📖 Chapter 1: First Day, First Problem
📖 Chapter 1: First Day, First Problem
The school gate of St. Jude’s High stood wide open, a rusting iron mouth swallowing hundreds of students into its belly. It was the kind of morning where the air felt thick with the smell of old floor wax and cheap deodorant. For most, it was just another Tuesday.
For Arnav… it was supposed to be exactly that.
Normal.
No trouble.
No chaos.
Just attend classes, keep his head down, and go home.
Simple, right?
He adjusted the strap of his black backpack, feeling the weight of textbooks he hoped he’d actually get to use in peace. He didn't look for familiar faces; he didn't have any here. This was a fresh start, a clean slate.
«“Bas aaj ka din shanti se nikal jaaye…”»
He stepped onto the main porch, his sneakers squeaking against the polished tiles. He was five minutes early—perfect for finding his classroom without having to ask for directions.
And then—noise.
It started as a low rumble but quickly sharpened into the unmistakable sound of a one-sided fight. Near the lockers in the main corridor, a group of three seniors had cornered a younger student.
The leader, a tall guy with a messy tie, was tossing the kid's spectacles to his friend, Golu, who had a high-pitched, wheezing laugh. "Dekh dekh, press karke aaya hai mummy se! He-he-he!" Golu mocked, pointing at the victim's pristine uniform. The third senior, Vikram, stood by chewing gum nervously, his eyes constantly darting toward the CCTV camera at the end of the hall as if calculating the risk.
Arnav’s grip tightened on his bag strap. He felt that familiar itch in his knuckles—the one he had promised to ignore.
He glanced once.
Paused.
Then, he took a breath and forced his gaze toward the ceiling.
«“Not my problem.”»
He started walking, his footsteps echoing a steady, rhythmic beat. Just keep moving.
“Abe naya hai kya? Idhar aa.”
The leader’s voice was gravelly, dripping with unearned confidence. Arnav heard it. He ignored it.
One step. Two steps.
Clench. A heavy, sweaty hand grabbed Arnav’s collar from behind, jerking him backward.
“Sunai nahi deta kya?” the leader sneered.
Arnav stopped. He didn't struggle. He just closed his eyes for a second, the darkness offering a final moment of sanctuary. Slow breath in… slow breath out.
He reached up, his fingers moving with a precision that didn't match his calm face. He grabbed the guy’s wrist—not with a squeeze, but with a firm, grounding pressure—and slowly lowered the hand from his shirt.
“Hath ganda ho jayega tera,” Arnav said quietly, his voice level. “Chhod de.”
A few steps away, leaning against a trophy case, three boys watched.
“Bhai rehne de na… hume kya zarurat hai isme padne ki… 😭” Piyush whispered, his knees practically knocking together.
“Arey ruk na… dekhte hain kya hota hai 😤” Monty countered, leaning forward with a manic glint in his eyes.
Kabir, the third of the trio, just sighed. He checked his watch, then stepped forward slowly. “Tum logon ko aur koi kaam nahi hai kya… subah subah jhamele shuru,” Kabir said, looking bored. He pointed a lazy finger at the leader. “Aur tu… ghar pe bataun kya karta hai yahan?”
The bullies turned, their attention momentarily divided. The distraction gave the younger student a chance to bolt.
“Hero ban raha hai?” the leader spat, turning back to Arnav. He felt embarrassed that he’d let his hand be moved so easily.
He gave Arnav a shove. A hard one.
Arnav stumbled back half a step. The "peace" he was trying to hold onto began to fray at the edges. The tension in the hallway snapped like a dry twig.
“Arey chhod na yaar…” Arnav said. It wasn't a plea anymore. It was a final offer of safety.
They didn’t listen. The senior lunged forward for another push, his face twisted in a grin. This one was stronger, aimed right at Arnav’s chest.
Midway—
Arnav’s hand shot out. He snatched the senior's wrist out of mid-air. Tight. The senior tried to pull back, but it was like his arm had been bolted to a radiator.
Arnav’s expression shifted. The "new student" mask fell away. His eyes grew cold. He wasn't angry. He was just… done.
For a second—
Everything paused.
Behind him—
“Bhai… aaj toh ye gaya… 😭” Piyush whispered, covering his eyes.
“Ab aayega maza 😤🔥” Monty whispered back.
The bully’s face turned a deep, angry red. He stepped forward, using his weight to break the grip—and swung his free hand in a wild arc straight toward Arnav’s face.
Something in Arnav switched. He didn't flinch. He moved.
He grabbed the incoming hand with his left, twisted the first wrist with his right, and stepped into the bully's personal space.
“Tu— tu saala—” the senior stammered.
Arnav looked him dead in the eye. “…teri maa ka beta hai tu.”
The guy blinked. The sheer absurdity of the statement caused a momentary system failure in his head.
“…kya?”
THAAP!
A clean, ringing, open-palmed slap echoed off the locker doors.
Silence.
A perfect, red handprint bloomed across the bully’s cheek. He stood there, frozen. Arnav didn't say another word. He just stepped back and adjusted his bag strap.
Kabir’s smirk deepened. “…theek hai.”
“Bhai ye toh sach mein dangerous nikla 😤🔥”
“Hum sab marne wale hain… 😭”
“OY! KYA HO RAHA HAI YEH?!”
The roar of Mr. Khanna, the discipline in-charge, shattered the moment. He marched down the corridor, his heavy boots sounding like a drumroll of doom.
“Sab ke sab… office mein. ABHI.”
🚶♂️ Teacher’s Office
The office smelled of old tea and reprimands. A ceiling fan wobbled dangerously overhead. Arnav stood quietly near the filing cabinet. Next to him, Piyush looked like he was facing a firing squad 😭, Monty was hiding a grin 😤, and Kabir was leaning against the doorframe 😏.
“Naam?” Khanna barked.
“Arnav.”
“Arnav... hmmm. Pehla din.” Khanna leaned over his desk. “Beta, ye St. Jude’s School hai, koi WWE ka trial ground nahi ki aate hi ‘Main Event’ shuru kar diya.”
“Aur kya main event tha sir… entry hi aisi thi 😤” Monty chipped in.
“MONTY! Ek aur shabd, aur tera suspension letter mere printer se nikal raha hoga,” Khanna snapped.
“Sir please… mummy ko mat bulana… please 😭” Piyush pleaded.
The teacher sighed. He looked at the senior—who was still pouting—and then at Arnav. “First day hai… isliye chhod raha hoon.”
“Dobara aisa hua toh seedha parents. Samjhe? Ab jao yahan se!”
“Ji sir.”
🏫 Classroom
The classroom was a sea of whispers as the four of them walked in. News traveled fast.
“Bhai sach bolu… mast start tha 😤🔥” Monty said as they reached the back row.
“Mast?! Meri toh jaan nikal gayi thi 😭” Piyush complained.
Kabir leaned back. “Tum dono ko dekh ke lagta hai survival optional hai.”
“Good morning class,” Miss D’Souza walked in, placing her register on the desk. “We have a new student today. Come in.”
The door opened. Arnav stepped in, neutral as ever.
Monty froze. “Arey… ye toh—”
Piyush whispered: «“Ye yaha bhi aa gaya… 😭”»
Kabir just smirked.
“Class, this is Arnav. Aaj iska pehla din hai. Be welcoming.”
“Aur kya pehla din hai ma’am iska—” Monty started.
“Excuse me?” Miss D’Souza raised an eyebrow.
“…😐” Monty went silent. “Nahi ma’am… welcome bol raha tha 😅”
“Alright. Arnav, go sit on the empty seat near the window.”
Arnav sat down quietly, trying to disappear into the furniture.
«“Ab dekhte hain kya hota hai…”
“Bas… aur kuch na ho toh better hai.”»
“Nikhil.” A boy sitting in the front row stood up. Sharp, clean uniform, organized desk.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Iska first day hai. Help kar dena ise… aur jo bhi work hai sab samjha dena.”
“Okay ma’am.”
Nikhil glanced back once. Observing.
TRRRRNNGGG!
The bell rang. Miss D’Souza left. Instantly—the silence broke.
“BHAI!” Monty rushed to Arnav’s desk, dragging Piyush. “Kya entry maari tune! 😤🔥”
“Main Monty 😤… Piyush… 😭”
“Oye.” Nikhil turned slightly. “Tum dono… aate hi ise pareshaan mat karo.”
“Arre nahi bhai… welcome kar rahe hain! 😤”
Kabir walked over slowly. “Relax… abhi toh start bhi nahi hua.”
Arnav looked at all four of them. The loud one, the scared one, the serious one, and the one who seemed to be playing a different game.
“Main bas padhne aaya hoon.”
“Haan toh padh lega… beech beech mein thoda action bhi ho jayega 😤” Monty insisted.
“Mujhe action nahi chahiye.”
“Mil jayega,” Kabir chuckled. “Is school mein action tumhe dhoond leta hai.”
Nikhil stood up. “Chalo… kaam ki baat. Books li hai? Time-table pata hai?”
“Nahi.”
“Theek hai… main bata deta hoon. Break mein canteen chalenge.”
Monty whispered to Piyush: «“Bhai ye toh seedha phas gaya humare saath 😤”»
«“Haan… aur hum bhi 😭”»
Arnav closed his eyes for a moment. He had come here for peace.
«“Pehla din…”»
He looked at the group, then at the door where the seniors were likely waiting.
«“...aur already attendance se zyada problems mil gayi.”»
