Chapter 3: After the Bell

Finally, bell rang, and that was the end of the first day of new session. Students rushed out of their classrooms, the hallway was buzzing with laughter, complaints, and hurried plans for after school meetups.

I stretched as I walked out of the classroom, inhaled the familiar scent of Mogras and roses from the mini garden.

"Ohoo! First day over," Shazeb stated, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "Let's go before this place turns into a fish market."

We saw, Saksham was unlocking his bicycle, while we walked over to mine, adjusting my bag strap.

Saksham smirked. "Straight home today?"

Shazeb mocked. "Are you a fool? Do we ever head straight home? Let's go to Panipuri thela."

I chuckled, mounting my bicycle.

The three of us pedaled down the familiar road, dodging juniors and groups of students babbling about the homework they had no intention of doing. The breeze was warm, carrying the scent of roadside snacks. It was like just another day—except, somewhere in the back of my brain, I was still processing the fact that She was now a part of our class.

We reached to our regular street-side panipuri thela, the familiar sound of crispy shells cracking and chutney being mixed filling the air.

But this time we weren't alone.

Standing by the stall were two girls—one of them was her.

The other girl turned at the same time, and a wide grin spread across her face. Shivangi.

"Look who we have here!" Shivangi said, swallowing the panipuri in her mouth. "The legendary backbenchers of 12-C."

Shazeb smirked. "And look who has finally downgraded her company to mere mortals."

Shivangi rolled her eyes. "Please, I was stuck with you idiots for years. I needed a break."

Divya stood beside her, listening the exchange of words with an amused expression.

"Oh, by the way, Devi, Shazeb," Shivangi added, tilting her head towards her. "I guess you already met her… kind of. This is Divya, my cousin-I told you about."

She gave a small nod in greeting, a polite but warm smile on her face.

Saksham, the observant one, raised an eyebrow. "So she's the transfer student you were talking about?"

Shivangi nodded. "Yes, late admission. That is why she ended up in your section."

Shazeb exhaled dramatically. "I thought we were going to get a mysterious new classmate. It turns out, you had inside information the whole time, Shivangi."

"Unlike you, I actually listen when people talk," she shot back.

Divya chuckled lightly but did not say much. Instead, she turned her attention back to her paanipuri.

"So, how are you finding 12-C?" Saksham asked her. "Adjusting well?"

She nodded. "It is… different. But good so far."

"Yeah, we make sure of that. 12-C is basically a madhouse," Shazeb added proudly.

Shivangi snorted. "More like a zoo."

Shazeb put a hand on his chest, faking offense. "Excuse me? We prefer the term 'free-spirited intellectuals.'"

Saksham chuckled. "Yeah, real intellectuals. That is why Mishra Sir always roasts you like a roadside peanut vendor."

"Bro, I let him do that," Shazeb scoffed. "I have to keep his confidence high. Can you imagine how it would be if he lost faith in himself as a teacher."

I shook my head. "Right. Truly selfless of you."

As we were standing there, eating. The conversation flowed naturally—mostly between us, while Divya was listening, occasionally smiling at Shazeb's ridiculous reactions to the extra spicy panipuri.

"Bro, this vendor is evil," Shazeb coughed, fanning his mouth. "I think my soul just left my body."

Shivangi smirked. "That is good, ask again for extra spice."

"Yeah? Well, real men can handle it."

Saksham raised his eyebrows. "Real men? You just said your soul left your body."

Divya actually laughed. It wasn't loud, but it was genuine.

And for some reason, that sound made me forget about everything else—the long school day, the missing presence of Saksham in our section, even the stress of the year ahead.

The moment felt simple. Natural. Like it had always been this way.

And maybe… just maybe… I wanted more of it.