Chapter 2
Aditi's Perspective
The early morning sun cast a warm, golden light over the school, filtering through the sprawling neem trees that lined the grounds. Students streamed into the main building, their chatter blending into a familiar backdrop of teenage life. As I made my way to class, I spotted Kabir Mehra among the crowd. His usual confident stride and casual demeanor were hard to miss.
He was everything that irritated me. His effortless charm, his nonchalant attitude—it was all so exasperating. He seemed to glide through life with natural ease, while I had to work twice as hard just to keep up. His presence was a constant reminder of our differences, and it often left me feeling frustrated.
The school day proceeded as usual, filled with classes and assignments. My focus was solely on my studies. During the break, I retreated to the library, my refuge from the chaos of the outside world. I settled into my usual spot by the window, the sunlight casting a gentle glow over my textbook.
I was absorbed in my work when a familiar, irritating voice interrupted my concentration. "Hey, Library Lover," Kabir said, leaning casually against the bookshelf beside me. "Burning the midnight oil again?"
I glanced up, irritation clear in my eyes. "Mehra, some of us actually need to study to get good grades," I retorted, my tone sharp.
He chuckled and took a seat across from me. "Ye joke tha?" he asked.
I leaned in slightly, responding, "Tha to?"
He moved closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "Vo I don't like jokes."
I rolled my eyes and said flatly, "And I don't like you."
Kabir glanced at my lips, but I refused to let his gaze bother me. "Is there something you need, or are you just here to annoy me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have quite a nice mustache? Good growth, you know," he said with a smirk.
I was taken aback by his comment. "Seriously, does he have to comment on everything?" I muttered under my breath. Aloud, I said, "You know, everything can't stop like your height."
What I said was intended to sting, and it seemed to hit its mark. I started packing up my things, preparing to leave, when he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer.
"Um, Reena ma'am told me to give you the script for Founders Day Celebration, and hi, I am the co-anchor," he said.
I took the script from him, pulling my hand out of his grasp. "Look, I don't want to accept your apology, but just because I made fun of your height, it's okay. And I'm sorry too."
He kept his hand behind his head. "I don't care. I'm literally 5'11. I'm not insecure about it, y'know," he said casually.
"Well, it doesn't seem like it, because in 9th class, you were bragging about crossing 6 feet and all that," I said.
"You literally keep track of everything I say and do, don't you, Library Lover?" he said.
"Well, says the one who tracks my upper lip's hair growth," I replied dryly.
The bell rang suddenly. "I think we should head to class," I said, turning on my heel.
"After you, Library Lover," he said with a grin.
As we entered the classroom, I noticed the commotion at the back. Two students were engaged in a fierce fight, their scuffle attracting a crowd. I was secretly intrigued by the chaos, but I kept my expression neutral. It wasn't my style to get involved in such things, but I couldn't deny a certain curiosity.
I overheard the girls around me chatting excitedly about the fight. "Did you see how they were throwing punches? It was intense!" one of them said.
"Yeah, I heard it started over a silly argument about homework," another girl added. "But the way they went at each other was something else."
I pretended to be focused on my notes, but I listened intently to their gossip. The drama of the fight was a small, entertaining distraction from my otherwise routine day.
Later, during the Maths period, a student came into our class. "Good Afternoon, Sir. Reena Ma'am is asking Kabir and Aditi to come to class IX C."
The teacher nodded, and Kabir and I exchanged a glance before leaving with our scripts. We walked side by side behind the student. As we entered the classroom, our shoulders brushed against each other. I felt a jolt, but I pushed it aside. 'Just another annoying day with him,' I thought.
"You both sit on the corner seat of the classroom and start practicing with each other. From tomorrow, I won't send anyone to call you; you both should be present in the old library for practice," ma'am instructed. 'Great, no Maths period for a week.'
We took our seats in the corner and began rehearsing our lines. Despite my efforts to stay focused, his presence was a constant reminder of the rivalry between us. I kept my emotions in check, determined not to let him get under my skin.
When the bell rang, we hurried back to our classroom. His bag wasn't packed, so I helped him with his things. Our hands brushed briefly as we reached for the same bottle, but I ignored it and quickly placed the bottle in the side pocket of his bag.
"Jaldi chal," I said, urging him as we made our way towards the gate. There, I saw Raghav waiting for him. He said goodbye to me and ran towards Raghav.