Chapter 7

Ashvik ‘s POV

Time skip 3 days after the First meet .
It’s been some days when I got my punishment and after that mostly everything is going pretty decent for me, well the same routine is going on except I have made a new habit of waking up early as I really cannot sleep so it’s better to make the use of time properly rather than lying in bed, i started going on early morning walk for a hour and it’s super refreshing I feel fresh and then Get ready for school.
well if I talk about school it’s pretty much same lately but the only change is that their is going on rumours about this new bigshots of a group from some another country coming to study and I really don’t care about all those things, Anyways these kind of groups are mostly pretty troublesome for kids like me , so I have to be more careful to not gain any attention by existing as I can’t take interest of more bullies as there is already two groups of bullies for me in the school in which, one is my own brother’s group ,The second one is the minion group which is super annoying as they really pick people randomly to bully , which I hate the most but who I am kidding with ? The more I hate these kind of stuff and negative attention the more I get it , after coming to school I put my stuff into the locker and went towards the class , I reached the class early as Ansh bhaiya and his group is pretty much busy lately as our sports day is also coming and he is the head boy of school so no bullying by him for some days , which is a huge relief for me . Suddenly I felt like someone is boring his eyes at me I can feel the stare at back of my head which is nothing new as from last 2-3 days I am getting this feel , but I don’t know why I am getting this weird feeling like I am being watched but it’s most likely my paranoia as every time I check there is no one to watch me , as I reached
Finally the the teacher came and started teaching Mathematics as it’s our first period, honestly I don’t like mathematics much but it’s actually pretty fine as long as it’s not physics I can manage, the teacher was explaining some important formulas when the door burst open or we can say that apparently the boy decided to kick it open,and came in three students in which there were two girls and a boy , it’s kind of funny to watch them as the boy just shrugged by looking at sir when he asked “Is this the way to enter the class ? And why are you three late ? ” To which the girl in the middle answered that they are new and didn’t knew the class on which he was going to say something when another scary looking girl said “just continue teaching will ya ? ” and by just looking at our teachers expression he was pissed by them but then also he instructed them to introduce themselves to the class to which the boy Introduced himself as Luca Romano, the scary looking girl as Avery Morreti and the girl with guilty expression as Amaira Romano . Today mostly all the students are present so The class is quite full so sir made them sit beside me and behind my bench as the place was not occupied. They came and the girl who introduced herself as Amaira sat beside me . And other two
In the back .

No ones Pov

Amaira :- Hello Myself Amaira and these idiots here are Luca and Avery ! and you ?

Amaira again introduce herself and both others to make small talk with the quite boy sitting beside her .

Ashvik:- myself Ashvik, nice to meet you.

Ashvik said scratching the back of his neck as he is super awkward around new people.

Luca :- hey Ashvik, can you tell me when this class is going to end ?

Ashvik:- it has just begun it will be of atleast an hour more to end, why ?

Amaira :- ofcourse this genius right here cannot stand the mere
Idea of mathematics with a teacher in a room .

Avery:- well not his fault that teacher do look like bad news.

Ashvik giggled ,then suddenly the teacher yelled . He was furious because of the trio but couldn’t say anything as they don’t look too friendly to him and with their body language and attitude he knew already that they don’t care about studies or him and so he took the frustration out on Ashvik as he knows how strict his family is for perfection.

Ashvik what are you doing? concentrate in your studies!
Do you want me to call your brother?
And yes after class help them with study material as they are new , consider it as your punishment for disturbing my class with them and you three keep quiet it’s not your home to be reckless.
Ashvik:- yes ofcourse sir I will help them,sorry sir.

Amaira gave an apologetic look to Ashvik as he was looking like a kicked puppy but he ducked his head down with embarassment as everyone was laughing at him because he was an easy target, for the rest of the class he just tried avoid the trio , after mouthing it’s okay to Amaira as she truly looked guilty.

Luca :- hey dude how can we survive this hell for another hour .

Luca whispered dramatically to Avery as they both were sitting side by side.
To which the teacher yelled at them to keep quiet or he will threw them out of class on the very first day .

After the class

After Maths they had their Optional subject for which Luca went to Art classes, Avery went to martial arts and Amaira along with Ashvik went to music and dance room for their respective courses. The whole time Ashvik was just trying to avoid them as he is scared and doesn’t want to engage with many people,

After watching that Ashvik was avoiding them Amaira asked him to take her with him .

Amaira:- Ashvik can you guide me to the room as I don’t want to get lost again,like we did in the first class.

Ashvik saw her and guided her to the class along with her on the way to class a boy of the minion bully group standing there bumped into him intentionally making him gasp due to sudden shock, he knew the boy did that intentionally he always knew, Amaira also noticed how the boy mocked him after , by saying that “he is blind” for bumping, whole corridor was watching him when suddenly Amaira corrected the boy and said that he bumped into Ashvik before anything could happen further the PE teacher came and asked them to go to their classes, while going Amaira said through her gritted teeth that “don’t say anything to my friend when you are the blind one ” and Ashvik dragged her with himself to the class with him before the boy could retort.

In the Music room✨

May I come in sir ?- Amaira and Ashvik said in unison

Yess you can – teacher

You are new right? Introduce yourself and tell your interest. -Teacher

Myself Amaira ! I am a professional pianist and I would like to practice that in the school too . Thank you! – Amaira

Okay go in the back and watch the performance as today our piano teacher is absent and due to safety protocols students cannot access the piano without her . – teacher

So first music practice will happen – teacher

Ashvik was just in daze as he cannot understand why this girl whom he met just few time ago was defending him he didn’t realise when he started talking to her .

Friend ? Why do you said that , you didn’t need to get in trouble with anyone for me . – Ashvik

Ofcourse you are my first friend
In this school and you even helped me to get here . – Amaira chuckled and said

Ashvik was just looking at her then he laughed bitterly and said okay let’s see how long you want to be my friend.

Amaira looked confused and asked why he is saying that .

To which he replied
Nothing it’s just you will get in trouble with me so it’s better for you all to stay away from me .
He said and instantly diverted his gaze to the front.
To which amaira looked at him really looked how defeated he looks like he has already accepted the cruelty of people around and decided that no matter how much he avoided she should befriend him as he looked really innocecnt and friendly to her, With kind eyes .

Amaira – So now I get it ! why you were avoiding us in the first period,let’s see how long you can avoid me and my friends. Because to uss you look fine and a future good friend
Amaira said and laughed watching his cute annoyed face .

Then the teacher called Ashvik to demonstrate a dance piece from their previous session for junior students to watch and learn .

The dance for refrence –

After the dance the whole music room exploded in applause.

Ashvik smiled genuinely and again. Sat at his seat .

Amaira – you are fabulous Ashvik. !

Ashvik – thanks it really means alot to me .
.
Ashvik thanked her feeling a little more comfortable with amaira as she was approachable and easy going nice girl, according to his examination so far she doesn’t look like someone who could hurt him but with his past it is really difficult to trust people easily and he knew it too well because of a mistake he did a year ago which he really regret till date .
__________________

After Music class both went to the classroom.
This time Ashvik and Amaira sat beside Luca and they both were silently watching how
Avery and Luca were arguing about something in italian, about a stupid stuffed toy Avery had , to which Luca was explaining her , how the supposingly “Labubu” doll was possessed by the demon and she should just throw it away to remove bad luck as because of it they got into trouble for mixing and feeding the Ice-cream with lemon and soy to their friend as a prank but got caught up due to spell of the devil and got punishment in return for the stunt they pulled.
To which Avery just hit his head with water bottle and told him to shut up and not blame luck for his stupidity as he forgot the containers into their own room which they mixed to make the terrible food disaster.

Ashvik gasped and asked
:-Wait you mixed what with ice-cream? Soy and lemon seriously it’s like crime against humanity, poor friend.

Luca
:- you ! You understand Italian?

Ashvik:- umm yeah I do. I actually love to learn new languages .
Ashvik answered with a barely contained proud grin on his face .

Avery:- Really? It’s great, I too love learning languages, how many do you know ?

Ashvik was little hesitant and shocked as Avery didn’t talked to him directly till now as she looked non- approachable,but he answered as all of them might look scary but have not given him any reason to be scared by them .

Ashvik:- 5 languages fluently and 2 learning.
Then he asked how many you know by the way ?

Avery:- 5 languages fluently and one still learning.

Ashvik:- you are great too , I know how hard it could be, it’s nice to meet someone who knows the struggle of learning new languages. Really!

Amaira :- you are great dude first dance now this and the way the teacher gave you the responsibility to provide for our study material it looked like studies too .

Too which he just laughed and said “it’s not that good but yeah I had to be ” . With a sad smile which no one noticed but Avery does as she has seen that look many times in her own reflection and decided to know more about him and figure out what was wrong with him as he looked perfectly fine, too fine to be good and she knows how it is to become perfect just to fit in, just to survive the day to day hastle, she instantly knew something was wrong with him but decided to not point out on first day as they are not officially good friends till now .

Luca :- great man you do all , that your family must be soo proud of you, I just come to school to pass and it’s more than sufficient for me and my family .

Ashvik’s face fell instantly which all three of them noticed how he shrunk into himself on the mention of his family which make them more suspicious of his life conditions.

Ashvik managed to say “yes they are” with a humourless chuckle
And started doing his maths homework to ignore and avoid the talk with trio .

After the bell rang it was time for recess in which The trio again asked Ashvik to show them cafeteria and Ashvik being the kind boy he is did exactly that and took them there .

Ashvik was simply leaving when Luca asked “are you not going in with us “.

Ashvik:- we are here ! You guys go I have to go to restroom.

Ashvik replied hastily as he knows if he go there now mostly everyone will make his supposingly new friends leave as his nerdy image might not suit them because they looked perfect to him and some part of him, the stupid expectent part of him still wants to belong somewhere, to fit in, to have people who care , who protect their friend and he really want the trio to be one as he was feeling happy and belonged with them in just a day ,more than he has felt in a year .

In the restroom

Ashvik went inside and did his business then he was washing his hands when Someone came from the back and called his name , he instantly froze he knew who he was instantly, Ronnie his brothers friend, he was standing in the door with Tanay both eyeing Ashvik with a predator look in their eyes, Ashvik Flinched when Ronnie started walking towards him , he came infront of him and started talking ” Hey bro , do you really think you can avoid us for a long time and live in peace” he then forcefully make him look into his eyes and said ” You know the assignment you did last time was just a piece of trash , it had 5 spelling mistakes , do you realise how much humiliation I had to endure because of the mistake, soo now it’s your turn to pay !
He said and punched him in the ribs where a old injury was, making Ashvik curled up in pain .
Then he took fistfull of Ashvik’s hair and make him stand just to kick him fiercely in the stomach, Ashvik groaned in pain as he is already weak because of poor sleep, eating habits and the constant injuries,he instantly started feeling dizzy before he can go further Ansh came , he looked at the scene and clenched his fist , He hated to see the scene infront of him but wouldn’t admit it he never did stopped them because stopping them means accepting the fact that he is wrong, they are wrong to hurt him so he simply encourage them by not saying anything or by helping them to hurt his own baby brother ruthlessly, he simply said ” Common Ronnie and Tanay you too come with me we don’t have time for someone like him just leave this trash here we are Busy already”.

After this they all left him alone ,
Ashvik went to the terrace while clutching his own stomach tightly because of pain and simply sat there glancing at the scenery, after few minutes he decided to eat his lunch because of how hungry he was and he needed energy to work and go home and anyways getting beating was not so new for him to dwell into it .

After recess

Amaira, Avery and Luca were searching for Ashvik as he
Didn’t came to cafeteria for lunch when they saw him coming downstairs from staircase that goes to the terrace,
Luca instantly asked him where he was and why he didn’t came to cafeteria, he also said how worried they were for him as they thought something bad happened to him .
To which Ashvik just told them that he is not comfortable to eat in the cafeteria,
Then Luca jokingly said ” If you don’t want to share your lunch you can say no need to hide broo ”
To which Ashvik just laughed and told him it’s not like that .
And he don’t like Cafeteria because of noise and he is not comfortable there .

Suddenly Avery said nonchalantly,”If that’s the case you should have told us anyways you are our only friend here and we won’t want our friend to be alone in recess now.do we? And winked mischievously , She said it so casually like skipping Cafeteria and lunch with others for him is nothing but for Ashvik it meant alot because for the very first time someone said they care about him being alone about him being lonely to him it was alot

Ashvik said In barely a whisper
“Really? You don’t need to skip cafeteria just for me .

To which Amaira said”we are not skipping anything it’s better to be with you rather than having that cardboard lunch of cafeteria trust me by having it once my stomach feels funny , and we will also be packing our own lunches if you are not comfortable out there with others I understand if you don’t like those gawking people always meddling in others business because when we went there this genius Luca instantly gained a audience for no reason like how can people be so nosy and , and don’t start with you don’t have to do that thing because we are going to do exactly that only, not only because of you for our sanity too and trust me it’s pretty much worth it as you are going to be like our lamp in dark in this Dark place of a school . Right buddy you will help us wouldn’t you ?

Amaira asked feigning innocence

Ashvik:- ofcourse I will help you all ,😊

Luca :- So Mr. Lamp will you mind sharing your contact info with us because we don’t know how to reach people without such great technology.

Ashvik :- Ooh sorry! I really forgot, here –

He quickly took out a sticky note from his pocket and scrible his no. And gave it to him to save .

After that the whole day passed in a blurr of lectures , in the end they all went to their own ways Amaira,Luca and Avery went together as others were busy of their group so they were only ones present in school that day ,

Ashvik went back to his home by a cab directly because he Didn’t had enough energy to go to Bus stop due to the beating so he just decided to skip work that day and went to home cause no matter how normal he tries to act around people he still is small boy who can’t bear the pain all by himself so he decided to get a break and have some rest first, as today he need emotional energy to confront to his brothers about upcoming opening dance infront of whole school and get his confirmation slip signed by any one of his guardian, he was so nervous he didn’t wanted to know how they will react to the information and if they will allow him or not he just wished that everything will be alright and they will give permission to perform.

At Home

Ashvik reached and went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks as he was hungry, he prepared some light snacks for himself which contains a pack of steaming hot Maggie with a cup of expresso
And sat in the backyard of the house to have a moment of peace in his life .

He loved this place as it was the only thing he knew that belonged to his mother and he was allowed to come here , whenever he felt happy, lonely or just felt the urge to disappear and give up , he comes to the backyard to feel his mother with him he believed that no matter what everyone thinks his mother will understand him , his pain , sorrow or would just celebrate his small achievements with him . He loved every part of this place because it brings him close to the memories his brothers shared with their mother, he might not be a part of those happy memories but still he wanted to feel closer to His ma whom his brothers loved and always adored with their whole heart.

Ashvik ‘s POV

I am sitting with ma again but this time not to complain but tell her about my day about my new friends . “You know ma today I met three classmates they were so good to me they even told me that I am their friend and Their is this one girl who even told a boy to stay away from me she just felt like a big sister to me when she was scolding him for me and I felt so happy you know, but I am scared because I know, it won’t long last as after they will know how much everyone hates me they will leave me too and ,I don’t want to become all alone I don’t like it . but you know I will help them until they need me no matter if they start hating me after ,because Today one of them helped me when no one did so I will help them because it’s good to help right, I know
You will want me to help everyone no matter how good or mean people are we should help right and that’s exactly I will do mumma , you know I miss you so much I know you are watching me I know you do I love you soo much ma I want to meet you too you know yesterday Ansh bhai was crying again he thought no one was watching him but I did he was missing you but then Armaan bhaiya console him by telling that you are happy and safe that you are in peaceful place where you don’t have to endure any pain , he too miss you ma , I hope I could talk to you in person and know more things about you to ,you must be so great as they all miss you even abhi bhai he might not say it aloud but he do , I know they hate me as I took you from them and I know I deserve all that hate for that fact that I destroyed the perfect family. I hope they can Forgive me some day ma .

_________________________

To be continued ✨
Bye bye 🫰
Love you Munchkins ❤️