Neil pov:
As exams are coming closer, everyone has kicked off their preparation. I'm giving it my all-burning the midnight oil, pouring in my hard work-because this time, I want to outscore my ultimate rival: none other than Ms. Priya singh. Yep, you heard it right. Madam may spend her entire day chattering away, picking fights, and joking around with everyone, but when it comes to marks? We're neck and neck. Beneath all that chaos, she's a true topper. And between us? It's not just about friendship-it's a battle of brilliance. We both have one goal: the highest mark.
There's no doubt-Priya and I have been best friends since childhood, and when it comes to studies, no one can beat us. Our parents are proud of us, not just for our marks, but for the way we push each other to do better. Sure, we have different dreams and paths. She's chasing her own goals, while I've decided to join my father's business someday.
But let me be clear-just because I'm the son of a businessman doesn't mean I'll waltz in and sit on the CEO's chair. I want to earn it. I want to prove to my dad-and to myself-that I deserve that position, not because of my last name, but because of my capability. I refuse to be labeled a 'nepo kid' who just had it easy. I'll work for it, just like everything else.
Let me tell you guys one more interesting thing-despite being study rivals, we actually study together during exams. I know, it sounds kind of funny, right? Rivals helping each other? But the truth is, we've always been best friends before anything else. And she's someone I truly adore.
Yeah, sometimes she drives me crazy with her teasing and annoying habits, but still-she's the most important person in my life. The way she understands me? No one else comes close. I don't even have to explain much-she just gets me. And honestly, I thank God every day for sending her into my life as my best friend. She's not just part of my story; she is my story.
Our first exam was over, and there I was, waiting for madam to show up. I finished my paper a good thirty minutes early. Huh... I don't know why she's taking so long. Wait-did I miss something? I quickly pulled out the question paper and skimmed through it. Hmm... nope. Everything's done. Still, she's not out yet. What is taking her so long?
After a while, she finally came out, her bag slung over her shoulder, eyes scanning the crowd with her brows slightly furrowed. But the moment she spotted me, her whole face lit up. I couldn't help but smile as she ran straight toward me.
Without missing a beat, she pulled me into a friendly hug, practically bouncing with excitement like a little kid. I chuckled to myself-she's really such a baby sometimes.
As always, the moment she reached me, I took her bag without a second thought-it's just something I do. But of course, like every single time, people around us started whispering, giving us those knowing looks. Ugh, seriously? The whole school seems to think we're a couple.
Come on, we've never even had a moment remotely close to what they imagine. In the beginning, it used to annoy both of us. Constant comments, nosy questions-"Are you two dating?" "When's the wedding?"-you name it, we've heard it. It was frustrating. But over time, we learned to ignore it. You can't shut every mouth, right?
"Logon ka kaam hai bolna....bolne do."
So now, we just let them talk. Let them assume whatever they want. Because we know the truth. We know how pure our bond is-something deeper than silly rumors. It's friendship in its truest form. And that's more precious than any label others try to throw at us.
She immediately launched into full-on blabber mode, talking about her exam, her morning, random thoughts in between-just being her usual chaotic self. I just watched her, amused, until she finally paused for a breath. Ufff... finally, madam took a breath.
That's when I asked her, raising an eyebrow, "Why were you so late, huh?"
At first, she hesitated-a flicker I didn't miss. I can read her just by looking into her eyes. Something was off.
After a moment, she finally spoke. "The guy who was sitting at my table... even though he was at a distance... he kept looking at me in a weird, creepy way. It made me really uncomfortable. I couldn't focus."
That was it. My blood boiled.
My eyes darkened with rage. How dare he? How could someone look at her-my best friend-like that? I clenched my fists, barely holding back the storm brewing inside me.
"Where is that bastard?" I growled. "I swear I'll kill him."
I was ready to move, ready to find him, ready to make him regret every second of that stare-but before I could take a step, she grabbed my arm tightly.
"Kya.....arey meri baat toh suno pehle," she said gently.
But I couldn't. I was too furious to think straight. I shook her hand off and tried to walk past her.
And then-ouch.
My cheek stung. Burning.
It took me a few seconds to realize... she just slapped me.
I turned to her, eyes wide, hand on my cheek, lips forming a pout. "Seriously? Why did you do that?"
"Toh phir kya karti main.... tum sunne ke layak mey toh nahi thhe...huh... humesha gussa naak pe chade rehtha hai tumhara pehle poori baat toh sunlethe pagal....isliye humesha ki tarah chata mera maine warna tum sunte ny meri" she said with her arms crossed around her chest with stern expression.
Well... to be honest, this wasn't the first time I'd been slapped by her.
I don't know what weird obsession she has with my cheeks-but every time I lose control, whack, there comes her hand like it's on auto mode. And yeah, let me tell you-it hurts. Like, it really hurts.
But can I complain?
Absolutely not.
Because somehow... it works. She knows exactly how to snap me out of my rage, even if her method is a bit on the painful side. I mean, come on, a slap as a calming technique? Only she could get away with that. And yet, despite the sting, I know it's her way of grounding me. Of bringing me back before I do something stupid.
That's just her-my storm-calmer. My chaos-controller. My best friend.
Right after the slap, she instantly looked guilty. That's just how she is. Even if she hurt me-like literally slapped me to calm me down-she'd be the first one to worry.
She gently started caressing my cheek, her eyes filled with concern. "Does it hurt that much?" she asked softly.
And just like that, my anger melted. Again, I found myself silently thanking God for bringing her into my life. She's a real gem. The kind of person you can trust with your eyes closed. Honestly, if she ever told me to go jump off a hill, I might just ask, "Headfirst or feet first?" Okay, okay, I'm being a little too dramatic now-but you get the point.
Once I calmed down, I finally asked her, "So... what did you do to handle that creep? Did you report him or just ignore it?"
Her reply?
Let's just say my eyes widened, and my jaw dropped.
She looked at me with the most casual expression and said, "Well, when he got up to ask for an extra sheet, I quietly placed my compass where he was going to sit. He ended up sitting on it and got a little cut-he was wincing and went to the washroom. While he was gone, I loosened the cap of his water bottle and placed it back, just enough to make it look untouched. When he returned and sat back down, a little movement knocked the bottle over, and boom-water all over his answer sheet."
She told me all this so casually, like she was talking about the weather.
I stared at her, completely dumbfounded-eyes wide, jaw hanging. "You did what?!"
And there she was, just beaming like she hadn't just pulled off a low-key criminal-level act of revenge.
Now, I wasn't sure who I should be more worried about-the creep, or her.
But honestly? I was so proud of her.
She's not some naive, soft-spoken, silent type. No. She's fire. Pure, unapologetic fire. Mess with her, and you'll find yourself in hell before you even realize it. That was the first thing I ever adored about her. Maybe that's why we clicked so well-why we became best friends. Because she's just like me-bold, fiery, and unapologetically herself.
She doesn't give a damn about what people think. She doesn't wait for someone else to speak for her. If someone crosses the line, she'll bring them to their knees, and make sure they know exactly what they did wrong.
And the best part? She doesn't need anyone to protect her. She can handle herself-fiercely, confidently, and with a level of grace that demands respect.
Sure, if she makes a mistake, she'll go quiet, keep it to herself, feel that guilt in silence. But when she knows she's right? She'll prove it-by hook or crook. That's who she is.
And me? I'll always be standing beside her, not because she needs me-but because she deserves someone who never leaves her side.
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Finally, our exams were over. Everyone was happy, relieved-finally, no more studying. A new chapter was waiting: college life. But beneath that excitement, there was a quiet sadness too. The kind that comes with knowing we're leaving behind a part of our life we'll never get back.
School.
The laughter, the chaos, the inside jokes, the friendships, the silly pranks, the shared secrets. All of it.
I still remember that moment on farewell day-right at the end, when our juniors surprised us with a video. A beautiful montage of our achievements, our laughter, our emotional highs and lows. As soon as it ended, there wasn't a single dry eye in the room. We cried-a lot. We hugged each other tightly, not wanting to let go.
Together, we made a banner-our handprints and names captured in paint, sealed like a photograph in time. A memory we could hold on to even after everything else fades. Even now, just thinking about it, my eyes feel heavy. But I blink the tears back.
This school... it wasn't just about academics or medals or teachers' guidance. It was so much more. It gave me the most valuable gift of all.
Her.
Priya singh but for me she is priyu.
This was the place where I met Prachi. The person who became the most important part of my life. The one I'd go to war for. The one I'd even die for.
If I had been in any other school, maybe our paths would've never crossed. And I would've missed out on the most beautiful friendship I've ever known.
As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, soaking in the memories of school and everything it gave me-her-a voice suddenly interrupted me.
A voice I wish I never had to hear again.
Great. Just great. Here comes the makeup queen. Or better yet-makeup machine.
Taniya.
She was the most annoying, clingy, and painfully dramatic person I had ever met. And the way she looked at me? Gave me the creeps. Lustful stares, fake sweetness-and she had the audacity to call it love. Huh. Please. She's the last person I'd ever want to see on this planet.
"Hey...Neil baby. What are you thinking, I know you will miss me after this but don't worry you know I am just a call away from you" she talked to me seductively coming closer to me as if its affecting me I just scoffed and gave her a look as "move away"
As usual, she slithered her way over and started flirting with me like she always did-ignoring every warning I'd ever given her. I had told her clearly to stay away from me. Even Priya had slapped her once and humiliated her in front of everyone. But this girl? Either she had no sense of shame, or she lived in an alternate universe where "insult" meant "please try again."
She came closer, tried to touch my collar-and just as I moved to jerk away-
Smack!
She hit the floor. Not even gently. A loud thud echoed.
And I didn't need to look to know who was behind it.
Priya.
My fiercely bold queen.
Taniya sat on the ground, angry and teary-eyed, completely humiliated. I just scoffed. I didn't feel even a little sorry.
Priya shot her a glare that could burn through walls, then grabbed my wrist without a word and pulled me with her. Just like that.
As we walked away, I glanced back. Taniya was still sitting there, embarrassed and fuming.
I smirked.
And turned back to walk beside my person.
To celebrate the end of our exams-and the last day of school life-we decided to treat ourselves with something sweet. Where else to go but our favorite ice cream parlour?
I stepped inside and ordered our regulars without even asking. For me, it was always vanilla with chocolate chips. For her, chocolate chip-classic Priya.
Once the cones were ready, I made my way back to our usual table. She took hers quietly, but I noticed something was off. She wasn't smiling, wasn't talking-just staring at her ice cream like it held the answers to life.
I frowned. "Kya hua?"
She hesitated for a second, then softly said, "I'm going to miss you... What if we end up in different colleges? What if... this is the end of us?"
For a moment, her words hit me like a silent wave. I could feel the fear in her voice, the uncertainty. But in my heart, I knew one thing for sure.
"Never," I said firmly. "This isn't the end. Our friendship isn't that weak, Prachi. It's not going to break just because life takes us to different places."
"Aur yaad rakna kabhi bhi ye khayal apne dimaag mey math lena....samjhi" I said to her with sternly.
She looked up, and that precious smile bloomed on her face-the one that always made something inside me melt. I smiled too. How could I not?
We finished our ice creams, chatting about random things, laughing at old jokes, and reminiscing about school life. It felt like the perfect pause in time-just the two of us, lost in our own little world.
Before leaving, we looked at each other and almost in unison, whispered, "Thank you, God... for letting us meet."
After that, we headed back home. Quiet, content, and filled with unspoken promises.
Because memories-they're strange. They stick with us, whether bitter or sweet. They shape us, guide us, and in some ways... keep us alive.
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Hi dear readers,
How was the chapter? I know the first one was a bit short, so I decided to treat you with a longer chapter this time!
I really hope you enjoyed it and felt the emotions I poured into it. If you did, please do show your support by liking, sharing, and leaving a comment-it means the world to me!
Also, I'm always open to hearing your thoughts. If you feel there's anything that could be improved or something you'd like to see more of, don't hesitate to let me know. Your feedback helps me grow and makes this journey even more exciting!
With love,
Your Author....
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