The crisp October air hinted at the approaching winter, wrapping the world in a pleasant chill. The school semester had reached an interlude—a ten-day holiday that the students eagerly anticipated each year. Yet this year, the holidays weren't entirely carefree. Each class had been assigned a project for the annual exhibition, an event that came with the promise of glory and a grand reward: a ₹1.5 lakh cheque for the winning team. The stakes were high, and so was the pressure.
Nitin's class, buzzing with energy, had been split into seven teams. Each team had a unique project, and Nitin's team was tasked with building a "Dream City"—a well-designed, self-sufficient city complete with roads, buildings, sewer systems, and other essentials. The team assignments had stirred both excitement and trepidation among the students.
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Nitin's team consisted of five members:
1. Nitin Sharma, the aloof yet sharp and intimidating protagonist.
2. Siya Sehgal, the strong-willed class representative who often clashed with Nitin but shared an undeniable connection with him.
3. Sneha Verma, one of the Phantom Excluders and Siya's best friend. Sneha had a sharp tongue and an unyielding personality, often intimidating even the boldest of students.
4. Rehan Kureshi, the comic relief of the group—a slightly clumsy but good-hearted guy whose antics often left others exasperated.
5. Paroma Agarwal, a short-tempered, intelligent girl with glasses, who balanced her fiery personality with a meticulous approach to tasks.
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After school, the team gathered in the library to discuss their project. The library, usually a sanctuary of silence, quickly descended into chaos as the group's dynamic played out in full force.
Siya sat at the head of the round table, her posture exuding authority. Nitin, ever the opportunist, chose the seat to her right, while Sneha took the one to her left, as expected of her best friend. Rehan slumped next to Nitin, and Paroma, the smallest of the group, squeezed in between Sneha and Rehan.
"Alright, everyone," Siya began, her tone firm but encouraging.
Siya - "Let's sit down and talk about our project."
As Siya spoke, Nitin leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, his face an unreadable mask of indifference. Rehan, on the other hand, immediately started chatting.
Rehan - "So, Paroma, Did you know that intelligent people with glasses are usually the angriest?"
Rehan said, grinning mischievously. Paroma glared at him, her glasses glinting ominously.
Paroma - "Rehan, I swear, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll throw this chair at you."
Rehan laughed, undeterred.
Rehan - "You're proving my point, Miss Genius!"
Sneha and Siya exchanged a look, half-amused and half-exasperated. Sneha whispered something to Siya, and the two giggled, while Paroma's irritation grew by the second.
The chaos only escalated. Rehan's jokes became louder, Paroma's temper flared, and Sneha tried to mediate while also teasing Nitin, who remained unnervingly quiet. Siya, trying to steer the conversation back to the project, found herself drowned out by the rising volume of voices.
Finally, Nitin snapped.
"Bang!"
His fist came down hard on the table, silencing everyone. The room echoed with the sharp sound, and all eyes turned to him.
"The project," Nitin said, his voice low but firm. "Talk. Discuss. Make."
For a moment, the group stared at him, stunned. Then Sneha's voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Oi," she said, her tone icy. "Don't you know this is a library? And—" She narrowed her eyes. "Speak properly."
The others exchanged wide-eyed glances, shocked that Sneha had the audacity to challenge Nitin. But Sneha wasn't one to back down, even against someone as intimidating as him.
Nitin's eyes narrowed - "What'd you say, bit—"
Before he could finish, Siya's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
Siya - "Stop! Don't you dare call her a bitch!"
Nitin froze, the harsh retort dying on his lips. For a moment, the room was silent. Then Nitin sighed and leaned back, his tone suddenly gentle. "Okay."
The sudden shift in his demeanor left everyone even more shocked. Rehan broke the silence with a theatrical gasp.
Rehan - "Whoa! Talk about a huntress keeping the beast in check. Made for each other,"
He quipped, grinning. Paroma rolled her eyes and smacked his arm.
Paroma - "Shut up, idiot. Siya, don't mind him. He's an absolute fool."
Rehan feigned hurt - "Hey! That's not a nice thing to say to a girl with glasses."
Both Siya and Paroma glared at him, their glasses glinting menacingly. Nitin, meanwhile, had turned his face away, hiding his blush. He rested his head on the table, pretending to sleep, though the redness in his ears betrayed his embarrassment.
Sneha, ever the fiery one, grabbed Rehan's collar, but before she could do anything drastic, Siya intervened, pulling her back.
"Alright, enough," Siya said, rubbing her temples.
Siya - "Let's get back on track. I'll be the team leader. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."
No one objected. Siya nodded, satisfied.
"Now," she said, her voice resolute, "let the meeting commence!"
With Siya's authority established, the group finally began discussing their project. The task of designing a dream city was both exciting and daunting, requiring creativity, planning, and teamwork.
Siya outlined the basic structure of their city, dividing the responsibilities among the group:
- Siya: Overall design and coordination.
- Nitin: Sewer systems and road planning.
- Sneha: Building designs and architecture.
- Rehan: Additional features like parks, entertainment zones, and unique attractions.
- Paroma: Budgeting and resource allocation.
Siya - "I'll also handle the presentation, But we'll need to work together to make everything cohesive."
Siya added. As they discussed ideas, Rehan couldn't resist throwing in his usual antics.
Rehan - "What if we build a theme park in the city? With a roller coaster that goes underground through the sewers!"
He suggested. Paroma smacked her forehead.
Paroma - "Rehan, that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard."
Rehan - "But it's fun!"
Rehan protested. Sneha shook her head, smiling.
Sneha - "You're hopeless."
Despite the occasional interruptions, the team began to make progress. Siya's leadership kept everyone focused, and even Nitin contributed thoughtful insights, though his words were few and far between.
As the meeting continued, the group's dynamic evolved. Rehan's jokes, while annoying, lightened the mood and brought unexpected laughter. Paroma's sharp wit balanced his antics, while Sneha's no-nonsense attitude kept the discussions productive. Nitin and Siya, though quiet, exchanged occasional glances, their unspoken understanding adding depth to the team.
By the end of the day, they had a rough plan for their dream city. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. As they packed up to leave, Siya addressed the group.
Siya - "Good work today, let's keep this momentum going. We have ten days, and we're going to win that prize."
She said, her tone warm. The others nodded, their competitive spirits ignited.
As they left the library, Nitin lingered behind, watching Siya as she gathered her things.
Nitin - "You did well today."
Siya looked up, surprised. For a moment, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them. Then Siya smiled.
Siya - "Thanks, Nitin."
And with that, they walked out together, the chill October air wrapping around them, as if signaling the beginning of something new.