The weary girl

"Grey???" she blurted with a faint smile. "It looks even more vibrant."

Vibrant? Nah… she's loud.

"Oh, yeah… it just looked a little dark to me, so that's why I asked," he said, his eyes fixed on her reactions.

"So, I have a plan," he said calmly.

"Plan??" she asked in confusion.

"Yeah… I don't know anything about coaching centers," he replied. "I think they offer demo classes, and I'm introverted enough to never ask anything. But my ma'am.....she's the only one I can talk to."

"Is that how much you think before doing things?" she interrupted, laughing.

"Nahh," he shook his head, a shy smile carving its way onto his face. "I never do anything without a plan, and I think you don't have any experience in this. So, I don't want to be ashamed."

"Okay..." she tried to listen carefully.

"So, you're 18? Same as me?" he guessed.

"Yes, and I'm Mira," she replied.

"Yeah, very early," he shook his head.

"I already told you… did you forget?" she muttered.

"And me too—" his eyes widened, "Shit, I forgot! We're getting late. I'll tell you the plan while walking."

They hurried toward the coaching center. Suryansh took a deep breath, tightening his lungs and clearing every emotion that could make him vulnerable.

Upon entering, they saw a woman around 26 sitting behind the counter, where books and a telephone lay.

Suryansh walked directly to the counter. He knew his words might stammer, but he was confident enough to say,

"Ma'am… are the demos still available?"

"Oh, hello, Suryansh," she greeted with a warm smile before shifting her gaze to Mira. "Hello," she greeted.

Mira also responded, "Good afternoon."

Fuck… I was too shy to say hello anyway. Brohh… these girls are too good at talking.

"Why do you always get lost in your thoughts?" the woman asked with a mix of concern and amusement, which felt more like embarrassment to him.

"Haha…" he forced a laugh to save face. "No, I just wanted a demo for her."

"Oh, is she your friend?" her tone softened slightly at the end, and Suryansh instantly understood what she was implying.

"Yeah, we're friends," Mira replied calmly.

After a few more exchanges, Suryansh beckoned her to follow him. The classes were already filled with students. When they reached the first door, he opened it for her, then took a deep breath before stepping in behind her—wearing an intentionally confident grin.

As the door creaked open, silence swept through the room for a second. Then, eyes widened in shock. Normally, when someone entered, students would glance for a moment and move on. But this time... This time was different. A beautiful girl entering with a guy? That wasn't something they saw every day.

Suryansh, walking behind her, couldn't help but smile faintly. He had done it intentionally. What did people think? That I'd bring anyone with me without reason? I already knew what was going to happen. Ah, fuck… I knew this reaction was coming. These people are fools.

He walked in confidently, taking a seat in the right row, third seat. Next to them sat her crush—he didn't seem interested in her but always, she watched him in a way Suryansh found irritating. That was precisely why he used to sit beside her.

Fuck… did I do something wrong? What if she thinks I have a girlfriend now?

And.... Mira she's a good girl. I didn't bring her just to show off…

Nah, I'm not that weak. But yeah… I knew this would happen, and I can make anything work the way I want.

Suddenly, his face wore down, as if he had aged a century in an instant. Then, he remembered the girl who had taken the same auto as him. She had always looked just as exhausted as he did now. His eyes grew drowsy.

"Hey..." A quiet voice pierced through his lazy ears, jolting him awake. "Didn't sleep last night?"

Raman sir… aren't you always sarcastic? Fucking ENFPs…

"Is she with you?" the teacher asked, a playful charm in his voice, pointing at Mira.

"Yeah… she's my friend," Suryansh replied, still trying to catch up with reality.

"What's your name?" the teacher asked her.

"Mira," she replied, standing up from her seat. "Mira Sah."

"You don't need to stand up," the teacher casually gestured.

I knew it… Suryansh leaned onto his desk, resting his face on his palm.

"So, you're with him?" Raman sir asked, his expression cheerful.

"Yes, sir. He is my friend," she replied with a tight expression.

Why is she acting like an introvert now?

"Just a friend, right?" Raman sir asked casually. Everyone turned towards them, and Mira blushed.

"Of course," Suryansh cut in before she could say anything. The attention on them grew even sharper.

I knew it… he smirked internally. That's why I said it first. Suryansh grinned darkly, his satisfaction simmering... and only growing.

"Okay, okay… what are you preparing for?" Raman asked, his face brimming with even more charm.

"SSC…" she stammered.

"SSC, but which one?" Raman sir asked, turning slightly toward the digital board.

"Umm…" Mira tried to probe her mind carefully.

God… I'm so glad I told her everything. I love how good I am. I love myself... Suryansh was growing more amused with each passing moment, wow my plans..

As she answered all the questions, the class continued. Suryansh kept sneaking glances at her crush, convinced she wouldn't notice. But Mira was watching him every single time.

She was amused by Suryansh's performance—he solved most problems faster than anyone else, especially faster than her crush. It almost felt like a silent competition between the two.

Finally, at 5 PM, the class ended. As everyone left, Suryansh trailed behind her crush, while Mira kept her eyes on him, observing his every move.

As they exited the class, her crush turned right, while Suryansh and Mira took the left turn.

At this moment, he was calm—almost hopeless—though his walk remained confident, just because he had copied it from models.

"Fuck…" he sighed.

There's no chance, I think... But I'm confident she won't deny me.

Then why does she always look at me like that? Why does she always sit beside me? Even when it takes effort, she still does it. I think she likes me…

"Hey…" Mira's voice came from behind. "Why are you always lost in your thoughts? Do you like her?"

"I don't know," he replied, perplexed. He already knew what she was talking about—his eyes never failed to watch her. "I don't know what to say, but when I sit beside her, she doesn't mind."

" When any other guy sits beside her, she changes seats, but with me, she doesn't. I just want to know what she thinks about me. I wasn't interested at first, but now…"

"I think I'm falling in love with her. Maybe it's happening because I keep thinking about what she thinks of me. It's rewiring my brain. That's not love… but I love her. I don't even know what this is." He said it casually, and Mira just watched him.

"That's exactly why she won't like you," she said, curling her lips.

"No…" he said, confused. "I don't even think I can give her anything. I'm just weak. Poor."

"That doesn't matter in love," she replied quickly.

His face tensed slightly. He lowered his head. "Also… I'm confused. I don't like her, but at the same time, I do. She wears glasses, her eyes are deep-set, her hair is turning white… and she comes from a different culture. She's from the mountains."

"Eww… what the heck are you?" she replied with a disdainful look.

"No… I was joking," he smirked and chuckled. "Well, I don't know my feelings. But I will be strong, rich, even taller—so these things don't matter." He said it confidently.

"But… I don't know my feelings. It's easy for me to understand others, their emotions. I always know what they want. But for myself? Sometimes, I feel like I don't have feelings at all. Like I should just disappear. But then I think—what about my parents? What about others? I don't care about myself, but other people matter to me the most… even a girl I just met."

"You're talking about me," she laughed softly.

"I don't know," he said, his eyes drifting to the sky with a faint smile.

"You want a rich life… but what do you really want?" she asked casually.

"An apartment, earning maybe one lakh… or fifty thousand per month, hmm…" He moved his eyes as if gathering his thoughts. "Just that. What about you?"

"I have everything. I just want to go home," she said hurriedly.

"Okay… let me help," he said, suddenly turning to face her, walking casually. "You can't go to the police… you're a billionaire, you're in danger. That means—"

his voice darkened, "the danger is way bigger than you think. You can't call your parents or anyone. He controls the police… which means he has hackers and tech on his side. That means… he's not an ordinary person. Or maybe—" his voice grew eerie—"it's an entire organization."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa… you think way too much," she replied.

"Yeah…" At this point, he almost felt like an extrovert. "I can't take you to my home, but…"

my sister.. he sighed

She reached into her pocket and pulled out an ATM card, tilting her head playfully. "An ATM card. And… it's not mine, but I can use it."

"What the fuck?!" he blurted out. "Why didn't you tell me before? You can just get a room now!"

They casually walked to an ATM, withdrew the cash, and soon, Suryansh helped her find a place to stay. As they stood by the entrance, she looked at him.

"Bye," she said.

"Bye," he nodded, turning away.

As he walked back home, he sighed. Fuck... I want to cry, but I can't even do that. His heart pounded, yet there was a faint smile of relief on his face.

The departing sun bathed his brown eyes in golden light, its rays flickering through the neem tree's chaotic branches. He adjusted his grip on his bag, fingers tightening around the strap.

Thud!

"Fuck!"

In a split second, he crashed into someone. He stumbled back, rubbing his forehead, then looked up—

A towering man stood before him, his hair a striking yellow, cut in a sharp, almost square shape. He wore a suit, his face emotionless, his presence suffocating. His gaze bore down on Suryansh like a weight, making his breath hitch.

For a second, everything was still. Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, the man stepped past him and disappeared into the streets.

Suryansh exhaled, heart still hammering.

Who the fuck was that…? He was tall bro..

How big and strong was that guy…?

Suryansh mind raced. Then, suddenly—

No way... is he the one after her?

His heart skipped a beat. He's definitely dangerous. No normal person looks like that.

But had he found her location? No, he was heading in a different direction.

Suryansh let out a sigh, his mind tangled in too many questions.

I should just leave it to fate… nothing's going to happen.

As he walked forward, he noticed another man showing a picture on his phone.

Shit…

it's already been an hour since she withdrew the money.

The man approached him. He didn't look overly formal—just a guy in a white jacket, dressed casually. But on the phone screen was Mira's face.

"Have you seen this girl?" the man asked, his tone sharp and direct.

Suryansh hesitated. Should I tell him?

Clothes don't define a person, but… I have to decide fast.

"Yeah," he replied with a casual smile.

The man's eyes narrowed. "Where? Do you know her?"

"No, I don't know her. Is she your sister?"

"That's none of your business," the man snapped.

Suryansh exhaled sharply. "Oh wow, fuck off," he muttered, biting the inside of his lips as he turned to walk away.

"Hey."

The man grabbed his shoulder. "You think you're tough enough to talk like that?"

Suryansh didn't flinch. Who knows? he thought, masking his nerves with a smirk. "Who knows," he said out loud.

"Tell me where you saw her," the man demanded, this time softer, but still pressing.

Suryansh's insides twisted, but on the outside, he was untouchable—a fake god.

I really don't want to get beaten up right now. Not here. Not in front of my sisters.

"Brother," he said smoothly, trying to diffuse the tension. "Who are you to her?"

The man laughed, shaking his head. "Not your business, brother, but you're smart," he said, offering a fist.

Suryansh bumped fists with him, smirking as he gave a fake location and his number. Then, slipping away, he finally reached the auto.

Inside, across from him, sat a weary girl, gripping the edge of the auto tightly, as if afraid she might fall out.

Why is she like that…? She reminded him of Payal from his class, always exhausted after taking the ISBT bus. Does she work in an office?

He sighed.

I feel bad for her. I wish I could help everyone…