𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐀 𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐈:-

The Oberoi mansion was quiet.Not peaceful quiet.

The kind that scraped at your nerves, filled the gaps between conversations, and reminded you just how empty a home could feel with everyone alive in it.

I sat at the long dining table, untouched toast on my plate, coffee growing cold.

Across from me, my father scrolled through the news on his tablet. My mother flipped through her calendar. Neither looked up.

Typical.

But that's how I always have been

Invisible.

In this house, silence wasn't uncomfortable it was expected. We didn't do hugs. We didn't do good mornings.

We certainly didn't do love.

I have stopped feeling lonely at home, i am glad i don't have siblings, Har insaan tootne ke baad tukdon mein jeeta toh hai... par zinda nahi hota.. aur ye har koi nhi jhel skta.

Suddenly my father spoke up without looking up from his tablet, his voice cold and detached

"Your results are coming in today, i expect nothing but perfect grades. No daughter of mine will be a disappointment.

"Ofcourse. It's always an expectations

I didn't reply. I never do.

Some battles aren't worth the energy especially when you already know who's going to win.

I picked up my bag, walked out of the house, and climbed into the waiting car.

The driver didn't speak. He never did.

Just like everyone else in my life, he knew better than to ask questions or try to make small talk.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the city blur past like I wasn't part of it. I didn't feel like I belonged to anything anymore ...not to this family, not to this school, not even to myself.

My phone buzzed in my lap.

"mah gurl 🥹🖤" had sent a voice note.

I smile crept on my face, ina world full of chaos she is my peace..

I plugged in my earphones and hit play

> "Okay so... good morning!! Haann I know you hate mornings but Aaj try outs hain taekwondo ke, well koi tension ki baat nahi hai because i know my girl is the best, you will do absolutely amazing, and opponent ke sath saath un ladkiyo ka bhi mun tod dio jo tujhe taad rahi hon You are mine."

God this girll!! What would I ever do without her, if it weren't for her i wouldn't be here..

We met online via Instagram fan pages, she randomly put up baad story and i as a mere follower of hers texted her to comfort and well then we just clicked.

Online Bestfriend hone ke baad bhi she is closer to me the anyone ever has been irl.

The car came to a stop

I adjusted my bag and stepped inside the school, the school buzzed like every other Monday, too many voices, fake smiles, and people pretending they weren't watching you while judging every step you took.

Everyone looked away the moment I stepped inside , the whispers quited down

I focused on my novel and walked inside

I was halfway to my classroom when someone walked right into me.

Hard.

I lost my balance and was ready to take the wall just then i felt a arm around my waist, I looked up to see a guy around 6 feet

Tall. Lean but seemed muscular. School blazer hanging open. Wavy black hair that fell on his forehead softly

A crooked grin tugged at his lips complimenting his crinkling brown eyes.

I have never seen him before, Accha hai nahi dekha Varna sur phord feti.

I said giving him a bored look

"aaj workout nahi kiya jo mujhe dumbell smjh ke utha rakha hai?"

He blinked being slightly taken aback then grinned squeezing my waist slightly.

Did he just-

"Can you blame me? I didn't expect someone to fall for me on my first day here" He said his voice annoyingly sweet and deep.

"tumhare pyaar mai girne sei accha hai ki khai mai gir jaun" i gave him a sarcastic smile trying to get up straight.

He raises his eyebrow leaning down to whispers in my ear

"Okay gir jao"

Before i could process anything i felt him let go, i barely caught myself at the second, i stumbled making my back but the wall.

That fucking idiot.

Does he not know who I am?!!!

"Mujhe kya anarkali smjha hai jo diwaron mai chunwa rahe ho?!!"

He kept my novel in my bag and said "You expected me to carry you inside sweetheart?? " And then he Just winked and left.

He left.

What the actual fuck??! Kya smjha hai apne aap ko?! Agli baar dikha na toh jo crime documentaries dekhti hu ussi ka practical kar dungi

I stood up straight and took my bag , iss bag ko toh jalana padega.

The bell rang so i dusted my clothes and walked inside the classroom trying not to throw a desk at him.

I sat down at my seat and the class started, political science, quite ironical for a mafia's daughter.

I felt a sense of bitterness travel to my chest but i pushed it away when the teacher announced that the top 5 student's names have been added on the soft board.

Everyone ran towards it as if anyone had a chance , But for the first time noone was approaching me.

I looked around and a girl from my class Riya, walked up to me and said

"I guess you finally got a competition? Since most of us didn't hold a chance against you" she chuckled trying to play it cool.

I ignored her presence and walked up to the soft board , everyone stepped aside the moment i went there.

What did she mean competition?

My grades were my pride. My armour. My proof that I was good enough-even if my parents never said it.

That top rank?

It was mine.

Always had been.

And nothing or no one was supposed to change that. Not now. Not ever.

My eyes scanned the list, calm, confident... and then they landed on it.

98%.

I let out a small breath. Relief should've followed.

But it didn't.

Because the name beside it... wasn't mine.

No.

I blinked once. Twice.

Surely it was a mistake. A printing error. Maybe a formatting glitch?

But no. The letters stared back at me, sharp as a slap to the face.And suddenly, it wasn't just numbers on paper.

It was years of pressure unraveling at once.

It was the crushing silence of my father's disapproval already echoing in my head.

It was the sting of losing something I never thought I could lose.

I felt my throat tighten, a dull ache building in my chest. My grip on the paper stiffened.

I looked at the name

Veer malhotra.

_____________________________________

AUTHOR'S NOTE:-

Hey lovely people!!!🥹🖤

Thank you for giving fate's magic so much love!! Your author is back with another novell.

Abhi jaldi jaldi batao who do you think veer is??? And what about that guy??? Pyaar hua ya nafrat??

I will try my best to be regular as tumhari author ki maut ka nanga naach hone waala hai 😌

Boards✨✨

Acche din itni jaldi kyu khatam ho jaate hain😭😭

Take care of yourself, musam change ho raha

hai toh dhyaan rakhna sab🔪

Follow me at jenwrites2427 (link in bio) for updates and spoilersss🖤

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Thank youu

-- Jen signing off🫡🍃