The corridor is quieter than usual, as if the building itself is holding its breath. The usual hum of voices, the shuffle of shoes on linoleum, and the distant murmur of classrooms are all muted. It feels like the entire school is holding some unspoken tension, and Aanya feels it pressing down on her chest. Her thoughts are sprinting ahead of her-one after another, tumbling over each other, jostling for space.
[Soft echoing footsteps]
Why didn't he tell me?
He always mentions when he's sick. Or at least gives a hint. So why now?
Maybe it got worse suddenly. Maybe he's lying down with a high fever, and no one's there to help.
What if it's serious? What if I should've been there sooner?
Before she can finish the thought, her feet seem to carry her faster, the urgency growing inside her. It's like a magnet pulling her toward the nursing room, like something primal telling her that she needs to be there. Pradeep, alone and sick-she has to make sure he's okay. It's just a fever, right? People get fevers. He'll be fine. But what if it's more than that? What if-?
Aanya shakes her head, trying to dispel the growing panic. No, she can't keep spiraling like this. He's just sick. It's not a big deal. He probably doesn't even need anyone there.
But somehow, in the pit of her stomach, it doesn't feel like just a simple cold.
She's almost there now-just a few more steps. She can see the nursing room ahead, the door cracked open, the soft murmur of voices inside. Everything feels too quiet, too still, like she's about to walk into a scene from a movie-one of those moments where everything changes in an instant.
Then, fate, being the mischievous friend it is, decides it's time for a little drama.
Aanya doesn't see the freshly mopped patch of floor until it's too late. Her eyes are trained on the nursing room door, her mind already half inside, imagining Pradeep resting on one of those uncomfortable beds with a cool towel on his forehead. Maybe he'll look up, surprised to see her there. Maybe he'll smile. Maybe-
[Sharp squeak of shoes against wet floor]
Her foot skids, her shoes making an angry squeak against the wet floor. Her body jerks forward, and instinctively, she throws her arms out to catch herself.
Yellow caution sign. Bright. Warning. Too late.
[Slip, stumble, crash]
Slip. Stumble. CRASH.
The world tilts sideways, and in a heartbeat, Aanya finds herself sprawled on the floor. One hand hits the cold, slick tiles, and her ankle twists beneath her as she tries to catch herself. The sharp sting of pain flares up her leg, and she bites back a gasp, clenching her teeth. Great. Just perfect. As if she wasn't already making a fool of herself, now she's going to be a mess in front of everyone.
She lies there for a moment, stunned, before she pushes herself up onto one elbow. A wave of embarrassment washes over her as she realizes that she's still lying on the floor like a clumsy mess, while students walk past her with barely a glance. Of course.
[Whisper of a quiet hallway, the shuffle of distant footsteps]
"Great job, Aanya," she mutters under her breath, pushing her hair out of her face. She's already imagining how ridiculous she must look-flailing about like a fish out of water.
Then, inside the nursing room, Pradeep hears it.
At first, it's just the dull sound of something colliding with the ground, followed by the unmistakable whoosh of air as someone stumbles. Then, the silence that follows is heavy, like a broken pause in a song. It's enough to make him pause, his head lifting from the bottle of water he's been fidgeting with.
[Soft rustling of papers as Pradeep shifts in his seat]
His brow furrows slightly, his mind trying to process the noise. He leans back in his chair, squinting toward the door, a little confused. Was someone running? Who would be in such a hurry in a corridor this quiet?
"Who's running like that...?" he mutters under his breath, almost amused by the sound. Of course, it's just typical-who else would it be but her?
Aanya, in her disoriented state, starts to sit up. She winces as her ankle throbs in protest. Great. This is just going perfectly. Seriously, Aanya, of all the ways to make an entrance. She tries to laugh it off, though it sounds more like an awkward squeak.
[Quiet chuckle from Aanya]
"Oh, nothing... just a classic Aanya moment. You know, tripping over air."
She grins, but it's forced, and it stings her cheeks as her gaze flickers up to meet the nursing room door. She feels the pressure in her chest increase-the need to check on Pradeep, to make sure he's okay, but she knows she can't just walk in there. Not like this. Not when she's acting like a mess.
Aanya slowly pushes herself to her feet, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her ankle. It hurts, but it's nothing she can't handle. She's had worse, and this will be just another story to laugh about later. She hobbles a few steps, cringing at the way her ankle protests with each movement.
[Soft rustling as she adjusts her weight]
With a sigh, Aanya glances toward the nursing room once more. She can hear voices inside-muffled, too distant to make out clearly. For a moment, her heart quickens. Maybe, just maybe, she could slip inside and check on him. He might not even notice her slip-in, just some quick, quiet reassurance that he's okay.
But as she approaches, she hesitates. She can feel it-the sharp pang of something she can't quite name. Something that's been there since the moment she saw that empty bench earlier. She takes another step forward, then stops.
She feels silly, standing there, limping like this. She doesn't need to make a bigger deal out of it. Pradeep's already got people looking out for him-Deepak's with him, after all. Aanya takes a deep breath and turns her back to the door, deciding to leave him to it for now.
[Soft sigh]
As she walks away, her thoughts are still with him. She can't shake the worry gnawing at her. But there's something else there too-an uncertainty. A hesitation she's not used to feeling around him. Aanya bites her lip, pushing the thought aside. She'll check on him later, after she figures out this whole mess with her ankle. Besides, he's fine. He has to be.
[Soft footsteps echoing down the hallway as she walks away]
---
To be continued...