Author pov..

Morning broke slowly, as if even the sun hesitated to rise.

In the quiet kitchen, Ishani and Malini prepared breakfast together.

The clinking of utensils felt heavier than usual.

One plate was carefully placed on the dining table for Vaibhav untouched, waiting, just like the words Ishani never spoke.

Before leaving for college, Ishani couldn't stop herself.

Her feet carried her to Divya's house, driven by worry and a hope she didn't fully understand.

Inside, she found Rani standing at the stove, her face tired yet warm.

Seeing her, Ishani felt a small sense of comfort.

"Aunty..." Ishani's voice was gentle, almost afraid. "How is Divya now?"

Rani paused, her shoulders drooping slightly."She hasn't woken up yet. She had a fever yesterday. It reduced a little at night, but she's still sleeping."

The words pierced Ishani's heart. Guilt, concern, and helplessness tangled inside her.

"Can I... can I see her once?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

Rani nodded. "Yes, beta. Go and see her."

Ishani walked toward Divya's room slowly, her steps uncertain.

When she pushed the door open, she saw Divya lying on the bed awake.

Her phone glowed in her hands, her eyes fixed on the screen.

Relief washed over Ishani. At least she was conscious.

She stepped closer, her hands clenched tightly.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked, trying to sound normal.

Divya didn't look at her.

The silence screamed louder than words.

Ishani's chest tightened.

She realized Divya was still angry so angry that even illness couldn't soften her heart.

Ishani waited, hoping for even a small glance, a single word.

Nothing.

Tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision.

"Okay..." Ishani said softly, her voice breaking. "Please take care of yourself. Get well soon."

She turned away before Divya could see her tears and walked out of the room.

In the hallway, Rani looked at her with concern.

"You saw Divya?" she asked.

Ishani quickly wiped her tears and forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes."Yes, aunty. I'm going to college now. We'll talk later."

"Wait, beta," Rani said kindly. "Have breakfast before you go."

Before Ishani could reply, Rahul's irritated voice came from upstairs.

"Mummy! I can't find my shirt!"

Almost immediately, Nirmala Dadi called out,"Rani, where are my glasses?"

Rani closed her eyes for a moment

and sighed deeply.

"See how everything falls on me," she said, exhaustion spilling into her voice. "No one does their own work. When Divya isn't sick, I take her help. Today she's unwell, and everything stops."

"I'll do it, aunty," Ishani said quickly, eager to be useful eager to escape her own pain. "Tell me what needs to be done."

"No, beta," Rani replied. "You'll get late for college. Eat something and go."

"I've already had breakfast at home," Ishani said softly.

Just then Rahul shouted again, louder and more impatient."Mummy, I still can't find my shirt!"

Rani shook her head in frustration.

"This useless boy can't manage anything. Can you give him his shirt? It's right there in the cupboard. He won't see it unless someone puts it in his hands."

Ishani let out a small laugh thin, fragile, hiding her sadness.

"It's okay, aunty," she said. "I'll give it to him. You do your work."

Ishani went upstairs to Rahul's room.

Rahul was standing there in just his shorts and vest, desperately searching for his school uniform.

Clothes were scattered everywhere, the room turned upside down in Ishani went upstairs to Rahul's room.

Ishani stepped inside and said, half-scolding, half-amused,"What have you done, Rahul? You've made such a mess with the whole room."

Hearing her voice, Rahul screamed in shock and quickly grabbed a bedsheet, wrapping it tightly around himself.

His ears turned bright pink, and his heart began to race wildly inside his chest.

Ishani froze, startled by his sudden scream.

"Why are you shouting like that?" she asked.

Rahul glared at her, flustered and embarrassed."How can you just walk into my room like this?" he snapped.

Ishani frowned for a moment, then realization hit her. She had made a mistake.

"Oh sorry," she said immediately.

"Okay, now please go," Rahul said hurriedly. "I'm not dressed."

But instead of leaving, Ishani burst out laughing.

"So what?" she said teasingly. "You're like my little brother."

Rahul didn't like that at all.

"No," he protested. "You're not my sister. You're my friend."

That made Ishani slightly awkward, but she smiled.

"Alright, friend then," she said softly. "Still, why are you so shy with me? I'm older than you."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"Anyway, forget all this. I'll get your clothes. Hurry up and wear them."

Rahul hesitated.

"But where's Mom?"

As Ishani walked toward the cupboard, she replied gently,

"Aunty already has a lot to do. Divya isn't well either, so she's under even more pressure. You're grown up now, Rahul. You should start doing your own work."

She turned back to look at him.

"Good boys learn to handle things on their own."

Rahul listened carefully. Her words sank deep into his heart.

He realized she hadn't liked the fact that he kept troubling his mother for small things.

"I am a good boy, Ishani," he said quickly. "I only called Mom because I couldn't find my uniform."

Ishani placed his neatly folded uniform on the bed and smiled at him."I know. My Rahul is the best boy."

She looked at him seriously, then asked,"And from today, you'll do your work by yourself, right? Tell me."

Rahul's heart beat so fast it felt like it might leap out of his chest.

Without thinking twice, he nodded eagerly."Yes! I'm a good boy. From now on, I'll do everything on my own."

Ishani laughed softly."Good. Now get ready and come down for breakfast."

Rahul nodded again, a small but proud smile forming on his face.

Ishani came downstairs to find Nirmala Dadi and Devnath seated at the dining table.

Devnath looked up and smiled.

"Arre Ishani, where are you coming from upstairs?"

Ishani replied sweetly,

"Uncle, Rahul needed some help."

She didn't tell him that she had gone to look for Rahul's shirt because she knew if she did, Rahul would surely get scolded.

Before anyone could ask more questions, Rani walked in."She had come to see Divya."

Devnath nodded."So you saw Divya, beta?"

"Yes, uncle," Ishani said.

She turned to Rani."Aunty, is there any work I can do?"

Rani waved her off like a strict school bell."No, no. Go now or you'll be late. And then your college will blame me."

Ishani said her goodbyes and stepped aside.

Just then-

Enter Rahul.

Fully dressed. Shoes on. Tie slightly crooked for dramatic effect. Bag slung over his shoulder like a man who had decided to change history.

He placed his bag down and walked straight into the kitchen.

Rani immediately went into alert mode."What do you want now?"

Rahul replied calmly, dangerously calm."Nothing, Maa. Just filling my tiffin and taking my breakfast."

Rani froze.

"...What?"

Rahul sighed, like a man exhausted by foolish questions."Maa, should I repeat in Hindi, English, or actions?"

Rahul opened the tiffin, and started serving himself neatly.

Rani followed him, shocked.

"Since when do you do all this?"

Rahul didn't even look up."Since I realized you're not my personal assistant."

Nirmala Dadi gasped.

"Hey! Talk properly!"

Rahul smiled innocently.

"Dadi, I am talking very properly. I'm just working properly too."

He placed breakfast on a plate and walked out.

The entire dining table watched him like he was an alien.

Devnath laughed."Arre wah! Where did the sun rise from today? Rahul himself brought his plate!"

Rahul sat down casually.

"Papa, everyone should do their own work. I learned it at thirteen. Some people take sixty-nine years... and still ask where their glasses are."

Nirmala Dadi immediately sat up straight."Oho! Taunts now?"

Rahul nodded seriously.

"Yes, Dadi. Free trial. Lifetime subscriptions start at sixty."

Rani crossed her arms."Don't act oversmart. Everything comes from the mother."

Rahul looked at her lovingly."Exactly, Maa. That's why I don't want to burden you anymore."

Devnath raised his hands."Okay, stop. I can't handle this much maturity before breakfast."

Rahul picked up his bag and stood up.

"Bye everyone," he said politely."And don't worry from today onwards I'll also wash my own plate. Please sit and recover."

That morning, the house didn't wake up to alarms.It woke up to Rahul's savage era.

Since morning, Vaibhav hasn't stepped out of his room. Guilt weighed heavily on his chest.

Then suddenly, it struck him today Divya wouldn't be going to college with Ishani.

That meant Ishani would have to go alone, and she was scared of going by herself.

Without wasting another second, Vaibhav grabbed his bike keys and rushed outside.

His mother, Malini, was in the kitchen, chopping vegetables.

"Mom... has Ishani already left?" he asked quietly.

Malini didn't reply. She didn't even look at him.

Vaibhav understood instantly she wasn't ready to talk to him.

He walked to Ishani's room to check.

It was empty.

Ishani had already left for college.

A wave of sadness washed over him.

He stood there for a moment, lost in thought, then turned and walked straight out of the house.

Soon, he reached the Pathak family's home.

In the courtyard, Rani and Nirmala Dadi were sitting together, talking softly.

Rani noticed Vaibhav and asked gently,"Vaibhav beta, do you need something?"

Vaibhav hesitated, then asked, "Aunty... how is Divya now?"

Rani smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, beta. She's better now. I just fed her breakfast and gave her medicine. She's fine."

Vaibhav swallowed and said, "Can I meet Divya?"

Rani immediately understood he had come to apologize. She spoke kindly, "Oh beta, it's alright. You spoke in anger; you didn't mean it. And Divya is a little naïve and stubborn anyway. Sometimes elders have to be strict. That's not wrong."

Vaibhav shook his head slowly. "No, aunty. Still... I should apologize."

Rani nodded. "Alright. She's in her room."

Vaibhav nodded back and quietly walked toward Divya's room.

Vaibhav walked into the room without knocking.

Divya was sitting on her bed, completely absorbed in her phone, scrolling through reels.

The moment her eyes fell on him, her irritation flared instantly.

"Has no one ever taught you that you should knock before entering someone's room?" she snapped.

Vaibhav shot back calmly, "You come into my room without knocking all the time. Back then, it never occurred to you that I might want some privacy too."

Divya swallowed awkwardly. For a second, she was at a loss for words.

Then she lifted her chin and said sharply,"Whatever it is, you're the elder one here, aren't you? You're supposed to be the understanding one. You give me so much gyaan all the time, but you never apply it to yourself."

Vaibhav let out a tired sigh. "Look, I didn't come here to fight."

Divya scoffed. "Oh really? Do you think I want to fight with you? You're the one who walked into my room and started it."

Vaibhav muttered, "Oh God, stop it. You talk way too much," and before he realized what he was doing, he placed his hand over her mouth.

Divya froze.

Completely stunned, she sat there on

the bed, eyes wide, staring at him shocked, silent, unable to move.

As Vaibhav stepped closer to Divya, her heartbeat suddenly raced.

Realizing it, he immediately removed his hand from her mouth and, flustered, tried to speak but the word sorry refused to come out.

Divya, too, felt awkward.

After a brief pause, she said sharply,"What are you even saying? Speak properly."

Vaibhav swallowed hard and finally said,"For whatever I said yesterday... please forgive me. I'm truly ashamed of myself. I don't know what came over me. Please, forgive me. I promise this will never happen again. And please talk to Ishani she's not okay."

Hearing this only fueled Divya's anger.

Her eyes hardened as she replied,

"No. I won't forgive you. You humiliated me in front of the entire college. Do you even know what everyone must be thinking about me now? I will never talk to you again. Leave. Get out of my room. Right now."

"Please," Vaibhav said softly. "Divya, I'm really sorry. Whatever you ask of me, I'll do it. Please don't do this."

Divya crossed her arms and replied coldly,"Oh really? Then apologize to me in front of the entire college just the way you humiliated me. Apologize publicly. Only then will I forgive you."

Vaibhav was taken aback for a moment.

Shock flickered across his face.

Then he nodded slowly and said,

"Okay. I'll apologize, Divya."

Divya frowned inwardly. He agreed so easily? she thought. Aloud, she added,"And you'll have to praise me too.in front of the whole college."

Just then, Rani walked into Divya's room and overheard everything.

Storming inside, she snapped,

"Vaibhav beta, there's no need to apologize to her. She's completely useless."

Then Rani turned toward Divya, anger blazing in her eyes.

"I swear, I'll slap you so hard that all this apology nonsense will be knocked right out of you."

Divya made an annoyed face and looked away.

Vaibhav quickly intervened,

"It's okay, aunty. Divya is right. I said the wrong things about her in front of the entire college, and I will apologize to her publicly."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Rani's anger now shifted entirely toward Divya."You're becoming more and more spoiled," she scolded. "Just wait till your father comes home. I'll complain about you to him."

Divya shot back, her voice trembling with hurt,"What's my fault, Mom? You always think other people's children are good, and I'm always the bad one."

Overwhelmed, she turned away, pulled the blanket over herself, and lay down.

Rani stood there watching her, anger still burning inside her but she stayed silent. Divya wasn't well, and Rani knew it.

Finally, she closed the door quietly and walked away.

On the other side, at school, a fierce and silent war was going on between Deepak and Deeksha.

That morning, Deepak walked straight to the first bench and sat down.

Rahul looked at him, confused.

"Why are you sitting here? This bench isn't ours. Our seat is the one at the back, near the wall," he said.

Deepak didn't even look at him.

"From today onward, I'll sit here," he replied firmly.

Rahul had no idea why Deepak was acting this way, but he sighed and sat beside him anyway.

After a while, Deeksha entered the classroom.

The moment her eyes fell on Deepak and Rahul sitting on the first bench, her face hardened with anger.

She walked straight toward them.

"This is my bench," she snapped.

Rahul glanced at Deepak and suddenly everything made sense to him. So this is why he's sitting here, Rahul thought.

Deepak leaned back casually and said,

"This is a classroom. Anyone can sit on any bench. I came early and found this seat. I'll sit here."

Deeksha clenched her fists.

"I am the monitor of this class. I always sit on the first bench."

Deepak raised an eyebrow.

"Where is it written that a monitor must sit on the first bench?" he said coldly, pulling out his books as if she didn't even exist.

Deeksha was furious. She stood there, staring at him, her anger burning in her eyes.

And poor Rahul, stuck between the two of them, felt like he was being crushed in their battle.

When Deeksha still refused to move away, Rahul leaned toward Deepak and whispered nervously,"Deepak, come on. Let's go back to our bench. Otherwise, the teacher will scold us today."

Deepak shook his head."She won't. This classroom belongs to all of us. We can sit anywhere.But Deeksha is the monitor," Rahul insisted. "You'll get punished and I'll get dragged into it too."

"Nothing will happen," Deepak replied confidently.

Deeksha remained standing beside the bench, unmoving.

Today, she had made up her mind that she would not leave until Deepak was punished by the teacher.

The class teacher entered the classroom.

Deeksha was still standing. The teacher noticed her immediately and asked,"Deeksha, why are you standing there? Go and sit on your bench."

Deeksha spoke up, trying to control her anger."Ma'am, Deepak Sharma is sitting on my bench."

The teacher looked toward the first bench where Deepak and Rahul were sitting calmly.

"So what?" she said casually. "Go and sit on another bench at the back."

"But ma'am" Deeksha tried to protest.

"But what, Deeksha?" the teacher interrupted. "Go and sit down. I need to take attendance."

Deeksha felt her blood boil. She shot a sharp glance at Deepak.

He was grinning shamelessly, showing all his teeth, enjoying every second of it.

Her fists clenched. For a moment, she felt like punching him and knocking every single tooth out of that smug smile.

But she controlled herself, turned around, and walked to a back bench, fuming silently.

The teacher began taking attendance. After that, she said,"Everyone, take out your science books."

She started teaching.

Suddenly, she stopped and asked a science question.

Deepak and Rahul were sitting right in front, so she asked them.

Both of them froze.

Panic spread across their faces.

They stood up, heads lowered, completely blank.

From the back bench, Deeksha was glowing with happiness.

Finally... karma has arrived, she thought. Now the camel has come under the mountain.

When they failed to answer, the teacher turned toward the back.

"Deeksha, you tell me."

Deeksha stood up immediately and answered confidently.

"Very good, Deeksha," the teacher said with a smile."And you two learn something from her. Sitting on the front bench doesn't make you smart. Studying does."

Deeksha sat down, extremely satisfied, a small victorious smile playing on her lips.

"Sit down, both of you," the teacher said.

Deepak and Rahul sat quietly.

Soon, the class ended and the teacher left.

Rahul let out a sigh and whispered,

"I told you we should've sat at the back. The teacher wouldn't have noticed us then."

From behind, Deeksha spoke sweetly but with clear sarcasm,"Aww, what happened? You were so desperate to sit in the front, right? Now sit there properly both of you."

Deepak turned around, staring at her angrily.

Deeksha responded with a wide, toothy smile, deliberately showing all her teeth, mocking him.

Deepak's anger flared.

Rahul quickly whispered,"Come on, Deepak. Don't start another fight."

The war wasn't over it had only changed sides.

On the other hand, Ishani had come to college alone today, for the first time, in an auto.

All day, she didn't talk to anyone.

She had always been a quiet girl someone who didn't get comfortable with people easily.

So she did exactly what she had come to college for to study.

She sat alone outside the campus, her book open in her lap, lost in her notes.

While she was reading, Akash walked over and asked casually,"Didn't your friend come today?"

"No, she didn't," Ishani replied softly.

"And Vaibhav didn't come either," Akash added. "Did something happen?"

"No," Ishani said. "Divya isn't feeling well, and bhaiya had some work at home. That's why he didn't come."

Akash nodded.

Ishani turned back to her book, trying to focus again.

Akash laughed lightly and said,

"You're such a bookworm. What will you even do by studying this much?"

Ishani looked up at him and replied calmly,"Other than studying, I don't really have anything else to do."

"There's a lot more in life," Akash said with a smile. "But you'll have to find it yourself."

Just then, Shivani called out to Akash from behind.

Akash turned around, saw Shivani, and then looked back at Ishani.

"Alright, I'll leave now. Bye."

Ishani simply nodded.

As he walked away, Ishani thought to herself and whispered under her breath,"No... I don't need anyone else. Divya is my best friend. She'll start talking to me again very soon."

With that thought, she lowered her eyes back to her book and lost herself in her studies once again, alone but steady.

College had ended for the day.As Ishani stepped outside the college gates, she suddenly stopped.

Vaibhav was standing there with his bike waiting

For a moment, Ishani was stunned.

"Come on, sit," Vaibhav said quietly.

Without asking anything, without saying a word, Ishani got on the bike.

The ride was silent. No questions. No explanations.

Soon, they reached home.

Ishani got down and walked inside without looking back.

Vaibhav removed his helmet just then, when his tuition students arrived.

He took them inside and began teaching them in the hall, slipping back into routine as if nothing unusual had happened.

A little later, Devnath returned home.

The moment Rahul saw his father, he hurriedly opened his notebook and started studying, pretending to be deeply focused.

Devnath noticed him and instantly remembered the morning incident.

He said nothing.

Instead, he walked straight into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.

Seeing this, Rani froze in shock.

"What's going on today?" she muttered aloud."Since morning, this father and son have been shocking me doing all their work by themselves!"

Devnath carried the glass to the dining table and sat down to drink.

Clearly intending for Rahul to hear, he said,"From today onwards, I'll do my own work. My Rahul has truly opened my eyes."

Rahul looked at his father with pride and said confidently,"That's why I always say, Papa listen to everything I say. And one day, you'll go very far."

Rani raised her hand dramatically.

"I'll hit you right now and you will go very far!"

Devnath and Nirmala Dadi burst out laughing.

Rani sighed, her tone softening.

"You don't need to do anything. You come home tired every day. Just sit I'll bring the food."

The house settled into warmth again, wrapped in laughter, teasing, and the quiet comfort of family.

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