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Chapter Two – Morning Mayhem & Mystery Guests

“Namaste, Ramesh kaka!” Aaravi called out cheerfully as she entered the school gate, her bag slung over one shoulder.

“Arey Aaravi bitiya, aaj bade time pe dikh gayi!” Ramesh kaka said with a smile, tipping his cap.

Aaravi grinned. “Kya karein kaka, punctual hone ka bhi kabhi kabhi mood ban jaata hai.”

She walked into the building as the early morning buzz wrapped around her. Students were streaming in, shoes tapping across the tiled floors, teachers calling out instructions, and some kids pretending they hadn't seen the bell ring.

Aaravi navigated through the crowd, dodging a flying paper ball, muttering, “Lagta hai aaj bhi shanti nhi mil payegi.”

As she stepped into her classroom and headed to her seat, a sharp slap landed on her back.

“Arre kya—!” she spun around.

Mahi was standing there, arms folded, murder in her eyes. “Kal bina bataye chhutti le li? Ek message bhi nahi? Zinda bhi ho ya main police bulaun?”

Aaravi winced. “Aree sorry yaar! Main bataane wali thi, par phir Nani ne zabardasti rest karwa diya. Dil thoda… you know… drama kar raha tha.”

Mahi’s glare softened just a little. “Sab thik hai na ab?”

“Haan haan, full battery charge ho gaya. Dekh,” she said, stretching her arms dramatically.

Behind Mahi, Mihir leaned against a desk, arms crossed, grinning. “Drama toh aaj bhi full charge lag raha hai.”

Aaravi narrowed her eyes. “Mihir, tu na… ek din sach mein maar khayega.”

“Pehle tu maar ke to dekha,” he replied, smirking. “Aur haan, agar assembly mein faint hogi na, toh main is baar uthaoonga nahi. Udhar hi gire rehne dunga.”

“Tera confidence kis dukaan se milta hai?” Aaravi said with mock offense.

“Wahin se jahan tera logic bik gaya tha.” Mihir said, kicking her leg playfully.

Mahi interrupted, “Assembly ke liye chalo warna PT vali mam ghoorengi.”

“Uff, dhoop mein khade rehna matlab slow torture,” Aaravi muttered as they walked out.

The trio trudged to the courtyard along with the rest of the students. The morning sun was already blazing. By the time the anthem ended, everyone looked half-baked. A few kids pretended to faint just to sit down. Aaravi shifted from one foot to the other, already sweating.

Finally, after the national anthem and morning announcements, the tap tap of the mic brought a collective groan. The principal stepped up to the mic.

A collective groan swept the school grounds.

“Good morning, students,” he said, voice overly cheerful for the situation. “Today, I have an exciting announcement. As part of our international exchange program, we’ll be welcoming a few students from Italy. They’ll be joining your classes and staying with host families for a few weeks.”

The buzz that followed was instant.

“Oye Italians aa rahe hain!”

“Omg, Italians?”

“I hope they’re hot.”

“Host family ka matlab kya hota hai?”

“I need to brush up on my fake accent.”

“Shayad koi humare class mein bhi aaye!”

Mahi looked at Aaravi with wide eyes. “Suna tune? Italians! Socha tha kya kabhi?”

Aaravi just shrugged her shoulders. “Itna bhi kya craze hai? Bachche hi toh hain.”

Mihir laughed. “Tu hi ek aisi hai jo hyped nahi hai.”

“Main classy hoon. Hype mere standards pe nahi utarta,” Aaravi said, flipping her imaginary hair.

But even as she joked, something about the announcement made her stomach flutter. She couldn't explain it—but she felt it.

And she had no idea just how much her world was about to flip.