LEECH

CHAPTER TEN - VIHAAN (NOW)

There are probably a hundred texts from Mum which are the first thing I see when I switch on my phone.

Seated in the sprawling auditorium of Riva International School, I finally let the cool and conditioned air relieve my muscles which are crying from exhaustion. Mum's texts just make me roll my eyes.

Mum : My lovely son, please text me when you reach Riva.

Vihaan : Mumma, you'll get a text from our teachers. I'm switching off my phone rn. Byee <3

Mum : Beta, don't switch off your phone. What if there's any emergency?

Mum : Vihaan, did you reach?

Mum : How long are they going to take for such a short distance?

Mum : Veer called. He says he'll be home soon. Did he call you?

Mum - Have you not reached yet?

Mum - Vihaan, I just got the text from your teacher. Why aren't you replying?

Mum - Pick up my call. Your phone is still switched off.

Mum - Are you okay? I told you to text when you arrived.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. How does she figure I'll answer if she knows that my phone is switched off? Classic mum.

I lean back against the headrest, arching my neck to comfort my sore muscles. The buzz and chatter of the students around me feels like a droning noise in the background. The inauguration ceremony for Cluster 2k24 will start soon, and it seems the first program is a dance, judging by the soothing jingle of anklets that can be heard from backstage, if one listens closely.

Shivaay is gossiping away with the rest of our teammates. All of them are brimming with excitement, as they should. It's a rare opportunity to be in a different state as a representative of your own, and if my team is proud of themselves, then they have every right to be.

"Yo Cap!" One of the boys says, shouting over the noise. "Why do you look like someone peed in your cornflakes?"

I chuckle at the remark. "Isn't a guy allowed to be a little tired after travelling the whole day?"

"Nope." Shivaay crosses his legs, grinning at me. He's been in a 'too cheery to handle' type of mood since we got here. "It's Cluster, baby. There's no space for anything that can bring us down here."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Leaning towards him, I murmur, "Well, Shiv, just between you and me, aren't you happy only because you bumped into a pretty girl?"

He shoots me a very not-sorry look. "Do you wanna bump into a pretty girl too, Captain?" He teases.

I sigh. Some things never change.

Just then, the stage lights up, and young girls, some our age and some younger, take their positions on it. Draped in a beautiful blue lehenga and a red chunni, they look absolutely eye-catching and glamorous.

The girl in the centre seems a little familiar, though. I squint. Shiv speaks up beside me. "That's my girl."

"She's not your girl, Shivaay."

He shakes his head. "I mean, it's the one I bumped into today. What's she doing here?"

I mean, it makes sense. She looked as if she was in a hurry. She must've been heading to get ready for her performance.

Nagade Sang Dhol plays from the speakers as the girls start their mesmerising dance. I watch, awestruck, as they dance completely in sync, not a single step out of line. It's as if they are clockwork dolls, and someone has keyed them and placed them on stage.

I turn to look at Shivaay, whose gaze is fixated on the girl in the centre as if it's the first time he has ever seen a human being. I don't blame him, though. She's beautiful, and she dances as if she owns the stage. Her grace and relaxed posture makes her stand out among the crowd, and it's obvious why she's in the centre.

The enthusiasm and excitement in the room is palpable and contagious. The kids of Riva who are sitting right now in the auditorium are hooting, swaying their hands to the beat of the music and singing along with glee. It's a type of unity I've never witnessed before at Crestwood. I smile, already enjoying being at Riva too much.

Midway along the performance, the centres shift with a comfortable ease. Another girl takes 'Shivaay's girl's' position. She's shorter, but her dance is livelier, more energetic and eager. The stage lights glint off of her eyes that make them twinkle brighter than the sequins on her lehenga. She does a pirouette, and boys of Riva hoot and clap their hands.

I snort. Boys.

My mate Jai whispers to me. "Darn. Why is every girl here so pretty?"

Well, he's not wrong, but that's unethical. "Jai." I shoot him a stern look. "Remember why you're here. For Cluster, not to fool around, do you get it?"

He nods guiltily, murmuring "Sorry, Cap," under his breath.

I hear some children whispering behind me. "Hey, isn't that Aisha?" A feminine voice says, gesturing to the short girl.

"It is...no way. Aisha doesn't dance." Another male voice whispers, and I feel a strange sort of irritation within me. The girl, Aisha, definitely does dance, judging by her performance. It's annoying that they would comment on something so beautiful.

"Yash, look that's Aish —"

"I know."

The tiny seed of annoyance flares in my chest. She's popular among non-Rivans too, I see. But I'd rather they not talk about someone than speak nonsense about them.

Why am I getting invested?

I sigh. The girls' dance comes to an end, and few kids hoot, throwing their ID cards in the air. The thunder of claps fill the room. Shivaay's clapping so hard I think his hands will fall off.

I can't help but grin at that. Once a baby, always a baby.

As they bow in unison, Aisha's twinkling eyes meet mine from across the room as she breathes heavily. Although exhausted, she looks pleased and elated. Catching my gaze, she smiles politely before bowing again and exiting.

I blink, shaking my head as I turn to look down at my phone, which vibrates in my grip.

It's Veer bhai. He's texting me at seven in the evening. Weird. He usually studies at this time and hates it when people disturb him.

Which is why I open his chats to see what he has to tell me so urgently.

Role Model : I proposed to Sonakshi today.

Role Model : Aaaaand.. ..she said YES!!!

Great. Just great.