Adwait
As we descended the stairs from the principal's office, I checked my phone there was 5 missed call from Raj. Siya was walking ahead, so I called out to her, "Hey, listen!" She stopped and turned around, raising her eyebrows as if to ask what I wanted.
"Just wait for a few minutes," I said casually. "Let me call my friend. He'll join us."
She gave a brief nod, though she didn't seem too interested. I quickly called Raj and told him, "We're waiting for you near the principal's office. Come soon." He agreed.
Siya, clearly impatient, asked with a tone of annoyance, "How much longer will your friend take? I can't wait anymore."
I couldn't help but smirk at her impatience. "Oh hello, madam," I said, putting on a mock formal tone, "I am not your bodyguard for you to throw tantrums at. I’m Adwait Malhotra. Naam toh suna hoga?"
I expected her to react, maybe to be a little impressed, but she simply rolled her eyes and said, "No, never heard of your name. Happy?"
I was taken aback, but quickly regained my composure. "Oye, don't roll your eyes, Miss Siya," I shot back, a playful grin creeping onto my face.
I chuckled softly as she rolled her eyes again, clearly unimpressed. "Really? You’ve never heard of me?
Adwait Malhotra? Come on, that’s like not knowing… um, Shah Rukh Khan!" I said dramatically, throwing my arms in the air.
Siya crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips now. "Oh please. Comparing yourself to SRK? That’s a reach, even for you, Mr. Malhotra."
I put a hand to my chest, feigning hurt. "Ouch! Right in the ego. But it's fine. You'll remember this name soon enough."
Siya raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not giving him the satisfaction. "And why is that?"
I grinned wider, leaning in slightly as if about to share some secret. "Because, Siya, I have a way of making unforgettable impressions."
She narrowed her eyes at him, biting back a laugh. "Well, so far, all you’ve done is annoy me. So congratulations, I guess."
He gave a mock bow. "Annoying with style—that's my specialty."
Siya annoyingly shaked her head and said "You’re impossible, Adwait."
Just then, Raj showed up, breaking the moment. "Hey, guys! Sorry I’m late," he said, slightly out of breath.
As Siya turned towards Raj, her face lit up with excitement. "Hi, Raj!" she greeted him with a bright smile, and I was instantly taken aback. *How on earth do they know each other?* I wondered.
Raj smiled back, just as surprised but clearly happy to see her. "Hey, Miss Siya!"
Siya quickly corrected him, still smiling. "Oh, come on. Just call me Siya."
Raj nodded, and before I could even process what was happening, he asked her, "What are you doing here?"
*Am I invisible to these two or something?* I thought, feeling completely sidelined. But just as I was about to say something, Siya turned to me with a glare.
"It’s all because of him," she said, pointing at me as if I were the biggest problem in her life. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her explanation.
She huffed before starting. "I was getting so bored in the office, sitting with my parents and uncle. So, I thought, why not explore the college for a bit? My mom and dad, of course, wouldn’t let me roam around alone, so I made some excuse about needing fresh air. They agreed, but only if I had bodyguards with me." She rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly annoyed.
