Tuesday.

First day back after the holiday.

11th and 12th share the same floor.

Which was fine.

For normal families.

Not for the Rajvanshs.

Morning:

The 11th class door opens.

Aaradhya steps out with Kanika and Mahima, still fixing her hair.

At the same time, the 12th class door opens.

Advik comes out calmly.

Behind him—

Arhaan.

Already suspicious.

He scans the corridor.

“Why are you standing like that?” Advik mutters.

“Just checking.”

“Checking what?”

“Vibes.”

Ryan walks out.

“Bro said vibes.”

Aaradhya looks up and accidentally makes eye contact with Yuvaan.

It lasts maybe two seconds.

That’s it.

Two seconds.

But Arhaan notices.

Of course he does.

He casually moves one step forward.

Not obvious.

Just enough to block the angle.

Aaradhya stops mid-sentence.

“…Why are you standing in front of me?”

“Sunlight aa raha tha.”

“It’s an indoor corridor.”

Advik coughs to hide a smile.

Ryan:

“UV protection brother.”

Aaradhya narrows her eyes.

“Move.”

Arhaan doesn’t.

He looks at Yuvaan instead.

Calm but serious.

“Class shuru hone wala hai.”

Yuvaan nods slightly.

“Hmm.”

Advik grabs Arhaan’s bag strap and pulls him back.

“Relax.”

Short Break:

The corridor is crowded.

Students everywhere.

Aaradhya is laughing at something Mahima said.

Some 12th boys nearby glance over.

Normal glance.

Nothing dramatic.

But Arhaan’s expression changes.

Not angry.

Just… stiff.

He steps a little closer to her side.

Advik notices.

“You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Standing like a security guard.”

“I’m just standing.”

“Right.”

Ryan leans toward Yuvaan.

“Watch. In 3… 2…”

One of the boys laughs loudly again.

Arhaan turns.

Not aggressive.

Just that slow older-brother look.

The kind that says try it.

The boys immediately look away.

Ryan whispers,

“See? Silent threat.”

Aaradhya finally notices.

“Why are you staring at them?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

Advik:

“You are.”

Arhaan glares at both of them.

Lunch:

The whole gang sits together.

Like always.

Arhaan deliberately chooses the seat beside Aaradhya.

Not dramatic.

Just quick.

Too quick.

Yuvaan sits across.

Advik beside him.

Ryan grinning because he lives for this.

Aaradhya takes a sip of her juice.

Yuvaan says something random about the math assignment.

She laughs.

Just laughs.

Arhaan’s fork pauses mid-air.

Advik notices immediately.

“Eat.”

“I am eating.”

“You stopped chewing.”

“I did not.”

Ryan is watching like it’s live TV.

Then—

A random 11th boy walks past their table and says casually,

“Excuse me.”

That’s it.

Just “Excuse me.”

But he looks at Aaradhya for half a second longer than necessary.

Arhaan looks up.

Slow.

Calm.

Dead serious.

The boy speeds up immediately.

Aaradhya sees it.

“Oh my god.”

“What?”

“You scared him.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did the look.”

“What look?”

Advik demonstrates the exact expression.

Ryan bursts out laughing.

“That one. The ‘I will end you politely’ look.”

Arhaan tries not to smile.

Fails slightly.

After lunch, the corridor is crowded.

Someone pushes through.

Aaradhya loses balance slightly.

Before she can steady herself—

Yuvaan holds her arm.

Simple.

Instinctive.

Two seconds.

Advik sees it.

Arhaan sees it.

Everything freezes.

Not dramatic shouting.

Just tension.

Yuvaan lets go immediately.

“You okay?”

She nods.

Before she can say anything—

Arhaan steps forward.

Not yelling.

Just low voice.

“Careful.”

She looks at him.

“I’m fine.”

“I know. Just… careful.”

There’s something real there.

Not funny for a second.

Then Ryan ruins it.

“So who’s carrying whistle tomorrow?”

Advik shoves him.

“Shut up.”

Arhaan rolls his eyes.

But doesn’t move away from her side.

Last Period:

Free period.

Everyone’s half-asleep.

Arhaan is sitting at the back of the 12th class.

Staring out the door.

Advik notices.

“Why are you looking outside?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Bas dekh raha hoon.”

Ryan turns around from the front bench.

“Bro has floor-wide CCTV installed in his brain.”

Arhaan throws a paper ball at him.

Yuvaan walks past their class door to go to the washroom.

Arhaan’s eyes follow automatically.

Advik watches him.

“You need help.”

“For what?”

“For this.”

Arhaan leans back in his chair dramatically.

“I don’t trust boys.”

Ryan gasps.

“You are a boy.”

“Exactly.”

The whole class bursts out laughing.

Even Yuvaan, who heard that while walking back.

After School:

Near the stairs.

Aaradhya stops walking.

Turns to both her brothers.

“Can you both relax?”

Advik raises his hands.

“I am relaxed.”

She looks at Arhaan.

“You. Especially you.”

He looks slightly offended.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You scare people.”

“I didn’t even speak.”

“That’s the problem.”

Ryan whispers,

“He weaponized silence.”

Advik laughs properly this time.

Arhaan finally sighs.

“Fine. I’ll try.”

Aaradhya narrows her eyes.

“Try properly.”

He nods.

Then leans slightly closer to her.

“But still… careful.”

She pushes him lightly.

“GO HOME.”

He grins.

And walks ahead dramatically.

Muttering,

“I’m surrounded by ungrateful people.”

Advik shakes his head.

Ryan announces loudly,

“Episode ends. Same time tomorrow.”

And honestly?

Even Aaradhya was smiling.

Because yes—

They were insane.

But they were her insane.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hi Lovlies 🤍

Same floor was clearly a bad idea 😭

I hope this chapter made you laugh a little. If you enjoyed it, please do show some support it keeps me motivated to write more ✨

— Author