ANIMUS CHAPTER 2

Morning at Ani’s House

The sun shines through the curtains.

Ani is standing in front of the mirror, fixing her hair lazily.

Her school uniform is half-tucked.

Ani:

Ugh… Class 9 already feels like too much work.

Sana is already ready, standing near the door with her bag.

She looks at Ani and bursts out laughing.

Sana:

Ani! You look like you just woke up from a movie fight scene.

Ani (rolling eyes):

Excuse me, I look iconic.

Sana:

Iconic mess.

Ani throws a hairband at her.

Ani:

Stop laughing or I’ll actually be late because of you.

Sana (grinning):

First day of Class 9, and you’re still the same drama queen.

Ani laughs loudly.

She is totally relaxed, not serious at all.

The bus is crowded with students talking excitedly.

Ani and Sana sit together near the window.

Sana:

Ani, can you believe we’re seniors now?

Ani:

Seniors? We’re still babies.

Sana:

No, Class 9 means new teachers, new rules, and…

(leans closer)

New students.

Ani groans.

Ani:

Please don’t start your filmy gossip.

Sana:

What if a super intelligent boy joins our class?

Ani:

Then he can solve my maths homework. That’s it.

Sana:

That’s your only interest in boys?

Ani (laughing):

Yes! Maths slave.

Both laugh.

Ani looks outside, enjoying the morning.

She’s not thinking about anyone.

In the hostel room, the alarm rings loudly.

Jack jumps up dramatically.

Jack:

WAKE UP HOSTELERS! Another day of suffering!

Mit is already sitting, tying his shoelaces calmly.

Mit:

Jack, shut up. It’s morning.

Sam is near the window, silent as usual.

Yash looks tired, sitting on his bed.

Jack notices immediately.

Jack:

Oho… someone didn’t sleep.

Yash:

I slept.

Jack:

Your face says otherwise.

Mit glances at Yash.

Mit:

Are you sick?

Yash adjusts his spectacles quickly.

Yash:

No. Just… normal.

Sam speaks quietly.

Sam:

Normal people don’t look like that.

Jack smirks.

Jack:

Bro was writing poetry in his diary for Ani.

Yash (angry whisper):

Jack!

Mit freezes slightly.

His eyes sharpen.

Mit:

Ani?

Jack laughs.

Jack:

Relax, I’m joking. Or maybe not.

Mit stands up.

Mit (cold tone):

Get ready. We’ll be late.

Yash watches him.

Something feels tense.

The classroom is noisy.

Students are settling down.

Ani enters laughing with Sana.

Riya and Navya are sitting behind, whispering.

Riya:

Look at Ani… always acting like she owns the class.

Navya:

Boys will notice her, that’s why.

Ani hears nothing.

She’s too busy joking.

Sana:

Ani, what if our class teacher becomes strict?

Ani:

Then we’ll become invisible angels.

Sana:

You? Invisible?

Ani laughs loudly.

Siya sits quietly at the side, reading a book.

Ani notices her.

Ani:

Siya, you’re always studying. Don’t you get bored?

Siya smiles softly.

Siya:

Not really.

Sana:

She’s the future topper.

Ani shrugs.

Ani:

Good for her. I’m the future comedian.

The door opens.

Yash walks in with his bag.

Spectacles shining slightly.

His eyes immediately search…

And stop on Ani.

She is laughing loudly with Sana.

Not even looking at him.

Yash (thinking):

She doesn’t even notice anything… so free.

Mit enters behind him.

He notices Yash staring.

His face tightens.

Jack whispers.

Jack:

Bro, he’s gone.

Mit ignores him.

During break, Jack leans forward.

Jack:

Ani, Sana… tell me honestly.

Sana:

What?

Jack:

If Mit became a girl, would you two be friends with him?

Ani bursts out laughing.

Ani:

No, he’d be too serious.

Sana giggles.

Sana:

He’d scold everyone.

Jack points at Mit.

Jack:

See? Even girls agree you have no fun.

Mit looks annoyed.

Mit:

I don’t care.

Ani laughs again.

Yash watches silently.

He smiles a little.

Mit notices that smile.

His jaw clenches.

(The class is quiet. The teacher is teaching on the board. Students are listening. Yash is sitting straight with his spectacles, trying to focus.)

Teacher (strict voice):

Alright class… since we have a new student, let’s see how attentive he is.

(Everyone looks at Yash.)

Teacher:

Yash, stand up.

(Yash stands quickly.)

Yash:

Yes, sir.

Teacher:

Tell me… what is the definition of work in physics?

(Yash freezes. His mind goes blank. He opens his mouth but no words come out.)

Yash (nervous):

Work is… um… it is…

(The class starts whispering.)

Riya (low voice to Navya):

So-called intelligent boy?

Navya (giggle):

Hah.

(Yash’s hands tighten. Teacher waits.)

Teacher (cold):

Come on. Answer properly.

Yash (panicking):

Sir, I… I know it but…

(Ani, sitting ahead, turns slightly to look back. Sana notices.)

Sana (whisper):

Ani? What are you doing?

Ani ignores and quietly mouths the answer.

Ani (soft whisper):

Force into displacement…

(Yash’s eyes widen. He looks at Ani for a second.)

Ani (whispering again):

Say it… Work equals force times displacement.

(Yash takes a breath and speaks clearly.)

Yash (louder):

Sir, work is defined as the product of force and displacement in the direction of force.

(Teacher nods.)

Teacher:

Hmm. Correct.

(Class becomes silent.)

(Yash slowly sits down, still shocked.)

After a few minutes…

Teacher continues teaching.

Yash leans slightly forward and whispers.

Yash (quietly):

…Thank you.

Ani shrugs casually, like it’s nothing.

Ani (whispering back):

Don’t overthink. You were just nervous.

Yash:

Still… thanks.

Sana looks between them with a mischievous smile.

Sana (whisper to herself):

Oho… interesting.

(Mit from the side notices Ani turning back. His expression becomes serious.)

Mit (thinking):

Why did she help him…?

Mit and Jack walk out of the classroom with their bags. The corridor is full of students leaving. Sana and Ani are a few steps behind, watching them.)

Jack (yawning):

Finally… fresh air. My brain was suffocating in class.

Mit:

Your brain doesn’t work anyway.

Jack (gasps):

Wow. Direct attack.

(Suddenly, Yash appears from the other side of the corridor, adjusting his spectacles and holding his books neatly.)

Yash:

Mit. Jack.

(Jack smiles immediately.)

Jack:

Ohhh Mr. Intelligent has arrived!

Yash (dryly):

Don’t start.

(Mit becomes a little quiet, his expression stiff.)

Mit:

You’re coming hostel too?

Yash:

Obviously. I live there now.

Jack:

Welcome to the suffering club.

Yash:

It’s not suffering if you’re disciplined.

Jack:

Bro, hostel food itself breaks discipline.

(Yash ignores him and looks ahead, but his eyes briefly go towards Ani walking with Sana.)

(Ani is laughing at something Sana says, not paying attention.)

Sana (whispering to Ani):

Look look… Yash is here.

Ani (casual):

Hmm.

Sana:

He’s always so serious. Like a teacher.

Ani:

Maybe that’s his personality.

(Yash hears Sana’s voice slightly and looks away quickly.)

Jack (nudging Yash):

Oyyyy, why are you suddenly so silent?

Yash:

I’m not silent.

Jack (smirking):

You looked back.

Yash (annoyed):

I didn’t.

Mit (coldly):

Focus on hostel, Yash.

(Yash looks at Mit, confused.)

Yash:

What’s your problem?

Mit:

Nothing.

Jack

Ohhh tension! Drama alert!

(Sana walks closer, teasing.)

Sana:

What happened? Hostel boys fighting already?

Jack:

Mit is being Mit.

Sana:

And Yash is being Yash.

(Ani smiles a little.)

Ani:

So basically… normal day.

(For a second, Yash’s face softens when Ani speaks.)

Yash (quietly):

Yeah… normal.

(Mit notices that and tightens his grip on his bag strap.)

Mit:

Come on. We’ll get late.

(Mit walks ahead. Jack follows, still laughing. Yash stays behind for a moment, glancing at Ani once more.)

Jack (calling):

Yash! Hurry up!

(Yash adjusts his spectacles and quickly walks after them.)

Sana (whispering to Ani):

Did you see that?

Ani:

See what?

Sana (grinning):

Nothingggg… forget it.

(Ani shrugs, unaware, while Sana smiles mischievously.)

(Night in the school hostel. The room is dim. The fan is spinning slowly. Jack is lying on his bed with snacks. Mit is sitting with a book. Sam is near the window, quiet. Yash is at his desk, lost in thoughts.)

Jack (chewing):

Hostel nights are the best. No teachers, no homework pressure…

Mit (without looking up):

You have homework. You just ignore it.

Jack:

That’s called confidence.

(Sam lets out a small chuckle.)

Jack (shocked):

Sam laughed?! Guys, write the date down!

Sam (calm):

Don’t make it a big thing.

(Yash stays silent, staring at his notebook.)

Jack (noticing):

Oii Yash… you’ve been quiet since evening.

Yash:

I’m fine.

Jack:

No you’re not. You’re acting like you saw a ghost.

Sam (low voice):

Or like he saw Ani.

(Yash looks up sharply.)

Yash:

Stop.

(Mit closes his book slowly.)

Mit:

What happened today?

Yash (hesitating):

Nothing happened.

Jack (grinning):

Bro, Ani spoke one sentence and you became a poet.

Yash (annoyed):

She just helped me in class, that’s all.

Sam:

That’s never “all” for someone like you.

(Silence for a second.)

Mit (cold tone):

Focus on studies. Feelings don’t belong in hostel life.

Jack:

Mit, you talk like an uncle.

Mit:

Better than acting like a fool.

(Yash looks down, quieter.)

Yash:

I didn’t ask to feel anything.

(Jack’s smile fades a little.)

Jack (softly):

Yeah… it just happens.

(Sam looks out of the window.)

Sam:

Class 9 is going to be interesting.

(Mit stands up.)

Mit:

Sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

(Jack switches off the light.)

Jack (murmuring):

Tomorrow… more drama.

(Yash lies down, but his eyes stay open in the darkness.)

Yash (thinking):

Why does her voice stay in my mind?

(The hostel room is dark and silent.)

Jack is sleeping loudly.

Sam is lying still, eyes half-open.

Mit is asleep with his book beside him.

(Only Yash is awake.)

(He slowly gets up and walks to his desk. A small lamp glows. He opens his diary and begins writing.)

Yash’s Diary

Yash (writing):

"Day 2…"

"I thought I was strong."

"I thought I wouldn’t care about anyone."

(He pauses, staring at the page.)

"But today… something happened."

"I couldn’t answer a simple question."

"Everyone was watching."

"I felt stupid."

"And then… Ani helped me."

(His handwriting becomes slower.)

"She didn’t laugh."

"She didn’t judge."

"She just… helped."

"Like it was nothing."

(He smiles faintly.)

"But for me… it wasn’t nothing."

(He stops writing for a moment, listening to the silence.)

Yash (whispering to himself):

Why do I keep thinking about her?

(He continues writing.)

"Mit was watching."

"I don’t know why, but his eyes felt sharp."

"Does he care about her too?"

"I don’t want to fight."

"I don’t want drama."

"But my heart…"

(He presses the pen harder.)

"My heart is not listening."

(He closes the diary slowly.)

Yash (soft whisper):

Good night… Ani.

(He turns off the lamp and lies down again.)

(But his eyes remain open.)

Yash (thinking):

This year… is going to change everything.

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