EPISODE 5 THE QUIET ONE

The next morning, Avni reached college a little earlier than usual.

As she walked toward the classroom, she noticed Vidhi already standing outside the door with a dramatic expression on her face.

Avni laughed softly. “Why do you look so stressed?”

Vidhi immediately pointed at the classroom. “Because today… we have our first surprise test.”

Avni’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I heard seniors talking about it,” Vidhi whispered seriously. “This is how college destroys happiness.”

Avni laughed. “You believe every rumor.”

“And I’m usually right.”

Both girls entered the classroom together while continuing their conversation.

Students were already talking loudly like always.

But one seat near the window immediately caught Avni’s attention.

Vivaan was already there.

Quietly sitting in his usual place.

Just like every single day.

“See?” Vidhi whispered dramatically. “I’m telling you, this guy secretly lives in college.”

Avni smiled slightly while sitting down beside him. “Good morning.”

Vivaan looked toward her and gave a small nod. “Morning.”

Vidhi dropped into her seat with a sigh. “You both sound like old married people at this point.”

“Vidhi,” Avni warned immediately.

“What? I’m just observing.”

For the first time that morning, Vivaan actually let out a very small laugh.

And strangely—

That made Avni smile too.

Soon, classes started.

The surprise test rumor thankfully turned out to be fake, which caused Vidhi to become overly emotional.

“I survived,” she whispered dramatically after the first lecture.

“You’re impossible,” Avni laughed.

During the second lecture, the teacher suddenly started asking difficult questions.

Most students stayed silent.

Nobody wanted to answer.

Then calmly—

Vivaan answered everything correctly.

Without even checking his notebook.

The teacher looked impressed. “Very good.”

Vidhi slowly turned toward him. “Okay, now I’m convinced you’re not normal.”

Vivaan calmly looked back at her. “That hurts.”

Avni laughed softly again.

But secretly—

She had noticed it too.

No matter how difficult the questions were, Vivaan always knew the answers immediately.

Almost too easily.

By lunchtime, the three of them were back in the canteen again.

Vidhi was busy complaining about assignments while Avni tried not to laugh.

“This should be illegal,” Vidhi sighed dramatically.

“We just started college,” Avni replied.

“Exactly. Let me breathe first.”

Vivaan quietly listened to both of them while occasionally replying with short comments.

Little by little—

He had started talking more around them.

And somehow, it felt natural now.

At one point, Vidhi suddenly looked around. “Wait… where did Vivaan go?”

Avni blinked and looked toward the empty chair beside them.

For a second, both girls looked confused.

Neither of them had even noticed him leaving.

“When did he disappear?” Vidhi asked.

“I don’t know,” Avni replied softly.

It was strange.

One moment he was sitting there.

The next moment—

Gone.

A few minutes later, Vivaan calmly returned holding three cold drinks.

Vidhi stared at him suspiciously. “You seriously move like a ghost.”

Vivaan placed the drinks on the table calmly. “You talk too much.”

Avni laughed immediately while Vidhi looked offended.

“Wow. Betrayal from both sides.”

For the rest of lunch, the three of them continued talking and laughing together.

But deep inside—

Avni couldn’t stop thinking about that small moment.

Because somehow—

Neither she nor Vidhi had noticed Vivaan leaving.

And for some reason—

That felt strangely unsettling.

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