Jaanvi Vaidya — Trying to Survive
Jaanvi barely made it two steps out of debate class before she heard the words:
"OH MY GOD. That was actually insane."
She didn't have to turn to know it was Saachi. Loud, dramatic, and way too entertained for someone who wasn't the one publicly emotionally sparring with her ex.
"Can we not?" Jaanvi mumbled, hugging her books to her chest and speed-walking like she was being chased by reporters.
But it was too late. The group had formed a circle around her like sharks around blood.
Rey, standing beside Saachi with his hands shoved in his pockets, grinned. "That was better than half the Netflix shows Saachi makes me watch."
"She was fire," Ron added, pointing at Jaanvi. "Like actual fire. The mic drop line? About civil rights and taxes? I felt that."
Meera smiled softly. "I mean... you did kind of obliterate him."
Aryan whistled. "It wasn't even a debate. It was romantic combat. Ten out of ten. Would stream."
"Stop," Jaanvi groaned, covering her face. "You're all so loud."
Kiara, leaning against the lockers with her arms crossed, smirked. "We're loud because we care. Also because you and Aditya looked way too comfortable standing that close."
"I was trying to not kill him," Jaanvi said, deadpan.
Siya, observant as ever, tilted her head. "You didn't look like you wanted to kill him. You looked like you were trying not to smile."
"Don't," Jaanvi warned.
"Don't what?" Isaar asked, clearly amused. "Call out the fact that your eyes lit up like a Marvel villain when he said you were annoyingly good?"
Saachi leaned in, eyes wide. "Wait. Did he actually say that? That's practically a confession."
"It was not a confession."
"It was a little flirty," Ron added. "Like, just a little."
"Okay, but did anyone notice how she leaned on the podium like she was ready to launch herself at him?" Aryan said.
"Did anyone notice how he smiled after she shut him down?" Rey countered.
"Guys," Jaanvi said slowly, carefully. "I hate him."
The group: stares in silence
Jaanvi: sweating
"Sure," Saachi said after a beat. "And I love math."
They finally let her breathe at lunch. Sort of.
Aditya wasn't at their table — he usually wasn't. Ever since the breakup, he sat with his debate friends on the other side of the cafeteria, right near the windows. Jaanvi tried not to look in that direction. (She failed.)
But she could feel his presence, like a glitch in the air. She could always feel it.
"Okay," Siya said, stabbing her salad with intense focus. "Can I ask something serious?"
"Always," Meera said.
"Why haven't you two talked about it?"
Everyone went quiet.
Jaanvi blinked. "Talked about what?"
Siya gave her a knowing look. "The breakup. Everything after. You just... avoid him. But clearly, there's still something there."
Jaanvi looked down at her tray. Picked at her fries. "Because if I talk to him, I might say something I'll regret."
Kiara said gently, "Or maybe you'll say something you won't."
Saachi, trying to lighten the mood, poked her fork at Jaanvi's arm. "Or maybe you'll say something flirty again, and we'll have more free entertainment."
Jaanvi rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that crept in.
She hated that they were right.
She hated that he still lived in the corners of her thoughts.
But mostly, she hated that even after all this time, one debate with Aditya Singh still made her feel something real.
Some wounds don't scar clean.
And some stories don't stay buried.
Not when your whole world keeps watching.
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