Eyana's POV
It was strange, how silence between two people could feel so peaceful—so full. That's how it felt with Siddhartha.
Each day after that chai outing, he found a way to walk with me, talk with me, just be around. He'd wait outside the classroom after lectures, sometimes with a fresh cup of chai in hand and a soft joke ready. And I... I let him in.
His presence wasn't demanding like Avyansh's. It was grounding, quiet, like the calm after a storm.
"You're really something, you know?" Siddhartha said one afternoon, as we sat beneath the neem tree during the break, sipping our tea. "You act strong even when you're breaking."
I didn't know what to say to that. No one had ever seen me like that. Not even Avyansh.
I smiled, faintly. "Maybe I'm just tired of being weak around the wrong people."
He didn't press further. He just sat there, close enough to feel warm, far enough to not make me uncomfortable. It was the kind of closeness that didn't need touching.
But Avyansh noticed.
In class, he'd sneak glances, trying to catch my eyes—but I wouldn't look. I kept my laughter for Siddhartha. My smiles. My silence.
It was during lunch that it finally cracked him.
I was standing near the corridor, laughing—actually laughing—as Siddhartha mimicked one of our teachers dramatically. His eyes sparkled like he'd been waiting all day just to see me smile like that.
That's when I saw Avyansh, standing across the hall. Not moving. Not blinking.
His eyes met mine—and for the first time ever, I didn't look away with guilt.
I just... looked. Blankly. As if he were just anyone.
And I swear I saw his jaw tighten before he turned and stormed off.
Later that day – Girls' Washroom Break
Eyana's POV
I stood by the sink, splashing cold water on my face, hoping it would silence the chaos in my chest. My reflection looked too calm for what I was feeling inside.
Jhanvi and Tejal came in right behind me, still halfway through their snacks, whispering about something I couldn't catch at first. But then Tejal said it out loud—
"Okay, so... don't get mad, but Siddhartha's kinda not that bad?"
I looked up, eyebrows raised. "Excuse me?"
Jhanvi leaned against the wall, her tone casual but eyes knowing. "I mean, the way he talks to you? It's so... respectful. He listens to you, Eyana. I've never seen a guy actually pay attention to your mood like he does."
Tejal nodded, twirling a lock of her hair. "And honestly, those rumors about him and Samiksha ma'am? I overheard a senior in staff room duty saying it was a setup. That the teacher was the one who started the drama when he rejected her. Siddhartha didn't even get a chance to defend himself."
I stayed silent for a moment, my hands gripping the sink edge. The memory of his voice came back—
"I'm just a student, after all. I couldn't do anything... just endured the hatred."
"I guess he doesn't seem fake," I admitted. "There's something... sincere about him. Like he's been hurt too."
"And you both connect over chai," Tejal teased, bumping my shoulder. "Which is obviously fate."
I gave her a small smile, but my heart tugged in another direction. As much as I liked being around Siddhartha, part of me was still tangled with him—with Avyansh.
Jhanvi noticed. "Still thinking about you know who?"
I shrugged. "He called me his classmate, Jhanvi. Like I was nothing."
They exchanged a glance but didn't say more. I appreciated that. I didn't want comforting lies—I just wanted clarity.
Maybe I was finding it... slowly... in places I didn't expect.
School Corridor – Just After Lunch
Eyana's POV
The corridor was unusually crowded after lunch—students rushing back to class, laughter echoing, footsteps clashing like chaos. I was walking fast, clutching my notebook, eyes on Tejal who was calling me from the staircase.
One step.
Then another.
And suddenly—I slipped.
My ankle twisted slightly on the smooth marble. The notebook slipped from my hand and panic surged—
But before I could hit the ground, two strong hands caught me by the waist.
Time stopped.
"Woah, careful."
Siddhartha's voice—calm, low, close.
His arms wrapped firmly around me, my face inches from his chest. I could feel his breath against my hair, could hear the thump of his heart. His eyes met mine and for a moment—just a second too long—we stayed like that. Caught in a strange bubble of heat and silence.
I blinked.
"Thanks," I whispered, my voice shaky.
"You've got to stop making chai and chaos your brand, Eyana," he said with a half-smile.
He helped me stand properly, his hand still gently on the small of my back as if making sure I wouldn't fall again. And then, the moment shattered—by him.
Avyansh's POV
Just a few steps away
I saw it.
I saw her—my Eyana—falling. I saw him catch her like it was scripted for a movie.
Her hands on his chest.
His arms around her waist.
Their eyes locking like no one else existed.
I felt my pulse spike.
I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palm. Something twisted inside me—a flare of rage, jealousy, something darker. I wasn't used to this. To her ignoring me. To him getting her attention.
She used to trip and I was the one to catch her. She used to look for me first in the crowd.
Now she doesn't even look back.
I stormed past a group of juniors, ignoring their greetings, straight toward her. Toward them.
"Eyana," I said sharply.
She turned, startled.
He was still too close to her.
"I need to talk to you. Now."
She looked between me and Siddhartha, unsure.
"No," I added, eyes burning into Siddhartha, "this isn't a request."
Eyana's POV
I froze. His voice was sharp, commanding—familiar. The kind of tone that used to send butterflies in my stomach. But today, it didn't feel right.
Not when his eyes screamed jealousy.
Not when Siddhartha was the one who held me when I needed someone.
I stepped back, just enough to put space between me and Avyansh.
"You don't get to order me around," I said, calmly but firmly.
He looked taken aback, his jaw clenched. "I just want to talk."
"Then maybe try asking instead of dragging," I snapped.
Siddhartha gently put his hand on my shoulder, silent but present. A warning, maybe. Or protection.
I wasn't sure if that made things better or worse, because the fire in Avyansh's eyes turned stormy.
"Right," he muttered under his breath. "You've changed."
"And maybe you should've noticed that before you called me just a classmate," I shot back.
There was a beat of silence.
Students around us began to slow down, noticing the sparks flying in the air. Tejal and Jhanvi appeared at the end of the hall, watching nervously.
I didn't wait for Avyansh to reply.
I turned to Siddhartha. "Come on, we'll be late for class."
We walked away together.
And for the first time, I didn't look back to see if Avyansh was watching.
After School – Behind the Auditorium
Eyana's POV
The world had been loud all day. Whispers, glances, questions I didn't have the answers to. But this... this moment with Siddhartha, behind the quiet shade of the auditorium where the chaos couldn't reach, felt like the pause I needed.
We sat on the stone ledge, feet dangling, sipping on shared chai he'd somehow managed to sneak in again.
"Do you always carry chai in your bag?" I teased, a soft smile tugging at my lips.
"Only when I know someone might need it," he replied, his eyes locked on mine—not flirtatious, just... understanding.
It made my heart clench a little.
"You didn't have to step in today," I whispered, swirling the chai. "But... thank you for doing it anyway."
Siddhartha leaned back on his hands, letting out a breath. "You're strong, Eyana. But even strong people deserve someone to stand beside them sometimes."
For a moment, I let myself lean into the warmth beside me, letting the silence between us speak. The wind picked up gently, rustling my hair, and he reached over—fingers brushing my temple as he tucked a strand behind my ear.
I looked up.
Too close.
Too still.
Too much.
He didn't move away.
Neither did I.
But just when something felt like it was about to happen—
Laughter echoed from the school's front gate.
The crowd was thick, girls squealing, heels clicking on concrete, boys standing aside like some royal storm had just walked in.
And then I saw him.
Avyansh.
Gone were the soft, boyish curls. His hair was sharper now, pushed back with the kind of confidence you can't fake. The hoodie replaced by a dark denim jacket, sleeves casually rolled up. His jaw looked sharper, like he'd traded teenage softness for something colder... harder.
He was magnetic—and every girl noticed.
"Damn," Jhanvi whispered from somewhere behind me, watching with her jaw dropped. "What happened to him?"
Girls swarmed him—one touched his arm, another flipped her hair too obviously. Tejal narrowed her eyes. "Since when did Avyansh look like an Instagram model?"
"They're literally lining up for him," Jhanvi said, half laughing, half stunned. "They're practically begging him to look their way."
But he didn't look at them.
Not once.
His eyes scanned the courtyard until they landed—straight on me.
With Siddhartha.
Sitting close.
And his jaw set tighter than I'd ever seen.
My stomach flipped.
Because I could see it.
That version of him wasn't just about change.
It was war. And I might have juststarted it.
Eyana's POV
The bell rang, and I slipped into the girls' washroom just to breathe.
Too much noise. Too many eyes. Too many feelings I hadn't signed up for.
But peace doesn't last when you have best friends who know exactly where to find you.
Tejal and Jhanvi barged in like a mini hurricane.
"There she is," Tejal grinned, throwing an arm around my shoulder.
"Oh, don't act innocent now," Jhanvi added, leaning against the sink, arms crossed, eyes narrowed playfully. "Do you even know what you've done?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Oh my god, EYANA," Tejal said, laughing, "you literally made Avyansh flip his entire existence. One week of silent treatment and the boy walks in looking like every bad boy romance book rolled into one."
"He was already hot," Jhanvi added, "but now? Now he's a walking thirst trap. And guess what?"
I raised a brow, suspicious. "...What?"
"The whole school wants him," Jhanvi said, wiggling her brows.
Tejal nodded dramatically. "Like full-blown, 'oh-my-god-is-he-single' energy in the canteen, the corridors, the locker area. Girls are dressing up like they're attending fashion week just to get his attention."
"Meghana literally asked him for a pen twice today just so she could touch his hand," Jhanvi added with mock horror.
Tejal gasped. "Oh my god, she did?!"
"She did. Twice."
I rolled my eyes, but my stomach... twisted. Just a little.
Tejal leaned in. "Girl, I'm just saying—you keep ignoring him like this, and you're gonna have to fight half the school just to get him back."
"I'm not—" I started.
"You are," both of them said in sync.
"I'm just... figuring things out," I muttered, voice softer now.
Jhanvi stepped beside me, gentler this time. "We get it. Things got messy. But don't let those thirsty hyenas take him from you just because you're scared to say what you feel."
Tejal smirked, her teasing tone slipping back in. "Besides, he still only looks at you. Even when Meghana was trying to drop her books in slow motion, his eyes were on you and Siddhartha."
I bit my lip, heart thudding.
"Ugh," I groaned. "Why is everything so complicated?"
Jhanvi chuckled. "Because you're Eyana. And you've got two very different boys who would probably burn down the world for you."
Tejal grinned. "Welcome to your dark romance, babe. Now pick a side—or make them both fight harder."
The cafeteria buzzed with end-of-week energy—trays clattering, friends shouting over each other, the air thick with fries and filtered drama.
I sat at the far end of the table with Tejal and Jhanvi, poking at my lunch like it had personally offended me. Siddhartha hadn't come in yet, and I hated how aware I was of it.
Across the room, Avyansh laughed a little too loudly at something Meghana said. Roohi was missing—thank god—but Meghana had conveniently filled the seat beside him, brushing her fingers through her hair like she was trying out for a shampoo commercial.
Tejal followed my gaze. "You okay?"
"Peachy," I muttered.
"Liar," Jhanvi whispered.
I was about to respond when it happened.
Meghana leaned in—and kissed Avyansh on the cheek.
Casual. Confident. Calculated.
Time slowed. Not because it mattered that much—but because it didn't surprise me. And that made it worse.
Avyansh didn't pull away.
He just froze for a heartbeat too long before giving her a half-hearted smile. The table around them erupted in fake cheers and teasing whistles.
Tejal gasped. "What the actual—"
I stood up.
Not because I was going to cry. Not because I wanted to run.
But because this time, I wanted him to see me walk away by choice.
I picked up my tray and turned—only to almost bump straight into Siddhartha.
He blinked, taking in my clenched jaw and tray.
"You okay?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"I'm fine," I said too quickly.
He looked over my shoulder. "Guess we're doing public stunts now."
My silence said enough.
"Come on," he said, tilting his head toward the back exit of the cafeteria. "There's better food and fewer idiots outside."
I hesitated—until a sharp voice sliced through the air behind us.
"Not leaving already, Eyana?"
Meghana.
I turned slowly, finding her smile far too smug for her own good.
"Did I make it too hard to concentrate?" she asked, her tone sugar-coated poison. "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. You know how comfortable some people make you feel."
The table behind her giggled.
I smiled sweetly. "Comfortable enough to forget I exist, right? You'd know all about being second choice, wouldn't you?"
Tejal choked on her juice.
Avyansh stood up now, eyes narrowing. "Eyana, don't."
"Why not?" I asked, voice calm. Too calm. "Afraid she'll hear the truth you keep avoiding?"
Meghana's smile faltered. "God, you're dramatic."
"No," I said, stepping forward. "I'm just not a fan of recycled affection."
Her face dropped.
And before she could spit something back, I turned to Siddhartha, who had been silent through it all—but his eyes? Burning.
"Come on," I said to him. "Let's go somewhere real."
And just like that, we walked out—leaving behind the silence that always comes when the wrong people finally get called out.
Jhanvi burst into the classroom, eyes wide and breathless. "You won't believe what I just saw," she gasped, grabbing Tejal and Eyana's arms.
"Meghna—she almost kissed Avyansh on the lips!
Like, full-on leaned in and everything, but then—" her voice dropped dramatically "—Samiksha walked in like the devil herself and totally ruined the moment.
She's probably plotting something evil right now, I swear."
Eyana's face darkened with fury, her fists clenched tightly. "She's so desperate," she spat. "Trying to steal what's not hers. I can't stand how she acts like she owns everything—Avyansh, Siddhartha, everything."
Jhanvi shook her head, smirking. "And look at them now—Avyansh's been hanging out with her all afternoon, like they're a couple. Ugh, I hate how she's so manipulative."
Meanwhile, Siddhartha foundher outside the school gates later that week, leaning against the wall, eyessearching hers. He hesitated before asking softly, "Eyana, do you want to treatme to coffee this weekend? Just us. No distractions, no drama. I think we bothneed a break from all this chaos." Her heart fluttered at the invitation, herlips parting slightly as she nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that," she whispered,feeling a flicker of hope amid the storm.
Write a comment ...