𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐖𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍

~Mission: Notice me~

Avishi and Shanu strolled across the school grounds after classes, the sun sinking behind them, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink. The chatter of students slowly dwindled as everyone began to head home. Avishi's thoughts, however, were elsewhere-on a certain someone who didn't even know she existed.

"Bro, he doesn't even know I exist. What do I do?"

Avishi's voice cracked with a mix of frustration and desperation. She fiddled with the straps of her bag, lost in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.

Shanu, ever the strategist, gave her a sly smile.

"Bro, I've got an idea. You should make one pony instead of two braids You'd look gorgeous, bro! Trust me, it'll work."

Avishi raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"No, broooo. I don't think that's going to change anything."

But Shanu wasn't one to back down. "You're so doing it. Just try it out. What's the worst that could happen?"

The conversation soon dissolved into their usual banter, and before long, their van arrived.
As they climbed in, Avishi's mind drifted back to Kartik, and the endless possibilities that tomorrow could bring. A nervous thrill crept into her chest.....what if this actually worked?

Once home, Avishi changed into something comfortable, determined to study for a bit before dinner.
But the comfort of her bed was too inviting, and what was meant to be a quick nap turned into a deep, four-hour sleep. When she finally woke, the room was dark, and the clock reminded her that she had overslept.
Panic gripped her briefly, but she forced herself to focus on her studies before heading to bed once more. Tomorrow was another day....another chance.

The next morning, chaos reigned as usual. Avishi was running late, as always. Her uniform lay crumpled on the bed, her shoes missing one sock. As she wrestled her hair into submission, she hesitated. Shanu's words echoed in her mind. One pony, instead of two braids. Just try it.

With a deep breath, Avishi tied her hair into a single ponytail.
The mirror reflected someone who looked almost the same, but with a subtle difference. She felt different. Today, she wasn't just going to school.....she was going to be seen.

As she left the house, the air felt charged with a sense of possibility. The butterflies in her stomach were more active than ever. This feeling was new, exhilarating. She wasn't just dressing for school; she was dressing for him.

( What if he noticed?)

The thought sent a thrill through her.

When she arrived at school, Shanu was already waiting. Her eyes widened when she saw Avishi.

"Brooo, you look so pretty! I knew it would work! He's going to notice you for sure."

They giggled as they walked through the corridors, but their laughter was interrupted by Deepika ma'am.

"Girls, can you please bring my water bottle from Class 6?"

"Yes, ma'am," Avishi replied,

her heart suddenly pounding for a different reason. Class 6th was near class 10th (near him)