10

Months passed.

Aditi's Morning Routine

Aditi's days were structured like clockwork, each moment measured and accounted for. She thrived in the routine, where nothing could surprise her. The first rays of sunlight seeped through the curtains as she woke up, refreshed and ready for another day.

Academics were her priority, her escape, her constant. There was something satisfying about the crispness of her notebooks, the rhythm of her pen as she solved equations, and the quiet sense of triumph when she understood concepts others struggled with. The world outside might be messy, but within the pages of her textbooks, everything made sense.

Her interactions in school were deliberate, a performance she had perfected over time. Teachers praised her for her diligence; peers looked up to her for her unwavering discipline. Aditi wore her confidence like armor, shielding herself from anything that might disrupt her peace.

If Samir's presence brushed against her consciousness, it was fleeting. She didn't avoid him anymore—there was no need to. He was just another senior, blending into the crowd, irrelevant in her grander scheme of life. Occasionally, their paths would cross in the corridors or during assembly, but Aditi's gaze remained steady, detached.

"Good morning, Aditi!" one of her classmates chirped as they walked past a group of seniors. Samir stood among them, his posture casual, his laughter blending with the group. Aditi acknowledged the greeting with a nod, her focus unwavering as she moved past.

She didn't need to pretend anymore. Whatever had passed between them—if anything at all—was a distant memory. A fleeting storm that had long since dissipated.

The days unfolded like a script she had memorized. Classes were her stage, and she was the star performer. Every question answered with precision, every test aced with ease.

During lunch, while her friends discussed movies and weekend plans, Aditi worked through her assignments. She wasn't indifferent to her friends; she simply valued her time. Her goals were bigger, her ambitions clearer.

Aditi's maturity was a quiet force, evident in how she carried herself. She had long accepted that life was a series of priorities. High school drama, fleeting misunderstandings—it all seemed trivial when compared to the future she envisioned for herself.

At dorm, Aditi allowed herself a moment of introspection. The evening sky painted her room in hues of orange and pink as she sipped tea by the window.

She thought of the past few months, how she had grown. The misunderstanding with Sameer, the brief disruption it had caused, felt like a lifetime ago. If there was anything to learn from it, it was the value of clarity. She had no room for ambiguity in her life.

The teacher handed back graded tests, and Aditi's name was, as always, at the top of the list. The satisfaction of her hard work being acknowledged filled her with quiet pride.

"Top scorer again?" teased her classmate Shreya.

Aditi smiled, the corners of her lips barely lifting. "Just staying consistent," she replied.

Her world revolved around such moments of achievement. There was a joy in excelling, in knowing that her future was something she could shape with her own hands.

The weeks rolled on, each one bringing new challenges. Aditi juggled her academic responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and preparation for a national-level competition.

Her days were packed, her schedule airtight. And she thrived in it. While others struggled to keep up, Aditi moved with precision, her focus razor-sharp.

"Do you ever take a break?" Meera asked one afternoon.

"This is my break," Aditi replied, gesturing to the debate topic she was researching.

As the months passed, Aditi's resolve only strengthened. She was building a future for herself, one brick at a time. The opinions of others, the misunderstandings of the past—none of it mattered in the grand scheme of things.

Standing in the school library one evening, flipping through pages of a thick reference book, Aditi felt a sense of calm. She had reclaimed her life, her focus.

This was who she was—a top student, a reliable friend, a girl with ambitions far too great to be hindered by something as trivial as high school drama.

Later in the day, a group project required collaboration between juniors and seniors. Aditi found herself paired with Ashish, who was visibly excited about the arrangement.

"I hope we get some of the cool seniors," Ashish whispered.

Aditi shrugged. "It doesn't matter who we get. Let's just finish the work."

It was this indifference that defined her. Even when they were assigned to the same group as Samir and his friend, she didn't flinch. When Samir approached their table briefly to discuss logistics, Aditi listened without reacting.

Her responses were measured, polite but distant. If Sameer noticed, he didn't show it. Or perhaps, like her, he simply acted as if he didn't care anymore.

She just avoided unwanted talks and just passed on the information through the other members. Indeed she tried not overreact she handled the situation in a professional manner.

Aditi had always known where she was headed, even if others were sometimes lost in the noise of the moment. When she entered a room, she felt like a quiet force. Not in the loud, attention-seeking way many people expected from someone in her position, but with a calm assurance that radiated confidence.