Palak's pov:

Heavy moans were spread across the room, the way his hand gripped around my hip. The smell of sweat is spread in the air, the unholy sound of skin slapping. I am on the verge of....

"Uthh jaa kumbhkaran ki aulaad!!"

[wake up, you daughter of kumbhkaran]

"Maa aapki hi beti hai" I heard the faint voice of didi. Didi? why?

[mom, she is your daughter]

"Tujhe bhi chappal maaru?"

[should I slap you too?]

My eyes opened with the jolt. The air around me is fresh unless the smell of sweat and.... Wait. Was I dreaming this? The sudden shock of having the dream of me and Pranjal having sex got me. I was sex dreaming with Pranjal. Shiit! I can still feel the wetness in my core, while his fragrance is still lingering in my whole body. The way his hands were on my hip, while the other was around my neck. Ohh fuck.

"Uthh jao devi, puja hai aaj ghar mei"

[wake up goddess, today is puja at home]

"Hnn uth gayi hu" I muffled in my sleepy voice. I awoke, but my eyes were still closed, trying to feel the dream. I am a brat.

[yeah I am awake]

I rubbed my eyes as the blurriness around me got clear when my eyes went on the lady-My mother, holding the slipper in her hands. While on the other side of the room, my pretty sister was standing, wearing the elegant kurti, with my earrings. She is wearing MY earrings. How could she??

"Maaa isne mere jhumke phene hai. Isko bolo utaare. Mujhe nahi pata"

[Maaa he has stolen my earrings. Tell him to take them off. I don't know]

I am already irritated because of the dream. It was not bad, but I hate it because it was a dream, not my real life. Huh!. And now didi is wearing my jhumka, that is so without my permission.

"Toh tu uske phen lena" My mata shri said this very easily. Like she doesn't know the kalesh we do for the jhumka.

[So you take her]

I nod, knowing nothing is going to happen. There is no value in the youngest child. No one will listen to me. Urgh!

POV END~

Palak came into the hall, wearing the simple yet beautiful kurti, with the matching jhumka of kriti. Flaunting them like they belong to her.

"Jyda udd mat, mere jhumke hi hai"

[don't worry too much, they are just my earrings]

Kriti passed the comment as her gaze went on Palak's sassy expressions.

"Ek bheekari dusre bheekari ko taunt karta acha nahi lagta" The pride spread across Palak's face at her statement.

[It is not good when one beggar taunts another beggar]

Kriti's eyes got narrow, but before she could say anything. Their mother started the aarti. They both were confused about the reason behind the pooja in their home, that so early in the morning when the sun is still sleeping.

"Yei pooja ke peeche ka reason?" palak's eyes shined with the curiosity bubbling inside her.

[What's the reason behind this pooja?]

Kriti shrugged her shoulders in response, her eyes were closed while hands were clasped together to pray. She is muttering something beneath her breath, while Palak was looking at her with wide eyes,

"Itny pooja karti hai yei bhagwaan ji, isko iske sapno ka rajkumar dedo"

[She preys a lot on god, give her, her prince charming]

Instead of saying this in her mind, she said aloud, gaining the attention of kriti.

She passed her glare. Palak's lips formed into a nervous laugh. "Hehehehe. Sorry"

As everything got done, both the girls got ready into the school uniform. No one could say that they both are the same people who were looking so elegant a few minutes ago looking like a kid in their school uniform.

"Mumma ab toh bata do kyu thi aaj pooja?" Palak puts the tiffin in the bag, which was filled with Parsaad for Manya and Anushka.

[Mumma, tell me what is the reason behind this pooja?]

"Mannat mangi thi, puri hogyi...or ab jyda na puchna nazar lag jati hai" her mother replied.

[I had made a wish, it has been fulfilled...and now don't ask too much, it may cast an evil eye]

Indian parents and their obsession with Nazar. Kya nazar sahi mei lag jaati hai? She was thinking about all this while settling herself on the cycle. She doesn't' believe in the nazar and the black magic, but who knows? Everything is a lesson.

_________________

The last bell for assembly rang, when the trio ran for the assembly. As usual they are late because of Manya. Anushka and Palak were passing her the glare while standing at the last in the line,

"Kya? Mai date par thi isiliye late hogyi"

[What? I was on a date so I was late]

Instead of accepting her mistake, she gave them the illogical reason, to which they frown.

Anushka's gaze was fixed on the stage while Manya and Palak were ranting, standing last in the line.

"Aaj konse vale ke sath date pr thi madam aap?"

[Madam, with which person were you on a date today?]

Manya blushed at Palak's comment, her hands rubbed the back of her neck. Pressing her lips together to suppress her smile and blush.

"Guess karo"

[Guess]

"Zade? Rhys? Alex? Harper?" Palak guessed, as they are the regular book boyfriend of her,

"Rhys Larsen. And you know we" she hid her face behind her palm, ignoring her environment and the teachers in front of the line,

"Kissed?" Palak guessed, her eyes went wide, as her mind gave way to the dream she saw in the morning. She gulped.

Since she entered the Campus she hadn't seen Pranjal, to which she thanked god as she was feeling awkward to face him.

"Karne hi vaale the, maa ne utha diya. Uper se subha subha Pranjal or Vatsal aagye the breakfast pr"

[I was about to do it when my mother woke me up. Moreover, Pranjal and Vatsal had come for breakfast early in the morning.]

Palak's eyes went wide, her heart pounding against her ribs. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the front after nodding at Manya. Focusing on the stage and the announcement going on, when her eyes went on the familiar figure-her sister. She is standing on the stage with Principal ma'am.

"Oyee Anushka, yei di Stage pr kya kar rahi hai" She pinched anushka for further details.

[Hey anushka, what is she doing on the stage]

Anushka who was focusing on the stage looked at Palak slightly, not completely, as the fear of getting scolded got in her nerves,

"Bawadi Mahila, class mei btaugi tereko abhi nahi" Palak frowned at her words, but shrugged it off.

[I will tell you in the classroom]

"So, the head girl will collect the money from you all, as we already told you yesterday to bring the willing amount today to donate," the Principal announced gazing at Kriti, who was looking confident and serious. Not even flinching when everyone's eyes went on her. Fear fears from her.

"Ohhhhh toh foundation day ke liye chanda ikatha kar rahe hai" Palak's voice was low but it got heard by the teacher. He passed her the glare, to which she smiled nervously. He didn't say anything further.

[Ohhhhh so they are collecting donations for Foundation Day]

Anushka went to the class after the assembly as Manya and Palak were in the washroom. She wanted to stay with them but something caught her eyes and she ran towards the class. Without thinking much she went inside the class, when her eyes landed on the head boy of the school. Sitting near Ria. laughing like a maniac. Ria's hand was on his shoulder, while the other was covering her mouth. She took a deep breath, her heart beating inside her chest, so rapidly.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Pranjal, who was engrossed in his studies. She went to Pranjal ignoring Vatsal completely, like for her, he doesn't even exist.
"Aaj ma'am nahi aayi?"

[Madam did not come today?]

"Hnn?" Pranjal gazed up at her, he could see that something was off her face, "Nahi vo..kuch hogya unke ghar mei..you know" He raised an eyebrow with a slight nod.

[no that..something happened in her
house..you know]

She nodded at him and went to her seat in the row where Vatsal was giggling and gossiping to Ria. Pranjal's eyes roamed at him. His eyes went wide on the unusual behavior of his brother.

The weight of Pranjal's glare was so much that Vatsal looked up at him. Only to find the expression on his face unpleasant. He raised his eyebrows to him. To which Pranjal pointed his finger at him, and then told him 'you will be dead soon' in sign language. Vatsal blinked in confusion, smiling nervously. Pranjal shook his head in disbelief as he again drowned in his RD Sharma.

Palak and Manya came into the class, when their eyes went on Anushka, then it trailed to the last bench where Vatsal and Ria were laughing at the lame jokes.

"CHIIIII!!"

[Chiiiiii!!]

Manya screamed aloud, looking at them. Everyone's attention in class went to Manya, who was looking at Vatsal and Ria with disgust and the 'eww' expressions on her face. Vatsal's eyes went on Manya and Palak who were standing at the entrance.

"Langoor ke haath mei Angoor?"

[Grapes in a monkey's hand?]

Palak joined Manya as her eyes went on Anushka, who was scribbling on the page. As she saw her scribbling she found it instantly that something was bothering her. Actually Vatsal.

"Dono hi langoor hai, chor"

[Both of them are monkeys, leave]

Manya scrunched her nose, as she passed a deadly glare to Vatsal. Vatsal who was blinking continuously.

"Pagal" Ria muttered under her breath, "Inko choro Vatsu, tum suno"

[Mad, leave them vatsu, hear me]

"Kha phass gya, agar iss miss topper ko jealous na karwana hota na toh batata is chapri ko. And what the fuck is vastu?" Vatsal cried internally, his eyes were trying to find the unease on Anushka's face but didn't find it.

[I am trapped, if I didn't want to make this Miss Topper jealous, I would have told this Chapri. And what the fuck is this Vatsu?"]

"Oye Pishchani. Kya chila rahi thi tu? Acha bhala so raha tha" Adhvik who was sleeping peacefully after bunking the assembly. His sleep got disturbed, when he heard the Scream of Manya.

[Oh, you are disgusting. Why were you
shouting? I was sleeping perfectly fine.]

"Hurr" Manya shrugged him off as he was the last thing she was thinking about. Now she is more concerned about her best friend- Anushka.

"Kyaa hogya baby ko?" Palak wrapped her hands around Anushka's shoulders.

[what happened to the baby?]

"Kuch nahi" Anushka's voice fainted.

[Nothing]

"Isss vatsal ki toh!!" Manya rolled her sleeves up to her elbow.

[This Vatsal -]

"Bhai hai tera" Palak stopped her from doing something that she will regret later.

[He is your brother]

"Wahii toh dikkat hai-"

[That's the problem -]

"Tum logo ko kya lagta hai, Vatsal itna important hai meri life mei ki mai uske liye apna mood kharab karu" Anushka yelled, taking Vatsal's attention.

[What do you guys think, Vatsal is so important in my life that I should spoil my mood for him]

His eyes went wide, as the smile that was covered on his face faded. His eyes went wide while his heart pounds against his ribs.

"Kathm," Manya muttered, as her eyes went on Vatsal whose whole attention was on Anushka. He is looking like he will cry at the moment.

[Over]

Anushka's eyes crashed on him, only to find his face looking like the child whose candy was snatched from his hands. She sucked her inner cheek, before looking at Manya and Palak. She winked at them.

"Manya, tera bhai hai vo isiliye sehen kar leti hu varna-"

[Maniya, he is your brother that's why I tolerate it otherwise-]

"Itna hi be pasand karti ho toh bolti kyu nahi ho mere mu pr?" Vatsal interrupted, ignoring the boring rants of Ria.

[If you dislike me so much then why don't you tell me about it?"]

"Anushka took a deep sigh, "Ohh tum yaha the?" She directly stepped on the ego of Vatsal.

[Ohh so you were here?]

A smirk formed on Vatsal's face, making Anushka squeeze her eyebrows, "Ha mai yaha tha, or Ria ke liye aaya tha"

[Yeah I was, I came here for Ria]

His face shined when he noticed the unease on her face, "Go ahead and talk to her, why wasting time with me?" Anushka's voice drips with jealousy, that she will never accept, even at her deathbed.

Vatsal's heart fluttered at the reaction of Anushka. "Mai jaara Ria, class mei teacher aagye honge. Will call you at 10" He gesture at Ria, when his gaze is locked with Anushka for mere seconds.

[I am going to leave, the teacher must have come to the class. Will call you at 10"]

As he came out of the class, his face bloomed up into a wide charming smile. "She was jealous he hugged himself, while smiling like a fool. "Soon you will be the one I will hug, mermaid "

Roaming all over the school, smiling and singing like he just won the trophy he doesn't know the disaster that is waiting for him.

In the class, Manya was sleeping after the physics period. Her hands were hiding the view of her face, while hair was scattered all over her head. While Anushka was missing from the class.

"Mei kya karu, bore hori hu" Palak muttered to herself, but unaware that Pranjal was listening to her, as he was sitting beside her. His pen on the copy stopped as the words of her went in his ears.

[What should I do, I'm getting bored]

"Kya hogya?" Pranjal asked, closing his RD. Sharma.

[What happened?]

Palak's face flushed at his voice, she didn't expect him to hear her. Pranjal put the hand on her shoulder. Her face became whole red like a tomato. 'You were bold na, what happened to you now?' she scolds herself, while her eyes go closed, thinking this action will avoid him.

"Kya hogya?" Palak asked, her voice low, repeating the question.

[What happened?]

"Hn mai bhi vahi puch raha hu" He made himself settle on the seat in front of her.

[I'm asking the same]

"Mai..mai..Vo mai-"

[I..I..I was..]

"Bakri ki tarah mai mai kya kar rahi ho, Mayandari didi" Adhvik Interrupted, his face shining with the small smirk playing on his lips.

[what are you doing like a goat, mayandri didi]

"Tu chup re. Daaku mangal singh" Palak made a face, giving him a side eye look.

["You keep quiet. Daaku Mangal Singh]

Pranjal chuckled at their banters, like they were siblings.
"Kitna ladai karte ho tum log"

[How much do you guys fight?]

"Aapki tarah at least sapne mei Rd sharma toh solve nahi karte na" Adhvik pointed at Pranjal.

[At least I don't solve the problem like you in my dreams]

Pranjal's eyes got wide in shock, as his cheeks went red when he heard the giggle of palak. "Padhai karna achi baat hoti hai"

["Studying is a good thing"]

"Sapne mei kon padhta hai, Pranjlu Baby?" Adhvik mocked him. His gaze went to Palak who was not matching eyes with them, "mayandari, tu bata, tune kya dekha sapne mai aaj?"

[Who reads in dreams, Pranjalu baby?"]

[Mayandari, tell me, what did you see in your dream today?]

Palak's eyes went wide, she looked up at Adhvik then at Pranjal who was curious to know what she saw in the dream. Palak's cheek went red, while her hands went cold, and feet started moving nervously.

"Mai!?" the final words left through her lips after a small pause.

[Me?]

"Hn didi aap" Adhvik patted her forehead

[Yes sister you]

"Maine-" Her gaze went to Pranjal, and then to his hand which was resting on Palak's table. The same hands were holding the hip of her in her morning dream.
The wave of embarrassment washed over her. Her throat went dry, while the sweat beads started forming on her forehead, "maine koi sapna nahi dekha" she chose the smart move of lying.

[I didn't dream any dreams]

"Hein. sachi?" Adhvik's eyes went narrow, not believing in her words.

[Really?]

"Jhut kyu bolegi vo?" Pranjal's deep voice came out of his throat, taking the attention of Palak and Adhvik.
[Why would she lie?]

"Gussa kyu hogye Pranjalu?" Adhvik Pinched his nose playfully, while Pranjal hit him on his stomach.
[Why did you get angry Pranjalu?"]

"Dur! Dur re" Pranjal hid himself with his hands, looking like he is self conscious.

[Away. Stay away]

In the third last period, Anushka was helping Kriti to set up the accounts, while Palak was roaming in the school with Pranjal. She was awkward but Pranjal wanted to discuss the house party, so with the red flustered face she was hearing him out.

While, Manya who was sleeping, woke up with the jolt. Still adjusting to the atmosphere, she looked around the class with a blurry vision. Only to find Adhvik's face ogling at her.
"Oyee!" her voice, sleepy.

[Hey]

"Kya?"

[What?]

"Kya ghoor raha tha?"

[Why are you ogling at me?]

"Aaj pyaar aara tha tujhe pr" sarcasm dripped from his voice.

[today I was in love with you]

Manya's eyes got narrow when he said, "will you be my monogamy for life?"

"The way you flirt with every girl. I thought you would be interested in polygamy"

"No, only Monogamy with you" Adhvik smiles, looking at her dreamily.

"Charas ki ganja?" Manya's eyes went wide at the unusual behavior of Adhvik.

[Charas or Ganja?]

"Aapke pyaar ka nasha" Adhvik's hand reached her, but she jerked him away with the awful look on her face.

[addicted to your love]

"Chii...dur re. Ek dam dur" Manya yelled.

[Chii...stay away. I said stay away]

Adhvik's lips are suppressed into a thin line, looking like he is suppressing his laugh. Manya looked at him with confusion on her face, when Adhvik burst into a laugh.

"Kitni badiya lagti ho, darri hui si" Adhvik's laugh echoed in the class

[You look so good, like a torn girl]

"Pagl ho gaye ho kya?" Manya hit him on his shoulder

[Are you mad?]

"Hn aapke pyaar mei" before the words escaped his lips, Manya slapped him on his cheeks. The loud noise spread in the class, and the students who were present in the class looked up at them,

[huh in your love]

"Dobara bola na, toh yahi phek dungi" Manya's loud voice went in Adhvik's ears. Beside the sensations happening in her stomach at his words, she ignored it and was able to maintain her rude face.

[If you say it again, I will throw it away]

Without looking at him, she turned to the exit of the class.
Adhvik chuckled while looking at her.
"Munchkin" He muttered, with the slight shake of his head.

Manya, on the other hand, washed her face. But the moment with Adhvik, is repeatedly blurring her senses. The way his words trailed down from his tongue was adorable, and when they all were just nothing but a lie. Her heart sank with the thought of him lying to her, making fun of her feelings that she doesn't even know if they exist.
"Chamgadar kahi ka"
She muttered to herself.

[That bat he is]

Anushka, who was sitting in class 12th A surrounded by Arnav. Talking to Arnav while Ignoring Vatsal, whereas Vatsal who was enjoying her anger, wasn't aware of the storm that was waiting for him.

"Miss topper" Vatsal looked at her with a soft gaze,
She looked up at him for mere seconds, before grazing her gaze to Kriti who was sitting behind Vatsal. She smiled.

Seeing her smile, Vatsal's heart skipped a beat, while his breaths started to become heavy, turning into heavy sighs. She took small steps toward Kriti while Vatsal thought she was moving towards him.

"Lao di mai help kardu" As she passed nearby him, he inhaled the scent of the ocean mixed with the scent of wet mud. His nostril flares. While eyes went close, so lost in inhaling her fragrance.

[bring it di, may I help you]

"Hn karde." Kriti took a small pause, as her eyes went on the large amount she collected for donation, "Sun yei mere locker room ki keys hai, and yei le. It's thirty thousand rupees total. Mere sath chal or isko rakh dete hai" Anushka nodded, as she went with kriti.
Kriti took the receipt of the amount and handed cash to Anushka.

[Listen, here is the key to my locker room, and a letter. It's thirty thousand rupees total. Come with me and let's keep it.]

Later when they went inside the locker room, their eyes went to Ria. Anushka's gaze went to Ria, and the memory of morning flashed in front of her eyes. The wave of jealousy washed over her, but somehow she maintained her calmness, and handed the cash to Kriti as she went to her locker room.

"Last period mei aakar le jayege yei dono cheeze" Kriti whispered to Anushka, to which replied with a nod.

[I will take both these things in the last period]
________________

As the whole school was about to be empty, Kriti and Anushka went to the Locker room to grab the money and receipt.

Kriti opened the locker to find the money and receipt at their place.

Taking the sigh of relief she was about to move when Anushka interrupted, "Di ek baar amount calculate kar lo"

[Di let's check this amount one time]
Kriti nods at her thoughts.

They both started to check the amount.

One time.
Two times.
Three times.
Four times.

"Dii are you sure 30,000 rupees hi the?" Anushka asked with concern, reflecting in her eyes.

[Di, hey you sure it was only 30,000 rupees?]

"Hn anu, maine Principal ma'am se sign bhi karwaya tha, dekh unhone bhi check kiya tha" kriti gaze went blur with the unleash tears.

[Yes Anu, I even got it signed by Principal
mom, she had also checked it]

"But yei toh bs 20,000 rupees hai" Anushka sweeps the sweat beads that are forming on her forehead, "Ab kya kare?" The panic started taking place in her gut.

[But it is only 20,000 rupees.]

[What should we do now?]

"I..I have an idea" Kriti's words reflect confidence but her voice is hesitating a little.