This is the very first chapter of SITAARE — Destiny That Rebinds Us...
I hope you enjoy stepping into Dhwani and Shourya's world. ♡

☾⋆ ────────────── ✧

"People say a first kiss always holds something special between two people... is it?"

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ ୨ৎ ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

୨ৎ ────────────── ୨ৎ

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

The evening had settled over Delhi with an unhurried calm, washing the sky in soft shades of amber and gold as the last rays of sunlight slipped through the scattered clouds. 

A cool breeze drifted through the neighborhood, carrying with it the distant chatter of children, the occasional honk from the busy streets, and the cheerful chirping of sparrows returning to their nests.

Inside her room, Dhwani sat cross-legged on the chair pulled up to her wooden study table, completely absorbed in her work. 

She wore a faded blue T-shirt paired with loose gray pajamas that had become her unofficial study uniform. Black-rimmed glasses rested neatly on her nose while her dark hair, carelessly twisted into a loose bun, had already begun surrendering to gravity, allowing a few stubborn strands to frame her face.

Her table reflected the way her mind worked organized, disciplined, and precise. Every inch of the desk carried silent evidence of someone determined to stay ahead of the mountain called Class 12.

With unwavering concentration, she filled another page of her spiral notebook, solving complex physics numericals as though the rest of the world simply didn't exist. 

The peaceful silence lasted only until her phone buzzed sharply against the wooden tabletop. The sudden vibration sliced through her concentration.

The screen lit up and it was Ritika Calling.

Dhwani let out a small sigh, pushed her glasses higher on her nose, and answered the call.

"Hello!!" Dhwani answered

"Oyee... sunn... jaldii bahar aa jaa!" Ritika's voice burst through the speaker with her usual infectious enthusiasm.

(hey..listen...come out fast)

"Nahi... abhi nahi aa sakti. Mammy ghar pe ane wali hai," Dhwani replied, already knowing exactly where the conversation was headed.

(i can't...mom is about come home at any point now.)

"Kya yaar! Kab tak 'mammy-mammy' karti rahegi? 12th main aa gayi hai tu!" Ritika winned hard as Dhwani rolled her eyes.

(what the hell yaar....till when you'll do mom-mom.....you're in 12th broo)

"Itni hi chull hai toh tu reh le na meri jagah... main chali jaati hoon tere ghar." Dhwani restorted

(if it's that easy why don't you stay here at my place and i go to your home)

"Na baba naa! Tu hi jhel bhai aunty ko... mujhse nahi hoga!" Ritika immediately pulled back her words.

(no broo....you yourself handle your mom....i can't)

"Bas hogayi hawa tight?" a laugh escaped Dhwani's lips.

(done with this much only?)

"Kya yaar! Achha khaasa socha tha mast gedi marenge ek ghanta... Rishi ko bhi bula liya tha maine!" Ritika sulked again.

("Oh man! I had thought it out so well that we would go for a cool one-hour joyride... I had even called Rishi!")

For a fleeting second, Dhwani pictured the three of them roaming aimlessly through the nearby streets, laughing over absolutely nothing. The image tempted her far more than she wanted to admit.

Her gaze drifted back to the half-finished physics problem waiting patiently on the page.

"Toh tum log jao na... main phir kabhi aa jaungi." Dhwani suggested.

(you two go..i'll come next time)

"Nahi yaar! Tere bina maza nahi aayega." ritika admitted. The sincerity in Ritika's voice almost made her reconsider.

(no yaar...we won't be able to enjoy without you)

Before she could think of another excuse, the metallic jingle of keys echoed from downstairs, followed by the familiar creak of the front door opening.

Dhwani froze. Her eyes instinctively darted toward the bedroom door as recognition flashed across her face. Her mother was home.

"Mammy aa gayi lagta hai... ruk, main baad mein baat karti hoon!" dhwani said quickly disconnecting the call.

(mom has come...i'll call you later)

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐃𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐈'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

I hurried downstairs, absentmindedly tugging at the hem of my slightly wrinkled T-shirt, trying to make myself look less like someone who had just abandoned her physics notebook in the middle of studying. My pulse still hadn't settled after cutting Ritika's call so abruptly.

The front door stood open. Mammy had just stepped inside.

One look at her was enough to tell how draining her day had been. Her shoulders sagged beneath the weight of her handbag, wisps of hair had escaped her bun, and the exhaustion on her face seemed deeper than words could describe. She didn't even bother taking off her sandals before letting herself sink onto the old sofa with a tired sigh.

"Aa gaye aap!" I greeted softly, slipping on my most innocent smile.

(you came)

"Haan ... paani pila de zara, bohot thak gayi hoon aaj." my mummy said closing her eyes.

(yeah...give me ssome water...i'am completly exxhausted) 

"Abhi laati hoon."i nodded and went to kitchen.

(i'll bring it)

I walked into the kitchen, the cool tiles soothing against my bare feet. The house was unusually quiet except for the familiar hum of the refrigerator and the gentle splash of water filling the glass from the filter.

As I carried it back, my mind was already racing.

"Bas mood theek hona chahiye... phir poochungi." I thought to myself.

(just mom's mood should be good...then i'll ask)

She accepted the glass without a word and took slow, unhurried sips. Some of the tension left her face, but the tiredness remained stubbornly settled beneath her eyes.

This was my chance.I nervously rubbed my thumb against my palm before speaking.

"Mammy... mujhe kuch samaan chahiye tha stationary se... lene jaau?" i asked.

(mom...i had to buy somethings from stationary...can i go?)

"Konsa samaan?"Her eyes lifted immediately.

(which stuff?)

I had expected that.

"Vo... kuch pens aur ek-do notepads chahiye the." The lie rolled off my tongue with surprising ease.

(actually i needed some pens and 1 or 2 notepads)

Technically... I did need pens just not today.

She studied me for a long moment. For a second, I was convinced she'd seen straight through me. My heartbeat climbed into my throat, and I almost looked away.

Then she sighed. Probably too exhausted to interrogate me.

"Achha theek hai, ja... lekin jaldi aana aur seedha ghar ana kahi bahar idhar udhar ghomne mat lagna." she said more like a warning to me.

(okay fine go...but come fast, don't roam here and there outside)

Relief washed over me so suddenly that I nearly smiled too widely. Instead, I nodded like the most obedient daughter in the world.

"Theek hai mammy, sirf stationary jaa rahi hoon." i nodded.

(okay...i'll just go to the stationary)

She opened her purse, pulled out a crisp ₹500 note, and placed it in my hand.

The moment I reached my room and quietly shut the door behind me, I couldn't stop the grin spreading across my face. I quickly grabbed my phone and typed before I could lose the permission.

"Got the permission. Meet me outside the street." i messaged Ritika.

Within minutes, I had slipped into my sneakers, adjusted my glasses, tightened my messy bun, and gave myself one last glance in the mirror.

Good enough.

I quietly stepped out of the house, carefully closing the gate behind me without making a sound.

The cool evening breeze brushed against my face, carrying the comforting aroma of chai from a nearby stall and the distant scent of rain lingering in the air. Every tiny act of sneaking out still filled me with the same strange mix of excitement and guilt.

It wasn't even a big rebellion. Just an hour outside. Yet somehow, it always felt like I was escaping prison.

As I reached the end of the street, I spotted Ritika waiting exactly where she'd said she would be.

She sat on her old red scooty, one foot planted on the ground while absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. The moment she noticed me, she broke into a huge grin and waved enthusiastically, her dupatta dancing wildly in the breeze.

"Kya bahana maara iss baar tune?" she asked, the moment I reached her.

(what excuse you gave this time?)

"Stationary ka." i said proudly as I climbed onto the seat behind her.

"Tu har baar yahi bolti hai!" Ritika scoffed.

(you always says that)

"Kuch aur bolti toh permission nahi milti... thappad milta!" I said as we both burst into laughter.

(i would have met with a slap if i had made another excuses)

As Ritika started the scooty, I instinctively looked around the street.

"Rishi kahaan hai?" I asked after a moment.

(where's rishi?)

"Tu nahi aa rahi thi toh vo academy chala gaya." ritika said casually.

(you were not comming so he went to his academy)

"Oh..."

So Rishi had actually left.

I didn't know why, but disappointment settled quietly inside me. He wasn't even supposed to be the reason I'd agreed to come.

Still... Some part of me had expected he'd wait a little longer. The thought made me stare silently at the passing streets as the cool wind rushed against my face.

Ritika, being Ritika, caught the change in my expression almost instantly.

"Chal, momos khane chalte hai," she suggested, deliberately changing the subject.

(let' have some momos)

"Haan chal... uske baad stationary pe chhod dena mujhe." I smiled again this time a little more genuinely.

(yeah let's go....after that drop me at stationary)

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

The two rode off into the deepening twilight, their laughter echoing like silver bells against the bustling streets as evening lights flickered on one by one

The scooty's engine hummed steadily beneath them, carrying Dhwani and Ritika through the lively chaos. the sizzle of momos frying on roadside carts, the spicy steam rising, and the distant honk of autos weaving through traffic.

 For that stolen hour, they were just two best friends escaping the weight of books, relentless marks, and the endless expectations of 12th grade.

Later, as the sky had fully surrendered to indigo, Ritika pulled up to the same quiet corner near Dhwani's street, the scooty idling softly. 

Dhwani clutched a couple of cheap pens and a fresh spiral notebook clever props bought from a nearby stationery stall at the last minute, her crinkly plastic bags rustling in her hand as perfect alibis for her lie. 

They leaned in for a quick, tight hug, the warmth of friendship lingering against the cooling night air.

"Chal, kal milte hai school mein!" Ritika waved energetically, her grin wide and triumphant under the glow of a nearby streetlight.

(lets see each other in school tomorrow)

"Haan... bye. Ghar aram se jana," Dhwani smiled back, waving until Ritika's figure faded into the distance.

(okay byee...get  home safely)

Only then did Dhwani turn toward her house, her steps measured and innocent now...the notebook a shield against suspicion.

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐃𝐇𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐈'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

By the time I started walking back home, the sky had turned a deep shade of blue, and the streetlights had begun casting long pools of yellow across the familiar lane. The plastic stationery bag swung lazily from my fingers with every step, its contents rustling softly.

A strange mix of relief and guilt settled in my chest.

Relief because I had finally managed to escape my books for an hour. Guilt because I'd lied to Mammy so easily.

I glanced down at the bag and smiled to myself. At least this lie came with actual stationery.

The new pens glimmered beneath the streetlight, and the notebook tucked inside would make my excuse believable if Mammy ever decided to check.

As I reached our gate, I pushed it open carefully, making sure it didn't creak too loudly. The familiar warmth of home greeted me instantly. 

I stepped inside, expecting the usual quiet.

Instead, I stopped.

Someone I didn't recognize was standing in the living room.

A tall boy faced Mammy with his back towards me, speaking politely. He wore a simple white shirt with the sleeves neatly folded to his forearms and dark jeans. From where I stood, I could only see the back of his slightly messy hair and his relaxed posture as he listened attentively to whatever Mammy was saying.

Before I could think any further, he turned around. For a brief moment, our eyes met. Nothing dramatic. Just the natural acknowledgment that happens when two strangers notice each other.

"Aa gayi dhwani?" Mammy's voice pulled my attention away as she walked out of the kitchen holding a small bowl.

(you've come dhwani)

"Ye lo beta... aur kuch chahiye ho toh don't hesitate." mom said to the boy.

(take this child....if you need anything else don't hesitate to ask)

"Thank you, aunty," he replied politely, accepting it with an appreciative smile.

"Ye dhwani hai... meri beti." Mammy looked at me.

I shifted the stationery bag to my other hand and offered a small, courteous smile.

"Hello... I'm Aarav... nice to meet you," he said.

"Nice to meet you too," I replied.

That was all. He nodded once before turning back towards Mammy.

"Achha aunty, main chalta hoon." he said.

(ok aunty i should go now)

"Theek hai beta, dhyaan rakhna." my mom said.

(ok....take care)

He thanked her once again before walking out of the house. The front door clicked shut behind him.

"whose that maa?" I looked at Mammy.

"Naye padosi hain... subah hi shift hue hain samne wale ghar mein." She placed the empty sugar container back on the dining table.

(they are our new neighbours....they have shifted in the morning only in the house in front of us)

"Oh." i nodded. "Toh yahan kyu aaya tha vo?" i asked again.

(then why he had come here?)

"Cheeni lene aaya tha... unka dabba hi kho gaya shifting mein!" mom explained with a smile but I couldn't help laughing. mom laughed too.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the remaining money before handing it to her.

"Yeh lo, itne bach gaye." i said.

(this much money is left)

"Sab le aayi na tu?" She looked at me.

(you bought everything ?)

"Haan, le aayi sab." I nodded.

(yess... i bought everything i needed)

She counted the notes for a second before separating one and extending it back towards me.

"here, keep some with you...i'll help you later." she said. My face instantly brightened.

"Thank you!" i said happily.

A hundred rupees wasn't exactly a fortune, but for someone who rarely received pocket money, it definitely felt like a bonus.

Mammy smiled faintly.

"Chal, khana bana rahi hoon... aa jana thodi der mein. Tab tak padh le." she said to me.

(ok i'm making the dinner come later and have it...till then go study)

"Okay." i nodded and headed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time before slowing near my room.

Closing the door behind me, I walked straight to my small letterbox-shaped piggy bank sitting on the bookshelf. Sliding the folded ₹100 note inside, I smiled as it disappeared among the few notes and coins I'd been saving for months.

One step closer to whatever I'd eventually decide to buy.

I placed the newly purchased pens and notebook neatly on my study table before stretching lazily and dropping onto my bed.

"What a day..."

After lying there for a few seconds, my gaze wandered towards the open window.

Across the narrow lane, lights glowed from the house opposite ours. The curtains were half open.

The same boy Aarav was inside, unpacking cartons. A stack of books sat beside him as he arranged them neatly onto a bookshelf, pausing every now and then to dust one off before placing it upright.

I rested my chin against the pillow.

"Yeh bhi padhaku types hai kya?" I murmured with an amused smile.

(is he also one of those nerdy types)

New neighbors usually took a few days to settle in. Looks like this one had already started with his books.

Shrugging the thought away, I reached for my phone and opened Ritika's group chat. Within seconds, the screen filled with random memes and dozens of unread messages, and my attention shifted there instead as the evening quietly settled outside my window.

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐀𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐕'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

I slid the last of my accounts textbooks onto the shelf, the wood giving a quiet creak beneath the weight. With a tired sigh, I stepped back and looked around my room.

Half-open cartons still occupied every corner. Clothes spilled from one box, cables from another, and the faint smell of fresh paint lingered in the air. We'd been unpacking since morning, yet the room still looked more like a warehouse than a bedroom.

I rubbed the back of my neck and wandered toward the open window, hoping the cool evening breeze would clear the exhaustion from my head.

Instead... My eyes found the house across the lane.

More specifically, the window opposite mine.

The curtains were half drawn, and through the warm glow of a bedside lamp, I could see her.

Dhwani.

She sat comfortably on her bed, one leg folded beneath her, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. Her glasses reflected the soft light every few seconds, and the loose bun she'd tied earlier had begun falling apart, allowing a few strands of hair to dance in the evening breeze drifting through her window.

She wasn't doing anything extraordinary. She was simply... existing. Yet somehow, I couldn't look away.

A faint smile found its way onto my face before I even realized it. I'd only met her for barely a minute.

That's all...and yet... Something about that brief interaction had stayed with me. Maybe it was the calmness in the way she carried herself. Maybe it was the quiet confidence in her eyes. Or maybe it was simply because, in a city where everyone seemed to be rushing somewhere, she didn't seem to be in a hurry at all.

She hadn't tried to impress me. She hadn't appeared overly curious about the new neighbors. She had simply smiled politely, greeted me, and gone about her evening.

Strangely... That simplicity lingered.

I rested my forearms on the windowsill, watching her for another moment before letting out a quiet chuckle at myself.

This neighborhood had felt unfamiliar all day...new streets, new faces, a new house that still didn't quite feel like home.

Yet after meeting her, it didn't seem quite as unfamiliar anymore.

I glanced at the unpacked boxes one last time before turning back toward the room. Looks like shifting here won't be so bad after all.

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐘𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

The morning sunlight poured through the curtains, painting bright streaks across my room, but it did nothing to lift the heaviness sitting in my chest.

I stood before the mirror, buttoning my crisp white shirt with practiced indifference. My tie hung loosely around my neck as I ran a hand through my hair, ignoring the comb lying on the dresser. As long as I didn't look like a complete mess, I couldn't care less.

Slipping my bag over one shoulder, I headed downstairs.

The aroma of fresh parathas and chai drifted through the house, but instead of feeling welcoming, it only reminded me of another morning where everyone would pretend we were a normal family.

Near the dining table, Dai Jaan looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, baba." she greeted me.

"Good morning, Dai Jaan." i greeted her as well with a smile.

That smile came easier than I expected. I pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Aloo ke parathe banaye hain... nashta karega?" she asked me affectionately.

(i've made aloo paratha...should i serve it in your breakfast?)

"Nahi Dai Jaan... abhi itna heavy kha lunga toh neend aa jaayegi. Banana shake bana do, please." i said with my signature goofy smile.

(no dai jaan....if i'll eat that then i'll be sleepy whole day...i'll take banana shake instead)

but before she could answer, Dad's voice cut across the room.

"School ka pehla din hai laad sahab ka... aur kis haalat mein ja rahe hain zara dekh lijiye." he taunted me but I stayed silent. Experience had taught me that answering only stretched the argument.

(it's his first day at school...and look in what condition he's going)

"Jaane dijiye na, har time peeche padhe rehte hain uske," Mom said quietly after ending her call.

(leave it na...why you always keep nudging him)

"Pata nahi kab akal aayegi isko... ghode jaisa ho gaya hai, par zimmedari zero." his voice laced with anger and frustration. My grip tightened around the edge of the table. I kept my eyes lowered.

(God knows when he will get some sense, because he has grown as big as a horse but has zero responsibility)

Then came the line I hated hearing the most.

"Pata bhi hai, jo harkat isne ki thi... kitna mushkil ho gaya tha iska admission uski wajah se!" he said with pure disaapointment.

(Do you even know that because of his actions, it became so difficult to get him admitted)

My chest tightened. That incident. No matter how much I tried to move past it, Dad never let me forget.

"Jaane dijiye," Mom said softly.

(leave it )

"Tumne hi bigaada hai isse," Dad snapped. "Iss baar mujhe koi drama nahi chahiye tera, samajh mein aa rahi hai baat teri?"

(You are the one who spoiled him )(I don't want any of your drama this time, do you understand what I am saying?)

I didn't react because I couldn't. Silence had become easier than defending myself.

"Jaane dijiye na, bachha hai, samajh jaayega." mom nudged him again.

(Jaane dijiye na, bachha hai, samajh jaayega)

"Pata nahi kaisi aulad bhej di hai Bhagwan ne mere ghar." He threw the newspaper aside and walked away.

(God knows what I did to deserve a child like this)

The room fell silent. I slowly stood, picked up my bag, and headed for the door.

"Beta, nashta toh karte ja..." mom stopped me

(beta have the breakfast before leaving)

I stopped for just a second. The words gathered in my throat but never made it out. Instead, I said the only thing I could.

"Pet bhar gaya mera... aap kar lena." i said.

(i'm full now.)

Without looking back, I walked out. The door clicked shut behind me. The cool morning air hit my face, and I exhaled slowly.

For a moment, it felt easier to breathe outside that house than inside it.

Behind me, I knew Mom would be trying to smooth things over, Dai Jaan would be worried, and Dad would have already buried himself in another newspaper.

The scene never changed.Only the day did.

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

The school corridors buzzed with chatter and laughter, the kind that only came with the first day of a new session. 

Amidst the cheerful chaos, Dhwani  walked swiftly down the corridor... neat, calm, and every bit the picture-perfect student. Her white shirt was crisp, her blue pleated skirt ironed to perfection, and her black shoes polished enough to reflect the light. Her ponytail swung gently as she walked, a few strands brushing against her cheek.

She held a small stack of notebooks in her arms... a task one of the teachers had handed her early that morning. "Please keep these in the staffroom Dhwani. I can always count on you." And of course, she did it without complaint.

Now, on her way back, she weaved through the crowd gracefully until someone tapped her shoulder from behind.

She turned and there stood Rishabh, her best friend since middle school, grinning mischievously with two Choki Choki sticks in his hand. His hair was as messy as ever, his tie half loose, and his expression that of a kid caught with candy.

"Good morning headgirl!" he said cheerfully, wrapping an arm around her shoulders before she could even react.

Dhwani's heart skipped not that she'd ever admit it and she smiled. "Good morning Rishi."

She took one of the Choki Chokis from his hand, shaking her head in mock exasperation.

"Aur sab badhiya Ms. Topper?" he teased, playfully ruffling her ponytail because he loved annoying her that way.

(everything's fine miss topper)

"Maar dungi main, Rishi! Don't do that!" Dhwani scolded, glaring at him as she tried to fix her hair.

(i'll kill you rishi...don't do that)

He stepped back, pretending to be offended. "Oof, itni violent!"Before she could reply, a familiar voice echoed down the corridor 

"Aagayi main bhii!" Ritika said her partner-in-crime and best friend, came running toward them, throwing her arms dramatically around both of their shoulders. 

(i also came)

"Hawww, kitne chor ho tum dono! Akele-akele Choki Choki kha rahe ho? Mujhe bina bataye?" she said, eyes wide as if she'd caught them committing a serious crime.

(oh my god, you two are such thieves! You're eating Choki Choki all by yourselves? Without even telling me?)

"Le tu bhi thoos le," Rishab said with a grin, pulling out another Choki Choki stick from his pocket and handing it to her.

(here...you also eat)

"Aaj late kaise ho gayi tu?" Dhwani asked, curious.

(why are you late today)

"Soo rahi thi yaar main! Aur mast sapna aaya tere jiju se meri shaadi ho rahi thi!" Ritika said with a dreamy sigh, clasping her hands dramatically.

(Oh man, I was asleep! And I had this amazing dream that I was getting married to your jiju!)

"Chup hoja ab! Mujhe nahi sunni phir se uss chilgoze ki baatein." Dhwani  groaned. 

(Just shut up! I'm not listening to stories about that idiot ever again)

"Chilgoza?!" Rishab burst into laughter, almost choking on his Choki Choki.

"Tujhe problem kya hai usse?" Ritika protested, half laughing, half defensive.

(what kind of problem you have with him?)

"I just don't like his face... ewww," Dhwani said bluntly, scrunching her nose in disgust.

"Kutti!" Ritika shot back playfully, bumping her shoulder, but Dhwani only rolled her eyes.

"Chalo, main chalta hoon. Dekhu, kaunsi class teacher mili hai iss saal." Rishab said, waving before disappearing into the crowd.

(Alright, I'm heading out. Let me check which class teacher I got this year.)

"Tu chal, main aati hoon," Ritika said, adjusting her hair.

(you go..i'll come)

"Kahan ja rahi hai ab?"dhwani raised an eyebrow. 

(where are you going now)

"Tere chilgoze jiju se milne," she replied cheekily, blowing a flying kiss before skipping away.

(to meet your idiot jiju)

Dhwani groaned again, muttering under her breath, "Iss ladki ka kuch nahi ho sakta." She smiled despite herself and started walking toward her classroom.

"wait...let me just go to washroom first" she muttured to herself and made her way towards the washroom.

⋆𐙚˚₊‧ 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐘𝐀'𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐕 ‧₊˚𐙚⋆

The morning sun was already glaring over the gates of St. Mary's High, bouncing off the windshields of cars lined up outside. Students poured through the entrance in groups, their uniforms crisp, their voices filling the air with the usual first-day chaos.

"Thank you, uncle," I said, stepping out and slinging my bag over one shoulder.

The driver nodded before pulling away, leaving me standing in front of the massive school building.

I looked up at it then sighed.

"Hfff... so this is the new pagalkhana of Dad," I muttered under my breath.

(Hfff... so this is Dad's new madhouse.)

Adjusting my collar, I walked through the gates and within seconds, I could feel the familiar stares.

Heads turned. Conversations slowed. A few girls whispered to each other while sneaking glances in my direction. Some guys looked at me too though judging by their expressions, admiration wasn't exactly what they were feeling.

I ignored all of it as attention wasn't new to me and with a lazy smirk, I continued down the corridor, hands shoved casually into my pockets.

I was turning toward the staffroom wing when someone ahead caught my attention.

someone tall....neatly dressed.....Walking with that same slightly serious posture I'd seen a hundred times before.

I slowed down.

"No way." I narrowed my eyes.

Wait... Is that Aarav? My childhood best friend.

The guy I'd practically grown up with before everything changed. Dad had sent me away to boarding school in Nainital, and somewhere around the same time, Aarav's family had moved to Rajasthan.

Years had passed but some faces stayed familiar.

"Wait, is that Arav?" I muttered again, blinking in disbelief. "I should confirm."

(Wait, is that Arav? I should confirm.)

I quickened my pace.

"Arav!" I called out. My voice echoed down the corridor.

 but nothing and he didn't turn instead, he disappeared around the corner.

"Arre sun toh!" I called, jogging after him.

(Hey, wait!)

I rounded the corner and stopped dead.

There was no Arav..,no students...no teacher....Nothing. Just a blue door with a white sign hanging above it.

GIRLS WASHROOM.

I stared at the sign. Then at the door. Then back at the sign.

"Ye... girls washroom mein gaya hai?!" My brows shot up.

(He went into the girls' washroom?!)

"Ye pakka ladka hi tha na?" i thought 

(He was definitely a guy, right?)

I scratched the back of my neck. Maybe I'd genuinely seen wrong. Or maybe Aarav was pulling some ridiculous prank after all these years.

Either way... I needed to know.

"Should I go inside?" I whispered, staring at the door.

My hand slowly moved toward the handle.

"Bas dekh leta hu ek baar..."

(I'll just take a quick look once...)

My fingers were barely an inch away but then the door flew open.

"Arre—!"

It hit me squarely before I had time to react. My foot slipped against the freshly mopped floor, and my balance disappeared completely.

"Whoa—!"

I stumbled forward. Straight into someone. For a second, I couldn't understand what had happened.

Then I looked up. A girl stood right in front of me....Square glasses....Sharp, startled eyes. Her neat ponytail had come slightly loose, and she was staring at me like I'd just committed the greatest crime known to mankind.

I froze. She froze and then I realized just how close we were.

Our lips had brushed in the collision. For one horrifying second, neither of us moved. My brain completely stopped functioning.

Oh, shit...shitt shittttt

I pulled back immediately, eyes widening. It wasn't a kiss. It had been nothing more than an accidental brush caused by the collision. But judging by the look on her face, I wasn't sure that distinction was going to save me.

I looked at her. She looked at me.My mind searched desperately for something anything to say but Nothing came.

All I could see was the outrage in her eyes and, judging by the expression I'd probably just made, she could clearly see the panic on mine.

She reacted before I could even process what had happened.

"Ewwwww!"

The next second, she shoved me away with surprising force.

I lost my balance and landed sideways on the floor, staring at her in disbelief. My hand instinctively went to my lips.

Seriously?

What the hell just happened?

I looked up at her, completely offended.

"Chiii to mujhe bolna chahiye!" I fired back indignantly.

(I should be the one saying eww!)

"Excuse me! You were the one who fell on me!" she snapped, pointing at me like I was personally responsible for the laws of gravity.

"Oh really! Mujhe to jaise shauk hai na tumhare upar girne ka!" I shot back sarcastically.

(Oh really! As if I enjoy falling on you!)

"To gire kyu... upar se what the hell are you doing near girls washroom?!" Her voice rose, her irritation making her words come out even faster.

(Then why did you fall? And on top of that, what the hell are you doing near the girls' washroom?!)

I immediately got to my feet and brushed the dust from my shirt, glaring at her.

"Ohh hello, Miss Specs! Main kuch dhoond raha tha, ok? Don't you dare put blame on me!" I snapped.

(Oh, hello, Miss Specs! I was looking for something, okay? Don't you dare put the blame on me!)

She folded her arms. That expression on her face somehow made her look even more annoyed.

"Ohh really... my apologies your majesty. I thought you're a XY chromosome, but turns out you're an XX one raoming around a girl's washroom."

I blinked.

What... the hell?

"What... the—" I muttered, completely thrown off.

Before I could even finish, she turned away.

"Chachundar kahi ka," she hissed under her breath.

(What a rat-like idiot.)

And then she walked off.

I stood there, watching her disappear down the corridor.

Did that girl seriously just insult me and walk away?

My jaw tightened.

"Ye double battery wali gilehri samjhti kya hai khud ko," I grumbled, grabbing my bag from the floor.

(What does this bespectacled squirrel think she is?)

I dusted off my shoulder and was still muttering under my breath when a familiar voice came from behind me.

"Shourya! Tu yaha kya kar raha hai?"

I turned around.

Aarav.

Finally.

My irritation instantly gave way to relief at seeing a familiar face after years.

"Kuch nahi... bass pagal khane ke logo ko jhel raha tha." i said with a sigh.

(Nothing... just dealing with the people in this madhouse.)

"Matlab?" Aarav frowned.

(What do you mean?)

"Kuch nahi, chal." i said as I slung an arm around his shoulder and pulled him along before he could ask anything else.

(Nothing, come on.)

As we walked down the corridor, Aarav started telling me everything I'd missed over the years, and soon enough, we were laughing like we'd never been separated.

But somehow, despite the conversation... My mind kept replaying one thing. Those sharp eyes behind those glasses. And that absolutely ridiculous "XY chromosome" comment.

First day at this school...And I'd already found the most irritating person in it.

୨ৎ ────────────── ୨ৎ

And that's all for the first chapter... ♡

I hope you enjoyed stepping into the world of SITAARE and meeting our characters.

Don't forget to hit the ⭐ star button to vote and leave your thoughts in the comments.

See you soon in another chapter...

Until then, keep dreaming. ✨

𐙚˚₊‧ ~ Prachi ‧₊˚