Invisible String

the string finds its way

Chapter 1

Aabha
1st January 2023
"Happy New Year!" Dad grunted, as he turned off the lights.
"Happy New Year!" said my mother and my sister, Eesha.
I said it back while editing yester night's photos. My head hurt a little, but I was happy. We had a great eve. Same as every year- get ready at 7, fight a little like every other middle class, Indian household, leave at 8:30, go to a fancy restaurant, go to the Marines, a little long drive and back home at Powai. No, it was never boring. It never will be. Honestly, I feel it's better to spend the eve with your family than in a club, dancing among other underage drinkers. Great, now I sound boring, right? But really, my parents are probably the coolest strict parents to ever be. It's fun to be around them. They know when to push the strict/cool buttons, and that night they were being really cool.

"I'll post them tomorrow." I thought to myself and switched off my phone.

2nd January 2023
"AHH! I can't do this anymore!" I screamed internally.
I don't want to fake laugh and try to blend in with them again. I belonged to that typical "cool kids group" of my school. The "coolest" kids of grade 11 belonged in that group. I did too, but only when I pretended to fit in. Which meant, smiling at the senior cool kids group, who I absolutely hated because all they did was try and show off themselves as the people who get the most attention from everyone, and well, the basic, have a boyfriend. It's not like I didn't want one. I just didn't know a guy worthy of being one. My parents weren't not cool with me having one, it's just, they felt that my priority right now should be the academics. Which It is. It will always be, even If I get a boyfriend someday. Anyways, what even was the meaning of the word "cool"? My definition of cool was being yourself, always. Kids who try to prove themselves off as cool are just insecure, I always thought. Insecurities emerge when people don't like themselves for who they are, and I absolutely love myself. I don't like to smoke, or drink. I love playing the guitar, listening to Taylor Swift, studying (even though I'm an average student), singing at times, and sometimes staying home and just reading. I'd finish a book in one sitting.
Which was something I wish was a valid excuse to stay at home and miss college. I missed my best friend, Megha. We had been best friends for more than a decade now. But well, she had to choose Arts and I went ahead with Science. Which brings me to the next thing I need to tell you about myself. I'm an IIT aspirant. Yeah... just had to put it out there. I can hear you saying "one more in that old trap", but if I'm going to be honest, I love Physics and Math. Chemistry, not so much. But PM for sure.
My phone screen lit up. Another new year's message popped up from the family group.
I ignored it as I got into the rickshaw. I didn't feel like walking today. I'm an integrated student, but today were my practicals. The dreaded practicals. I made sure I had my file and my journal as the rickshaw started heading towards St. Edwards College. It was going to be a very long ride, so I decided to put on my earphones and listen Taylor Swift.
But then, I got a call. Ugh, do not ever disturb me when I'm listening Taylor Swift.
It was my friend, Arjun. The "uncool one", or probably the only person I actually wanted to be with rather than anyone else in the whole college.
"Aabha, are you coming today?" he asked lazily. He has not even brushed, that rat.
"On my way right now. Meet me at the gate. Don't be late or else I'm going without you."
"Sure." And he hung up.
I returned to daydreaming about my own concert, as the song went on.
A gush of cold, January wind rushed through as I stepped out of the rickshaw. I saw Arjun standing near the gate, dressed shabbily as ever in sweatpants and hoodie, and hair not probably combed for days. I bet he has come without even taking a shower.
"Good morning, chipmunk." He said and smiled mischievously.
"Just because you're too tall doesn't mean everyone else is short." I rolled my eyes at him.
"She's grumpy this morning. What happened? Why the black aura?" he asked.
"Just one of those days where I have to desperately try and fit in with the cool people."
"Why don't you just leave that "gang", isn't that what they call themselves?" he scoffed.
"It's not that easy, Arjun. They'll throw shade if I do anything which makes them upset."
"But they don't even include you in anything. If your presence doesn't matter to them, they won't give two hoots about your absence. Also, isn't Shaurya in that little gang? What happened to him promising all that cliché brother-sister things to you? Not inviting you to his birthday doesn't seem very brotherly to me."
"Just let it go. I'm already sick of trying to blend in with them. I'll figure it out."
"Fine. Whatever suits you. Library after viva? I have to study a little." He asked me.
"Yeah, sure." I told him as we parted our ways. He had his presentation in a different class.
As I entered my room, I saw them all, sitting in the corner. Shaurya was cracking some joke, and the others were laughing, or pretending to laugh. I bet half of them simply hated each other. But that's not in the 'cool kids code' so they just don't show it.
"Aabha! Hey!" Shaurya turned his head and waved at me. I just want to disappear, that's all.
"Hey!" I smiled at him and quickly sat on the first, and the furthest bench from all of them as possible.
"Oi, come here, sit with us!" Shaurya ordered.
"That's okay. I'm fine here."
"Well, at least come and hangout with us instead of being such a loner." He said rolling his eyes.
To avoid any more embarrassing names, I decided to join them.
"So, ready for the viva?" Nisha asked me.
"Somewhat, yeah." I answered.
"Of course you are. You're like a science freak, right?" she laughed at her own joke as it was the funniest one ever cracked on this planet. Such a pretender. Ugh!
I replied with a nod.
"So, how's Tanishq?" Tanay smirked at me.
"Huh, who?" I asked.
"Tanishq Sachdeva. The library guy I saw you staring the other day." No shit, I stared at someone while daydreaming AGAIN. WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO ZONE OUT? NOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK AS IF I LIKE THIS TANISHQ GUY WHO I DON'T EVEN KNOW.
"I don't know him, nor do I want to."
"Yeah, right. I bet you're going to go to the library today too, to gape at him, aren't you?" He laughed, in an evil way. Others joined him too.
"I have to go and revise for the viva. See you all later. Good luck." I said and rushed to my seat.
Why do I always let them do this to me? Why do I even allow them to get under my skin?
The professor walked in and after the attendance, immediately started the viva.
It went well, I think. For me, it did. But teachers are the most unpredictable people.
I quickly grabbed all my stuff and rushed out to the library before anyone else had a chance to humiliate me again.
I walked in and scanned the room for Arjun. I spotted him waving at me from the corner of the room.
I walked to the table and saw two coffee cups sitting on the desk.
"I know you had a bad day loser. How bad were they today?" he asked as I sat down in front of him and laid out all my books and notes.
"Like a four. Not much. Not like they were in December."
"Ah yes! I remember December incidents. Christmas day, right?" he questioned.
"Yeah. That was probably the peak, but never mind."
"It's not 'never mind'. Don't 'never mind' it. It's not fair to you."
"I know. Let it be. I don't have the mental energy to listen to pep talks right now, so let's just study in silence and drink the damn coffee." I said silently. I knew they were never going to stop treating me like crap. But I had gotten used to it in the past one year. It hurt less now, still did, but less.
"By the way," I said, "Who's Tanishq?"
"No idea. I know a lot of Tanishqs. Surname?"
"Umm." I tried to recall, but in vain.
"Something from S. Tanay told me I was staring at him. I have no idea who this guy is."
"You daydreamed AGAIN? How Aabha? How do you manage to?" He chuckled sarcastically and widened his eyes.
"Stop messing around. Do you know any Tanishq who comes to the library?" I was getting annoyed at this point.
"Oh, the library Tanishq. Yeah, we both are classmates. Weird dude he is."
"Oh. Okay, never mind."
"There he comes. Don't look directly but he's sitting two tables from us."
I discreetly turned around my head.
Tanishq was a tall boy, terrible fashion sense and transparent frame glasses. He was literally wearing a purple hoodie over green pants. Brain dead freak.
"He's cute, but the fashion sense, no. Nope." I said, still eyeing Tanishq.
"No, he's not cute at all. How do you know?"
"His eyes are nice."
"He's wearing a mask."
"Well, his hair is pretty."
"HE'S WEARING A MASK." Arjun said firmly as his eyebrows creased sharply.
"I am not going to date him or anything, I have things to do." I said turning around and facing Arjun again.
"Like?"
"Seriously?"
He laughed and we got back to work.