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The bell rang, and the teachers shouted some annoying instructions while students rushed toward their respective classes.
Avni stood up. Without looking back, she headed towards the Red House—the one Vyakhya and Shiksha were just walking out of.
“So, how was the house meeting? I saw you guys clapping,” Avni said, smacking Vyakhya lightly on the shoulder.
Vyakhya flinched instantly maybe because she was walking like a dagger ready to stab someone.
“I-uh-I’m not feeling very well. Can you not do that?” Vyakhya muttered, brushing Avni’s hand off her shoulder.
Shiksha reached out, placing her palm on Vyakhya’s forehead like a rough thermometer.
“You’ve got a fever, bro-”
But Vyakhya didn’t even listen. She just walked ahead.
“I-I’ll head home. Half-day application,” she mumbled.
Avni and Shiksha exchanged a look before Shiksha said,
“If you can, then wait for the last two classes to end. I’ll drop you off on my scooty, Vyakhya.”
“No, I’ll go now. Please send me today’s biology notes later,” Vyakhya managed to whisper before dragging herself into the classroom to grab her things.
“What happened to her?” Avni asked.
“What happened? She’s always been like this,” Shiksha sighed, linking arms with Avni.
“No, she wasn’t like this. She was... umm... more cheerful?”
“So what? Breakup?” Shiksha guessed, shooting her shot.
“Come on. It’s Vyakhya. What do you mean, breakup?” Avni scoffed.
As the girls made their way to class, Vyakhya was walking out, alone.
This was new for her.
In her ten years of school life, she had never left early.
She was the type to either finish something fully or not even start it. But today—she was forced into it.
Her head throbbed from all the overthinking she did last night. She hadn’t been able to sleep.
Her legs hurt for no reason.
There was a quiet lump in her throat, like she still couldn’t swallow the truth she had discovered.
It was a good thing Tis hadn’t shown up recently otherwise she might’ve finally cried her bloody heart out to someone.
But for now, she was holding it all in. Perfectly.
Still, pain always finds its exits.
And right now, it was showing up disguised as headaches and body aches.
In the middle of all this, she realized something:
She didn’t even remember who the school captain was this year.
She needed their signature on the leave application—her class teacher had told her to go to the 12th grade class and look for the school captain.
But who was it?
She had no clue. She hadn’t attended the ceremony this year.
Her thoughts were cut off by a rough voice:
“Vyakhya!”
She turned around instinctively-
And regretted it instantly.
Raghav.
With that ugly expression on his face.
He was probably still around because Sheela Ma’am had later found her missing ₹5000 in her own pocket, which meant Raghav had escaped suspension.
“Why did you blame me that day? You clearly saw it was Ayaan!” he said sharply.
“Why does it matter? You didn’t even get suspended,” Vyani replied, fingers pressed to her temple.
She already hated where this was going.
“So? I was framed! You, the ideal student, framed me? For what? Were you trying to defend that peanut?”
“He’s taller than you,” she said with a straight face.
Raghav clenched his jaw, then scoffed.
“Oh, so you have a crush on him too, huh? Wow. This is interesting.”
Vyani was so done.
“Why? You like him too?”
“What?! Why would I like him, huh? He’s just an ass—” Raghav scoffed, voice rising.
Vyani didn’t respond. She just turned to leave.
Before she could take another step, he grabbed her arm.
“I’m talking to you-”
“I’m not feeling well. Please let me just find the school captain and go home,” she said, her fingers still on her temple.
Raghav let go immediately.
“Oh-”
“What’s happening here?”
A calm, gentle voice cut in.
Vyani didn’t even bother turning to see who it was.
“Nothing, we’re just talking,” Raghav said, turning and freezing.
It was Sankshipt.
He and Raghav had always been on good terms probably because their families were friends.
“Oh. Raghav,” Sankshipt said, looking at him first, then at Vyani still somehow standing upright, one hand gripping her bag, the other still holding her head.
He raised a silent eyebrow at Raghav.
“Yeah, I was just asking Vyakhya for something,” Raghav said, trying to sound casual.
“Can you please leave? I have to find the school captain,” Vyakhya said quietly, but her eyebrows made it pretty clear: get the hell out.
Raghav laughed awkwardly, waved a weak goodbye, and left.
Vyani didn’t say anything. She turned slightly toward Sankshipt.
“Where’s 12th Science? Their classroom’s empty.”
“Are you alright?” he asked, voice calm but distant, like a question asked out of courtesy, not concern.
“I-yeah. Just tell me... do you know where they are?”
“They’re in the chemistry lab. Practical’s going on. They won’t be out soon.”
“What?” Vyani blinked, trying to stay upright. “I need the school captain’s signature for my half-day application.”
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She tried to straighten up, fingers gripping her paper tighter. Her legs twitched under her weight like they might give up any second. Her head was thudding in pulses. Her throat felt like it was carrying a thousand unsaid things all at once.
“I can sign it,” Sankshipt said, holding out his hand. “I’m about to be appointed male vice-captain.”
“No. It’s fine. How long will they take?”
“You won’t have to wait. I’ll just sign it give it here.”
“It’s a formal thing,” she muttered. “I’d rather wait.”
“I’ve already been selected. The teachers confirmed it. And...” he hesitated for just half a second, pushing his glasses higher up his nose. “You don’t look like you can wait.”
“I’ll just go to my class teacher,” Vyani mumbled, already walking off toward the sixth-grade classrooms.
Sankshipt sighed softly and followed her at a distance.
They reached the door. Asmita Ma’am was inside.
“Ma’am, may I come in?” Vyani asked in a low voice.
Asmita looked up sharply, concerned.
“Beta, you haven’t left yet? Didn’t you say your headache was getting worse?”
“Ma’am, both principals are absent and the school captains are in a practical. I don’t know whose signature to get.”
Asmita sighed. Then noticed Sankshipt behind her.
“Sankshipt, sign it,” she said, then looked back at Vyakhya.
“He is the Vice captain.Come on, he was with you. Get it signed and go home,Vyakhya your face looks pale.”
“What? Is he allowed to-”
“I already told you,” Sankshipt said quietly, signing the paper. “Here.”
“But the elections haven’t happened yet-” Vyani started.
“Oh, the teachers have already selected him. His badge is ready. The girl’s position will go through the voting process,” Asmita said offhandedly.
“Right.”
Vyani nodded slightly, not really processing it.
Sankshipt passed a sealed envelope to Asmita the real reason he was here. He didn’t glance back at Vyani this time, just offered a small nod toward the teacher and turned away.
She watched his back recede how he didn’t walk fast or slow, just that same steady rhythm like nothing in the moment had scratched his surface.
Asmita turned again to Vyani, this time softer.
“Now go home, Vyakhya. Rest. Okay?”
Vyakhya pressed her hands to forehead gently, mumbled a thank you, and started walking toward the main exit, her shadow trailing longer than her body almost like it was carrying her weight for her now.
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and then Add to home screen.