The Accidental Love

Chapter 3: The One With Jealousy

As Advika woke up today, a sudden rush of excitement surged through her veins, she woke up half an hour early, got ready, had her breakfast which she usually skipped and reached the bus stop 5 minutes early. Her parents thought something was off, she always used to snooze her alarm, skip her breakfast but today she seemed different – she was happy! Jay’s words echoed in her mind like a favorite song stuck on repeat, she tried to divert her mind but the way he said her name came flooding back, she couldn’t help but smile. The bus arrived but Advika was lost in her own world until a voice snapped her out of her daydream.

“Don’t you want to go to school today?” Tanya called out.

“I didn’t see the bus” Advika tried to cover up, brushing off her embarrassment.

“Didn’t see the bus? Advika you have four eyes, how many more do you need?’ Diksha laughed.

Diksha and Tanya fought the entire time on their way to school because Diksha didn’t like Tanya’s new boyfriend and she thought he looked like a pig and Advika being a mediator tried to calm them down but it only added fuel to the fire. Soon, the bus turned into a comic show and everyone broke into laughter.

Today, Tanya and Diksha’s fight made everyone’s day. But for Advika, it was only Jay who was making her day these days. Throughout the ride, Advika wished if Jay was also there, missing his sense of humor. Jay lived near the school so he usually came by car. She was laughing not just because of Diksha and Tanya’s antics but also at the imagined witty remarks Jay would have made.

As Advika entered the class, she saw Jay’s bag. Her heart skipped a beat. She decided to sit next to him but before she could reach, Ishita came and placed her bag next to his. Advika couldn’t ask her to sit somewhere else so, she sat behind them – just so she could at least see Jay. Later, Mrs Sharma divided the whole class into groups of 5 members and told each group to make 3 posters on summer vacation. Everyone was upset as they didn’t get to choose their group members this time but Advika’s heart did a somersault when she heard Jay’s name called out with hers. She bit the inside of her cheek to hide the grin creeping up her face.

Apart from Jay; Ishaan, Advait, and Manav were also in her group. Advika knew that none of the boys was good at drawing so, She proposed a plan: Jay and Advait would work together, Ishaan and Manav would pair up, and she would make the third chart. Everyone agreed, except Jay.

“I don’t draw well; I can’t do this” Jay’s voice was laced with irritation as he said. Typical Jay, Advika thought, knowing his tendency to joke around.

“You have to, it’s a group project. You can’t free ride” Ishaan snapped.

“Calm down guys” Advika intervened gently. “Everyone has to do their part, Jay, just give it a try. You might surprise yourself”.

Jay raised his eyebrows, “What happened to you? Since when do you start speaking so politely with me?” He teased Advika. It was true that Advika never spoke without an argument with Jay, he always used to tease her and she used to retort with a sharp wit of her own. But this time it was different. Something tugged at her chest every time he looked at her – a feeling unfamiliar, warm, and slightly terrifying. Words usually rolled off her tongue around him, but now they got stuck halfway.

Before Advika could come up with something, the bell rang, it was lunch time and everyone rushed to the ground and Advika sighed with relief, her cheeks slightly warmed.

The rest of the day passed in a blur but by the next morning Advika was greeted with a surprise - Jay and Advait handed her the poster they had made. Advika was shocked to see the poster, it was so beautiful. The colors were perfectly blended, the drawings precise. She couldn’t believe they made it themselves and so early. Jay and Advait had siblings. She thought they must have made it with the help of their siblings. She didn’t know. She didn’t ask. She simply smiled, choosing to believe they did.

Advika was completing her notes, Ishita came and sat beside her.

“You are always working on something” Ishita remarked.

“I am just completing my notes” Advika replied.

“Did you like the poster?” Ishita asked.

“Which poster?” Advika looked confused.

“Jay didn’t give you? That idiot made me so mad! he texted me at least 20 times, begging me to make the poster. I just hope he didn’t mess it up, I spent 4 hours to make it.” Ishita said.

“Oh, you made that poster.” Advika said with a hint of surprise in her voice.

“Yeah, he practically begged me. He even promised to take me out to a nice café for lunch. So, I agreed. I guess he likes me- why else would he send me 20 texts” Ishita added with a smile.

Advika’s smile faltered, the warmth draining away. Her lips twitched, caught halfway between a smile and a grimace. Heat prickled behind her eyes, but she blinked quickly, nodding as if everything was fine. Her pen suddenly felt too heavy in her hand.

Ishita was a cheerful and talkative girl. Boys in the class used to go crazy over her beauty and besides this, she was not only good at studies but she also made beautiful drawings. Teachers adored her, friends admired her, and she seemed to glide through everything effortlessly. Compared to her, Advika felt like a shadow — unnoticed, plain, and ordinary. Jealousy twisted from Advika’s chest but she tried to hide it from Ishita. Her fingers tightened around her notebook, and she forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, unwilling to betray the turmoil within.