𝟎𝟏. ɴᴇᴡ ɢᴜᴇsᴛ

Author's POV

Regal Town - one of the most respected and lively colonies of the city. A place where everyone knew everyone, and nothing stayed a secret for more than five minutes. Summers here always ended with noise, laughter, and chaos.

Today was no different. The long summer vacation was coming to an end, and the entire colony was awake before the sun had fully risen. The faint winter breeze had started to slip into the morning air, making the colony look soft and misty.

From every house came the sound of rushing footsteps, doors banging, and mothers shouting, "Uniform kahaan hai?" (Where's your uniform?) followed by "Breakfast karke jao!" (Eat before you go!).

The narrow lanes echoed with laughter and shouts. Cars honked, cycles rang, and somewhere, a mixer grinder hummed as someone prepared breakfast in a hurry. Regal Town had woken up - loud, restless, and full of life.

And in one of those houses, inside a messy blue-painted room, a certain girl was still sleeping like the world didn't exist.

Ahanshi's POV

The alarm clock buzzed for the third time, and I swear, even in my half-sleep state, I wanted to throw it out of the window.

"Ughhh..." I groaned, pulling my blanket tighter.

Then came the inevitable - the voice that no one in this house could ignore.

"Ahanshi! Uth jaa warna mummy maar degi tujhe!" (Ahanshi! Get up or mom will beat you!)

That was my elder sister, Prachi - my self-appointed alarm system.

"Prachi, please... sirf paanch minute aur." (Prachi, please... just five more minutes.)

"Paanch minute? You've been saying that since half an hour! It's the first day of school after vacation, and tumhe abhi bhi neend aa rahi hai?" (Five minutes? You've been saying that for half an hour! It's the first day after vacation and you're still sleepy?)

I grumbled, "Kya farq padta hai? School jaane se duniya nahi badalne wali." (What difference does it make? The world isn't going to change if I go to school.)

Prachi crossed her arms dramatically. "Oh really? Tell that to Mom, maybe she'll cancel school permanently for you."

"Okay okay! Uth gayi main!" I yelled, jumping off the bed before Mom's slippers made an appearance.

Prachi smirked. "That's my girl. Ab jaldi ready ho jao, warna Mom mere peeche bhi aayegi." (Now get ready quickly before Mom comes after me too.)

She left, humming, while I stood staring at my reflection. My hair was a mess. My uniform was wrinkled. My face looked like I had fought a pillow war.

"Yeh hoon main... Head Girl of St. Andrew's School." I muttered to myself sarcastically. (This is me... the Head Girl of St. Andrew's School.)

But I pulled myself together. Because being late on the first day? That was a crime even I couldn't justify.

Author's POV

Half an hour later, Ahanshi walked down the stairs - her tie loose, her bag half-open, but at least she looked ready for school.

Before she could grab her breakfast, the doorbell rang.

Ahanshi's POV

"Yeh toh Manya hi hogi," I muttered and opened the door.

And there she was - Manya Kapoor, my best friend since forever, smiling like she had no worries in the world.

"Good morning, sleepy queen!" she teased, stepping in.

"Good morning, drama queen," I shot back.

"Waah! Tum itni jaldi ready? Miracle ho gaya kya?" (You're ready so early? Did a miracle happen?)

"Prachi ne utha diya," I groaned. "Aur mummy ki chappal ne motivation de diya." (Prachi woke me up, and Mom's slipper gave me motivation.)

Manya laughed so loud, even Mom in the kitchen chuckled.

"Okay, hurry up! Aman ke bina toh humari entry incomplete lagti hai." (Okay, hurry up! Our entry feels incomplete without Aman.)

I grabbed my bag. "Let's go before he loses another sock."

Author's POV

The two girls stepped out. The lane was bustling - students rushing with bags, neighbors chatting across gates, and Tiwari Aunty standing on her balcony ( she is aman's mother )with her favorite pastime: observation.

Ahanshi and Manya exchanged a knowing glance. "Operation Ignore Tiwari Aunty - begins," Manya whispered dramatically.

They walked past her gate, trying not to laugh at how she pretended to water plants but was actually just eavesdropping.

When they reached Aman's house, they heard muffled chaos inside.

Aman's POV

"Arre yaar, kahan gaya mera sock?" (Where's my sock?)

I was hopping on one leg, half-dressed, trying to find the other sock. My mom yelled from the kitchen, "Aman! Jaldi kar beta, bus miss ho jayegi!" (Hurry up, son! You'll miss the bus!)

Outside, I could hear Ahanshi shouting, "Aman! Abhi tak ready nahi hua?!" (You're still not ready?!)

"Ek sock mil gaya, dusra gayab hai!" I yelled back. (Found one sock, the other's missing!)

Manya yelled, "Toh bina socks ke hi aa ja, fashion trend set kar de!" (Then come without socks, start a new fashion trend!)

I rolled my eyes. "Bohot funny. Tum dono comedy show join kar lo." (Very funny. You two should join a comedy show.)

After five minutes of chaos, I found it - under my bed, obviously. I dashed outside, hair still messy.

"Finally!" Ahanshi said. "You take longer than my phone update."

"Sorry madam," I said, locking the door. "Next time I'll set an alarm for my socks."

Author's POV

The three of them started walking toward the colony ground - the heart of Regal Town, where all lanes connected. The morning sun glowed through the trees, and laughter echoed from every corner.

But today, something new was happening near the colony entrance.

A black car - shiny, elegant - rolled into the colony. The engine hummed softly as it stopped near one of the largest houses. Two tall boys stepped out, the driver unloading heavy luggage behind them.

The boys looked unfamiliar - city-like, confident. Their clothes crisp, their attitude calm but commanding.

Ahanshi, Manya, and Aman stopped near the gate to watch.

Ahanshi's POV

"Lagta hai naye log aaye hain," Aman said, his eyes fixed on the car. (Looks like new people have arrived.)

Manya leaned forward. "Dekho unka luggage... pura mini-truck lag raha hai." (Look at their luggage... it's like a mini-truck!)

I smirked. "Haan, kuch log hote hi aise hain, jo apne ghar ke saath har darwaza bhi le aate hain." (Yeah, some people are like that - they bring every door of their old house with them.)

We all burst out laughing.

One of the boys glanced at us - the taller one, sharp jawline, cool eyes. He didn't smile, didn't speak, just observed for a second.

The other one - probably his brother or cousin - gave a polite smile and waved slightly before turning away.

"Thoda attitude lagta hai," Manya whispered. (He seems a bit arrogant.)

"Lagta nahi, hai," I replied flatly. (Not seems - he is.)

Still, I found myself looking again. Just a bit.

Author's POV

The boys entered the Malhotra house - their new home. And within minutes, the news spread faster than a school rumor.

Tiwari Aunty's voice carried across the lane: "Areh Sunita ji! Malhotra ke ladke aa gaye! Bade ho gaye dono!" (Sunita ji! The Malhotra boys have returned! They've grown up!)

Within an hour, every aunty in the colony knew - Ishaan and Raghav Malhotra had moved back after years.

Prachi's POV

By afternoon, school was over. I walked home, tired but curious - the whole colony had been whispering about something.

When I entered, Mom said, "Prachi! Malhotra family ke bete aa gaye!" (The Malhotra sons have come back!)

"Seriously? After so many years?" I asked, surprised.

"Haan. Ishaan aur Raghav. Dono St. Andrew's College join kar rahe hain." (Yes, Ishaan and Raghav. Both joining St. Andrew's College.)

So the mystery boys had names now. Ishaan. Raghav.

Later, when I passed by Tiwari Aunty's house, she was in full reporter mode, surrounded by three aunties, holding her teacup like a mic.

Tiwari Aunty's POV

"Areh dekho na, dono bade smart lag rahe the! Ek toh bada serious, doosra hamesha muskuraata hua." (They looked so smart! One very serious, the other always smiling.)

"mumbai wale ladke hain na, style toh hoga hi," one aunty said.

Tiwari Aunty nodded proudly. "Par main toh keh rahi hoon, kuch na kuch toh hone wala hai ab Regal Town mein." (But I'm telling you, something interesting is going to happen in Regal Town now.)

She wasn't wrong. The arrival of the Malhotra brothers was just the beginning.

Author's POV

By evening, the sky turned orange. The sound of laughter faded as students returned home with stories from their first day back.

In one house, Manya was busy texting memes to Ahanshi. Aman was probably still doing homework he'd forgotten existed.

And in the Malhotra house, two new stories had just begun.

Upstairs, Ishaan sat unpacking, quiet as always. Raghav, meanwhile, stood near the window, watching the kids play below.

Down the street, Ahanshi sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone. Her mind drifted back to that morning - the car, the boys, the brief eye contact.

She shook her head quickly. "Nope. Not interested."

But even as she said it, she knew - that look in Ishaan's eyes would be hard to forget.

And for Regal Town.