Chapter 4

Abhimanyu

The exam was over, but my mind was still stuck on something else.

I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms as students around me started packing up their things. The classroom was buzzing with post-exam chatter—some sighing in relief, others groaning about the tricky questions. I should’ve been thinking about how I did, whether I’d messed up that one answer about economic policies, but instead, my focus kept shifting to one thing.

Or rather, one person.

Shubhi.

She had been strangely quiet during the exam. Not that I had been staring or anything, but I noticed. The way she barely looked up, the way she kept tapping her pen against the desk, the way she hurriedly left once the exam was over—like she was trying to escape.

It was odd. Most people didn’t ignore me like that.

I gathered my things, shoving my pen into my bag, and stood up. As I walked toward the door, I caught a glimpse of her in the hallway. She was with her friends, laughing about something, but there was still that slight crease between her brows—like she wasn’t completely present.

And I hated that it made me curious.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. What did it matter? She was just another person in this school, just another face in the crowd.

Yet, for some reason, I kept noticing her.

“Abhi!”

I turned to see Rohan jogging toward me. “How was it?” he asked, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

“Fine,” I muttered.

Rohan grinned. “You sound thrilled.”

“I don’t know. Just… distracted.”

“By the exam?”

I hesitated. “Something like that.”

We started walking toward the canteen when I heard someone call my name from behind. It was one of the teachers.

“Abhimanyu, Principal Ma’am wants to see you.”

I exchanged a glance with Rohan, who raised his eyebrows. “What did you do this time?” he whispered.

“Nothing,” I said, though now I was wondering if I had.

I sighed, adjusting my bag strap before heading toward the principal’s office. Whatever this was, it better not ruin my day any more than it already had.

And yet, even as I walked away, I found my thoughts drifting back to a certain girl who had looked right through me like I didn’t exist.

And for the first time, I found myself wanting to change that.