Jaanki

The alarm rang loudly, causing me to frown. I attempted to find my phone with my eyes shut, and when I finally grabbed it, instead of turning off the alarm, I hit snooze.

Five minutes later, it rings again, and I let out a frustrated sigh. "Great. Ruining my sleep for the course I chose myself."

I cracked one eye open and squinted at the screen. 7:00 a.m. My brain immediately started calculating how fast I can get ready and how much attendance I can afford to lose. Just as I was about to toss my phone aside, a notification popped up.

"We need to talk."

That one sentence. Enough to give anyone a heart attack. My sleep vanished instantly. Deleted. Uninstalled. Evaporated. Dramatic background music started playing in my head.

We need to talk? Excuse me?? Is he breaking up with me?

The thought hit hard. I shook my head immediately.

"No. Impossible. Illegal. Emotional damage."

But what if...

"No. Shut up... We've loved each other since school... right?"

Right??

I smack my forehead. "Stop overthinking, idiot. He loves you.…Unless he doesn't."

"No. STOP."

I sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "Okay, calm down. It could also mean something good." A slow grin spread across my face. "…What if he's planning to propose?"

My eyes widened.

"OH MY GOD."

I clutched my pillow like it was a witness.

"What if he's like, 'Jaanki, we've been together for so long… will you marry me?'" I pointed at myself like I was in an argument with… myself.

I'm jobless right now, and my feminism wouldn't let me rely on anyone! I know, Aditya loves me, but that doesn’t mean I would be dependent on him! But for now, let's keep our eyes on the prize: the proposal!

"Ahhhhh yesssssss!" I hugged my pillow and spun around once, twice.

I rise from the bed and give myself a light slap on the back of the head. "Get it together, idiot! You need to get ready."

As I stood in front of my wardrobe… I instantly regretted every life decision that led me here. Clothes stared back at me. Judging me. Mocking me.

"This pink dress?" I held it up and looked in the mirror.

"Nah. Too cute, girl next door. I should look like the main character today."

I tossed it aside and pulled out a red dress.

"Okay, wow. Yeh toh seedha shaadi vibes de raha hai. Relax, Jaanki. Proposal confirm nahi hua hai ".

No, this is giving wedding vibes.)

I flop back onto the bed in frustration, surrounded by a mess of clothes strewn across the floor and the bed.

"I seriously need to go shopping. Kapde hain… par vibe nahi hai." I ran my fingers through my hair, already annoyed.

(I have clothes, but they don't have that vibe.)

"Agar college thoda sa bhi aisa waisa pahen kar chali gayi to professor mujhe blame karenge unke pyare suar-jaise ladkon ko bigadne ke liye."

(If I go to college in anything, just like that clothes, the professor will blame me for spoiling their pig-like boys.)

I rolled my eyes and then opted for a simple kurti paired with wide jeans.

"Decent. Elegant. Non-controversial. Approved."

After taking a shower and completing my skincare routine (because glow is non-negotiable), I put on the outfit and applied a nude lipstick. I added a small black bindi and left my hair down.

I looked at myself in the mirror… paused… and then

Blew a kiss.

"Hayee… kitni pyaari lag rahi hoon main."

I tilted my head, inspecting.

"No one is worthy of me... but Aditya thoda deserve kar lega."

I chuckled and grabbed my tote bag, where I keep my laptop and a notebook.

As I made my way downstairs, I saw my mom. Siya Shekhawat. She is a well-known fashion designer and owns her boutique. I always admire her; she is the center of our life.

She looked at me and said,

"Someone seems happy today!"

She performed a gesture to ward off any bad luck with her hands and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Humesha aise hi khush raho, laado. Come have breakfast before you leave, and don't even think about making excuses!"

(Always stay happy like this)

I grinned and gave her a playful salute, saying, "Of course, your highness! If my poor dad can't stand up to you, who am I to challenge your authority?"

"Dramebaaz kahi ki bilkul apne baap par gayi hai."

I grabbed an apple and said, "Maa, I'll eat it on the way since I'm running late." I hurried out and got into the car.

"It's not breakfast. Have proper food," I heard her shouting, but I ran away.

The driver started the car, and I began eating the apple while my eyes were glued to the wallpaper featuring Aditya's photo.

"Hayee! Koi kitna pyara kaise ho sakta hai?"

(Oh my! How can someone be so charming?)

"Jaanki, beta, we've arrived." I blinked, snapping out of my daydream.

"Oh haan... Thank you, Kaka."

I entered the campus; my mind was fixated on one thought: 'We need to talk.' My heart raced, and my eyes searched for just one person, Aditya. We are in the same year, but our departments differ.

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t even notice Aditi walking up to me until

"Kya patakha lag rahi hai aaj!"

(You're looking like a bomb today.)

I blinked, snapping out of it. She looked me up and down, impressed for a second… then her expression twisted.

"Bas yeh mat bolna ki tu us kutte ke liye ready hui hai."

(Just don't say that you did all this for that dog.)

I rolled my eyes and replied, "Why do you have such an issue with Aditya? You both always argue like cats and dogs."

She crossed her arms, eyebrows raised like she'd been waiting for this.

"Dekha? Main kuch bhi bolun, tu apna Aditya jaap start kar deti hai."

(See? If I say anything, you'll start Aditya's name chanting.)

I sighed. "Aditi"

"Nahi, sun. Main seriously bol rahi hoon," she cut me off, her tone suddenly firmer, less joking. "Woh banda mujhe na… full negative vibes deta hai."

(No, you listen to me; that man gives me full negative vibes.)

For a second, something in her voice made me pause, but only for a second.

I looked away, slightly annoyed. It wasn't that I didn't like her, but I just didn't like hearing anything against him. She noticed. Of course she did.

Aditi always noticed. She scoffed, shaking her head.

"Chhod. Tu maanegi nahi. Chal, andar chalte hain. Usse pehle woh khadoos professor hamari Lanka laga de. You know na, we are his favorite targets. CCTV camera se zyada nazar rehti hai hum par uski."

(Leave it. You'll not agree. Let's go inside; otherwise that arrogant professor will scold us. He keeps more eyes on us than CCTV cameras.)

I laughed a little as we started walking; my mind was somewhere else. I nudged her.

"Waise...tune Aditya ko dekha han kya?"

(Did you see Aditya?)

She rolls her eyes and says, "Haan haan, dekha tha. Ghoom raha tha apni so-called 'behan jaisi dost' ke saath."

(Yes, I saw him; he was roaming with his so-called sister, aka friend.)

Something about the way she said it… lingered.

"But now he must be attending the class," she added casually.

I smiled, instantly defending. "Behan hi hai woh uski. He sent me a picture of her tying rakhi to him. " There was a hint of pride in my voice.

Aditi went quiet for a second. Too quiet. Then, under her breath "Nowadays people can't trust their own souls."

"Hmm?" I turned. She immediately shrugged it off. "Kuch nahi. Chal, jaldi. "But her expression had changed, and for a brief moment I felt it again.

We strolled into the classroom, like we owned the place…only to find the professor piercing the gaze on us. I leaned slightly toward Aditi and whispered, "Gayi aaj ki attendance!"

(Today's attendance is gone.)

"You two have made a habit of arriving late. You are not permitted in my class. Stand outside," the professor declared with authority.

We nodded like seedhe-saadhe bacche and turned around… and the moment we stepped out

High five.

"Chalo bach gaye uske lecture han. All he does is just read the text."

(We get saved from his lecture.)

I chimed in, "Honestly, I learn way more from YouTube than from him."

Aditi smirked and said, "The difference is just that YouTube pe skip button hota hai; yahan patience test hota hai."

"Bhai, main late nahi hoon na?". We heard Ruhi's voice and slowly turned toward her like two villains spotting fresh prey.

(I'm not late, right?)

I smirked and replied, "Not at all! Professor ne toh Aarti ka thaal saja rakha hai... bas tera hi wait tha."

(The professor is waiting for you with a prayer tray.)

Aditi nodded with fake sincerity and said, "Aaj attendance ke saath prasad bhi milega."

(Today you will get an offering along with attendance.)

Ruhi's face lit up for a second. "Really?"

THAP!

We both smacked her forehead lightly.

"Gadhi han kya? We got kicked out of class, so if you go to the class, attendance ke saath insult free milega."

Ruhi gasped dramatically. "Matlab… main bhi bunk karun? " We rolled our eyes. "Obviously. Let's go and eat Momo."

(I should bunk too?)

The canteen

Noise. Chaos. Fry smell. Peace.

"Guys, in today's traffic, I saw such a handsome lad… I cannot even explain!" Ruhi said dramatically, then she placed her hand on her chest like her soul had left her body.

"Kasam se… cocaine tha cocaine."

I rolled my eyes and replied, "No one can be more handsome than my Aditya."

Ruhi slowly crossed her arms, staring at me like I had personally offended her ancestors.

"Look at you, ekdum swarg se utri hui apsara lagti han phir bhi uss chuchandar ke lande jaise shakal ke aadmi ke piche padi rehti han."

(Look at you; you look like a nymph come from heaven, still you go after that shrew's shit-face man.)

Aditi choked on her water. Ruhi wasn’t done.

"Don't be the blind Dora the Explorer in love!"

I scoffed, grabbing a momo. "Was Aditi not enough? that you get started too?"

"Rehne de, Ruh. Ye nahi manne wali."

She didn't even look at me while saying it. Just dipped her momo in chutney like she had accepted defeat.

(Leave it, Ruh. She will not understand.)

"You both are overreacting now. He's not like that," I defend him.

"Haan, hum hi pagal hain," Ruhi said while rolling her eyes.

(Yes, we are idiots.)

Aditi suddenly clapped once. "Let's close the topic."

She pushed the plate toward me like it was a peace offering.

"Haan, warna yeh Suar, I mean, Aditya ke chakkar mein main bhook se mar jaungi. " Ruhi said, taking a piece of momo.

(Yes, otherwise I will die out of hunger because of that pig, I mean, Aditya.)

We started eating, conversation shifting, laughter returning, but between the joke and the bite, that tiny flicker came back again.

Why do they hate him this much?