Tara was already waiting near the entrance of her house when she saw Vaani approaching, still grinning like she had just pulled off the prank of the century.
"Kya hua, aise has kyun rahi hai?" Tara asked, amused.
("What happened, why are you laughing like that?")
"Aaj toh maza aa gaya. Mere Ekansh ko maarega woh." Vaani said, eyes gleaming with revenge and pride.
("Today was amazing. That guy dared to mess with my Ekansh, he got it.")
"Ooho! Mere Ekansh? Kya baat hai! Lekin tu toh usse gussa thi?" Tara teased, elbowing her lightly.
("Oho! My Ekansh? What's this! But you were angry with him, right?")
"Gussa apni jagah, aur badla apni jagah." Vaani said with the tone of a villain in a daily soap.
("Anger has its place, and revenge has its own.")
"Kaunsa badla?" Tara asked, now intrigued.
("What revenge?")
Vaani quickly told her the entire plan she had executed this morning while walking to school.
"Tu pagal hai." Tara said, laughing.
("You're mad.")
"Haan, Mummy ne bhi yahi kaha." Vaani replied, and both burst into uncontrollable laughter, holding on to each other for balance.
("Yeah, Mom said the same thing.")
Just then, Ahaan, Yuvraj, and Rudra spotted them near the gate.
"Kya hua? Zyada hi accha joke tha kya?" Ahaan asked, walking over with a smirk.
("What happened? Was the joke really that good?")
"Subah subah tumhara chehra dekh liya, iss se accha joke ho sakta hai kya?" Tara replied with perfect timing, making everyone laugh.
("Saw your face first thing in the morning can any joke be better than that?")
"Kya hua guys, kisne joke maar diya hai?" Kriti asked, joining the group. Nirma just smiled and nodded, adjusting her bag.
("What's going on, guys? Who cracked the joke?")
"Ahaan ke chehre ne." Vaani said, still laughing.
("Ahaan's face did.")
"Very funny, guys." Ahaan replied with a mock-annoyed face, but his lips twitched with a smile.
Just then, the school bell rang.
Everyone began to head to their classrooms, but Vaani paused and glanced toward Nirma, who looked strangely downcast.
"Iska muh kya utra hua hai?" she asked Kriti, eyeing Nirma curiously.
("Why the long face?")
"Ab main Ayaan ko nahi dekh sakti... ab mera school aane ka koi faayda nahi." Nirma mumbled sadly.
("Now I can't even see Ayaan... there's no point in coming to school anymore.")
Vaani was just about to say something when the teacher entered the corridor and silence fell over the group.
The teacher walked in a tall woman in her late thirties, with sharp eyes but a kind smile. She adjusted her dupatta and stood confidently at the front of the classroom. Everyone stood up at once.
"Good morning, Ma'am." the class said in unison.
"Good morning, class. Sit down." she replied with a nod, placing her notebook on the table.
As the students settled in, still buzzing quietly with the morning's energy, she looked up and smiled gently.
"I know everyone's excited today, but let me give you one more reason to smile there will only be three lectures today."
A wave of happiness swept through the room like a breeze. Cheers, claps, and whispers of "yes!" echoed lightly around the benches.
"Thank you, ma'am!" someone from the back shouted.
The teacher chuckled. "Don't celebrate too much. I'm still here for the first lecture."
The class laughed.
"I'm Mrs.Asha Rao your class teacher for this year." she continued, her voice calm but clear. "This is your final year in school, Class 12th. It's not just another year it's the beginning of a journey where how you behave, how you carry yourselves, and how you treat others will define the adults you're becoming."
Her words sank in as the class listened with surprising attentiveness.
"Respect the teachers. Respect your time. And most importantly..." she paused and narrowed her eyes, landing her gaze right on Vaani "...don't turn the classroom into a stage for your personal drama."
The whole class turned to look at Vaani, who gave an innocent smile and whispered, "Mujhe hi dekhna tha obviously."
("Obviously, I was the one who was going to be seen")
Tara giggled.
Mrs. Rao smiled knowingly. "You know we all love your energy, Vaani, but try to channel it better this year."
Vaani nodded dramatically. "Yes, Ma'am. Bilkul sanskari ho gayi hoon main."
("Yes, Ma'am. I've become completely cultured now.")
Another round of giggles.
Then Mrs.Rao lifted a paper in her hand. Her expression turned slightly more formal.
"I have one more announcement. The teacher's board had a meeting this week and decided on the nominations for Head Girl and Head Boy. Five girls and five boys have been selected from the entire senior batch."
The class immediately perked up. Murmurs and curious whispers started.
"And this time, you're lucky. Three students from this very class have been nominated."
The class gasped.
"Three?!"
"Kaun kaun?!"
"Main toh nahi hoon..." someone mumbled.
("It's not me")
Mrs. Rao raised a hand. "Quiet! I'll be revealing the names in just a moment. But before that remember, being nominated is not just about popularity. It's about character, responsibility, and how well the teachers see your potential as a leader."
The room went silent with anticipation. Eyes wide, postures straight, hearts beating faster
Even Vaani sat up straight for once.
Mrs.Rao looked around the room, smiling at the eager faces.
"So from our class." she began, "we have two girls and one boy who have been nominated."
She turned to the board and wrote the first name:
1. Tara Sharma
Tara's eyes widened. "What?" she whispered to Vaani, stunned.
Vaani grabbed her arm excitedly. "Wooohooo! Miss Head Girl in the making!"
The teacher turned again.
2. Jaya Mehta
Jaya sat up straight, brushing an invisible crease from her skirt and smiling proudly. Kriti and Nirma made ewwww faces.
"And finally," she said, pausing for effect,
3. Ahaan Malhotra
Everyone in class turned toward Ahaan. Some clapped, some cheered, a few whistled.
"Bhai! Head boy!" Rudra whispered, patting his back.
("Bro! Head Boy!")
Mrs. Rao set the paper down and continued, "Also, if anyone else wants to nominate themselves or someone else, you have until tomorrow to give me the names."
Just then, Jaya raised her hand confidently. "Ma'am?"
"Yes, Jaya?"
"Ma'am, I think we should give Vaani's name too."
Vaani's eyes widened. "Huh?" she said under her breath.
Jaya stood up and said with a smirk,
"Vaani ka naam dedo na. Sudhar jayegi. Zimmedari aayegi toh theek ho jayegi."
("Let's give Vaani's name. She might improve. Once responsibility comes, she'll straighten up.")
The class burst into soft laughter, some agreeing, others waiting to see Vaani's reaction.
Vaani blinked in disbelief. "Excuse me?" she muttered, about to protest, but-
Before she could even speak, Ahaan leaned forward on his desk, arms crossed, eyebrows raised with that perfectly timed smirk.
"Jaya," he said loud enough for everyone to hear, "tum apni zimmedari sambhalo pehle. Tumse class ki attendance sheet sambhalti nahi, aur baat kar rahi ho Head Girl banane ki."
("Jaya, handle your own responsibilities first. You can't even manage the class attendance sheet, and you're talking about Head Girl nominations.")
"Burn!" Rudra whispered, and the whole class gasped and laughed in sync.
Even Tara covered her mouth, holding back laughter, while Kriti muttered, "Brutal..."
Jaya froze in her seat, her face turning redder than the school notice board.
"Language, Ahaan." Mrs.Rao said sternly but she was hiding a smile.
"Sorry, ma'am. Just clarifying facts." Ahaan replied smoothly, still staring straight at Jaya.
Vaani, now thoroughly entertained, grinned.
"Wow, mujhe bolne ki zarurat hi nahi padi."
("Wow, I didn't even have to defend myself.")
"Main hoon na." Ahaan said with a mock-heroic tone.
("I'm here for you.")
Jaya sank back into her seat, completely quiet now.
Mrs.Rao cleared her throat and began reading.
"For Head Girl:
1. Tara Sharma - 12-A
2. Jaya Mehta -12-A
3. Neha mittal- 12-B
4. Shruti Deshmukh - 12-E
5. Fatima Shaikh - 12-D "**
A round of soft murmurs followed.
Vaani whispered to Tara, "Ohho popular girl, first name on the list."
("Oho popular girl, first name on the list.")
Tara rolled her eyes but smiled.
Mrs. Kavita continued.
**"And for Head Boy:
1. Ahaan Malhotra- 12-A
2. Rohit Thakur - 12-F
3. Pranav Singh - 12-C
4. Kabir Qureshi - 12-D
5. Rahul thakur - 12-E"**
This time, louder reactions spread across the room.
"Oho, Ahaan ka bhi naam sabse pehle!" Kriti teased.
("Oho, Ahaan's name is first too!")
"Bas bas." Ahaan said coolly, pretending to bow. "Fan following sambhalna mushkil ho raha hai."
("Enough now. It's getting hard to handle all the fan following.")
Everyone laughed.
Once the noise died down, Mrs. Rao smiled and explained, "Students, you are allowed to vote for any candidate from any section. You're not restricted to just your class. All nominees are allowed to visit other sections"
"So yes, this is your chance to listen to everyone and choose wisely." she added.
The class instantly sat up straighter, waiting.
Mrs.Rao adjusted her glasses again, a slight smile on her lips. "Alright, students, here's the thing. You'll need to complete this today, because tomorrow is voting day. You'll have 30 minutes after this lecture to get it done. You can do it then. For now, let's begin with introductions. Since I only know a few of you as i wasn't your class teacher before, I want everyone to introduce themselves."
The class nodded, some students already shifting in their seats, excited for the brief break from regular lessons.
"One by one, please. Let's go, starting with you, Tara." Mrs.Rao said, looking at Tara with a warm but firm gaze.
Tara stood up, a little surprised at being called first, but she didn't mind. She took a deep breath and spoke clearly.
"Alright, thank you, everyone." Mrs. Rao said, once all students had introduced themselves. "Now, we can get started with today's lesson. But before that, I want to remind three of you to visit other sections during break time to introduce yourselves and talk about why you deserve the votes. Remember, it's not just about popularity. It's about being responsible, reliable, and making sure you can represent the entire school."
With a firm nod, she turned to the blackboard and began the lecture, the class settling into quiet attentiveness.
Once the bell rang signaling the end of the first lecture, Tara, Jaya, and Ahaan hurried out of the classroom to visit other sections. They walked together through the school corridors.
They finally reached their first class to introduce themselves, where other students were waiting. After the introductions, they moved on to the second lecture, the room filling with a buzz of energy.
After the third lecture ended, the bell rang again, signaling the end of the day. Students packed up their bags, ready to head home. school slowly began to empty as everyone started heading home.
Tara stepped out of her classroom, still holding the last paper she had handed out during their class visits. Her hair was a little frizzy from all the walking, but her eyes were bright with determination. She looked around and spotted Vaani and Nirma waiting near the corridor pillar.
"Finally!" Vaani huffed. "We thought you got kidnapped by the principal."
Tara chuckled, "More like trapped by a group of juniors who asked me to sing my campaign speech like a rap."
Kriti joined them just then, her notebook half open and her pen still tucked in her messy bun. "Please tell me you actually did it."
Tara raised a brow. "Do I look like someone who'd rap her own speech?"
"Honestly? A little." Nirma deadpanned, earning a burst of laughter from the group as they began walking towards the school gate.
"Tired?" Kriti asked, nudging Tara gently.
"A little." she admitted. "More nervous than anything, though. Tomorrow's voting and I'm still not sure what half the students are thinking."
Vaani slung an arm around Tara's shoulder. "Listen, whether you win or not, you've already won. The way you spoke today?"
Tara laughed.
"True." Kriti added. "I'm pretty sure one of the 12th grade girls whispered, 'Finally, a girl with sense.' after you left."
"That's because I didn't flirt with them like Ahaan does." Tara muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Ohoho." Nirma teased, "Why so salty, Miss Sharma?"
"I'm not salty!" Tara defended. "I'm just... realistic. He thinks a charming smile and one-liners will win votes."
Vaani smirked. "Let's be honest-half of them will vote for him because of that smile."
"That smile is fake." Tara snapped, then paused. "Okay, maybe not fake, but... annoying."
"Uh huh." Kriti grinned. "Keep telling yourself that, babe."
Kriti adjusted her bag. "Okay, my lane comes first. Don't forget to revise the economics points we noted, okay?"
"Revision?" Nirma groaned. "Why does that word still haunt me after campaign lectures?"
"You'll survive." Tara grinned.
Kriti gave them a quick wave. "Bye, you losers. Don't miss me too much!"
"Never." Vaani teased, and they all laughed.
Soon after, Nirma paused at the crossing where her street turned left. "I'm off too."
"Only if you're awake to hear it." Tara said.
"Trust me, I will be." Nirma waved. "Bye!"
Now just Tara and Vaani remained, their pace a little slower, more relaxed as they walked side by side through the quiet street.
They reached the turn where Tara would go straight and Vaani would turn into her colony.
With a little wave, Vaani walked a little and turned into her gate, unlocked the main door with a quick flick of the keys, and stepped inside.
"Main aa gayi, maa!" she called out.
(I'm home, mom!)
No response. The house was quiet. Her mom was probably upstairs resting or at office.
Vaani dropped her school bag onto the living room floor with a dramatic thud, kicked off her shoes, and walked straight to the sofa.
With a loud sigh, she flopped down face-first, her arms stretched wide across the cushions.
"Aaj ka din... uff." she mumbled into the pillow.
(Today's day... uff.)
She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling fan slowly spinning above.
Still lying on the sofa, Vaani blinked at the ceiling for a few more seconds. The silence was comforting, but her mind was buzzing - not with campaign thoughts, surprisingly - but with colours, canvases, and brush strokes.
"painting." she whispered, a spark lighting in her eyes. "Aaj mood hai. I'm definitely paint today."
(I'm in the mood today.)
With newfound energy, she got up, grabbed her bag, and made her way upstairs to her room. As soon as she entered, she dumped her bag near the table, opened her window to let in the breeze, and began pulling out her drawing supplies from the bottom drawer.
She set everything neatly on her study table and then paused.
"Wait. Message toh banate hain pehle."
(Wait. Let me make a message first.)
With a marker in hand and a little creative smirk, she took a chart paper and wrote in bold letters:
"Artist At Work. Disturb Only If You Have Chocolate."
She grinned at her own message and taped it on the door from inside.
Just as she picked up her pencil, she heard footsteps and the familiar jingling of bangles.
Her mom entered, holding a handbag and wearing her usual office kurta.
"Vaani, sab gadbad pada hai yeh kya-" she stopped mid-sentence, eyeing the mess of clothes and the chart paper on the floor.
(Vaani, everything's in a mess, what is-)
Vaani turned with a sheepish smile, brush still in hand. "painting krne ka mood ho raha tha mummy."
(I'm in the mood for painting, mom.)
Her mom raised an eyebrow. "Mood painting krne ka ho raha hai aur room dekh ke lag raha hai koi toofan aaya hai."
(You're in the mood to paint but the room looks like a storm hit it.)
Vaani pouted. "Thoda creative mess hai."
Her mom rolled her eyes but smiled as she adjusted her dress and checked her phone. "Main office jaa rahi hu kaam se. Thodi der mein aajaungi, tab tak yeh sab saaf ho jaana chahiye. Phir jitni marzi painting kar lena."
(I'm going to the office for some work. I'll be back in a little while everything should be cleaned up by then. After that, paint all you want.)
Vaani sighed, half-expecting this. "Mumma..."
But her mom had already turned at the door. "Aur brush se wall paint mat karna iss baar."
(And don't use the brush on the wall this time.)
"Ek hi baar toh kiya tha!" Vaani called after her.
(It was just one time!)
She heard her mom's fading laugh as the door clicked shut.
Vaani looked at the colourful chaos around her and shrugged.
Vaani sat on the edge of her chait, staring at the blank canvas propped up near her window. The sunlight fell softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Her art supplies were already scattered brushes, colours, pencils, and that faint smell of acrylic that always felt like home.
She sighed, stretched her arms, and tied her hair into a messy bun.
"Aaj toh painting karungi hi." she whispered, almost like a promise to herself.
(Today, I will paint.)
She sat cross-legged on her chair, picked up a pencil, and gently tapped the canvas with its tip. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her mind drifting.
What should I draw?
And then... without thinking, her fingers moved. A curve here. A shadow there. Light, aimless strokes. But somewhere between the lines, a shape began to emerge not a landscape, not flowers or abstracts like she usually did.
It was... a face.
Strong features. Slightly messy hair. A familiar curve of the jaw.
She paused for a second, the pencil still in her hand, hovering above the canvas.
"Yeh...?" she murmured. "Kya main... Ekansh ko draw kar rahi hoon?"
(Am I... drawing Ekansh?)
She had never drawn or painted a person before not because she wasn't interested, but because she simply couldn't bring herself to. Yet today was different. Today, without even realizing it, she found herself sketching, her hand moving as if it had always known how. And the face that appeared on the page wasn't just anyone's it was him, the one who made her finally want to try.
A tiny laugh escaped her lips, surprised at herself.
But she didn't stop.
She hadn't even fully realised it his image had just formed in her mind, uninvited. The way he looked when lost in thought, the intensity in his eyes when he was arguing with Ritvik, even the way he tilted his head with that slight attitude when talking to her.
Her pencil pressed a little deeper, sketching out the outline of the hair now.
Her stomach suddenly let out a loud growl.
She blinked.
"Uff... bhook toh abhi lagi hai." she muttered, placing the pencil down and stretching lazily.
(Ugh... I'm so hungry now.)
She walked out of her room and padded down the hallway barefoot, heading toward the kitchen. On the way, she spotted Shanti aunty one of their house helps wiping the counter and humming to herself.
"Auntyy..." Vaani called sweetly, leaning against the wall dramatically like she was about to faint. "Mujhe bhook lagi hai... Maggi bana do na please?"
(I'm so hungry... can you please make Maggi for me?)
Shanti aunty turned, smiling at her. "Aree baba, abhi bana deti hoon. Tum toh jaise chhoti bachchi ho ab bhi."
(Oh dear, I'll make it right away. You're still like a little child.)
"Main waise hoon hi!" Vaani grinned, plopping down at the dining table like a queen waiting for her royal meal.
(I'm like that only!)
A few minutes later, the comforting smell of masala Maggi filled the kitchen. Vaani's mouth watered.
Shanti aunty set the hot plate in front of her with a small smile. "Lo, garama garam. Dhyaan se khana, muh mat jala lena."
(Here you go, piping hot. Eat carefully, don't burn your mouth.)
Vaani clasped her hands in excitement, "Thank youuu, aunty! Aap best ho!"
(You're the best!)
She picked up her fork, twirled the noodles, and took a big bite. "Mmmmmm... yeh wali Maggi sirf aap hi bana sakti ho." she mumbled mid-bite.
(Only you can make Maggi this good.)
With her legs curled up on the chair and her chin resting on one hand, Vaani continued eating with slow satisfaction her sketch paused, her mind full, her stomach slowly following.
Ritvik was walking back home after running a quick errand when he noticed Vaani sitting on the porch, happily slurping her maggi with a satisfied grin on her face. The warmth of the setting sun reflected off her cheeks as she swayed slightly to the rhythm of her imaginary tune.
He raised an eyebrow and shouted, "Vaani! Tera phone kaha hai? Mummy tujhe kab se phone kar rhi hai?"
("Vaani! Where's your phone? Mami's been calling you for ages!")
Taking another bite, without even looking up, she mumbled with her mouth half full, "Room mai hai, mai bhul gai. Kya hua? Mummy kyu call ki thi?"
("It's in my room, I forgot. What happened? Why was Mami calling?")
"Vo... vo..., han! Mummy keh rahi thi vo aarhi hai. Tu apna room saf kar ke rakhna."
Ritvik said, trying to remember the urgency in his aunt's voice.
("Uh... yeah! Mami said she's coming. You better clean your room.")
Suddenly, Vaani's eyes widened. "Oo shit, kitne der mai aagi?"
("Oh shit, how soon will she be here?")
"Unhone kaha vo 10 min mai aajayengi."
Ritvik replied.
("She said she'll be here in 10 minutes.")
Vaani leapt up in panic, dropping her maggi bowl like it meant nothing now. "Oo god, mai abhi aai."
she yelled as she sprinted inside, nearly tripping over the doormat.
("Oh god, I'll be right back!")
Ritvik chuckled as he watched her disappear in a frenzy. He shook his head with a soft smile and thought to himself, "Lagta hai tu bhul jati hai Vaani, mai tera hi bhai hu, aur vo bhi bada."
("Looks like you forget sometimes, Vaani, that I'm your brother... and older, at that.")
On the other hand...
Vaani stood in her room, hands on her hips, inspecting the mess like a soldier surveying a battlefield. Clothes scattered, books half-opened, her vanity looking like a mini tornado had passed. Without wasting another second, she set to work. Dusting, folding, arranging-like a cleaning robot on turbo mode.
Eight minutes later, she stood in the middle of her now spotless room, panting slightly and admiring her own work. "Waah!, waah Vaani. 8 min mai saf! Bohot accha Vaani, keep it up."
("Wow, wow Vaani. All clean in 8 minutes! Very good Vaani, keep it up.")
She smiled proudly... until a sudden thought hit her. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Ek minute... Mummy to meeting mai gai hai..."
("Wait a minute... Mami had gone for a meeting...")
She slowly sat on the bed, confused. But then, another horrifying memory flashed in her head.
"Aur meri maggi!"
("And my maggi!") she screamed, bolting out of the room like a tornado.
Vaani dashed down the stairs like a dramatic heroine in an action movie, yelling mid-flight, "Kutte! Meri maggi!"
("You dog! My maggi!")
Ritvik, casually licking the empty bowl, looked up at her with a mischievous glint. "Ouch! Late hogi. Abhi bas 5 min pehle hi khatam kiya maine."
("Ouch! You're late. I just finished it 5 minutes ago.")
"Teri himmat kaise hui meri maggi khane ki?!"
she roared, charging at him like a storm.
("How dare you eat my maggi?!")
"Jaise teri hui thi mujhe subah uthane ki!"
Ritvik replied defensively, trying to save himself from the storm that was Vaani.
("Just like you had the right to wake me up this morning!")
He started running around the living room, laughing, but the chair leg caught his foot. He tripped and fell flat on the floor.
Vaani didn't waste the opportunity.
She pounced on his back and started pulling his hair furiously.
Just then, the main door creaked open revealing Vaani's mom.
But who cared? Vaani was still pulling his hair like her life depended on it.
"Ye kya ho raha hai?!"
shouted Vaa
ni's mom, her voice thunderous and sharp.
("What is going on here?!")
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