Hi everyone, I'm Paavna. Born in a typical lower-middle-class Chennai family, living in one of the underdeveloped areas, with only the sound of autos and street vendors for company. But that was back in the day. Now, I live in a slightly "better" area, where the only sound I hear is the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional honk of an auto that refuses to stop at the signal. Life has its small upgrades, right?
My morning starts with the kind of chaos you'd expect in any Indian home. You know, the usual. Waking up my two monkeys—no, wait, my twin brothers (who are, as per my constant disapproval, the definition of "trouble" and "terror"). One's trying to steal my toothpaste, the other is impersonating an opera singer in the bathroom. But after much effort and a lot of yelling, breakfast gets made. Yes, I cook. I'm basically the unofficial second mother to these two. No complaints, though—I'm quite used to it.
But, five years ago, things weren't always this way. You see, life wasn't as eventful or... chaotic. Back then, I had more time to focus on things like homework and peaceful evenings. But that all changed.
My mother, born in a traditional, male-oriented family, had dreams. Dreams of education, independence, and more than just being a "good daughter" who would one day marry into a nice family. My father, from a humble background, fell head over heels for her. When he proposed, he didn't ask for a dowry—can you believe it? No dowry! I'm still in shock myself. And somehow, that made their marriage easier despite their financial struggles.
My mom always wanted to study. She didn't get to, but she was determined her kids would. So, she and dad decided that they would do whatever it took to get us the best education possible, even if they had to work multiple jobs. My dad worked as a sales staff in a clothing store, and my mom—well, she worked as a housemaid for Professor Aasha—our personal superhero. She was the one who got my seat at the top-notch government school, Vikram Vidyalaya. My mom worked day and night, only so I could attend this school. But here's the twist: Professor Aasha didn't just help us out of kindness. She was the one who "indirectly" helped us by giving my mom an extra 12k under the table as "salary." But hey, what matters is, we were helped, right?
Back then, life was all about staying low-key and surviving. But everything changed when my father passed away in an accident five years ago. Since then, it's been just me, my mom, and the twin monkeys. And I'm not complaining. I learned to become a full-time multi-tasker: a student, a second mother, and a house manager. And now, I'm a pro at all three.
So, I get on the bus with my brothers, like usual. They're playing games, fighting over who gets the last seat, and I'm just... well, I'm just trying to get them to school without any disasters. And then, as I walk toward the secondary building, I pause.
Ah, Vikram Vidyalaya—the school that's almost as legendary as our auto drivers. It's one of the best government schools, but not just anyone can walk in, even with money or power. No, you need marks, you need name, you need the connections... and you need respect. And guess what? I've got all of that. You could call me the school's pride and joy. I'm the most famous, best student, and according to my teachers, the most well-disciplined. The boys respect me (I don't talk to them, though, no chance) and the girls adore me for helping them out with homework or when they need advice.
And you know what? I don't mind it. I'm happy with my spot. But then... there's Aadav. The guy. The guy I've had a crush on since first standard—yes, you read that right, first standard! But I'm not one to show my feelings. I'm more like, "Yup, I'm here, I'm focused on my life, and you're just... there." I don't have time for distraction, especially not with my life being a non-stop circus of exams, family duties, and trying to make ends meet.
But one thing is for sure—whenever he walks past, my heart does a little happy dance. And no one, not a single soul, would ever guess it. Because me? I'm composed. I'm cool. I'm the girl who never flinches.
But why can I laugh through all of this? It's because I've set my own rules for life—my very own set of Paavna's Golden Rules.
Rule 1: Always socialize with your own gender. Boys? Nah, no thanks. No mixing it up.
Rule 2: Always improve yourself. Every. Single. Day. Even if it's just learning how to better juggle the chaos of school, family, and life.
Rule 3: Never blame anyone or anything. Life's unfair, sure. But guess what? That's the way it's supposed to be. Life is unfair for a reason. You either accept it or drown in it.
And most importantly, Rule 4: Never complain. Just. Don't.
And my brothers? They're top students too—following my example, of course. They may be a handful, but they excel in school just like me. In fact, they're starting to be almost as disciplined as I am. Which means, I'm doing something right.
As I drop my brothers off at the primary building, I head to the secondary section. It's like a little routine now. They're all set with their new crayons and notebooks, while I'm gearing up for a day of academic domination. Their school is just across the way, but I'm in the big leagues now, where real "studying" happens. I don't mind. I've got everything under control... until something—or someone—throws me off course.
Now, about Aadav... Well, this is where things get interesting. Aadav. He's the one who somehow always seems to hover in the background of my life. He's got this "cool" aura about him—like he's got everything under control, but the truth is, I can tell something's off. He doesn't talk much, doesn't really mix with anyone, and yet somehow, he's the one everyone notices. Maybe it's his mysterious vibe. Maybe it's his impeccable grades. Or maybe it's just that he's got this aura that makes everyone wonder, "What's going on in his head?"
You see, half of the girls in our class have a crush on him. He's the one everyone talks about, but no one really knows anything about him. Everyone thinks he's got the perfect life. But honestly, no one really knows how rich he is. He's like a walking enigma—never flaunts his wealth, yet he's always dressed to perfection. He doesn't need to show off because he's already the "cool topper" of our school, the one who doesn't even bother submitting his homework or assignments on time, yet still aces everything. Weird, right? But I'm not complaining. To me, he's always been the best. He's like a star—so far and unreachable, yet... there, in the background of my life.
As I step into my class, I settle into my usual bench. And then, like clockwork, here come my best friends—Kavitha and Josephine. These two have been with me from the start of my school life. Honestly, without them, I'm pretty sure I'd lose my mind, what with the chaos of school and home.
Josephine—oh, where do I even begin with her? She's the most intelligent person I know, but also the most invisible. You wouldn't even notice she's there half the time, unless you're paying attention to the top ranks. And guess what? She's always one rank ahead of me. Yup. Every. Single. Time. I can't decide if I should admire her or envy her. She's the quiet genius—the kind of person who could solve a complex equation before the teacher finishes explaining it, but still be in her own little world, reading quietly while the rest of us scramble to catch up.
Then there's Kavitha—my second-best friend but the one I admire the most. She's always the second ranker of the entire grade. I swear, her parents must've designed her to be perfect because they are the most strict people I have ever seen. Like, scary strict. No room for mistakes, no room for fun. But despite that, Kavi manages to be an academic powerhouse. I always look up to her. She's always been there, especially when I feel like I don't belong in the top ranks. But she's not just academically brilliant; she's also a super calm person with a sharp mind, a little different from Josephine's quiet vibe.
Kavitha and Aadav—they're from the same locality. Yep, typical neighbors. And that's something I can't even imagine. I mean, they talk all the time, but me? I've never spoken a word to him, and yet my heart seems to race every time he's around. But the thing is, Kavi and Aadav are always so normal together. Like, they're just chilling, laughing, talking about random things like it's nothing. And for me, well, every time I see Aadav, I'm an emotional wreck, pretending to be calm, cool, and collected, but inside, my brain is doing somersaults.
As for me, I'm the top ranker. Yeah, I know, it's a lot of pressure. But I'm used to it. I've always been at the top of my class, pulling my weight, acing exams and assignments, all while managing the chaos at home. But then there's Aadav—who's always the first ranker. He's that guy who does everything effortlessly. His charm, his brain, everything just works for him. He doesn't even have to try, and yet, he's the best. The first rank, always. The topper. And while I admire him for it, I can't help but feel a little... envious. But it's more than that. It's the way he carries himself—the way he just doesn't care. He never flaunts his wealth or his success, but he's always the one everyone's talking about. He's cool, in a way that I could never pull off.
But let's not forget about the rankings. Josephine always beats me by just one rank, and Kavi—she's untouchable. Always second. Always. I mean, it's like we've got our own little unspoken competition going on. I'm always the first ranker, Josephine's the second, and Kavitha's... well, she's the second-best in the whole grade. If there's anyone I admire more than Aadav, it's Kavi. Not that I would ever admit that out loud, but yeah, she's pretty much perfect in my eyes.
We never speak about anyone else—especially not the boys. Our little world revolves around studies, life, and random rants about teachers and assignments. Nothing else. Not even Aadav's name ever comes up in conversation. Why? Because in our friendship, it's all about us. About the girl gang that's been there for each other through thick and thin. Aadav? Well, he's just that guy who's always there. Too cool for his own good. And, well, he's a topper. But not like me, of course.