The week of festival of Diwali had finally arrived.

For every student, Diwali meant lights, sweets, new clothes, family gatherings, and endless fun.

But for us...

It meant three days of holidays.

Three.

Just three.

As if the school administration believed we were robots that only needed charging for seventy-two hours before being sent back to work.

After all, this was Class 12—the "most important year of our lives," according to every teacher, every relative, every neighbor, and apparently every random uncle who met us.

"Boards are coming."

"Study hard."

"This year decides your future."

"Don't waste even a single second."

I was so tired of hearing those lines that I could probably recite them in my sleep.

Even during holidays, our teachers couldn't let us breathe peacefully.

Assignments.

Projects.

Practicals.

Manuals.

Revision worksheets.

Sample papers.

It was like they were competing to see who could torture students the must.

I stretched my arms above my head before letting out a long sigh.

"Finally..."

After two whole months of procrastinating, begging myself, ignoring it, and pretending it didn't exist...

My Biology practical manual was finally complete.

I looked at the thick notebook proudly.

"You and I... we're never meeting again."

I gently placed it on my study table like it deserved a farewell ceremony.

Then my eyes shifted toward another pile.

Physics.

Chemistry.

English project.

Practical records.

Internal assignments.

My smile disappeared.

"WTF..."

I blinked twice.

"There are still so many assignments left."

I dramatically fell backward on my bed.

"What kind of life is this?"

I stared at the ceiling.

"I don't deserve this."

Then, as expected...

My brain started blaming people.

"Thank you, dear school."

"Thank you, respected teachers."

"And a special thanks to our new Principal Ma'am."

I folded my hands dramatically toward the ceiling.

"You wanted every student to pass with flying colours."

"Good intention."

"But did you ever think about our mental health?"

No.

Because apparently we weren't students anymore.

We were unpaid employees.

Correction...

Machines.

"No... not even machines."

I laughed at myself.

"A non-stop worker without salary."

Wake up.

Go to school.

Attend lectures.

Take notes.

Complete homework.

Prepare projects.

Complete practical files.

Study.

Revise.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Every.

Single.

Day.

I buried my face inside my pillow.

"If this continues..."

"I'll start charging my parents electricity bill because clearly I'm running like a machine."

I laughed at my own stupid joke.

Sometimes my own comedy was the only thing keeping me alive.

Outside my room I could hear children bursting crackers.

Someone was playing Bollywood songs at full volume.

The smell of sweets drifted inside through the open window.

Families were laughing.

Children were shouting happily.

Meanwhile...

I was calculating how many chapters of Physics were left before I could breathe.

Life wasn't fair.

Not at all.

I picked up my Chemistry assignment.

Read the first question.

Closed it.

"No."

"I'm not mentally stable enough for Chemistry today."

Just then...

Bzzzz...

My phone vibrated.

I ignored it.

Another vibration.

Then another.

And another.

Bzzzz... Bzzzz... Bzzzz...

"What now?"

I muttered in annoyance.

I picked up my phone.

The notification bar was completely filled.

For a second I thought someone had died.

Or maybe our class group had exploded again.

But the moment I unlocked my phone...

My eyes widened.

"Ohhh shit..."

I slapped my forehead.

"How did I forget to delete this dating app?"

I almost dropped my phone in panic.

"If Ranchi sees this..."

I imagined my younger sister walking into my room.

"What are you doing, Didi?"

"Oh... dating app?"

Then she would quietly smile.

Walk away.

Go directly to Mummy.

"Mummy..."

"Didi is talking to boys."

And then...

My funeral.

"I am dead."

I whispered dramatically.

"The end."

"Rest in peace, Mihika."

Even if I wasn't talking to anyone...

Even if I had downloaded it out of pure curiosity...

Even if I had never opened it properly...

Nobody would believe me.

Especially my mother.

She would immediately assume I had secretly fallen in love.

Which was completely false.

Love?

I didn't even have enough time to complete my Physics assignment.

Who had time for romance?

I quickly opened the app to delete it forever.

But just before pressing uninstall...

My brain interrupted.

"Just once."

"Check it once."

"No."

"Delete it."

"But you're already here."

"It won't hurt."

"Just one minute."

My curiosity won.

"I hate myself."

I sighed before opening the notifications.

Instant regret.

"Hiiii baby ❤️"

"Hello beautiful."

"Hi darling."

"Are you free tonight?"

"Looking gorgeous."

"Can we be friends?"

"Hello Miss..."

"So beautiful."

"Reply please."

"You're cute."

"Can I know you?"

"What are you doing?"

I kept scrolling.

The messages never ended.

My eyebrows slowly climbed higher.

"What..."

"What is wrong with these people?"

Some didn't even know my name.

Some hadn't even received a reply.

Yet they continued sending messages one after another.

One person had sent...

"Hi."

After five minutes...

"Hello."

After another five...

"Reply."

Then...

"Why attitude?"

Then...

"You think you're a queen?"

I blinked.

"Excuse me?"

Another person wrote—

"I'll marry you."

I nearly choked on my own saliva.

"Brother..."

"You don't even know whether I snore while sleeping."

Another message—

"I already love you."

I stared blankly.

"Congratulations."

"You've achieved something I haven't."

I don't even love myself after Chemistry practicals.

Some messages became weirder.

Some became creepy.

Some became downright disgusting.

My face twisted in irritation.

"Cheap."

"Seriously cheap."

I muttered.

"What do people even think before typing all this?"

"I swear..."

"If any of these people ever said this to my face..."

"I'd personally make sure my entire family punished them before I even got involved."

I wasn't scared.

I was simply disgusted.

How could someone call a stranger "baby" within five seconds?

Did basic manners disappear from the world?

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"Hopeless."

I immediately started deleting chats one by one.

Then another thought entered my mind.

"Forget these strangers."

"The real danger is Ranchi."

I looked toward my bedroom door suspiciously.

My younger sister.

My personal FBI.

My unofficial detective.

My biggest enemy.

And somehow...

My biggest supporter too.

She loved me.

She cared for me.

She was ridiculously possessive.

But...

She had one terrible habit.

She couldn't keep secrets.

If she found out something...

Mummy would know before sunset.

"Mihika ate chocolate."

"Mihika didn't study."

"Mihika slept in afternoon."

"Mihika is watching reels."

"Mihika ordered food."

Everything.

Absolutely everything.

Straight to headquarters.

Sometimes I seriously wondered...

"If Ranchi ever gets married..."

"Will she ask Mummy for permission before talking to her own husband?"

I covered my mouth before laughing loudly.

"No..."

"First she'll probably complain..."

'Mummy... he isn't listening to me.'

I laughed even harder imagining the situation.

Poor future brother-in-law.

May God bless him.

He would definitely need divine protection.

Still smiling, I continued deleting notifications.

Finally...

Silence.

"Peace."

I whispered.

I pressed the uninstall button.

"Goodbye."

"You were the biggest mistake of my life."

Just as my finger was about to tap Confirm...

TING!

A brand-new notification appeared.

One single message.

From someone whose profile had no fancy bio.

No hearts.

No cheesy username.

Just a simple name.

Armaan.

The message contained only three words.

"Hello! Stranger"

Nothing else.

No heart emoji.

No flirting.

No "baby."

No "beautiful."

No "darling."

Just...

"Hello! stranger."

For some unknown reason...

My finger froze above the screen.

"Huh..."

I whispered.

"That's... different."

Without realizing it...

A tiny smile appeared on my face.

I quickly shook my head.

"What are you doing, Mihika?"

"It's just a message."

"Delete the app."

But before I could decide...

_______________________________

🥰🥰❤️Author Aaru 😘🤭