The next day, as Paavna entered the classroom, the usual bustling chaos greeted her. Students were scattered in their own worlds—some chatting animatedly about the weekend, others scrambling to complete unfinished homework, and a few simply lounging around, lost in their thoughts. She navigated her way through the maze of desks and chairs, heading straight to her usual spot next to Kavi and Jo.
Sliding into her seat, she barely had a moment to settle when Kavi, the self-proclaimed gossip queen, leaned in with a dramatic flourish. Her expression was one of exaggerated anticipation, as if she had been waiting all weekend just for this moment.
"So, how was your weekend?" Kavi asked, her tone dripping with curiosity and just the right hint of mischief.
Paavna blinked, completely lost. She hadn't expected to be interrogated so early in the morning. "Uh… good?" she replied cautiously, her mind scrambling to figure out what Kavi was fishing for. The last thing she wanted was to be dragged into one of Kavi's gossip sessions, but knowing Kavi, there was no escape.
Kavi gave her a knowing look, one eyebrow arching as a sly smirk spread across her face. "Oh, come on, don't act innocent. Tell me about the date!" she exclaimed, her voice rising just enough to make a few heads turn in their direction.
Paavna nearly choked on air. "Girl, can you stop reminding me of my embarrassment?" she hissed, shooting Kavi a glare that could have turned a ripe mango into pickle. Her cheeks flushed as memories of the awkward encounter flooded back, making her wish the ground would swallow her whole.
Kavi, unfazed by her friend's reaction, simply shrugged and said, "Fine, fine, I won't tease you about that. But listen—I have some important gossip about Aadav. Do you want to know?"
At the mention of Aadav, Paavna's interest was piqued, though she tried to mask it. Raising an eyebrow, she replied, "Kavi, aren't you too much? I mean, he shares a secret with you, and you're already spilling it to me? Aren't you afraid he'll confront you?"
Kavi waved her hand dismissively, as though the thought of repercussions was laughable. "Adi, yaar di nee! He didn't say it's a secret, so it's technically not a secret. Plus, I'm only telling you two, so what's the problem?" she reasoned, her tone making it clear that she genuinely believed she was doing no wrong.
Paavna sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "So, you already told Jo about this, didn't you?"
Kavi looked sheepish for a moment, a rare occurrence that only added to her charm. "I did… but she didn't really listen. You know how Jo is—she doesn't give a damn about the outside world. Her focus is entirely on her inner peace, which, by the way, is just code for 'ignoring my gossip.'"
As if on cue, Jo, who had been scribbling something in her notebook with the utmost concentration, looked up briefly and deadpanned, "Exactly. Carry on."
Kavi groaned in mock frustration. "See, I told you naa! This girl doesn't even take me seriously as her benchmate, let alone as her gossip mate. Anyway, Paavna, do you want the info or not?"
Paavna rolled her eyes, though the curiosity was beginning to get the better of her. "Go ahead," she said, her tone resigned.
Kavi's eyes lit up mischievously. She leaned in closer, as if about to share a state secret. "Can you give me a small payment for the info?" she asked, her lips curling into a playful smirk.
Paavna narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Well, keep it to yourself, then! It's not like I asked for it," she shot back, folding her arms defiantly.
Kavi gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as though she'd been struck by a sword. "Oof, Paavna! How could you? After all my hard work gathering intel, you treat me like this?" she lamented, her voice dripping with exaggerated emotion.
"Spare me the drama and just tell me," Paavna muttered, trying to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Well, what can I say?" Kavi began, lowering her voice for maximum effect. "Turns out, Aadav's parents got divorced when he was just eight. After that, his mother married someone else and left the country, giving full custody to his father. But his father wasn't any better. Post-divorce, the man had a girlfriend, but when she found out that Aadav is the sole heir to both his parents' assets, she left him too. Then his father became depressed."
Paavna's eyebrows knitted together as she listened, the weight of the story sinking in. "And Aadav?" she asked quietly.
"That's the thing!" Kavi exclaimed, her tone tinged with outrage. "No one cared about the lonely little boy they gave birth to. His grandparents eventually took care of him, and now, only his maternal grandmother is alive. That's why no one attends his parent-teacher meetings. When I heard it, I was like, no wonder! No wonder."
Kavi paused, clearly expecting a reaction from her audience. But Paavna sat in a daze, unsure of how to process the flood of information. Aadav's life, which had always seemed so carefree on the surface, suddenly appeared far more complex and painful. Just as Kavi opened her mouth to say more, the Tamil ma'am entered the class, and the students scrambled to appear focused.
But Paavna's thoughts remained with Aadav. She stared at her notebook, though her mind was far from the classroom. It seems like my struggles are nothing compared to his, she thought, her emotions swirling in a storm of empathy and guilt. If he can laugh and enjoy life even though he has no one to rely on, why can't I? Why can't I help Amma take care of the household and still find a way to be carefree?
A flash of memories flooded her mind—her mother's tired face, the endless list of chores that awaited her at home, the pressure to excel academically while also being the emotional anchor for her family. It all felt overwhelming at times, but compared to what Aadav had endured, her struggles seemed manageable. Wake up, Paavna. Kaarthi is right. You can be carefree, just wait until you make sure your family is taken care of. People's lives are worse. Be happy with what you have.
She clenched her fists, almost as if giving herself a pep talk. Her heart felt heavy yet resolute, the burden of her responsibilities transforming into a source of strength. She glanced at Aadav, who was seated a few rows behind, seemingly oblivious to the weight of the conversation that had revolved around him just moments ago.
Her impression of him softened, giving way to admiration and respect. In fact, it improved a hundred times over. Maybe… maybe I could be with him.
The thought surprised her, catching her off guard. But as she watched him laugh at something a classmate said, she couldn't help but wonder—what if their paths were meant to intertwine?
And just like that, Paavna's heart felt a little lighter, her gaze lingering a moment too long in Aadav's direction.
As the Tamil ma'am's voice droned on in the background, a new sense of determination settled over her. Life wasn't perfect, but it didn't have to be. It was up to her to find joy amidst the chaos, to embrace the struggles and the beauty of it all.
And maybe, just maybe, Aadav would be a part of that journey.