The next day at school, it was a bitterly cold winter morning—around 6 a.m.—and we were all shivering. The teachers called the student council to the ground to assign positions for the event. That’s where I ran into Shubh and Akaay.

He looked… happy. Was it because of me? Uh, no. There had to be another reason for that mood.

I asked Shubh, trying to figure it out.

“So… what happened? Did he tell you anything else?”

He smiled. “Kriti, you have no idea what you’ve done. He’s been overthinking this for months. After talking to you… He feels free. His mind is lighter. He’s genuinely happy right now. And it’s because of you. You actually helped him a lot.”

Really? Me? Genuinely making him feel lighter, happier? My chest swelled with pride, and a quiet warmth spread inside me. For the first time, I felt a strange sense of achievement—like I had truly done something good for someone.

That morning, positions for the sports event were assigned. Akaay, as Head Boy, had to keep everything under control. Meanwhile, I was carrying his speech with me everywhere. I noticed Nayan staring, jealousy flashing in her eyes—apparently, she wasn’t happy that I was so close to him.

Then came practice. Dance and I? Clearly not meant for each other. Every step felt like it was breaking my bones. Part of me wished Shree was there—maybe she’d mess things up in a different way—but I reminded myself: I could handle this on my own.

Even exhausted, I couldn’t stop thinking about that little moment of pride. Helping him, being there in my own way, made the cold morning and sore muscles feel lighter somehow.

Later, when I got home, I wasn’t expecting anything. I mean, we’d only been apart for six hours—why would he even message me again?

Then… boom. At exactly 4 PM, my phone buzzed. Hi.

I blinked at the screen, and then he continued, commenting on a status I’d posted about a book:

“You know, it’s kind of a waste buying all these books. You could just ask me if you need motivation.”

I laughed a little. “No, I just picked it up from Pinterest. I’m not buying any of these fancy books.”

Then he asked casually, “What kind of books do you like to read?”

I told him, "I wanted the Twisted series, but my parents wouldn’t get it for me."

And then… he said, “You know what? I’ll get you one. It’s cheap.”

I almost dropped my phone. Two days in, and this guy was already offering to buy me books. For someone who genuinely loves reading, this felt like a treasure.

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, the conversation wandered into random topics. Somehow, it turned to veganism. Of course, it was his mission to convince me. Meanwhile, I’m already a pure vegetarian—milk, dairy, no meat.

But I found myself listening. I was reading labels on my products, checking which ones were vegan, and casually mentioning it to him.

“You know,” I said, “my skincare products are vegan.”

He messaged, half-smiling. “Vegan isn’t just a type of diet. It’s a lifestyle.”

I had to admit—I was impressed. His knowledge, the way he spoke… There was just something about him. Could someone really carry this kind of aura? Vegan, artist, and practically doing everything else except, apparently, studies. Out of 24 hours, he’s doing it all.

Compared to him… I don’t even know where to start. I used to be a study head, but lately? I can’t focus properly. My marks are slipping, my routine is slipping… and for what?

Our conversation dragged on until 10 PM—constant banter, endless goodnights, and still no sign of stopping. It felt like the night itself was conspiring to stretch every word we said. At one point, he even asked if I was going to school the next day. I froze. Was this normal? Or was I overthinking?

Flashback: During the project recording, there was this guy I really didn’t like. I’d heard a lot about him, and honestly, I didn’t want anything to do with him.

But then, while we were filming, he went over to Akaay and whispered something. Later, a girl nearby mentioned it, and I immediately thought he was talking about me—maybe my teeth or something small. I was already on edge.

Then Akaay turned to me and said, “Kriti, he wants to send you some videos… to change your voice.”

“What’s wrong with my voice?” I asked, confused.

Apparently, the first guy had complained that my voice was irritating him. I was hurt and honestly annoyed. I told myself, if my voice irritates him, he can just close his ears. Who am I to change it?

Flashback end.

So, while chatting that evening, I decided to ask Akaay about it, just to clear things up.

“Do you really find my voice irritating?” I asked, nervously.

He messaged back calmly, “I never said your voice is irritating. To me, it’s normal. Why are you thinking this?”

“I… but you told me…” I hesitated.

“I wasn’t the one saying that,” he explained. “That guy was. I was just telling you what he said.So that he could feel ashamed of saying things on the back”

And just like that, the weight lifted a little. My voice wasn’t the problem.

Maybe I was wrong about Akaay from the very first day. He’s not as mysterious as he seems—you just need to give him time and care. After all, he’s just a child wanting attention.