Vahini tu Vihaan la bagti ahes na ?" He teased.
( Sister-in-law You're watching Vihaan right ?)
His loud voice was enough to make my soul leave my body.
"NO, no!" I panicked, shaking my head way to fast.
Priya? Absolutely losing it . Laughing like this was the funniest thing she had ever seen.
I smacked Raj's arm, whisper-shouting , "Shut up , Raj !"
But damage was done - Because Vihaan had looked at us.
And our eyes meet .
Vihaan's dark eyes met mine for an fleeting second , and my heart stopped.
I panicked, turning to Raj and Priya like I hadn't just been caught red-handed.
"Raj , shut up!" I hissed under my breath, my face burned.
Raj , of course, did not shut up.
Instead he grinned wider. "Ohhh, he looked at you! Are you gonna confess now or after lunch?"
Priya burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
I glared at them both "I hate you." I muttered ,
But before I should escape, Raj wasn't done.
He suddenly waved at Vihaan. Actually waved.
I grabbed his arm in hurry.
"RAJ , STOPPP!!!"
But It was too late. Vihaan blinked, slightly confused, before nodding at him.
And then at me.
I froze . I should have looked away, but instead, I just stood there like an absolute idiot.
Vihaan raised an eyebrow, probably wondering why I was acting like a malfunctioning robot.
"Wow," Raj whispered dramatically, nudging me. "Romantic eye contact in the middle of the hallway. This is some Bollywood-level love story."
I smacked his shoulder. "I swear to God, Raj—"
Just then, Vihaan got up.
My breath caught in my throat. Was he coming this way?!
Priya and Raj exchanged looks. "Oh, he's coming."
"Shut up," I muttered, trying to act normal—but my entire brain was screaming.
Vihaan walked past a couple of students, heading straight toward us. My heart pounded louder than the school bell.
He stopped just a few feet away, hands in his pockets. "What are you doing here?" His voice was low, casual, but his eyes held curiosity.
Raj did not let me answer. "Oh, she just wanted to see—"
I stomped on Raj's foot.
Raj yelped. "OW—"
And before I could think , the words tumbled out of my mouth - too fast, too loud, too irreversible.
"Ohhh, I WAS JUST ADMIRING YOU!"
.
.
.
.
DEAD SILENCE.
Vihaan blinked , looking straight at me.
HIS FACE ?
EXPRESSIONLESS!
MY SOUL ?
LEAVING MY BODY!
RAJ and PRIYA ? Dying because of laugh.
I gasped, slapping my hands over my mouth.
What the hell did I just say?????
Priya's entire body shook with laughter. Raj clutched his foot , then my shoulder , using me as a support so he wouldn't collapse from laughing too hard.
I scrambled to fix it. "I.....I mean.....,I was.....aaaaa...admiring your....handwriting! And your marks!
YES, VERY NICE. GOOD JOB."
Vihaan's lips twitched,
He titled his head slightly,
"My handwriting ? Or ME ?"
I FROZE.
Raj howled. Priya fell against the wall.
I turned red. "I....I was saying your handwriting! Why....why would I admire you?"
Vihaan raised a brow. "I don't know. You said it."
I wanted to die. Right there on the spot.
Raj wiped fake tears. "This is the best day of my life."
Priya wheeled, "Your recovery skills are amazing."
Vihaan shrugged. "Anyway. See you later, BTW Thank you for admiring me.....Oh sorry my handwriting and marks." He smiled.
I saw him smiling for the first time.
As soon as he disappeared.
Raj and Priya EXPLODED.
"MY HANDWRITING OR ME?" Raj mimicked, clutching his stomach.
"Aanya, just admit it, you're gone mad for him." Raj said.
I covered my faced with my both hands. "I hate myself."
Raj wiped an imaginary tear. "Don't hate yourself, this is gold . I'm living for this."
"Raj , your acting is painful." Priya said.
But even through my embrassment.....
I knew I'd never forget this moment.
Bell rang.
As soon as the bell rang,panic set in.
"We didn't eat our lunch!" Priya gasped, eyes wide.
Raj looked at us like we were hopeless. "Whose fault is that?"
Before I could argue, our next period teacher appeared at the end of the corridor.
"RUN!" I shouted , grabbing Priya's hand.
We bolted to the classroom, slipping into our seats just as the teacher entered.
.
.
.
Somehow , we survived four long periods, stomach growling in protest.
Then finally - the short break.
I let out a dramatic sigh. "Food, my beloved. I'm coming."
Priya laughed. " Same, let's eat our tiffin."
We opened our tiffin and were eating like an animal as we were straving. Finally got peace.
When suddenly -Raj and Vihaan entered our class.
Priya nudged me. "Look who's here, your love."
I almost chocked on my bite. "Why are they here ?"
Raj spotted us first, grinning. "Girls , miss us?"
Vihaan, hands in his pockets as always, glanced at me briefly before looking elsewhere.
I pretended to be busy with my food, heart suddenly doing that wired skipping thing again.
Priya smirked. "I think someone's too focused on her lunch to miss anyone."
Raj snickered. " Or maybe she's too flustered to talk."
I threw paper ball at him. "Shut up, Raj. I'm hungry let me have my lunch. I didn't eat anything in the first period because we sat on the first bench because of her." I said.
"Because of me?" Priya said.
"Yes because of you." I said.
We were fighting.
"This two are always fighting!!"Raj said.
He stopped us !
And suddenly I saw Vihaan.
He exhaled through his nose-was that a laugh?
My heart flipped.
"I asked you where to sit but you were thinking about Vihaan because of separated division. " Priya said.
I was shocked.
Vihaan was looking at me.
"Are you missing me ?" Vihaan said.
"NO no no ! Why will I? She is gone mad!" I said .
"Ohh, I thought you were missing me I was happy about that cuz I'm also missing my benchpatner." Vihaan said.
Priya and Raj shocked.
I blushed.
"What are you turning red ?" Vihaan asked.
"NO, I'm not !" I said.
"Okay ." Vihaan said.
And just like that, Luch break got a whole lot more interesting.
Lunch break got over.
They gone to there classes.
Somehow we survived last 3 periods.
I'm always sleepy in last 3 periods.
Day got over.
Days passed exams got over.
Diwali vacation started I missed him more.
.
.
.
.
School started after Diwali.
Finally I saw him.
In December there used to be gathering so practice started from November.
I was not in the performance because of my cousin's wedding function.
I was in non-participant and my Best friend Priya was also not there.
So our class teacher told us to sit in another class where Vihaan was there.
He was in the gathering performance.
I was happy cuz he was socialising little bit.
I used to sit on his bench everyday. I sat there , touching his bag and books, as if I could feel his presence little bit through them.
Priya saw this , sat beside me and said "You're gone mad."
Raj saw this. He came in class to take his water bottle.
He was teasing me because Priya told him what I did.
"Vahini tu yedi zale ahe techaya sadhi pakka." [Sister-in-law you've gone mad for him!] Raj said and left with smile.
I overthink,
what he said is real?
Have I gone mad ?
"Yesss ! " Priya said.
"Okay now study." I said to her.
Days passed.
Gathering was very nice.
Non-particpants were at home including me. I missed him more. I don't know why but I was mad for him. I admit I prayed for his safety whenever and wherever I saw temple.
Than we had Refreshment where we dressed nicely and school gives us lunch. So I was wearing Black mirror kurti,Black leggings with purple dupatta.
I entered the classroom and I realised why I dressed so much we are not in the same class anymore.
Priya came, "Awww.... gorgeous Jiju tula bagun fida honar ahe." [Brother-in-law is going to be flat on you] She said.
"Aeee gp g koni tari aikel." [ shut up yaar, Someone will listen.]I said.
"Okay." Priya said.
Mam called us for refreshment.
I saw him wearing Black shirt Beige pants.
I fell for him again!!!
Meanwhile Priya and Raj were looking at me. I saw them,
"What happened?" I asked.
"Nothing , we were looking at you cause you and Vihaan are twinning. Is this coincidence or planing?" Priya asked.
"Obviously it's coincidence. " I said.
"Priya don't tease her yaar." Raj said.
"She is blushing again. " Priya said.
I saw so angry. If I had a knife I swear I'd would them both (Just kidding).
Somehow Day got over. I was so happy to see him for the last time cause of Christmas vacation.
Days passed.
I missed him. New year also came.
I wish him at night looking at the moon. I literally scream while looking at moon.
As if the moon was saying "I saw him and your message is delivered!"
Vacations got over.
Finally I saw him!
[But fate always has a way of surprising us]