Chapter 3 — Rumors of a Trip
A normal morning turns into excitement when unexpected news spreads through the classroom.
Sid’s alarm rang at 7:00 AM.
He slapped the phone screen half-awake and sat up slowly. For a moment he stared at the ceiling, trying to convince his brain that it was indeed morning.
“Great,” he muttered. “Another day.”
Within minutes he was in the bathroom washing his face and brushing his teeth. When he walked downstairs, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the house.
His mother was already in the kitchen.
“Good morning,” she said, placing hot chapatis on a plate.
Sid sat down while she served matar–aloo bhaji beside it.
“Eat before it gets cold.”
Sid smiled faintly. “Thanks, Mom.”
As he started eating, she sat across from him.
“You shouldn’t take your father’s words too seriously,” she said gently. “He just wants what’s best for you.”
Sid nodded while chewing.
“I know.”
Neither of them continued the conversation. They both understood the tension from the night before.
After finishing breakfast, Sid grabbed his bag.
“See you in the evening.”
“Study properly,” she replied automatically.
Sid laughed lightly and stepped outside.
By the time he reached Rivanta Central College, the campus was already buzzing.
Students moved between departments, bikes filled the parking area, and groups gathered near the entrance discussing assignments or gossip.
When Sid walked into Science B, the classroom looked exactly the same as always.
Sanvi and Tanya were talking near the middle row.
Jannat sat near the front, scrolling through something on her phone with an expression that suggested she wasn’t interested in anything happening around her.
Zavian lay with his head resting on folded arms at his desk near the window, half-asleep.
Sid dropped his bag beside his chair.
Before he could sit, the classroom door slammed open.
A boy entered with three friends behind him.
Faizal Sheikh.
Everyone in the room immediately felt the shift.
Faizal walked straight toward the last row where Raj sat hurriedly writing something in his notebook.
Without warning—
Faizal grabbed his collar and punched him.
The entire class froze.
“What the hell—”
Raj doubled over, holding his stomach.
“Why did you complain about me?” Faizal snapped.
Raj looked confused and terrified at the same time.
“I didn’t—”
Another shove.
“You think complaining to the teacher will help you?”
Tanya whispered under her breath.
“Oh shit. Not again.”
Sanvi looked worried.
“Why is he targeting him?”
Tanya leaned closer.
“Faizal was already punished last week. Remember? Probation.”
“Raj complained to the teacher about him bullying juniors.”
Sanvi frowned.
“But teachers can’t really do much. His father is Afjhula Sheikh.”
“And Jannat’s brother,” Tanya added quietly.
Another punch landed on Raj’s shoulder.
Raj gasped.
“Why are you doing this? I’ve never even talked to you before you started bothering me!”
Faizal smirked.
“You don’t need to understand. Just be my punching bag.”
Before he could swing again—
A voice cut through the room.
“Faizal.”
Jannat stood up slowly.
“Come outside.”
Faizal rolled his eyes but stepped back.
Before leaving, he shoved Raj against his seat.
Then followed her out.
Outside the classroom corridor, Jannat turned toward him.
“Stop embarrassing me like this.”
Faizal scoffed.
“I’ll do whatever I want.”
“Then at least don’t do it inside my classroom.”
He laughed.
“Oh please. Your ‘image’ again.”
Jannat crossed her arms.
“You think Dad’s political power will protect you forever?”
Faizal smirked.
“It already does.”
Jannat leaned closer, her voice sharp.
“You know what? Keep doing this. Perfect training.”
“For what?”
“For becoming a politician.”
Her sarcastic smile stayed on her face as she turned back toward the classroom.
Faizal muttered something but didn’t follow.
As she walked inside again, she accidentally bumped into someone.
Dev.
“Oh—sorry,” she said instinctively before looking up.
Dev looked down at her calmly.
“It’s fine.”
She nodded and walked past him.
Under her breath she muttered,
“What a bad day.”
Dev heard it.
His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
But he said nothing and walked back to his seat.
A few minutes later, Math teacher Teli Sir entered the class.
Within seconds the room quieted.
He began solving an integration problem on the board using a black marker.
“Rohan,” Sid whispered after a while, looking exhausted. “Are you understanding anything happening up there?”
Rohan continued writing calmly.
“Yeah. It’s actually pretty fun.”
Amit leaned forward immediately.
“Fun? Are you insane?”
Sid nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
Rohan just shrugged and kept solving the problem.
After nearly forty minutes, Teli Sir capped the marker.
“Alright students, that’s enough for today.”
Some students sighed in relief.
“Listen carefully,” he said, clapping twice to get their attention.
“There will be a test this Saturday on this topic.”
Groans echoed across the room.
Amit whispered loudly, “Of course there is.”
Teli Sir raised a hand.
“And one more thing.”
Everyone quieted again.
“As you all know, construction work is going on for the new department building. Please be careful around that area.”
He paused for a moment.
“Also… there is some good news coming for your class. Your class teacher will inform you soon.”
That was all he said before leaving.
The classroom exploded into speculation.
“Rivanta Fest!” Mahir shouted excitedly.
Avantika shook her head.
“That’s months away.”
Vaani turned toward her.
“Well Miss-Class-Prep, if not that, then what?”
Avantika folded her arms and thought seriously.
“I have no idea.”
Behind them, Tanya nudged Sanvi.
“What do you think it is?”
Sanvi shrugged.
“Anything except exams.”
Tanya laughed.
“Why are you scared of exams? You always come in the top five.”
“Sometimes top three,” Tanya added teasingly.
Sanvi sighed.
“Yeah, and that’s still not enough for my parents.”
She looked at Tanya curiously.
“Don’t your parents scold you? You got fifty-four.”
Tanya suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“Oh come on, you know I don’t take marks seriously.”
She quickly opened her notebook.
“Look at this.”
On the page she had drawn a pair of eyes using only blue and black pen.
They looked unbelievably detailed.
Sanvi was about to continue her question about Tanya’s family—
but the drawing stopped her.
“Beautiful,” she whispered.
Suddenly a loud shout came from the front of the classroom.
“We’re going on a college trip!”
For a second nobody reacted.
Then the room erupted.
Cheers.
Whistles.
Excited shouting.
Sanvi grabbed Tanya’s arm.
“You’re coming this time.”
Vaani leaned back from the desk ahead.
“Yes, Tanya. You should come. It’ll be fun.”
“Come on,” Sanvi insisted.
“If you don’t go, I won’t go either.”
Tanya sighed.
“You know I don’t like these things…”
“Nope,” Sanvi said stubbornly.
After a long moment, Tanya finally gave up.
“Fine. I’ll talk to my parents.”
Sanvi hugged her instantly.
“I knew it! We’re going to have the best trip ever.”
Tanya forced a smile.
But inside she felt nervous.
Avantika suddenly appeared beside them.
“You guys are already planning, I see.”
Everyone laughed.
“Let’s wait until it becomes official first,” she added.
Then she grinned.
“Until then… let’s make an unofficial trip group chat.”
Cheers erupted again.
When school finally ended that afternoon, students began leaving the campus.
Sid, Amit, and Rohan walked together toward the gate.
“Football today?” Amit asked.
Sid shook his head.
“Not today. Dad’s already angry about my NEET prep.”
Rohan sighed.
“I can’t either. I have to take Mom for her checkup.”
Amit looked disappointed.
“Well… I guess I’m going home early then.”
He paused.
“Convince your parents for the trip though.”
Rohan scratched the back of his head.
“I probably won’t come.”
Both Sid and Amit stopped walking.
“Why?” Sid asked.
“You know how things are at home,” Rohan said quietly. “Mom and my brother… someone has to stay.”
Sid nodded slowly.
“I get it.”
He smiled.
“But I’ll record everything. You’ll get live updates.”
Rohan laughed.
“Deal.”
The three of them exchanged quick goodbyes before heading toward their separate roads home.
Above them, the evening sky stretched quietly over Rivanta.
Another normal day had ended.
And none of them knew yet how important that upcoming trip would become.