Aruhi Mehra

First days ain't that bad. I'll do just fine. I hope. Why did we even move again?

This is it, I guess. Once the bus ride is over, I'll be inside the premises of my new school. Damn joining in 11th grade is sort of embarrassing. Being a new student is embarrassing altogether. It's like being a newly unlocked character in a series that is already 5 seasons in.

On the bright side, there are going to be many other new students as well. So, many newly unlocked characters. Not extremely embarrassing. But still embarrassing. Why do I overthink so much? I should probably just mute the overthinking side of my brain, right? Yes. Very much practical now.

The bus screeched to a halt, indicating we had reached. Okay I should go down now. As I stepped out, I couldn't help but look around, trying to take it all in. My eyes flitted from one unfamiliar face to another with sheer confusion. I had no idea where my class was.

Am I going to get lost on the first day itself?

The campus is huge. A sprawling ground stretches out, separating two massive buildings. One, according to the board, is the Senior Wing. The other is labeled the Senior Secondary Wing. Across the road, yes, across the road, is an entirely separate building for the Primary Wing. I don’t know why, but it is.

I surmise my best bet is to start with the Senior Secondary Wing and try to locate my class.

"Excuse me?" I was startled by someone's voice that came from behind me. I turned around to be met with a guy, slightly taller than me, he was muscular, had tanned skin, really short hair and was smiling slightly.

"Yes?" I asked looking at him with my eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "We are in the same school bus, I have never seen you around, transferred student?" He asked me still wearing that easy smile and I nodded my head nervously, "No, actually new admission"

"Oh, 11th grader?" He let out a chuckle.

"Yes, what about you?" I answered as well as questioned him back.

"Just a year older, 12th" He chuckled actioning me to walk with him, "I guess you are not familiar with the ways around here so I might just show you where your classroom is, that cool with you?"

Thank you so very much Shivji.

"Yup, that is absolutely okay, I was really worried about finding my way around," I admitted walking with him. "What stream have you opted for though?" He asked me as we began walking up a flight of stairs, I cleared my throat before answering, "Science, medical."

"Damn man, didn't know I was walking with a studious person" He teased, holding his hands up in surrender, looking at me as if he was scared. "No. It's nothing like that." I shook my head laughing, "What about you though?"

"Well, I'm from Humanities" he said, and I nodded at him. Honestly, I was so nervous I didn’t know what to say next. My introverted self was threatening to make this way more awkward than it needed to be.

"The ground floor of Senior Secondary wing doesn't have many classes, a few sections of 9th grade, Senior Sec Teachers' staff room, Language labs, MI Room, Vice Principal's Office and the Principal's office. The first floor has the remaining sections of 9th grade, IT Lab, CS Lab, Sr. Sec Science lab for 9th and 10th graders and the Sr. Sec Library. The second floor has classes of 11th grade as well as the labs, biology lab, chemistry lab and physics lab. And the third floor consists of classes 10th and 12th. That floor is out of bounds unless you’re in one of those grades. This is all about the Sr. Sec Wing."

I blinked, trying to process the mountain of information he’d just unloaded. My chances of getting lost had just increased tenfold.

"How are the teachers here? Friendly? Or very strict?" I asked as we climbed the stairs again, "Well most of the teachers are chill, your chem teachers is very cool I've heard from friends and well just try to avoid VP she teaches Writing Skills in 11th, bipolar lady I swear."

"Is she really that bad?"

I saw him his frown deepening as he winced, "Worse. Every year she picks one student from 11th to torment for two years straight. Totally unpredictable. If she’s in a good mood, you’re fine. If someone ticks her off, she’ll ruin your entire day. But hey, the literature teacher’s a gem, was my personal favorite."

I made a mental note: avoid the Vice Principal.

"Any other tips for surviving this place?" He looked like he was in deep thoughts after hearing my questions and then nodded his head lightly, "Yeah, if you’ve got psychology, brace yourself. The teacher’s mood swings are legendary, not gonna lie," He shrugged his shoulders and I chuckled, "Well good then, I don't have it"

"Lucky you," He commented, chuckling lightly.

Just then, he came to a halt in front of a classroom door, "Well here is your class....umm I didn't ask your name did I? Or is my memory fading already?"

He rubbed his nape looking at me sheepishly, making me chuckle out loud, "Myself Aruhi, and thankyou so much senior," I introduced myself.

"No need for thanks," he said, waving it off. "I’m Tejas. As much as I’d love to continue this conversation, I’ve got a test in first period. All the best for your first day, Aruhi. Bye!"

He jogged off toward the stairs while waving his hands towards me making me chuckle lightly, "Bye Tejas bhaiya," I waved back to him and turned towards my class. I sucked in a deep breath before stepping forward.

Just as I stepped forward, someone burst out of the class at full speed and-bam-my head collided with their chest.

Ouch. That hurt.

Thanks to the force of the collision and the sheer weight of my backpack, I staggered back and smacked right into a pillar. Great start. Wow. Just wow.

"Sorry, man! Didn’t see you"