Some new clarifications!!!

Flashback...

Five years ago...

"Misha, dear, please come out... You can't skip school again. Your dad will surely find out one day, and he'll be angry," my mom shouted, her voice a mix of concern and frustration as she searched for me throughout the house.

I was in my secret hiding spot, as I often was. School was a place I loathed. The principal frequently summoned my parents when my twin sister, Trisha, got into fights with her classmates, and more often than not, I was blamed for it. It didn't matter how many times I insisted I was innocent; no one believed me. Well, except for my mom, who offered her unwavering love and support. At school, I was a loner, my isolation the result of Trisha's actions. I maintained a small circle of secret friends with whom I could speak without my sister's interference.

Despite being twins, we couldn't have been more different. In reality, we harbored a profound mutual dislike for each other.

Present day...

I was currently avoiding my mom's attempts to coax me into going to school. My hatred for school had deepened, all thanks to Prisha's influence. I pleaded with my mom to stop looking for me and to let me be.

After some time, she gave up and took Prisha alone to school. Dad was at the office, and Sahil had gone with him, as per Mom's instructions. So, I was alone at home with my nanny, Shy.

About an hour later...

"Misha... Misha... come out, you brat. How dare you?" Suddenly, an infuriated voice echoed through the house as I worked on my drawings.

I immediately stood up, and to my shock, Dad stormed into view, his appearance disheveled.

"Daddy," I stammered, fear gripping me.

"You... all of this happened because of you. You killed them," he accused, pushing me to the ground.

I cried out in pain as my hand collided with a steel box on the floor. I couldn't even regain my footing before he relentlessly kicked me in the stomach. I wailed in agony, but he didn't relent. Soon, dizziness overcame me.

"Sir, please stop... she'll die," someone pleaded, but my vision blurred.

"Yes, she has no right to live after..."

The rest of his words faded into nothingness as darkness engulfed me.

End of the flashback...

I awoke, drenched in perspiration, a silent testament to my anxiety. The precious wristwatch, my clandestine keepsake of my late mother, displayed the time. It served as my last tangible connection to her, imbuing me with the courage to confront each day, to simply survive.

My morning routine was a hurried affair, a quick shower to wash away the night's unease, and a quiet exit to college, bypassing any greetings to my father or brother. The world around me had ostensibly changed since our move, but life seemed to maintain its predictable monotony. Our newfound affluence afforded us more staff and eliminated the need for chores; everything now unfolded effortlessly.

The truly conspicuous transformation lay in the shadows – the presence of security personnel tailing my every move. It irked me, this unspoken lack of trust from my father. Upon reaching college, my first mission was to find Tania and confide in her. Honesty with a friend was paramount, for preserving such a friendship was even more crucial. New York had been our home for just a few weeks, but already, having friends was a solace I hadn't experienced in ages.

I hadn't planned on letting go of this newfound comfort in my life. In the past, I'd often been isolated, considered a loner or an oddity. Here, I resolved to be different, and while not all my endeavors were succeeding, I was determined to hold onto the positive changes.

What once used to disturb me – my father's hostile demeanor and Sahil's accusatory attitude – now barely registered, thanks to the presence of my newfound friends.

As I approached my locker, lost in thought, I noticed Tania and a young boy standing nearby. Upon closer inspection, I recognized him as Harry, Tania's brother.

"Hey," I greeted them as I approached.

"Hi, Misha," Tania replied surprisingly composed. I had anticipated needing to coax her into talking, but it seemed she was at ease.

"I..." I began but was swiftly interrupted.

"I know, and we can discuss it later. First, meet my brother, Harry, whom I told you about yesterday."

"Oh! Hey, I'm Misha," I introduced myself to Harry, extending my hand.

"Finally! I've heard so much about you, but this idiot here never let me meet you, insisting you wouldn't be comfortable."

"Hey!" Tania scolded him, playfully smacking his head, causing us all to laugh.

"That's understandable. I can be a bit shy with new people, and she knows that," I explained.

"Oh! I thought she just didn't want another friend to like me," Harry said, giving Tania a teasing look. Tania chose to ignore his remark, but something about her suddenly felt off, and I hesitated to inquire further.

The second lecture of the day, which happened to be on the subject of business management, was fast approaching. It was one of those unfortunate instances where Tania and I weren't scheduled to attend the same class. As soon as the first lecture concluded, Tania bid me farewell, leaving me to face the business management class solo.

As I stepped into the classroom, a puzzled expression crossed my face. I couldn't help but frown as I quickly noticed that the room was unusually crowded. This was quite the departure from the past few weeks when this particular class had been sparsely attended. In fact, compared to my other lectures, the attendance for this class had consistently been on the lower side.

I couldn't help but wonder: What had changed to draw so many students to this lecture today?

I stood there, lost in my thoughts, for an uncertain amount of time, until I was gently jolted back to reality by the sound of Miss Fiona clearing her throat behind me. Miss Fiona was one of the kindest teachers I had encountered, and that was precisely why I enjoyed attending her class.

"Hi, Miss. I was actually waiting for you," I said, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment after realizing I had been standing at the door for an extended period.

"Haha, Misha, no need to be embarrassed," Miss Fiona chuckled warmly. "Today, I'm going to introduce a new project, and I announced on the school platform that attendance for today's class would earn students 10 points towards their semester grade. That's why we have such a full class today."

As Miss Fiona explained, it suddenly clicked in my memory. I recalled seeing that message on the school platform last night, which explained the unusual turnout for today's lecture.

"Now, you may take your seat, Misha. We're going to need some extra time for today's lecture," Miss Fiona advised, prompting me to search for an available seat. 

To my surprise, there was only one seat left, and it happened to be beside the one person I had been trying to avoid – Karan Malhotra.

I quickly made my way to the vacant seat and settled in, eager to avoid any further embarrassment.

As I began to take out my books from my bag, I suddenly felt a warm breath near my neck, causing me to involuntarily hold my breath and freeze. A voice whispered, "Miss Misha, it seems you fit the description of the perfect nerd, as described by your fellow students in college." The teasing remark made me blush crimson.

I chose not to respond and focused my attention on the lecture. Miss Fiona proceeded to explain the project, which involved selecting a partner and collaboratively developing and executing a business plan.

"So, I must say that today's attendance is impressive, thanks to the announcement," Miss Fiona began. "However, I have some additional news to share. This project will carry the most weight in your overall score and will be assessed rigorously." Her announcement was met with audible groans of irritation from the students.

"I'll select a few students to come forward and pick up chits," Miss Fiona continued. "The name on the chit will determine your partners for this crucial project."

One by one, students approached to pick their chits and form their project pairs. When Miss Fiona called my name, the name on the chit I selected caused a wave of frustration to wash over me. It seemed that fate had conspired to keep this person in my life, and I desperately needed a break from their constant presence.

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#lajawabattitude

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