Montage Scene Shift – Exam Preparation Chaos
[Background Music: Intense Study Mode Activated]
Scene 1: Karan's Bedroom – The Struggle Begins
Emma aggressively flipping through pages, muttering formulas like a madwoman.
Sophia staring blankly at a math problem, slowly turning her notebook upside down as if that will help.
Sayaka nodding along, perfectly calm, solving equations with zero stress.
Karan casually leaning back in his chair, spinning a pen, smirking like a tutor who enjoys their students' suffering.
Scene 2: Midnight Cramming – Sleep Deprivation Hits
Emma's head drops onto the desk. Karan pokes her with a pen.
Sophia tries drinking coffee, only to choke on it while reading physics notes.
Sayaka, confused: "Why is everyone dying? This is fun."
Karan, sipping energy drink: "It's called suffering, Sayaka-chan. Welcome to it."
Scene 3: Sebastian's Night Patrol
Sebastian enters the room holding a tray of more coffee and snacks.
Karan, dramatically: "You are a gift from the heavens, my dear Sebastian."
Emma & Sophia, grabbing coffee like zombies.
Scene 4: College Campus – Last-Minute Panic
Emma & Sophia walking to class with half-dead expressions.
Sayaka, cheerful: "I slept for eight hours! I feel great!"
Emma & Sophia, glaring at her like she's committed a crime.
Scene 5: Aarav Under the Banyan Tree
Completely unbothered. Reading. Meditating. Ascended beyond mortal exam stress.
A group of stalker girls secretly watching him.
Scene 6: Karan, The "Tutor"
Karan pointing at a whiteboard, explaining math concepts.
Emma & Sophia staring at him like he's speaking alien language.
Sebastian watching in the background, shaking his head like a disappointed teacher.
Scene 7: Exam Eve – Chaos Reaches Peak
Emma & Sophia having an emotional breakdown over a single unsolved question.
Sayaka peacefully finishing her notes.
Karan laughing at their misery.
Sebastian silently placing painkillers on the table.
Final Scene: Exam Day – The Walk of Doom
The squad walking to class.
Emma and Sophia looking like they've seen war.
Sayaka humming a tune.
Karan, confidently: "May the gods be with you."
Emma, glaring: "Shut up."
[Montage Ends – Fade to Black]
Exam Day – The Final Battlefield
Scene 1: Before the Exam – The Last-Minute Panic
Emma pacing back and forth. "I swear if I fail this, I'm running away to the mountains."
Sophia holding her textbook upside down. "Is it too late to drop out and become a monk?"
Sayaka, stretching: "Relax, it's just an exam!"
Emma and Sophia, in sync: "YOU DON'T GET TO SAY THAT!"
Karan flipping through his notes lazily.
Sebastian (somehow in the college) approaches and hands Karan a cup of tea.
Karan smirking: "Ah, the taste of academic superiority."
Emma glares at him like she's about to commit a crime.
Aarav enters, as calm as ever, walking like he owns the place.
All students secretly watch him like he's some deity about to descend into the battlefield.
Karan, whispering to Emma: "Look at that entrance. If he doesn't ace this, I'll personally eat my notes."
Emma, still panicking: "I don't care about his entrance—I care about surviving this!"
---
Scene 2: Inside the Exam Hall – The Moment of Truth
Professor hands out the question papers.
Emma takes a deep breath, flips the paper, and immediately regrets life choices.
Sophia stares at the first question as if it personally insulted her.
Sayaka begins writing without hesitation.
Karan leans back, relaxed, already answering.
Aarav, effortlessly solving everything, probably even writing extra theorems just for fun.
Halfway through the exam…
Emma glances at Karan's paper.
Karan smirks, whispering: "Sorry, love. My genius is copyrighted."
Emma resists the urge to throw her pen at him.
Sophia starts writing random answers out of desperation.
Sophia (internally): "If I fail, I'll just blame Karan."
Sayaka finishes early and stretches.
Aarav finishes even earlier and just sits there, bored, waiting for the rest of humanity to catch up.
---
Scene 3: After the Exam – The Aftermath
Emma, Sophia, and half the students walk out looking like war survivors.
Sayaka skips out, happy.
Aarav, as usual, unaffected.
Karan dramatically throws his arms around Emma and Sophia.
"Ladies, no need to thank me. You have just witnessed the power of my tutoring."
Emma, exhausted: "Shut up before I make you the first human to fail because of a punch."
Sophia, sighing: "If I pass, I'm treating myself to a week of desserts."
Karan, winking: "If you fail, I'll let you cry on my shoulder for free."
Emma punches him.
---
Scene 4: Aarav's Perspective – Back to the Banyan Tree
While everyone panics over results, Aarav simply returns to his peaceful spot under the Banyan tree.
Stalker girls continue their mission.
Karan dramatically collapses beside him.
"Brother, how does it feel to be a legend?"
Aarav, without looking up: "Shut up, Karan."
Sayaka sits nearby, watching Aarav like a curious cat.
Emma watches Sayaka watching Aarav and clenches her fists.
Sophia is just… lost.
---
Final Scene: Exam Results in a Few Days… To Be Continued.
The entire college gathered around the results board, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Emma and Sophia clutched each other's arms, standing like war comrades about to face their greatest battle. Sayaka, as unbothered as ever, casually adjusted her hair, while Karan stood there grinning, already confident in the outcome. Aarav, as usual, stood in the back, completely uninterested.
The professor cleared his throat and announced, "Alright, the results are out! As expected, Rank 1—Aarav Kumar!"
There was scattered applause, though no one looked surprised. It was as predictable as the sun rising.
"Rank 2—Karan Malhotra!"
Emma sucked in a breath before groaning. "Oh, hell no—this guy??"
Sophia shook her head. "I hate life."
Karan gave a dramatic bow. "Talent, my dear friends. Pure talent."
The professor smirked before continuing, "Rank 3—Sayaka Katsuhiro!"
The crowd started murmuring, clearly impressed. Sayaka blinked, then smiled. "Oh? I didn't expect third. Thought I'd get second."
Karan gasped, clutching his chest. "Oi, don't look down on my genius!"
Sayaka giggled. "Then work harder, Karan-kun."
Meanwhile, Emma and Sophia rushed toward the board, scanning desperately for their names. Emma's eyes locked onto her rank, and she froze. "I… I got 192?"
Sophia's gaze trailed down. "I'M 452??"
Karan placed a firm hand on Emma's shoulder. "My student, you have climbed high."
Emma turned and shot him a glare. "I was 385 last time! I barely improved!"
Sophia slumped, looking utterly defeated. "I thought I at least hit the 300s..."
Sayaka patted her back in an attempt to comfort her. "There, there."
Aarav, having finally glanced at the board, turned to Emma with his usual blank expression. "Congratulations. You moved up."
Emma sighed. "That is… technically true."
All around the campus, reactions exploded. Girls swooned over Aarav, though he ignored them completely. Boys gathered around Sayaka, impressed by her ranking. Karan basked in the glory of second place, standing like a king overseeing his kingdom. Meanwhile, Sophia dramatically sprawled out on a bench, arms over her face. "Education is a scam," she muttered.
Emma turned and punched Karan's arm. "I demand more tutoring next time."
Karan smirked. "Oh, darling, I thought you'd never ask."
Emma cracked her knuckles. "One more word, and your rank is dropping to a hospital bed."
Sayaka, watching Aarav, tilted her head curiously. "Aarav-kun, do you ever get bored of being first?"
Aarav shrugged. "Not my problem."
Later that evening at home, Amy clapped her hands together, beaming. "192 is good! You improved!"
Emma sulked, flopping onto the couch. "Still nowhere near Aarav…"
Anna, smiling warmly, ruffled Aarav's hair. "Good job, sweetie."
Aarav, though expressionless, felt warmth creep into his chest. "...Thanks, Mom."
Arun, reading through the results, sighed. "Aarav first again? What a surprise."
Aarav's voice was completely deadpan. "Sarcasm noted."
Arun smirked. "Keep it up. Your old man was just like you."
Meanwhile, Sophia had launched herself onto Arun dramatically. "Uncle, help! I failed life!"
Arun sighed, patting her head. "Maybe business isn't for you."
Sophia lifted her head, betrayed. "How dare you."
Emma, sitting quietly beside them, stole a glance at Aarav. As always, he was unreadable, but she clenched her fists, determination growing. "Next time…" she whispered to herself. "I'll get closer to him."
Post-Exam Aftermath
The air at home was a mix of celebration and mild disappointment. Emma, still sulking about her rank, sat cross-legged on the living room couch, aggressively eating a bowl of Amy's homemade kheer. Sophia, dramatically lying across the floor like a fallen warrior, mumbled about the unfairness of life.
Aarav sat on the other end of the couch, flipping through a physics book as if nothing had happened. Anna, standing by the kitchen, smiled fondly at him. "Aarav, you did great as always."
Arun leaned back in his chair, sipping his evening tea. "Not that there was ever a doubt."
Aarav barely looked up. "If you're going to praise me, at least do it properly."
Amy chuckled, serving Emma another bowl. "And Emma, you moved up almost 200 places. That's something to be proud of."
Emma pouted. "Yeah, but Aarav is still miles ahead."
Arun smirked. "Sounds like my past with Rohan."
Sophia, face still buried in the floor, weakly raised a hand. "Uncle Arun, do you have any businessman's wisdom for a struggling scholar?"
Arun exhaled. "Study harder."
Sophia groaned. "I hate it here."
Karan suddenly barged in, uninvited as always, with his usual grin. "Ladies and gentlemen, the rank 2 genius has arrived!"
Emma glared. "Did you just call yourself a genius?"
Karan dramatically pointed at her. "Correction! I am your genius tutor. You passed because of me."
Emma grabbed a cushion and threw it at him. "Shut up!"
Sayaka walked in behind him, adjusting her uniform. "Aarav-kun, I wanted to say congratulations."
Aarav, uninterested, flipped a page in his book. "Thanks."
Sayaka smiled and took a seat next to him. "Maybe next time, I'll beat you."
For the first time in hours, Aarav actually looked at her. "You're welcome to try."
Karan, watching the interaction, nearly choked on his laughter. "Emma, are you seeing this? The transfer student is already challenging your dear Aarav!"
Emma's eye twitched, but she forced a sweet smile. "Of course! Aarav always needs competition, right?"
Sophia, now fully awake, grinned mischievously. "Ooooh, is Emma feeling threatened?"
Emma waved her off. "Please, I've known him for years. It's not like I—" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she was saying too much. "Never mind!"
Arun raised an eyebrow, watching the entire scene unfold with an amused expression. "This is a lively bunch."
Anna smiled warmly. "They make the house feel full."
Amy, cleaning up the plates, sighed. "I just hope no one breaks anything this time."
Karan turned to Sayaka. "By the way, young lady, any thoughts on my offer to be your personal translator?"
Sayaka laughed nervously. "Absolutely not."
Sophia snorted. "I'd rather fail English than let you teach me anything."
Karan placed a hand over his heart. "Ladies, you wound me."
Aarav finally shut his book and stood up. "I'm going to my room."
Sayaka tilted her head. "To study?"
Aarav deadpanned. "To get away from all of you."
With that, he walked off, leaving the rest of them in silence.
Emma, watching him leave, sighed to herself. One day, I'll get closer… just wait, Aarav.
Just as the lively conversation was winding down, Karan clapped his hands together. "Oh, right! Time for a grand introduction!"
In an instant, his butler, Sebastian, seemingly materialized out of thin air, standing impeccably straight in his perfectly ironed suit. His presence alone oozed refinement, a stark contrast to Karan's usual chaotic energy.
Arun, placing his teacup down, raised an eyebrow. "And who might this be?"
Sebastian bowed deeply. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. I am Sebastian, the humble butler of young master Karan."
Amy, wiping her hands with a kitchen towel, blinked. "You have a butler?"
Emma groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why am I even surprised at this point?"
Karan smirked. "You underestimate my greatness, Emma."
Aarav, sitting on the couch, didn't even spare them a glance. "We don't underestimate you. We just don't expect anything intelligent from you."
Sebastian turned toward Aarav with an impressed nod. "Ah, so this must be Master Aarav. Young master Karan often speaks of you."
Aarav finally looked up, staring blankly. "That's deeply concerning."
Anna, observing with amusement, asked, "And what exactly does Karan say about Aarav?"
Sebastian, with a completely straight face, replied, "That he is a being of unimaginable intellect, void of all mortal distractions such as human emotions, socializing, and common entertainment."
Sophia burst out laughing. "Yep, that sounds like Aarav."
Emma snickered but quickly masked it with a cough. "I mean… he's not wrong."
Sayaka, intrigued, looked at Sebastian. "So, Sebastian-san, are you also tutoring Karan like he tutored us?"
Sebastian smiled politely. "Ah, no, young master Karan is quite… unique in his study habits. He learns through sheer absurdity and last-minute miracles."
Amy sighed. "That explains a lot."
Sebastian then turned to Arun. "It is an honor to meet the esteemed Mr. Kumar. I must say, I have heard quite a bit about your business prowess."
Arun leaned back, crossing his arms. "Is that so?"
Sebastian nodded. "Indeed. I admire how you have built an empire with strategic intelligence, much like a grandmaster in chess."
Arun smirked. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, but I appreciate the effort."
Karan threw an arm around Sebastian dramatically. "See? My butler is the best! Unlike Aarav, who has no personal assistant!"
Aarav stared at him. "Because I don't need one."
Karan clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Imagine, Aarav, all those unnecessary social interactions could be handled by someone else. You could have a quiet life with your books, free from distractions."
Aarav deadpanned. "And yet, you're still here, being a distraction."
Sebastian cleared his throat. "On that note, young master, shall I prepare the study for your guests again?"
Emma and Sophia groaned in unison. "No more studying!"
Sayaka, still composed, simply smiled. "I wouldn't mind more practice."
Karan clapped his hands. "Excellent! Another study session at my mansion it is!"
Aarav stood up and walked toward the staircase. "I'm leaving before I get dragged into this nonsense."
Sebastian bowed as Aarav passed by. "A true scholar, indeed."
As Aarav disappeared upstairs, Karan sighed dramatically. "One day, he'll realize my genius too."
Emma threw a cushion at his face. "Keep dreaming."
Sebastian simply stood there, ever the composed butler, as chaos unfolded in front of him.
As the chaotic conversation continued, Arun's sharp eyes locked onto Sebastian's hand. More specifically, the delicate way he was holding a porcelain teacup, his fingers resting with effortless elegance, his posture straight, his every movement refined.
Arun's world suddenly narrowed.
This wasn't just a man drinking tea.
This was a man who understood tea.
The room faded into silence as Arun leaned forward, eyes glinting with intensity.
Sebastian, unaware of the impending battle, took another refined sip.
Arun's voice was low, calculating. "You…"
Sebastian calmly placed the cup down. "Yes, sir?"
Arun's expression darkened with curiosity. "That is not the hand of an amateur."
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
Emma, Sophia, and Sayaka exchanged confused glances.
Amy sighed. "Here we go again…"
Karan, suddenly invested, leaned in with an excited grin. "Oho! Are we about to witness a tea war?"
Sebastian tilted his head slightly. "I do appreciate a well-brewed cup of tea, if that is what you mean."
Arun narrowed his eyes. "What's your preference?"
Sebastian, unfazed, answered smoothly, "Aged Darjeeling, first flush. Brewed precisely at 85 degrees Celsius, steeped for three minutes, no more, no less. Served in bone china to preserve the delicate aroma."
The entire room froze.
Arun's fingers twitched. His tea-soul burned with passion.
He slowly exhaled, then spoke with utmost reverence.
"You are… a man of culture."
Sebastian gave a polite nod. "And you, sir?"
Arun's eyes gleamed. "Hand-rolled Assam, strong body, malty richness. Brewed at a steady boil of 96 degrees, steeped for exactly four minutes to bring out the deep caramel notes. Served in a clay kulhad for authenticity."
A deep silence fell over the room.
Karan dramatically wiped a fake tear. "Two titans… two masters… finally meeting on the battlefield of tea."
Amy rubbed her temples. "This is ridiculous."
Emma, staring at the intense standoff, whispered, "Is… is my dad about to adopt Karan's butler?"
Sayaka, intrigued, observed them both. "This is like a samurai duel, but with tea."
Sophia, completely lost, leaned over to Karan. "What's happening?"
Karan whispered back, "The tea nerds have sensed another of their kind. It's like watching two wolves acknowledge each other in the wild."
Sebastian gave a small, approving smile. "An excellent choice, sir. Assam is a bold statement. A tea that does not bow to anyone."
Arun nodded, pleased. "And Darjeeling—graceful, refined, but with an undeniable strength."
Sebastian lifted his teacup slightly. "Perhaps, one day, we shall share a cup and discuss finer brews."
Arun, for the first time in years, looked genuinely excited. "I accept your challenge."
Amy groaned. "Challenge? Oh god, now there's going to be a tea duel."
Sebastian smiled politely. "It would be an honor."
Karan clapped his hands. "A Tea Showdown! Sebastian vs. Arun! The ultimate battle of the brews!"
Aarav, appearing at the top of the stairs, looked down at the scene with a blank stare.
He muttered, "This family is insane," then turned around and left without another word.
The tea war had begun.
Aarav stepped into his room, the door clicking shut behind him with a soft thud. He muttered under his breath, barely loud enough for anyone else to hear, "I hate noise."
The quiet of his sanctuary greeted him like an old friend. His room, the one place where everything made sense, where he could finally breathe without the constant barrage of distractions from the world outside. He walked over to his desk, the smooth surface of the wood cool beneath his fingers as he leaned against it.
The sounds from downstairs—the chaotic clamor of his family—seemed a world away, muffled by the thick walls. His eyes briefly flickered to the window, where the yellow lights of the city stretched far into the horizon. The view always calmed him, grounding him amidst the storm of everything else.
He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to sink into the peace that only came when he was alone. His thoughts briefly flickered to the absurd tea showdown between his father and Karan's butler. It felt like every little interaction was just another layer of noise, piling up around him.
It wasn't just the noise of people; it was the pressure, the expectations, the constant reminders that he was never truly alone in this world. His mind, always sharp and aware, picked up every little detail—the things people said to each other, the way they looked at him, the way they expected him to behave.
A deep breath.
His expression, ever stoic, betrayed none of the thoughts racing through his mind. Aarav didn't let anyone see what he was feeling. Not even Anna, not even Amy. He kept it hidden behind that cold, unreadable exterior. But inside, it was a different story.
A quiet knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Come in," he called out, his voice as indifferent as ever.
The door creaked open, and Emma poked her head in. "Hey, Aarav. You alright?"
Aarav didn't move. He simply gave her a quick glance, not bothering to meet her gaze for too long.
"I'm fine," he said, his voice distant.
Emma hesitated, clearly picking up on his mood. "You sure? You look like you're about to fall asleep standing up."
He sighed inwardly, but it didn't show on his face. He gave her a short nod. "I don't need sleep."
Emma crossed the room and plopped down onto the bed, clearly not buying it. "Don't lie to me, Aarav. You're acting like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders."
His lips twisted into something close to a smirk, though it never reached his eyes. "It's nothing."
Emma frowned, knowing better than to push further, but she wasn't ready to let it go.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me," she said softly.
Aarav didn't respond. She knew better than to ask him to talk about it—he'd never open up. But at least she could try.
As Emma left, Aarav looked back at the quiet city outside his window. The peace was fleeting, always interrupted. But maybe, just maybe, that was the way life worked. Noise always found a way in.
Aarav just had to find a way to drown it out.