Zevansh
My eyes fluttered open after barely two hours of sleep.
Instinctively, they drifted toward the clock.
4:00 a.m.
Insomnia had become a part of me now.
Ever since my mother’s death, sleep only came in fragments—two, maybe three hours at most.
Not that it bothered me anymore.
I stretched lightly before pulling on a shirt and stepping outside for my usual run.
The city was still half-asleep.
Cold air brushed against my skin, sharp and unforgiving, yet strangely grounding.
For a little while, running made everything quieter.
Or maybe it just exhausted my mind enough to stop thinking.
By the time I returned home, the house was awake.
Or at least, he was.
My father—Mr. Vishal Aggarwal—sat at the dining table with his usual black tea, glasses resting low on his nose as he scanned the newspaper.
“Go get ready, Zev. You’ll be late for school.”
His voice sounded flat.
Mechanical.
Like every conversation between us.
I rolled my eyes and walked away without replying.
During recess, I walked through the school corridor with my hands shoved inside my pockets.
As usual, people stared.
Girls whispered among themselves, some openly checking me out.
I hated it.
Ignoring them, I glanced at the idiot walking beside me—my best friend, Kriday Jha.
Yeah.
Kriday.
The twin brother of my academic rival.
Or more accurately—
the girl who considered me her mortal enemy.
“Bhai, weather kitna mast hai na?” Kriday grinned.
“So what?” I replied lazily.
“Let’s go to Section B. I wanna see Vaidehi.”
His eyes practically sparkled.
I rolled my eyes.
“Oye, lover boy. If you like Vaidehi so much, then why did you choose PCM instead of PCB? At least tum uske section mein hote.”
“Because of that bad omen—Krishvi,”
he muttered bitterly.
I stopped walking.
“Watch your language,” I said sharply.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you getting so angry? I thought you disliked her since Grade 9.”
“We’re academic rivals,” I replied coldly. “I don’t hate her personally.”
I stepped slightly closer.
“And unlike some people, I have enough morals to not disrespect a girl. Especially my best friend’s sister… or his mother.”
Silence stretched between us for a moment.
Then he smirked.
“Says the guy who breaks bones
whenever someone pisses him off?”
“Kriday,” I warned dangerously.
Before he could continue, I grabbed his wrist and dragged him forward.
“You wanted to go to Section B, right? Then come on.”
I leaned against the wall outside
Section B while Kriday stared at Vaidehi like a man completely gone.
Not looking.
Studying.
Her smile.
Her laugh.
Her eyes.
Like the rest of the world had disappeared.
I rolled my eyes.
“Recess ends in two minutes. Jaldi kar.”
This time, he rolled his eyes.
“Kya ho raha hai yahan?”
A soft yet firm voice echoed behind me.
I didn’t need to turn around.
I knew that voice.
My aag ka gola.
“I asked,” she repeated, sharper this time, “what is going on here?”
I exhaled slowly before turning toward her.
“Kuch nahi,” I said casually, pointing toward Kriday. “Tumhare bhai ko ladki taadni thi.”
And then—
I looked at her properly.
My heartbeat betrayed me instantly.
Deep emerald-green eyes glared at me with visible irritation.
Confusion.
Annoyance.
Fire.
And for one stupid second—
I forgot what I was about to say next.
“Chhod na bhai,” Kriday muttered mockingly. “Kis pagal se baat kar raha hai.”
Pain flickered across her face.
Quick.
Almost invisible.
But I saw it.
And apparently, so did her entire army.
“How dare you talk to her like that?” Aryansh snapped immediately.
“Mind your language, Kriday,” Advait added coldly.
“Our Krishu isn’t someone you can insult,” Rajshree said sharply.
Aahira stepped forward with blazing eyes while Vaidehi silently moved closer to Krishvi’s side.
For the first time—
Kriday actually looked nervous.
Interesting.
“Look, Kriday Jha,” Krishvi spoke calmly, though firmness laced every word, “this is a school, not your personal property. Don’t create a scene here.”
She paused briefly before continuing.
“And if you do, the principal’s office isn’t very far. I don’t care if your father is a trustee of this school. Rules are meant for everyone.”
Her voice trembled slightly near the end.
But she still didn’t back down.
“Recess is over. Go to your class.”
Then she turned toward me.
“And you, Zevansh Aggarwal…”
Her tone suddenly became
dangerously sweet.
The sarcastic kind.
“You’re the head boy, right? People expect discipline from you.”
A pause.
“Or does that rule not apply when you’re the principal’s son?”
My jaw tightened instantly.
“Do your responsibility properly,” she finished coolly. “Now go to your class.”
And just like that—
she turned around and walked back inside her classroom as if we didn’t exist.
My jaw clenched harder.
Students from different classes stood around watching everything like it was some live drama.
Whispers spread across the corridor.
Including from juniors.
I felt irritation crawl beneath my skin.
“Go to your classrooms,” I snapped.
The corridor emptied within seconds.
Then I looked at Kriday.
“Ho gaya?” I said coldly. “Dekh li apni Vaidehi? Beizzati bhi karwa li.”
He gulped.
“Yaar, is Krishvi ki toh—”
I closed my eyes briefly, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Bas,” I muttered.
Then I grabbed his arm again.
“Chemistry ka period hai. Chal.”
I dragged him away, but my thoughts stayed behind.
With her.
Krishvi.
I didn’t know why she couldn’t stand me.
But one thing was certain—
I admired her courage.
And another thing was even more certain.
She hated me.
And I didn’t lose to people who hated me.
Not in academics.
Not in anything.
To be continued…
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