Posted: December 10th, 2019

✤ Sanya: 1.38 - Magic of Us ✤

My legs bounce up and down as I sit on the bench in front of the principal's office. I don't quite appreciate being called to the principal's office on the first day of the new school year feeling as if I have done something wrong. All I can think about is that I am in trouble - even if the rational part of my brain counters with the fact that I haven't done anything wrong or broken any rules. After all, today is the first day. We haven't had enough time to get ourselves in trouble yet.

The school peon calls me, "Sanya?" and I look up. "You can go in now." He holds open the door leading to the office.

My knees feel weak as I push myself to stand up and put one foot in front of the other. Mrs. Kirloskar looks up from behind her computer screen and waves at me to take the seat on the other side of the desk, "Sanya, come. Have a seat."

My fingers fidget in my lap, feeling my anxiety rising. I do not like this at all. I had been so good throughout the summer. I can't get a panic attack first day of school. I just can't! The fear that I might get one nudges me to grab the bracelet around my wrist - the one Rihaan got for me.

After the most painful silence, Mrs. Kirloskar turns a page in my direction. "Did you make these?"

I lean forward to look at the page and notice it's a picture of the painted canvas which I had submitted as my final project for art class last year. Gulping, I nod simply unable to form the words to go along with it. I thought it was a good painting...

Wait.

My brain puts it together and starts wondering if the art teacher figured out that some of the paints I mixed were from my personal collection. Am I in trouble because of that?!

Oh God. They are not going to recall my grade and fail me now that they've found out, are they? I can't fail!!

Mrs. Kirloskar nods, picking up the copy to place it in front of her again. "It's brilliant work, Sanya. You have amazing control over your brush strokes but...."

Here it comes. No matter the previous compliments, nothing good ever follows a 'but'.

"... have you ever done 3-D paintings?"

Confused, my reply comes as a question. "N-no?"

"Oh," She looks disappointed for a second before she pushes it back with a smile. "Never mind that. We have a new student in your class who'll be joining us in a few days and he is brilliant at art like you. I was hoping the two of you could work together to create the backdrops for the Diwali show. Now, I know it isn't till 3 months from now and I shouldn't be springing this on you on day 1, but I want to give students enough time to prepare so they can cope with studies and other extracurricular activities as well if that makes sense."

Okay, she just threw a lot of information at me. New student. 3-D backdrops. Diwali show. 3 months. Did I miss the part where she tells me she is failing me? No? Good, it's not happening then. One good outcome out of the whole list she sprung my way.

There is such expectation on her face when she probes, "So? What do you think? Up for it?" that I don't have the heart to say no. It is when her face turns into a huge grin that I realize the words that had flown out of my mouth automatically. "Brilliant! I will introduce you to him when he arrives. You will most likely have to attend the initial meetings as the student body decides on a theme, which performances to keep, how many, and the likes so that you have an idea of what they're looking for in the backdrops."

"Mhmm," I manage to pathetically let out that simple word.

She smiles again, "Alright, then. Go on to your class. Hope you have a good day back!"

I walk out of the room robotically and once alone in the hallway outside of the administration offices, I start beating myself up over it. "What the hell were you thinking, Sanya? 3-d painting? You've never done anything like this before! Ugh, you are impossible!"

A throat clears behind me and I whirl around at the interruption. Girish greets with an amused smile, "Wrong time?"

I timidly shake my head given I hadn't seen him over the summer but then remind myself that we've texted a little over the months. I don't need to be intimidated. So, with a sigh, I ask, "When did you get here?"

He points behind him, "I was actually waiting outside Mrs. Kirloskar's office when you walked out."

I realize he must have followed me out seeing my rattled state and I hadn't even noticed his presence. "Oh, sorry. I didn't see you."

"Yeah, I know. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I would stay and ask what's wrong but she wants to see me." He regretfully informs.

I smile at him, waving it off. "Yes, yeah, ofcourse. Don' worry about it. Go on. I'll see you later?"

He nods with a promise, "Definitely." He turns to leave but then pauses and looks back. "Uh, Ana still mad at me?"

I chuckle remembering the subtle way she had let him know she was back: she had posted a selfie of us at the dinner table in that restaurant on Instagram with the caption 'home is where the crazies live... with some good food ofcourse'.

"Right," he mumbles catching my unspoken response. With a nod, he leaves and I get back to class deciding to panic about the Diwali show later.

God only knows what will happen between the two of them.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

Kriana turns in her seat to face me as I am sitting behind her and drops her head on my desk with a groan. "Someone tell our teachers that it's day 1. One! Do they not understand the meaning of that number??!"

I can relate to her sentiments. They've given us homework like crazy and we've only managed to get through half of the school day. It is ridiculous how much they've bombarded on us already.

Girish walks up to us from his desk, mouths a 'hi' to Rihaan and me before clearing his throat to get Kriana's attention. "Hey, can I talk to you?"

Kriana replies with her head still hidden in the desk, "Can't. Busy drowning in self-misery."

I kick her chair for her silly behavior.

"Ow!" She complains as the chair scratches back causing her elbow to slip. She tries to glare at me and I give her a scolding look right back. She exhales. "Fine, okay. I'm hungry anyway. Let's go to the canteen."

Without waiting to check if Girish is following her, she walks out of the classroom. We look at him sympathetically and with a sigh, he follows her out. I guess it's on him though for falling for her? He just has to keep up with her quirkiness - shouldn't be so hard given they used to be friends first, right?

Rihaan asks, "Are we going too?"

"Yeah, but first, I'm stupid."

"That you are."

"Hey!" I exclaim letting that be my only form of scolding.

He smiles sitting back on the desk, "Look, we both know there is no 'right' response to that. If I tried to say you weren't stupid, you'd just insist otherwise and it would be a pointless banter."

I shrug my shoulder. I suppose he has a point. He could have tried to convince me otherwise like a good boyfriend, but I wouldn't have believed him.

He takes my hand to pull me out of my chair, "Now, as we walk to the canteen, tell me why you think that."

So, I relay the morning events to him and end with an exclamation, "What have I gotten myself into?!"

"Relax," he says putting his arm around my shoulder as we sit at our table with our untouched food, "It'll be fine. Just think of it as an opportunity for you to learn a different skill in art. Everything else is just extra noise that you shouldn't pay attention to."

"I guess," I mumble trying to focus on that positive point he makes.

He adds to convince me further, "Besides, you won't be alone. We'll all be there too."

"You will?"

He nods picking up a fry, "Mhmm. I perform each year, remember? It's like they expect it even if I don't put my name down."

Though that is a fact, I question, "But don't you prefer rehearsing at home? You don't need to stay after school or attend the meetings." Given his performance will be a solo, he doesn't need to coordinate with others. The student body would just need to let him know when he will be performing and he just needs to tell them where to place his piano.

He informs, "True, but I'm thinking of changing it up a little this year."

Interested, I shift to turn my body in his direction. "How?"

"Well, for starters, I would need to submit a piece with my college applications. I know I already have recitals that I could pick from to submit but I want to show a bit of diversity and originality in my application, right? So I thought of asking Mrs. Kirloskar if I can compose live music for the show."

My eyes widen at the bold thought, "Wow, that's huge." I don't mean to sound negative, but it is. It's not just changing up his routine. It's shaking things up for the entire show.

He nods hinting towards his uncertainties, "Yeah, I mean I don't know if it can be managed or even approved by her. I'd also need a ton of help with the different instruments so I'll probably have to look for people who'll know what they're doing. And like you said, never done anything like this before. Sure, I've seen it happening tons of times at dad's shows but seeing and doing are different things, right? So it's scary, but I don't know. I'm up for the challenge."

I smile at him, feeling a sense of pride bubbling in my chest. "It's definitely worth a try. I think you should go for it."

As I keep learning, nothing worth keeping in life comes without taking a few risks. If the two of us hadn't taken risks with our own hindrances, we wouldn't be here right now - together. We would still somewhere be struggling with our feelings and failing to express them to each other.

He smiles back as if feeling more at ease now that he's shared his thought aloud and more confident just by having my support, "Yeah? I have a free period next so I'll go talk to her."

"It'll be good," I say lifting my spoon finally to focus on food. "Killing two birds with one stone." I barely manage to get the spoon in my mouth without dropping the food as he once again puts his arms around me - this time around my neck to pull my head to his chest. "Rihaan!" I scold for his action while he kisses the top of my head.

I can feel his smile as he says, "Thanks, love."

Shaking my head at his childish excitement, I instruct, "Let me eat," and he releases me.

I am happy too, actually. I know how focused he is about his music. One of the many things I respect about him: his passion and dedication to every thing he takes up. So, I can only imagine how excited he must feel venturing into this new aspect of it. He's always had a thing for composing music rather than just singing and playing others' songs. This will be good for him, in helping him figure out what he wants to do next based on how good or bad this experience goes for him.

Trisha walks over to the table and smiles down at us while placing her hands on the surface of the table, "Hi, you two." Before either of us can greet her, she gets down to business, "Kick off party. My place. Tonight. Be there. No excuses. Gotta invite more people. Bye now!"

I snap my jaw shut while turning to face Rihaan who asks in amusement, "Did that just happen?"

Sometimes, she talks like she is reading out a text message.

I chuckle, "She's turned into another Girish."

Though he agrees, he also makes a note, "Don't let Kriana here you say that."

I follow my eyes to Trisha who was walking backwards from inviting another table where our classmates were. Looking past her, seeing another body walking backwards as well, in her direction, I open my mouth to warn her but no voice comes out given the damage is already done.

Faisal and she bump into each other and fall on their butts. She grunts, rubbing her elbow which had scratched a bit given we were in the courtyard and the ground under us is filled with tiny sand grains rather than smooth tiles. Her eyes snap to his as she scolds, "Ugh, can't you watch where you are going?!"

He surprises not just me and a few others watching, but Trisha as well when he stands up and extends his arm to help her up while apologizing, "Sorry. You okay?"

In my opinion, he could have told her the same thing given she was walking backwards as well - though she didn't know he was too. So, his quick apology is slightly an unexpected response. Taking his hand, she lets him help her up and then smooths out her outfit to dust off.

I look at Rihaan and he's already gone back to sipping on his juice box. The two of them haven't talked since their big fight last year. It's like they just avoid each other's path. He won't talk to me about it after what he had said initially - that he and Faisal were now different people growing up and they didn't have anything to talk about. But, I feel as if Rihaan is underplaying it. A part of him still cares about Faisal. How could he not? They have been friends their entire school life. It's not that easy to turn off a caring part towards someone you've known your whole life. I wish he would just get past his anger and talk to him because even if Rihaan might not think it, there must be a reason why Faisal was acting out the way he did.

"So, are we going to the party?"

He raises a brow at me in surprise that I took the initiative, "Really?"

I shrug hoping not to make a big deal of it, "Why not? If it gets too crazy, we can just leave."

He gives a nod with a grin, "Alright." When the grin remains on his face, I question it with my eyes. He explains, "Just... it'll be like our first school party together."

Chuckling at his innocent happiness, I comment. "So much for keeping it on the DL, huh?" Because even though neither of us nor our close friends have confirmed it for the entire school to know, I'm sure they have their assumptions. To be entirely honest, I have never had to tell anyone about us especially since I used to keep to my family only and they always just knew.

He replies, "Yeah, but hey, I'd told you. I'm fine with whatever you're comfortable with."

I simply reply with another smile because it is true.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

Rihaan opens the door to my room. I don't have to  look up from my notebook where I am busy solving Calculus problems to know it is him - thanks to the overflow of cologne that hits my senses at once. I scold him with a frown, "Ri, what have I told you about showering with cologne?"

Rather than answering, he reprimands back, "You're not ready."

"It's only..." I turn my wrist to look at the time and my eyes widen. "Shit." I hadn't realized it was past 7 already. Did I really spend my entire afternoon completing homework?! I push my chair back in a rush, "Okay. Uh, alright. Give me...?" I pause when I finally look at him and forget what I was going to say. I have seen him in pretty much all styles of clothing - even traditional - and yet, my breath catches. The black leather jacket paired with a printed light blue tee and faded jeans giving him a casual look is damn attractive on him. It's the jacket, for sure. Gives him an edge of bad boy look, but I know he is farthest from it. His heart is of gold. There is not one quality in him that could define him as the bad boy. Even though our entire upbringing could have easily turned him into one. All the money and freedom. And still, it's a wonder... no, it's all thanks to our parents that we turned out the way we did. All the love they poured on us with a lesson here and there that they learned from their own life experiences.

He snaps his fingers in front of my face, "San?"

I lick my bottom lip unconsciously and blink away, forcing myself to look around my room to distract myself. "Yeah. Right. I'm just gonna..." I start walking towards my closet to pick out an outfit to change into.

I hear him walking around as I am standing in front of my closet, my mind thinking all the inappropriate things - thanks to hormones. I must be very lost in my thoughts since the next thing I know, his arm comes around to reach for a hanger. I feel the heat of his body behind me and I seem to hold back another breath when he speaks in a low voice by my hear that sounds seductive. "Need help?"

At first, I think he is offering to help pick an outfit. Then, as he is already holding a hanger, I realize that's not what he meant. He is teasing me to get ready. Reaching forward, I tug at the dress and it easily comes off the hanger. Inhaling softly and regaining my composure, I turn around to face him. "Maybe later," I tease back with a wink and have to bite back a laugh as his eyes widen in shock.

Surely, he didn't expect me to flirt back by insinuating that he could help me after the party in taking off the dress rather than putting it on for now.

"You're so easy," I add after he tries to compose himself and lean up on my toes with one light touch on his shoulder to keep my balance. With a quick kiss, my hand travels to the center of his chest and give it a light nudge to move him out of my walk-in closet so I could change in there quickly while he waits in my bedroom.

He replies from the other side of the door, a second too late, as if having needed that second to recover. "And you're a tease."

I grin like a fool to myself before pushing it back to focus on the task of getting ready.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

Maneuvering around the crowd, we find our group of friends. It seems Trisha went all out in inviting people given there were freshmen as well as seniors. Kriana grins seeing me and takes my hand to pull me towards her. With a squeal, I fall over her lap while she tightly squeezes me in a hug. I laugh, responding to her affection. "How much did you drink already?"

"I'm not tipsy." I pull back to raise my brows in doubt. "I swear! I had like two glasses with only a little bit of alcohol in them. Ask Girish and Trisha. They supervised. I'm not lying."

Taking her rambling to prove her innocence, I take her word for it. "Okay, okay."

She glances up at Rihaan to order, "She's mine for now. Buzz."

He rolls his eyes at her playful comment. "Just because you seem happy and I don't want to ruin your parade," he says as if that is the only reason for listening and going to find his own set of friends.

Once he's gone and I'm seated still on her lap given there isn't a free chair around, she says in an insinuating manner, "You two arrived fashionably late. Anything I need to know?"

I shake my head at her hopelessly for her mind only goes in one direction. "No, Kri. I was doing homework and wasn't ready when he came by to pick me up."

She squints her eyes at me, waiting for me to add more detail, but sighs when I don't offer any - for there isn't any to give.

I turn the conversation on her, "So what did Girish have to say to you earlier?"

Her shoulders drop with a frown, "You just had to ruin my buzz, didn't you?"

I am puzzled. "I don't understand?"

She sits back against the chair, "He friend zoned me."

I gape at first for it seems unbelievable. All the vibes I have gotten from him were anything but! Is he so damn impulsive that he wants to say one thing and ends up saying the entirely opposite? "What is this, the 3rd time he did that?"

She shrugs, "I don't know. We keep going back and forth, it's hard to keep track. Or to even figure him out. I thought giving each other space over the summer would help him figure things out. Maybe put it in perspective. And it did... just not in the way I thought, if that makes sense."

I drape my arms around her neck leaning my cheek against her temple to give her a comforting hug. "I'm sorry, sis."

She forces a small smile on her lips, "It is what it is." I let silence linger between us for a second getting the vibe that she had other things on her mind and I want to give her the chance to say them. I wish it was quieter around us so we could properly talk. "I had thought your magic would rub off on me, ya know?"

My brows pull together in confusion. "My magic?" I start wondering if that little alcohol is starting to kick in now.

She bobs her head up and down. "Mhmm," she hiccups before continuing, "You and Rihaan. When I look at you two, it feels magical. I guess I just wanted something like that for myself too."

Okay, she's definitely tipsy.

"Oh, honey." My heart goes to her and I kiss the top of her head as we siblings often do. "Give it time. You'll find your magic too."

I wish I could say that I knew what she was going through, but I don't. I have only ever had feelings for Rihaan and they have been reciprocated. To not have your first real crush return your feelings must be terrible. Though I might not be familiar with that feeling, I hate that she is hurting but still trying to put a smile on her face. It just goes to say how strong she is even when she is allowed to take a moment to wallow in her pain. But, I suppose that's just not who Kriana is. Even when she is hurt, she'll do her best to keep a smile on her face. She always bounces back.

I suggest one thing that I know would make her happy and distract her mind. "Dance?" Whenever she feels the slightest down, Arshiya di would just take her hand and drag her to a clearing wherever they were. It didn't matter if it was a public place. She would turn on the music and just dance it out. Let out all the feelings so nothing remains locked up in her.

She tilts her head back to look at me, "Another drink first?"

Chuckling, I give her permission and stand up to give her space to get up as well.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

| Author Note |

I'll be updating this book every Tuesday and Saturday starting now! Get ready for more regular updates :)

QOTC: should we do something about Faisal? ;)

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