The Girl Next Door

~They were just a wall apart. And yet, it took years to truly see each other.

"Still alive, huh?" came a voice behind her. Ishita asked dramatically, waving her half-squished juice box near Aarohi's face.

Aarohi blinked.

" Barely . My soul left me to battle this shit alone."

Ishita grinned, poking her cheek. "Your face after seeing Aditya's name next to yours... pure cinema. I should've recorded it."

"I hate everything. Why. Why him?"" Aarohi declared, flopping her head onto the desk.

Ishita cackled. "Told you. Manifestation works. I should start charging for it. "

But Hey! I had no idea this manifestation would really come true. But now that it's happening... at least he's hot."

I was already planning to jump out the window and now this girl gave me every reason to do so.

"Ishita!" , I glared at her.

"I'm just saying, if you're going to suffer, let it at least be aesthetically pleasing."

Uuurrgghhh ! This girll!!

Meanwhile, at the back of the class...

Kabir looked at Aditya, who was still staring at Aarohi like he'd spotted a mythical creature .

"Stop staring, bro. You're gonna dug a hole in her skull," Kabir muttered, snapping his fingers in front of Aditya's face. 

Aditya blinked and leaned , " She's really in our class..."

Kabir raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? We've been in the same section for three years, idiot. Either you need glasses or a GPS to locate basic people." 

Three years? Damn. I guess I really need glasses

"Bro, she's just so... quiet," Aditya muttered, like he was trying to explain away the fact he hadn't noticed Aarohi existed.

"Like, always in her own world. No drama, no noise... just—books and that 'don't even breathe near me' energy."

Kabir snorted. "Well that energy just roasted you in front of the whole class."

Aditya ran a hand through his hair, half-impressed. "Honestly , didn't see that coming.

One  group project  and she's already messing with my peace....

I have been with many girls ; plenty of girls roam around or talk to me... And never really bothered but — none ever made me think twice like she does.

Its felt different.

She felt different.

______________

The final bell rang.

Aarohi was already halfway through zipping up her bag like she was racing against destiny.

Ishita looked at her, unimpressed. "What's the emergency, yaar? He didn't propose. He just got paired with you."

Aarohi muttered under her breath, "The man didn't even know we've been in the same class for three years."

" Aree chill yaar relax... What worse it can go ... Konsa woh tere pados mai rehta hai"

Aarohi's gulped.

Because... well, he did live in her neighborhood.

Next house, to be specific.

Not that she'd ever said a word to him. They'd crossed paths maybe twice— she noticed but never bothered to start the conversation.

Introvert much

Still, she never told Ishita. Because how do you explain that the guy you've successfully ignored both in class and in your colony... is now your project partner?

"Fantastic," Aarohi thought bitterly. "This is exactly how plot twists begin in bad teenage romcoms."

_________

Outside the school gate

Kabir leaned against the wall, watching Aditya scroll through his phone like it owed him answers. "So? Tum dono ki love story ka first chapter kaisa laga?"

[ so how was the first chapter of your love story ?]

Aditya scoffed. "Love story? Bhai, it's a group project. Not 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.'"

Kabir grinned. "True. Except this dulhan is probably allergic to your entire personality."

Aditya dramatically said , " I'm not that bad."

" Yeah you are worse than bad ." , Kabir chuckled.

Aditya rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the morale boost."

Kabir clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Kya karein, sach kadwa hota hai."

Aditya groaned. "Yaar, I've talked to so many girls, but this one... she's different."

Kabir smirked. "Haan, different as in immune to your charm. Congratulations, finally met your match."

Aditya ran a hand through his hair. "She just looked at me like I was another dust particle in the room. Not even a flinch."

Kabir raised an eyebrow. "You mean you finally realised she exists ?  Wow, Sherlock."

Aditya held up a finger. "In my defense, she gives 'Do Not Disturb' vibes without saying a word." 

and yet I got - disturbed.

Kabir nodded dramatically. "That's because you never paid attention. Tera dimaag attendance ke baad hi logout ho jaata tha."

Aditya shook his head."I don't know, bro. What else have I been blind to?"

Kabir smirked' "Maybe she's a secret agent. Or Batman. Or worse... your next-door neighbour."

Aditya scoffed , "Please. What are the chances?"

Kabir shrugged , " With your luck and this filmy phase you're in? Anything's possible."

He glanced at his phone. 

"I better go now .... Mom told me to buy some stuff."

Aditya waved him off. "Good luck, domestic warrior."

Aditya turned to head home, still smiling. But as he reached his lane and saw Aarohi unlocking the gate of the house next to his—

He froze.

You—" he pointed. "Live here?"

"No," she deadpanned. "I'm a hallucination."

He blinked again. "You're my... neighbor?"

Aarohi shrugged. "You tell me. You've lived here longer.

"no - I mean - ...

"Obviously. You never notice anything other than your reflection." she said, crossing her arms.

how blind was I? 

Guess what ,  Kabir was right. I do need glasses and GPS to locate basic people.

He groaned. "This is so embarrassing. I've literally danced during Ganpati Puja with your dad and never realized  --."

She nodded thoughtfully. "To be fair, I was busy avoiding the secondhand embarrassment."

He gasped, clutching his chest. "Ouch. You wound me, neighbourji."

She turned toward her door, unfazed. "Heal quickly. We've got a project to finish, Romeo."

As she stepped inside and shut the door behind her, Aditya stood there, mouth slightly open, brain short-circuiting.

He muttered to himself, almost laughing, almost panicking. He texted Kabir

"Bro. Saraswati Mata ne tere mooh pe tent laga liya hai kya?"

___________________

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