Ishq Wala Love

New Beginnings, Old Comforts

Six months ago, everything changed. Papa had been promoted to the India Head at Samsung, and just like that, we had to move to Delhi. At first, it didn't feel real—I was in the middle of my Grade 10 board exam prep leave, completely absorbed in equations, history dates, and stress. It wasn't until a week before the results came out that my parents handed me a list of schools in Delhi. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. We weren't just moving for a temporary stint—this was home now. My heart sank, but there was no choice.

Starting over in Grade 11? New school, new people, new subjects. And for me, a completely new city. It wasn't that I was leaving behind lifelong friends—honestly, I wasn't super close to anyone in Dehradun. But I had grown used to the quiet familiarity of my life there. Familiarity feels safe, and now I was losing that.

It's been a week since I joined Sanskriti Valley, one of the most prestigious schools in Delhi. It's the kind of school where students either have exceptional grades or exceptionally rich parents— in our case both. The campus is stunning, filled with state-of-the-art technology, lush green spaces, and students who seem effortlessly cool. Everything here feels posh, polished, and expensive. So very different from the old brick and wood like charm of Dehradun.

As I stand in front of the mirror brushing out my straight butt length hair, I can't help but feel like a stranger in my own reflection. At least there's no rule here about tying my hair in tight ponytails or braids like in my old school. I slide a simple hairband on, letting my hair fall in soft waves over my shoulders. The uniform isn't half bad either—navy blue and grey pleated checked skirt, a white t-shirt with navy detailing, and sneakers of our choice. It's practical, but still looks chic. I lace up my new Nike Air Force 1s, still gleaming white from their recent purchase, and grab my bag.

"Didu! We're getting late... kahan reh gayi ho?" Ivaan's voice floats up the stairs, his impatience palpable.

"Coming!" I yell back, quickly shoving my laptop into my bag and grabbing my phone from the dresser. Another thing I appreciated was that phones and laptops were allowed for seniors, with strict rules, of course. Laptops we could use in class for notes or assignments, and but phones definitely not in class unless we wanted them confiscated.

I make my way down, half-running, half-hopping as I try to tie my sneakers properly on the go. Mom's in the kitchen, supervising the staff as usual, and Dad left last night for yet another business trip.

I run out to the car, where my younger twin brothers, Ivaan and Ishaan, are already waiting. Driver bhaiya stands outside, holding the door open. I give him my bag into the backseat and slide in next to Ishaan, ruffling his hair as I slid in.

It's a thirty-minute drive to school—long, but that's considered close in Delhi. The traffic here is something else. I glance over at Ivaan, who flashes me a big dimpled smile. He'd woken up late, missing breakfast with us, but now he was engrossed in his storybook. I ruffled his hair affectionately before turning to Ishaan, who leaned against me. He's got that cheeky grin that makes my heart melt every time. They may be eight years younger than me, but these two are my world.

The twins were my lifelines. Despite the chaos of the move, they were the one constant in my life. Ishu leaned in closer, and we started whispering to avoid disturbing Ivu.

"Excited for today?" I ask, pulling Ishaan closer to me. He leans his head on my shoulder, content and quiet.

"Hmm," he mumbles, thinking hard. "Today we'll choose our activities and sports, na? Main soch raha hoon... hockey lena hai ya football. I can't decide." His brow furrows in concentration, making him look even cuter.

"Hockey is big here, right? You've started to like it," I remind him gently, "but you've always loved football too. You can try one, and if you don't like it, switch. It's not a big deal." In Dehradun, Ishaan had been obsessed with football, but ever since we moved to Delhi, hockey had become all the rage. It was the sport everyone played here. Even though he seemed conflicted, I could tell he was warming up to the idea of trying something new.

Ishaan nods, still deep in thought. "Aur Tuesday-Thursday activities... Robotics club sounds cool, na?"

I smile. "It sounds perfect for you. You've always loved building things."

He tightens his grip on me, comforted by my reassurance. Ivaan, who had been quietly listening, finally pipes up, his voice soft. "Didu aaj house bhi toh batayenge school main... toh aapko konse house mein jaana hai?"

Ishu, not wanting to be outdone, quickly added, "Yeah, di! What house do you want to be in?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "House allotments aren't by choice, you know. They're decided by the school."

"Still!" they both urged. "What if you could choose?"

I laugh at his question. "It's not like we get to choose, Ivu. The administration decides that."

"Par agar tumhe choose karna hota?" Ishaan joins in, suddenly more animated.

I paused, thinking. Honestly, I hadn't given it much thought. I hadn't made any close friends yet to care about being in the same house as someone. But Ivu seemed genuinely curious, so I paused, thinking. "I guess Kingfishers. The blue house. It seems nice," I say, glancing at their eager faces. "Besides, I know you two like blue."

Ivaan beams. "You know, that bhaiya who gave the welcome speech? He's in Kingfishers. He was so cool, na? Kitna confidently bol raha tha sabke samne."

I'm taken aback. Ivaan, who usually shies away from attention, admired someone for speaking in front of the entire school? It's sweet, and it makes me curious. It's difficult for anyone to create such an impression on Ivaan, it takes him time to even talk to someone let alone admire them. I wasn't there for the first assembly—I'd been sick that day—so I have no idea who this guy is.

"Looks like Kingfishers would suit us all," I say, smiling at them both. "But let's wait and see where we are put..."

As we pull up to Sanskriti Valley, my nerves return. The school looms large, its sprawling campus full of students who seem to have everything figured out. I take a deep breath, reminding myself that I've survived a week here. And maybe, just maybe, things will get better from today.