Hey Readers :)

Here we begin with the first chapter. Hope you will like it. Happy Reading!

It was a bright April morning. The sun's rays filtered through the curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. The sounds of birds chirping and distant dogs barking drifted in from the open window, blending with the faint hum of morning prayers from the nearby temple.

In the midst of this peaceful chaos, the girl lay asleep, curled tightly in her blanket, unaware of the world around her. Her hair, dark and untamed, spread out across the pillow, and her face, peaceful and calm, was framed by a few stray strands.

Her mother's voice cut through the tranquility.

"Shreyaaaaaa!"

Shreya groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. "Five more minutes, maa," she mumbled, still half asleep.

Her mother sighed in exasperation. "Shreya! It's your first day of the new school. Do you want to be late today itself?" She shook her shoulder gently.

Shreya's eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked a few times, slowly adjusting to the morning light. "Five more minutes, maa" she repeated, her voice soft and drowsy.

Her mother, now more determined, gave her a little shake. "Come on, get up. It's already 7 am. The bus will be here any minute."

Shreya's eyes shot open in surprise. "What? Already?" She scrambled out of bed, grabbing her uniform with one hand as she hurried to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she emerged, dressed and ready, though still half in a daze. She grabbed her comb and rushed to the kitchen. 

"Maa, please tie my hair," she said quickly, her nerves starting to show. It wasn't just any day—it was the start of a semester in a new school.

Her mother began braiding her hair, moving quickly, though with a gentle touch. 

Shreya glanced at the clock. "Maa, it's only 6:45!" she said with a pout. "I'm not as late as you think."

Her mother gave her a knowing look. "Doesn't matter. You should wake up earlier anyway."

After some time, her father's voice called from downstairs, a mix of urgency and warmth. "Shreya, the bus is here!"

Shreya grabbed her bag in a hurry, her heart racing as she rushed toward the door.

But before stepping outside, she paused at her little brother's bedside. He was still deep in sleep, his tiny chest rising and falling in the rhythm of peaceful dreams. A soft smile tugged at Shreya's lips as she bent down and kissed his cheek gently.

"Bye, brother" she whispered, careful not to disturb him.

She stood for a moment, watching him, her heart swelling with affection. Then, with one last, tender smile, she turned toward the door.

Her father's voice echoed from the staircase, more deliberate this time, as he called out to her: "Shreya, remember, it's not about being perfect, but about doing your best. Keep that in mind today."

Shreya paused, her hand on the door handle. She turned back to see her father, standing at the foot of the stairs with a proud smile on his face.

"Thanks, Papa" she said with a grin, feeling a wave of comfort wash over her. His words always had a way of lifting her spirits, even on the busiest of mornings.

With renewed energy, she stepped outside, the door clicking shut behind her. 

The day ahead was full of new beginnings, and she felt ready to take on whatever it had in store.

The bus ride to school felt longer than ever. Every bump on the road seemed to stretch the time, and with each passing minute, Shreya's nerves grew. 

What if I don't make any friends? What if I don't fit in? 

Her stomach twisted in anxiety, and she kept glancing out the window, hoping to calm herself, but the familiar streets felt strangely unfamiliar today.

When the bus finally stopped at the school gates, Shreya's heart skipped a beat. The school was so big, and she didn't know anyone. She stepped off the bus, trying to stay calm, but her hands were trembling a little. 

"You can do this" she reminded herself, but her stomach still felt like it was in knots.

As she walked into the school building, she noticed how different everything seemed. Students were chatting in groups, laughing and looking comfortable. Shreya felt out of place, like she was walking into a world that didn't belong to her.

When she entered the classroom, only a few students were there, probably because the bus had been early. 

Shreya didn't know where to sit and felt awkward standing by the door for a moment. After a brief hesitation, she chose the last bench, hoping no one would notice her too much. 

She sat down, pulled out her books, and stared at the page without really reading it. 

"Just breathe, Shreya. It's okay. First day. It's okay" she repeated in her head, trying to calm the nervous energy buzzing inside her.

Soon, more students trickled in, chatting and laughing with their friends.

Then the door opened, and the teacher walked in. She had a friendly smile and looked around the room before spotting Shreya.

"You're a new student, right?" she asked kindly, noticing Shreya sitting in the back.

Shreya nodded, feeling a bit nervous but trying her best to sound confident. With a brief introduction, she presented herself.

The teacher smiled warmly. "Hope you have a good experience here." she said, her voice soothing.

Shreya nodded, her anxiety easing a little. 

But then....

.....when the English class started, things quickly turned back to her nerves.

The teacher announced "We'll read a poem today. Everyone will recite one stanza each. Let's begin."

As the students took turns reading, Shreya's focus wavered between the book and the class.

When it was her turn, she recited her stanza clearly, feeling a small sense of pride as the teacher nodded approvingly.

But then, the boy sitting in front of her immediately caught her attention.

As he stood up to recite his stanza, his presence filled the room. His voice was steady, rich with confidence, each word flowing effortlessly. 

He didn't just speak—he performed. 

His hands moved gracefully, tracing invisible shapes in the air, as if sketching the very essence of his words. 

Waves, rising and falling. Cyclones, swirling with intensity. His gestures gave life to his lines.

His energy was contagious, but it wasn't just that—there was something about the rhythm of his voice that drew her in.

Although she couldn't see his face as she sat on the last bench, but his every word felt deliberate, as if his voice was holding a magnetic pull.

As he finished, the teacher praised him, "Good job, Vedant. You always do the best."

Shreya felt an unexpected knot in her stomach.

"Who is he 'the teacher's favorite'?" she thought, frowning.

"I recited just as well. Why didn't I get the 'best' tag?" A flash of jealousy surged, but she quickly pushed it down.

"No, Shrey. Calm down. There's always someone better than you." She convinced herself.

Despite her attempts to brush it off, her mind lingered on his voice. It had a way of making everything sound better.

She snapped back to reality when the next student began reading. 

Focus on the book, not on him, she reminded herself.

When the bell rang for recess, the classroom emptied, but Shreya stayed behind, her thoughts still tangled in the day's events.

The voice lingered in her mind—his confidence, the way he commanded attention with his voice and gestures. 

She didn't want to admit it, but she was curious.

She spotted him near the classroom door, talking to a couple of students. 

She leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. But every time she moved, someone else blocked her view.

Frustrated, she stood and walked to the other side, determined to get a look. 

Just as she was about to see him, he turned around, his face now out of view again.

With a sigh, Shreya sat back down, muttering under her breath. "Why am I even trying?"

A classmate came from behind noticing her weird actions. "What's going on, Shreya? Why're you roaming around?" she asked tapping her shoulder.

"Nothing. I was just admiring the exhibition boards. Aren't they well-decorated?" Shreya immediately answered dusting off the awkwardness.

The latter gave her a strange look and then walked away, leaving Shreya confused.

She glanced around and realized that the boards she had mentioned were completely empty.

"Idiot" she scolded herself, face palming.

"Hey are you fine?" a voice called out her.

She turned around to find another classmate walking towards. The girl came and stood leaning to her desk.

"Yeah" Shreya replied a bit hesitant.

"Great. Hii I am Shrida" she introduced herself.

They conversed for a while and Shreya felt another dose of ease entering into her.

"Anyway, no need to stress. It's your first day, right?"

Shreya nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I'm still getting used to everything."

"Don't worry about it," Shrida said, sitting down next to her. "You'll fit right in. Let me introduce you to some people."

Shrida pointed to a group of students chatting across the room. "That's Anya. She's super friendly and always up for a study group. And the guy next to her, Sam—he's into football, actually the best player."

One by one she kept introducing everyone to her.

Shreya nodded, but her mind kept drifting back to the guy whose voice felt unforgettable.

"By the way, you'll probably hear about Vedant. He's one of the top students here. Although he joined last year, almost everyone knows him."

Shreya's interest peaked.

"Oh, really? Sounds like he's pretty well-known." Her gaze shifted a while towards his seat but again, she couldn't see him properly due to the students between them. 

Another sigh of disappointment.

"He's not into the whole 'popular' thing. He's just really focused, you know?" Shrida answered.

Shreya felt a flicker of annoyance. Why is he getting so much attention? But she quickly brushed the feeling aside. "Sounds like he's good at everything, huh?"

Shrida chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that. But hey, you've got potential too. You'll find your thing here, don't worry."

Shreya nodded, her thoughts spinning. A sense of rivalry began to settle in.

The bell rang, signaling the end of recess. Shrida gave Shreya one last look. "By the way if you need any help, just tell me. Anything. Okay?" She assured her.

Shreya gave her a comforting smile. "Yeah, thanks."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of new faces and names.

By the time she boarded the bus home, she felt exhausted. 

She leaned against the window, watching the roads pass by, but her thoughts refused to settle. 

Her first day had been normal—just like any other new school, with teachers explaining rules, students chatting, and books waiting to be covered in name labels.

But then there was him. Vedant.

"What was it about him?" she wondered, her mind racing. His voice. It kept echoing in her head.

At home, she chatted with her mother about her first day. She talked about the poem, the teacher, and the new faces she'd met.

But in the back of her mind, he remained—his voice lingering like a soft melody, and she couldn't help but wonder about him.

The next morning, Shreya woke up feeling more settled. The nerves from her first day had faded a little, replaced by a quiet determination.

Now she wouldn't be the 'new girl' anymore.

As she walked into school, the corridors buzzed with the usual morning chatter. 

Shrida spotted her near the entrance and waved. "Hey! Ready for day two?"

Shreya nodded with a small smile. "Yeah"

They walked to class together, and just as they stepped inside, Shreya heard it.

The vibrant voice.

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