Wow, when I told him to be our separate ways, he was pretty mature about it. Maybe I was the wrong one, I understood him completely wrong. Maybe I should have given him, given us, some time.

I turned back on my heels way back to him; there he was, standing near the staircase. A smile broke onto my face. Maybe now is the time to work on us. Amend whatever was broken.

"Abhimanyu." I spoke.

Abhimanyu's gaze flickered to me; his gaze locked to mine. 

Maybe this breakup thing was a big mistake. 

I start to walk towards him, my eyes never leaving his. My heart danced wildly inside its cage. I took a deep breath as I took another step.

"Gauri." Abhimanyu spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. 

But I heard him, he is asking for me, calling me.

My Abhimanyu.

But just as I was about to take another step-

Tring!

The sharp ring of the bell shattered the silence between us, slicing through the air like a cruel reminder. The lunch break was over, and just like that, the world came rushing back.

Chaos erupted in the corridor. Students pushed past, rushing to the washrooms, their chatter loud enough to drown out anything else.

Oh god, yeh bhi abhi hi hona tha.

I whipped my head around, scanning the now-crowded hallway, but... he was gone. I ran in that direction to find him but he was long gone. 

Does he have the invisibility cloak or something?

Disappointed, I made my way back to the class. Maybe I could catch up with him during dispersal.

I sighed, relationship these days.

"Who needs a bra when your man's hand can do the job."

I stopped mid step when I heard the sentence the moment I entered the classroom.

My eyes doubled in size, am I hearing properly? Did someone get their hands onto my secret possession? My romance book? The sole reason for my sanity. Oh god! 

The girl beside her choked on her water, "What are you reading now?" Clearly frustrated and flustered at her friend's remark.

I turned my head towards them, happy to chirp in or at least try to get involved in the conversation, but the moment I realized who they were I immediately made my way back.

I am not supposed to play with them or even talk with them. I am supposed to stay silent. Zipping my mouth shut like I have been doing for the last five years.

I quietly made my way to my seat which was not far away from them. I could still hear every word they spoke of. I am not eavesdropping or anything, it's the sound of their chat simply entering my ears. Hands down and blame physics.

Kamya Singh and Adhya Ahuja.

One a topper and other the most beautiful girl in our school. 

Those two girls whom I envy the most. Whom I admire the most.

"This book I ordered, and you know what? I am so LOVING it." Adhya spoke, her hand fanning her face, indicating how hot the book she was reading was.

"And when are you going to read the book which actually are useful?"  Kamya asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Kamya, this is USEFUL. Teaching us about sexual life. You think anyone in this world would teach us that?"

"Your man sure will do. Infact he'll go practical with you." Kamya spoke in a low voice, enough to send shivers all over your body.

"Oh Kamya," Adhya blushed hard at Kamya's remark.

My grip on my notebook tightened, debating whether I should speak or not. If I do, will they think of me as a freak? This conversation does seem private. I better not say anything.

"You know here's a scene where he inserts a gun in hers you know." Adhya added with a suggestive wink.

My brain short-circuited.

Did Adhya just—

What the hell was I even listening to?

"Adhya."

"What babe? I am just educating myself."

I am not supposed to react. I shouldn't react. I am Gauri—the girl who listens to others but no one listens to her. But damn it, how was I supposed to act normally after hearing that?

I stole a glance at Kamya, expecting her to be just as horrified as I was.

But nope. She looked bored.

Like she had heard worse. Like she was used to Adhya's unhinged remarks.

Adhya, on the other hand, was fanning herself again, absolutely living in her moment. "I swear, Kamya, you need to read this book. I am getting second-hand pleasure just by reading it."

Kamya gave her a deadpan look. "And where's your second hand lurking?"

Adhya hit Kamya with her book.

I bit the inside of my cheek, stifling a laugh. Damn it.

No. No. NO.

I was supposed to be the invisible one. Envying them from afar. And absolutely... secretly enjoying their banter.

I should clearly be thinking about how I should make things between me and Abhimanyu right but here I was clearly into their banter. Hoping to intervene, join them, laugh with them, give Adhya some of my personal favorites.

But before I knew it, the words tumbled out.

"Do you two ever shut up?"

Not out of me of course, it was Nina Aggarwal, the classic bitch of our school, 100 chudail mare the tab jakar iss chamgadarni ka Janam hua tha. Pure facts.

Silence.

Nina's eyes flickered between them; her lips curled to a smirk. Uh-oh, the bitch is bitching.

"What happened Nina? Forgot to take your meds?" Kamya asked with a sweet smile, a fake one.

Adhya let out a dramatic grasp, "Oh, that explains everything."

I bit the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to smile. Even if I do smile who will really notice me?

Nina's nostrils flared. That's how my friends; I know that the girls have hit Nina's nerve.

Everyone directed towards them, sensing the tension, enjoying the drama. The air becomes thick. 

Nina folded her arms; her perfectly manicured nails dug into her skin. Painted nails are not even allowed in this school. Has no teacher ever noticed them?

Her eyes narrowed to Kamya, "Finding a boyfriend in fiction world cause no real boy actually pays attention to you."

"Nina, first, what I am looking for is a man, not a boy. Second, I have a career to make, so I can spoil my man. And third, maybe it's you who's still looking for a boy, since your personalities seem to align perfectly. As you both are childish."

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." Nina spoke with an eyeroll. This bitch is getting on my nerves.

"Trust me, I am not the one who stalks someone at 2 a.m. who clearly has shown no interest in them."

"Kamya!!!" 

Before Nina could lunge on Kamya, a freaking chewing gum landed on Nina's head.

Chewing gum which was in someone's mouth a moment prior was now on her head, sticking to her hair, entangled with it. And I kid you not this is by far the most beautiful scene in my entire life. 

"Oh, sorry Nina. What a klutz I am!! I was just blowing a bubble but instead it flew out of my mouth." Sohil spoke in a frantic voice; he sounded so apologetic but his wink at Adhya and Kamya gave him away.

Nina froze. Her hand shot up to her head as she frantically patted her hair, her fingers tangling in the sticky mess. A shriek tore through the classroom.

"MY PRECIOUS HAIR?!" she screeched, her voice high-pitched enough to shatter glass.

God this is getting funny!! Thank God no teacher is here, or else I would have never gotten to witness something like this. This pure act of masterpiece.

Her scream was so loud, it sounded like a dying cat. Seriously, it was the kind of scream that makes you wish you had earplugs. Her face turned as red as a tomato. She desperately tried to remove the gum from her long dark hair but that shit was not happening.

I couldn't help but laugh. The class was now filled with laughter, with Nina still frantically trying to remove the gum from her hair, looking like a deer caught in headlights. It was almost like the entire class had forgotten the earlier tension.

"Who left the rooster out at this hour of the time?" Ishaan spoke followed by a yawn. He stood at the class entrance clearly unfazed by the tension in the air. The class even laughed louder.

I snort.

I bloody snorted at his comment.

Seriously Gauri. 

My hands quickly covered my mouth. Shit.

I glanced around. But damn.

ALL EYES WERE ON ME! CAN'T A GIRL SNORT IN PEACE?

Hi! me here, do tell me how you felt about the first chapter. I thought let's kick off the book with some comedy.

Don't forget to follow me on ig for latest spoilers