Chapter 3: The Annual Science Fest

ANTARIKSH’S POV

“Oh… QI'yaH!” I swore in Klingon, my voice sharp with frustration.

“What’s wrong?” Pruthvi asked, her concern evident as she looked up from her notes.

I was sitting in front of the desktop in our dorm room, scrolling through the list of selected projects for the science fest. My stomach was already in knots from anticipation, but now it felt like someone had turned them into a black hole.

“Why is my name in the physics section?” I asked, pointing at the screen. My tone was a mix of confusion and panic.

Pruthvi leaned over to look at the monitor, her brows furrowing. “Wait, what? Weren’t you supposed to submit for chemistry?”

“Exactly!” I said, throwing my hands up. “We decided I’d do chemistry and…” My voice trailed off, the realization dawning on me like a supernova explosion.

“...and Agni’s in charge of physics,” Pruthvi finished, her voice tinged with understanding—and mischief.

I stared at her, my heart pounding. “No. No way. This has to be a mistake!”

“Or someone’s idea of a mistake,” she muttered, crossing her arms and glancing at me knowingly.

I buried my face in my hands. “This has Sameer written all over it,” I groaned. “I should’ve known when he was grinning like an idiot the other day.”

“Could be,” Pruthvi said with a shrug, “but look on the bright side. Maybe this is your chance to prove you’re not just scared of physics.”

“I’m not scared!” I said, pulling my hands away to glare at her. “I just… prefer chemistry. Physics is all math and logic, and—”

“And Agni,” Pruthvi interrupted, her smirk widening.

“Stop!” I hissed. The idea of working directly under his intense, no-nonsense gaze was making my palms sweat.

Pruthvi laughed, leaning back against her chair. “Oh, Antariksh. This is going to be so fun to watch.”

“Fun for you, maybe,” I muttered, sinking into my chair. “I'll submit some ridiculous idea and hope it doesn't get selected.”

—-----

I was sitting amidst a lot of noise. Pruthvi and I were in the auditorium, waiting for the student committee to announce the names of the selected students and the professors who’d be working on the projects. I was confident I wasn’t going to be chosen. After all, I’d submitted an idea straight out of my ridiculous blog, where I posted my science fiction stories. A water-powered rocket? Completely outrageous and impractical. There was no way they’d pick that.Meanwhile, Pruthvi sat beside me, looking far too entertained. I’d already given her numerous glares for messing up the submission forms in the first place, but she just sighed as if it wasn’t her fault.

The lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the room.“Welcome, everyone,” a spokesperson from the committee began, his voice echoing through the large auditorium. “This year’s projects were some of the most creative and innovative we’ve ever seen. The student committee had a tough time narrowing down the submissions, but we’ve finalized the list. Selected students will be paired with professors to bring their ideas to life. Let’s get started!”

I slouched back in my chair, only half-listening. One by one, names were called, each announcement met with cheers and applause from the crowd. Professors nodded approvingly as they were assigned to projects.“And now,” the spokesperson announced, his tone shifting to one of excitement, “for the final project on our list. This one left quite an impression on the committee. A bold and unconventional concept: a water-powered rocket.”My stomach dropped as laughter rippled through the room. I sat bolt upright, eyes wide with panic.“No,” I whispered to myself.

“Submitted by…” the spokesperson paused for effect, “Antariksh!”The applause erupted, mixed with amused laughter and a few scattered cheers. Pruthvi looked in my direction, her eyes widening. Then she started clapping.“Nobody else had such a unique idea!” the spokesperson continued. “Which is why, this is the only team with just one student and one professor! And this professor is… Professor Agni Sarp!”

The room went silent for a split second before a ripple of murmurs spread. I froze, my heart racing. I could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze on me, and all I wanted to do was disappear.Pruthvi couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. “You’re dead,” she whispered, still clapping and shaking her head.For a second, I felt like I was evaporating or becoming really, really sick. My stomach clenched painfully. I looked at the stage and spotted his stern gaze, looking at me, reading my frozen expression, inside out.

“Antariksh?” the spokesperson called out. I couldn’t even run away anymore. Agni had already spotted me in the crowd. I got up, my legs feeling like jelly. Students were still murmuring, shooting me suspicious glares, and some girls looked on with what could only be described as jealousy.

Sigh… I would switch with them in a heartbeat, but my legs kept moving toward the stage. I reached the stage, and Agni and I stood together, the last team to be congratulated. The university’s director and the professor board greeted us, shaking our hands. I still hadn’t looked Agni in the eye. I was too focused on fighting back all the impulses to puke on the stage.

Finally, as Agni and I made our way out onto the lawn, the cool evening air hit my face. My stomach churned violently, and I doubled over by some bushes at the side, puking my heart out.

A robot cleaner rolled by, and even though I knew it was emotionless, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was judging me disapprovingly. It didn’t help that Agni made a distinct tch, tch, tch sound, which for a second, I thought had come from the robot.

I turned around to face Agni, who was standing there with a judgy look on his face. “Tomorrow morning, 8 AM. 8th-floor laboratory. I’ll send you the room number by mail. Goodnight.” He gave a small smirk and strolled away, his heels clicking with each confident step.

—------------

—------------

AGNI’S POV

Antariksh’s blueprint that she had submitted was absolutely ridiculous. All her ideas felt like something out of science fiction. I knew she had come up with this absurd idea just to avoid getting selected. How the committee picked it was beyond me.

I reached the laboratory earlier than the decided time to set things up. Around 8 AM, I could sense her walking toward the room. I always had a weird sixth sense apart from my fire powers. I could faintly tell what was happening behind me or outside the room even if I couldn’t see it. Antariksh walked in, trembling from head to toe, and somehow managed to say, "Good morning." I groaned inwardly.

“Good morning,” I replied. Talking to her was like trying to approach a deer that might dart into the forest at any moment if startled. “You have very...” I paused, sighing. “Very unique ideas.”

As I spoke, I felt a faint disturbance outside the room. My sixth sense tingled. I stopped mid-sentence. “Hold on,” I said, closing my eyes to focus. “We aren’t alone. Someone’s spying on us.”

“Y-yeah,” Antariksh’s quavering voice broke my concentration. I opened my eyes to see her standing there with her own eyes closed, looking focused.

“I... I think it’s Sameer, Neer, and Pruthvi,” she said hesitantly. I widened my eyes at her. “Do you have a sixth sense too?” She nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. “Yeah, but I didn’t think much about it.”

I was intrigued but didn’t push further. Instead, I walked over to the door, swinging it open abruptly. And there they were—Sameer, Neer, and Pruthvi. Sameer had his ear pressed to the door while Neer and Pruthvi stood just behind him, whispering. “Enjoying yourselves?” I asked.

Sameer quickly straightened, grinning sheepishly. “Uh... we were just passing by.”

“Go. Away,” I said, my tone sharp enough to leave no room for argument.

Sameer chuckled nervously. “We were just making sure you weren’t scaring her to death.”

I stepped aside, gesturing toward Antariksh, who stood frozen in the middle of the room, looking down at her feet. “Does she look scared to you?”

Pruthvi grinned. “Terrified. Let’s go before Agni sets us on fire,” she whispered, dragging them away.

As they walked off, giggling and whispering amongst themselves, I closed the door and turned back.

“Do you have any elemental powers?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No, just this... weird sixth sense sometimes.

Antariksh and I finalized a model. We were able to make a prototype generator that used water energy. It was tedious work. We had to meet up almost everyday. Our plan and idea changed everyday. Antariksh was less nervous around me now. At Least she stopped flinching everytime I moved. She was actually smart but sort of erratic and fidgety. It honestly got on my nerves sometimes but one look and she would quail instantly, turning stiff and still. One Of the chief peculiarities with her was her insecurity. It irritated me that she couldn't sound confident about anything. 

—-------

ANTARIKSH’S POV

I don't even know how but we managed to build a small generator that could use hydropower for thrust somehow. I was so terrified of agni I was giving my best.

Working with agni had its own problems. For starters, Pruthvi and Sameer had become intolerable. If we sat together at lunch and discussed things, they would grin from ear to ear and giggle. No amount of exasperated looks from me or angry glares from agni could shut them up. Their incessant giggling made me want to crawl into a hole. Agni, on the other hand, looked like he was calculating how much trouble he’d get into for setting them on fire.Neer was mostly indifferent. 

Secondly, there was Jwala and her group of cronies, who had decided to make my life miserable. Their hostility was becoming more obvious—and more dangerous—by the day. One time, I was supposed to submit my homework in Sameer’s class, and somehow, it spontaneously caught fire. Sameer barely reacted, only sighing and telling me to redo it. Another day, as I was walking to the cafeteria with Agni—more like squeaking out a conversation in a language vaguely resembling English—a small boulder appeared out of nowhere, right in my path. I tripped and nearly face-planted, my eyes stinging with humiliation. Thankfully, Agni didn’t seem to notice the tears threatening to spill. He just glanced back, amused, and walked on as if nothing had happened. That made it worse, somehow.

I had my suspicions about why Jwala was acting this way, but she confirmed them herself on the day of the fest.

I’d set up our prototype at the booth we’d been assigned, carefully gluing the leftover bits and double-checking everything. My hands shook as I worked, but I reminded myself that this was almost over. Just a few hours, and I’d be free of the constant pressure, the judging stares, and the unrelenting fear of disappointing Agni.

Unfortunately, I’d made a rookie mistake: I was alone. Normally, I dragged Pruthvi along with me like a makeshift bodyguard. She had a way of deflecting people with her sharp comebacks and no-nonsense attitude, which made me feel less like a walking target. But of course, on the one day I needed her the most, Pruthvi had decided to sleep in.

So there I was, crouched by the booth, nervously gluing the last pieces of our prototype. My hands were clammy, and the adhesive wasn’t cooperating, but I was determined to make it work. That’s when I heard the sound I’d been dreading all morning—the unmistakable click of Jwala’s heels, accompanied by the low murmurs and snickers of her friends.

I froze. My first instinct was to bolt, but my legs felt like they’d turned to lead.

“Well, well,” Jwala’s voice was sickly sweet, dripping with faux friendliness. “Look who’s all alone today.”

I straightened up slowly, clutching the glue tube like it was some kind of weapon. “What do you want, Jwala?” I tried to sound firm, but my voice came out softer than I intended.

She smirked, her earth-toned eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, nothing much. Just thought we’d stop by and see how your project turned out. I mean, it’s not like you actually did the work, right? Agni probably carried the whole thing while you... what? Stood around looking scared?”

Her friends burst into laughter, and I felt my face heat up. I bit my lip, trying to think of a response, but my mind was blank.

Jwala stepped closer, her tone turning cold. “You know, Antariksh, you really don’t belong here. I don’t know what Agni sees in you, but trust me, it won’t last. People like him don’t waste time on people like you. Especially because of the way you cling onto him.” The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but before I could, a shadow fell over us.

“What’s going on here?” That voice. Deep, calm, and deadly serious.I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Jwala’s confident smirk faltered as Agni stepped into view, his fiery hair catching the sunlight and giving him an almost otherworldly glow. His sharp gaze swept over the scene, lingering just long enough on Jwala to make her shuffle uncomfortably.

“Nothing,” Jwala mumbled, her bravado evaporating. “We were just congratulating Antariksh on her model.” She shot me a glare before turning on her heel and stalking off, her friends trailing behind her like obedient shadows. I let out a shaky breath, my hands still trembling. Agni glanced at the prototype, then at me.

“Are you done with this?” he asked, gesturing to the booth. I nodded, unable to meet his eyes. “Good,” he said simply. “Let’s go. You shouldn’t be here alone.”

We walked away from the booth in silence, my nerves still frazzled. Agni didn’t say much, which was unusual, but I could feel his presence beside me and his piercing gaze, on me.

We stopped by a quiet seating area under a shaded canopy. A few other students were scattered around, chatting or tinkering with their projects. Agni gestured to a nearby servobot—a sleek, silver machine with multiple appendages—and scanned the menu on its screen.

“I’ll take a coffee,” he said, then glanced at me. “You want ice cream?” I blinked. “Uh…” 

“Yeah, you do,” he said, not waiting for an answer. He tapped the screen and added, “One chocolate ice cream for her.” The servobot whirred as it processed the order and zipped off. I stared at him, confused.

“You didn’t have to—”

“You look like you need it,” he interrupted, leaning back against the bench. “I can’t really eat ice cream. It… tends to melt.” I blinked again, trying to figure out if he was joking or being literal. He caught my puzzled look and smirked. “Fire powers, remember?”

“Oh.” I felt silly for forgetting and even sillier for how easily he could disarm me with a single comment.

The servobot returned, extending a tray with my ice cream and his coffee. I took the cone hesitantly, muttering a quiet “Thanks.” Agni sipped his coffee, his fiery hair catching the light in a way that made him look almost serene. For a moment, I thought he might let the whole Jwala incident slide, but then he spoke.

“So,” he said casually, swirling his coffee in its cup. “Jwala and her friends.”

I stiffened, the ice cream halfway to my mouth. “uhhh….yeah.”

He raised an eyebrow, his tone still light but probing. “Do they bother you a lot?”

I swallowed hard, my appetite for the ice cream suddenly gone. “It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “They’re just—”

“Bullies?” he finished for me, his eyes narrowing.

“No!” I said too loudly, then winced at my own voice. I also choked on my ice cream a bit. “I mean, they’re not… It’s fine. Really.”

Agni didn’t look convinced. “right”

Agni watched me carefully as I nibbled on the edge of the ice cream cone, clearly not enjoying it as much as I probably should have. The faint hum of activity from the fest filled the silence between us, but his gaze lingered, making me shift uncomfortably.

“Why are you so scared of me?” he asked suddenly, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

I choked on the ice cream again. “W-What?”

“You heard me,” he said, leaning back and crossing his arms. “You flinch every time I move. You stammer when I talk to you. And let’s not even get started on how stiff you get when I glance in your direction.” He tilted his head slightly. “Am I really that scary?”

I stared at him, my mind scrambling for an answer. “It’s not… I mean, you’re not…i mean…”

“Terrifying?” he supplied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“That’s not what I—” I groaned, pressing my palms to my face. “I dont know ... .i've always had this feeling that you sort of ....sort of…hate me ... .since day one?”

“What?!”, Agni sat up in disbelief. “Oh….antariksh…im sorry i came off as that kind of guy.” obviously he was remembering the first time we met. “I was actually a massive jerk back then”, he sighed. “I….i was trying to one up you and…and i thought you were a guy….”

It was my turn to look at him in disbelief. “You WHAT?!”

Agni literally turned pink but then quickly composed himself. “Well…yeah and when i figured it was already too late. You were always so scared of me i didnt know what to say or do.”

I turned slightly pink as well.”uh…”

“See youre still scarred of me!”, agni said. “Look antariksh, if i hated you, the last thing id be doing was work on this project with you, let alone try and probe the reason why youre so afraid of jwala. Honestly, i like you….like a lot…” Agni suddenly realised he was phrasing himself in a wrong way and turned pink again, he actually stammered.” i mean…i mean not int that way.”

I went from pink to red this time and choked on the icecream for the third time and much harder this time. I buckled under, coughing and spluttering. Agni instantly leaned forward, alarmed. “Antariksh, breathe!” he said, his voice edged with panic as I coughed, struggling to clear my throat. Finally, I managed to gasp for air, though my face was now as red as his fiery hair. “I’m fine!” I squeaked, waving him off as I tried to regain some semblance of composure.

Agni leaned back again, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled deeply. “Okay, let’s try this again. What I was trying to say is that I respect you, Antariksh. You’re smart, capable, and... I don’t know, you have this way of making people underestimate you, and then you completely blow them away with what you can do.”

I sighed, my heart was still racing. Agni could sense I didn't believe him much. “Look. i mean it. And if anyone gives you a hard time its probably because you are letting them. Also, you might want to eat the ice cream instead of choking on it, its literally melting”

I took a bite of the ice cream, this time savoring the sweetness. Agni sat back, watching me with a curious expression. His coffee cup sat untouched on the table between us, the steam slowly dissipating.

“So,” he began, breaking the silence, “if you’re not busy being terrified of me, what do you actually do for fun?”

The question caught me off guard. “For fun?”

“Yeah, you know,” he said, gesturing vaguely, “stuff you do when you’re not glued to a generator or clumsily falling off a staircase. Hobbies, interests, that sort of thing.” I blinked, trying to think of an answer that wouldn’t sound ridiculous. “Um… I like working on projects. Building things, mostly.” Agni raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? You work for fun?” I felt my cheeks heat up. “It’s not just work! I like designing things, figuring out how they’ll function. It’s… satisfying.”

He nodded, looking genuinely interested. “Okay, fair. What kind of stuff have you built before?”

“Nothing huge,” I admitted. “Mostly small models—machines, engines, things like that. When I was younger, I built a miniature rocket out of soda bottles and…” I trailed off, realizing I was rambling. “Anyway, it’s nothing impressive.” Agni smirked. “A soda-bottle rocket? That’s impressive for a kid. I think I was busy trying not to set my room on fire at your age.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the mental image. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, leaning forward. “You’d be amazed how flammable curtains are. I think I went through three sets before my foster mom banned me from lighting anything indoors.”

The ease in his voice surprised me. I’d never heard him talk about his past before, let alone so casually. “Foster mom?”

“Uh…yeah”, Agni replied, trying to brush it off. “I grew up in a foster system. Professor garud picked me up from a fair on some planet.” he sighed,”he would have adopted me himself but he was facing problems with his own family….

I frowned slightly, sensing the shift in Agni’s tone. His usual confidence faltered for just a moment, revealing a vulnerability I hadn’t seen before. “Professor Garud took you in?” I asked softly, curiosity mingled with a newfound respect for the man.

“Yeah,” Agni said, running a hand through his fiery hair. “I was a hotheaded kid—literally and figuratively. Bounced around foster homes because, well… I wasn’t exactly easy to handle. But then Garud came along. He didn’t just see some troublemaker; he saw potential. Took me under his wing,i studied at plutonian which was just newly built, taught me how to channel all that fire—no pun intended.”

I studied him for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. It was easy to forget that beneath his sharp wit and confident demeanor was someone who’d fought his own battles to get where he was.

“Sounds like you’ve come a long way,” I said quietly. I hesitated, feeling braver than usual. “You don’t seem like someone who’d give up easily.” His eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, they softened. “I don’t, usually. But everyone has their limits, you know?” I nodded slowly. “Yeah… I get that.”

“What about you?” he asked, his tone lighter again. “Any earth-shattering childhood stories? Or were you always the quiet genius with a knack for building stuff?”

“Not exactly,” I said, fidgeting with the napkin on the table. “I guess I’ve always liked building things, but I wasn’t really good at much else. “My father is a scientist and he always had unsupervised laboratories at his manor. I spent my time there.”

Agni raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. “Unsupervised laboratories? That sounds… dangerous.”

I gave a small shrug, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “It probably was. But it was also the only place I felt like I belonged. The rest of the house was too big, too empty. The lab… it felt alive, like it had a heartbeat of its own. There were machines, experiments, blueprints everywhere. It was chaotic, but it made sense to me.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “And your father? Was he okay with you messing around in his lab?”

I hesitated, the smile fading slightly. “He didn’t really notice, to be honest. He was always busy, always working. Sometimes I’d leave a project out, hoping he’d see it… maybe even say something. But he never did.”

Agni’s expression softened, his fiery eyes dimming like embers. “Sounds… lonely.”

I shrugged again, trying to play it off. “I guess it was, but it’s not like I didn’t learn a lot. Those labs were where I built my first engine, where I realized I wanted to be an engineer. So, it wasn’t all bad.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Still, it’s tough, growing up in someone else’s shadow, especially when they don’t even realize you’re there. But you’ve made something of it—you’ve made something of yourself. That’s impressive.”

I blinked at him, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. “Thanks,” I said softly, my cheeks warming.

Agni smirked, the momentary seriousness giving way to his usual teasing demeanor. “Though I have to say, I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping for a story about how you accidentally caused a lab explosion or turned your house into a science fair gone wrong.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, there were definitely a few close calls. Like the time I built a circuit that shorted the entire east wing of the manor.”

His eyes widened, and then he burst out laughing. “Now that’s the kind of story I’m talking about! You’re full of surprises, Antariksh.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “Yeah that was the one time my father noticed me. Pretty well. He gave me a nice scolding."

The conversation had somehow taken a lighter turn after I told Agni about my disastrous soda-bottle rocket experiment. He had a quick wit that caught me off guard, and before I knew it, we were both laughing. “And then,” I said, trying to catch my breath between giggles, “the rocket shot straight into the neighbor’s garden. The dog went berserk, and I think I might’ve invented the first canine anti-air defense system.” Agni chuckled, his laugh low and infectious. “That’s impressive. Not many people can say their engineering skills doubled as a dog deterrent.” I snorted, my cheeks hurting from smiling so much. “I don’t think the neighbors saw it that way.” Agni shook his head, still smiling. “You’ve got to admit, though—it’s a good story. Way better than the time I accidentally set off the fire alarm during a chemistry lab.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You? In trouble during chemistry? I can’t imagine.” “Oh, it wasn’t my fault,” he said, smirking. “The beaker technically broke itself.” I laughed again, the sound echoing in the quiet corner of the booth. Agni’s hand moved to my shoulder, steadying me as I leaned forward, trying to stop myself from doubling over in laughter. His touch was warm—literally—and surprisingly comforting.

That’s when I heard it.

A loud snort, followed by muffled giggling.

I froze, my laughter dying in my throat as I turned to see Sameer and Pruthvi standing a few feet away, grinning like they’d just caught us red-handed.

Pruthvi, unable to contain herself, burst out laughing. “Well, well, well, never thought I'd see the day Antariksh laughing under a 5 metre radius of Agni’s presence!”

“Oh, don’t stop on our account,” Sameer said, his voice dripping with mock innocence. “This is… adorable.”

I felt my face heat up to what I was sure was an alarming shade of red. “It’s not—”

“Don’t,” Agni interrupted, his voice calm but with a dangerous edge. “Say. Another. Word.”

Sameer raised his hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face. “Hey, we’re just here to check out the booth. Didn’t realize we’d be interrupting… whatever this is.”

Pruthvi nudged Sameer, his grin widening. “Should we leave them alone? I mean, clearly, they’re having a moment.”

Agni’s fingers tightened slightly on my shoulder, and for a split second, I thought he might actually throw something at them. Pruthvi quickly held up her camera and caught the moment. Agni had a murderous look while my mouth was hung open.

The speaker announcement echoed once more, signaling the judges’ arrival. Agni and I instinctively sat up straighter, though our reactions couldn’t have been more different—he exuded calm confidence, while I felt like I might faint. "CALM DOWN, ANTARIKSH!" Agni whispered, leaning in, his hand resting firmly on my back. Instead of steadying me, his touch sent a jolt through me, and now my nerves were compounded by a different kind of heat creeping up my neck.

Outside the booth, Sameer and Pruthvi lingered quietly, observing the proceedings with a practiced ease that only made my own anxiety more glaring. The judges' footsteps crunched on the grassy field as they approached, the sound growing louder and more ominous with each step. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and the pen I was fidgeting with slipped through my trembling fingers, clattering softly onto the table.

"Good afternoon," one of the judges greeted us. His voice was firm, but there was a certain warmth to it as he surveyed our project display. The meticulous hours Agni and I had poured into setting everything up seemed to pay off as he gave a small nod of approval. Then his gaze shifted to me, expectant. “I’m guessing you’re the lead on this?”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly parched. "Y-Yes, sir," I managed to squeak out, the words barely holding together. My voice quivered slightly, betraying the storm of nerves inside me. Agni’s gaze flickered to me for a moment, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. He knew how hard I was working to fight my nerves, but I could feel his pride in the way he looked at me. Sameer and Pruthvi waited outside, no doubt watching us closely, ready to jump in if needed.

The judges questioned me about what the model was about. One of them seemed to know agni and shook hands with him. And after 30 excruciating minutes, they complimented our model and walked away. The moment they were out of sight, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and sank into a chair, utterly drained. The adrenaline left me as quickly as it had come, leaving behind exhaustion. Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I muttered, “I thought I was going to die.” Agni chuckled softly, his confidence as unshakable as ever. "You survived, didn’t you? And did pretty well, too."

—----

While the judges were busy calculating scores, the campus buzzed with an air of celebration. Students laughed and chatted as they frolicked around, enjoying the break from the morning’s tension. Today was also the day families were invited to visit, and the students eagerly showed their parents, guardians, and loved ones around the campus.

Among the early arrivals was Professor Garud, one of the judges for the event. As he made his way over to our booth, I glanced up absentmindedly, thinking it was Sameer coming over. But then I blinked, confused—Sameer was right beside me, casually leaning against the booth and deep in conversation with Pruthvi. As the figure came into full view, recognition struck me like lightning. It wasn’t Sameer, but someone who shared his features—an older, wiser version. His white hair framed his kind, familiar face, and the feathers on his shoulders gave him a regal, almost ethereal appearance. He walked with an effortless grace, exuding warmth that seemed to melt away the lingering tension around us. Startled, I jumped to my feet, and Agni followed suit, both of us standing in respect. As Professor Garud approached, his presence seemed to fill the booth, not with authority, but with a comforting sense of belonging.

Over time, I had come to realize something profound: Professor Garud wasn’t just a mentor to me—he was a guiding figure in my life, someone I could look up to with the kind of trust I’d rarely felt before. But it wasn’t just me. I had begun to see how much he meant to Agni as well. In ways neither of us had openly acknowledged, he had become a parental figure, someone who filled a void we both carried in silence.

“Good afternoon,” Professor Garud greeted warmly, his eyes twinkling as he glanced between Agni and me. “Your booth looks excellent. I see you’ve both worked hard.” Agni’s usual composure softened slightly as he replied, “Thank you, Professor. It’s always good to see you.” Professor Garud’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, his gentle smile reassuring. “And you, Antariksh? You seem to be settling into this role quite well.” I managed a small smile, feeling a swell of gratitude. “Thank you, sir. It’s... been a learning experience.” He chuckled softly, nodding. “That’s the point of all this, isn’t it?” Then his tone became lighter as he gestured toward the bustling campus. “Why don’t you both take a moment to enjoy the day? You’ve earned it.” As he spoke, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of comfort. Professor Garud had a way of making everything seem manageable, even the most daunting challenges. And in that moment, I realized just how much I valued having him in my life—not just as a mentor, but as family. 

Whaddup, Pops?” Sameer piped up from behind me, his tone playful as he leaned casually against the booth. Professor Garud chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth, and gave Sameer a hearty clap on the back. “Oh, nothing much, son! Plutonian’s running smoothly as usual,” he replied with a grin. “And you? How’s the teaching job treating you? Still managing to keep those students on their toes?” Sameer laughed, brushing a hand through his spiky blue hair. “Barely! These kids keep me on my toes more than the other way around. But it’s been fun so far. Gets hectic sometimes, though.” “You’re doing great, Sameer,” Professor Garud said, his pride evident. “I hear nothing but good things about you from the faculty.” “Thanks, Dad,” Sameer said, his tone softer now, a rare hint of sincerity peeking through his usual banter. “I’ve had a good teacher to look up to.”

“Ooh, and there’s my other son!” Professor Garud chuckled, his gaze shifting toward Neer, who was walking up to us. “Hi, Dad,” Neer replied, his voice calm and warm as he leaned in for a hug. The embrace lingered for a moment, and Neer pulled back slightly, his sharp blue eyes scanning Professor Garud with concern. “Pops, you’ve become really frail. Are you not treating yourself well?” Professor Garud’s smile wavered for a moment, but he patted Neer’s arm reassuringly. “Oh, I’m doing fine, son. It’s just old age catching up to me,” he said with a wistful sigh. “Comes with time... nothing you can do about it.”

Professor Garud turned toward Pruthvi, a fond smile on his face, and gently ruffled her hair. “I see you and Antariksh are still as thick as thieves,” he remarked warmly. Then, his gaze shifted to me, his eyes twinkling with a knowing expression. “See, Antariksh? I told you there was no need to worry about coming to Astralis. You’ve done just fine,” he said, his voice brimming with reassurance. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks as I glanced at Pruthvi, who grinned and nudged me playfully. “Told you,” she added, echoing his words. I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. “I guess you were both right, sir,” I admitted, my voice soft. “It’s just... it felt so overwhelming back then.” Professor Garud’s smile widened, his tone gentle but firm. “That’s what growth feels like sometimes, Antariksh. It’s never easy at first, but look at you now. You’re here, contributing, and thriving. You should be proud of yourself.”

Mr. and Mrs. Terrae arrived with Pruthvi’s siblings in tow, their cheerful voices carrying over the bustling campus as they ran toward her. The younger ones yelled her name, their excitement palpable, and in moments, they tackled Pruthvi into a group hug, almost knocking her off balance. Pruthvi glanced at me with an exaggerated groan. “Gosh, they embarrass me so much,” she muttered, but the warmth in her voice betrayed her words. She didn’t push them away—instead, she let them cling to her, ruffling their hair and laughing.

I stood nearby, watching the scene unfold, a bittersweet pang settling in my chest. The sight of her siblings’ carefree joy and her parents’ affectionate smiles tugged at something deep inside me. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Pruthvi always seemed to downplay her loving family, brushing off their affections as if they were a given. Meanwhile, I... well, I didn’t have that. Not anymore.

As Mr. and Mrs. Terrae exchanged warm greetings with everyone, I found myself shifting uncomfortably, an ache blooming in my chest. I didn’t want to admit it, but a part of me longed for their attention—their kindness, their warmth, even if it wasn’t mine to claim. And that thought made me feel small, like some selfish, attention-seeking child.

What kind of person feels jealous of their best friend’s family? I berated myself silently. Selfish. Stupid. Pathetic.

And yet, when Mrs. Terrae finally turned toward me, her face lighting up with a familiar warmth, I couldn’t deny the flicker of relief that accompanied it. “Antariksh, dear!” she said, her voice bright and full of genuine care. “How are you? It’s been so long! You’ve grown so much.”

I forced a smile, hoping it looked more natural than it felt. 

—------

AGNI’S POV

There have been instances in my life where i suddenly felt like i knew what the other person was thinking. Other than my fire powers, my feeble sixth sense which antariksh had already proved to have more than me, i had this one. But this one was even more so feeble it felt nonexistent. When i was sitting next to antariksh and pruthvi’s mother had spoken to antariksh i felt a very weird feeling. Something i had not felt in years.But sitting beside her now, watching Mrs. Terrae speak to her, that feeble sense stirred to life, a thread tugging at something buried deep within me. It wasn’t her words that did it—though they were kind, filled with genuine warmth—it was the way Antariksh responded. 

And then, like a flash of heat, it hit me.

I was suddenly back there—a scrawny, needy adolescent, just out of another foster home, standing in a doorway with a bag that carried everything I owned. I could still feel the cold metal of the doorframe against my hand, the weight of uncertainty in my chest as I stared into a new, unfamiliar place. Professor Garud had been there, his presence solid and steady. Sameer and Neer, still just kids themselves, had been peeking out from behind him, curious and cautious. They were strangers then, but they had given me something I hadn’t realized I needed—a place to stay, a sense of belonging. A weird jealousy, an unease of wanting attention but feeling bad because it didn't belong to me and it felt selfish.

I glanced at Antariksh now, her quiet longing written all over her face, even if she didn’t know it. That ache, that hollow feeling of wanting something so simple yet so far out of reach—love, affection, warmth—I knew it all too well. And it gutted me to realize she felt it too. My hand twitched, wanting to reach for hers, to tell her I understood, to remind her she wasn’t alone. But I hesitated. We weren't that good friends yet.plus how would i tell her i knew what she was thinking? Nobody save one man knew that I had, a few times before, been able to read right through someone. And that man was professor Garud. Only he knew that on more than one occasion I had felt the intense emotions running through someone else in my proximity.  On those occasions, I couldn’t shut it out, and the weight of their feelings would overwhelm me. It was like I could feel their souls, their deepest fears, their desires, all crashing into me. And I hated it.

I could feel it now, standing next to Antariksh. It was like a soft hum, barely noticeable yet undeniable. Her sadness, her yearning for connection, it wrapped around me like an invisible thread, tugging at something deep inside me. I wanted to reach out, to tell her I understood, to comfort her somehow. But I couldn’t. Not yet. Not when I didn’t even know how to control this strange, feeble sixth sense of mine.

I got up and told her I was going to catch up with Sameer and Neer. 

I didn't know much about these powers of mine. The more I tried to search for answers, the more I was plagued with nightmares of the past. I had learnt to suppress the burning fire of emotions cascading through me. I had learnt to focus…..or maybe I had just learnt to run away.