Beneath the Ordinary

Chapter 2 : Chaos before Class

The moment Anaya stepped through the college gates, she knew peace was not an option today. Students crowded the pathways. Groups stood gossiping under the trees. Some rushed toward their classrooms while others looked suspiciously like they were planning to skip them altogether.

Anaya adjusted the strap of her bag and sighed. At least the day can't get any worse.

"ANAYA!" She froze. A familiar voice echoed across the entire campus. A second later, a girl came sprinting toward her at alarming speed.

"Why do you always walk so fast?" her best friend, Urvashi, complained dramatically.

"I wasn't walking fast. You're just late."

"I am not late."

"The bell rings in five minutes."

"That's called being fashionably on time."

Anaya stared at her. Urvashi stared back. Neither spoke.

"You are impossible." "I know."

As they walked toward their classroom, another wave of cramps hit Anaya. She silently screamed and grabbed Urvashi's arm tightly. "ARGHHHHHH." Urvashi took one look at her face and immediately understood.

"Alright, I get what you need."

Then, without a hint of shame, she turned around and yelled at the top of her lungs- "DOES ANYBODY HAVE A HOT WATER BAG?!"

The entire corridor fell silent. For one glorious second. Then chaos erupted. Students rushed to their lockers. Cupboards slammed open. Girls appeared from every direction. Within moments, nearly thirty hot water bags were lined up in front of Anaya. Anaya blinked. Urvashi grinned proudly.

The friendship between Urvashi and Anaya was a perfect example of how opposites attract. On one hand, Anaya was calm, simple, and quiet. On the other, Urvashi was a walking explosion of energy. She was the most popular girl in college-not just because of her beauty, but because she somehow excelled at everything. Academics. Sports. Dance. Singing. Modeling. Debating. Nobody knew how she managed it. Nobody dared ask.

Urvashi carefully inspected the collection before selecting the cutest one. It had tiny bear prints all over it.

"There. This one matches your personality."

Anaya rolled her eyes but accepted it anyway.

"Thanks, girlies."

That was all she said. Yet somehow, the girls around them looked as if they had just received a national award. A wave of excited squeals spread through the corridor. Anaya would never understand people.

Soon, the classes began. For everyone else, it seemed like a perfectly normal day. For Urvashi, however, it was t*****e.

"The teacher is literally explaining the same thing for the fifth time."

Five minutes later- "Why are we still on the same topic?"

Ten minutes later- "I could have completed an entire syllabus in this time."

Anaya usually would have laughed. Today, she was too busy trying to survive her cramps to care. So while Urvashi continued her never-ending complaints beside her, Anaya simply rested her head on the desk and prayed for the lecture to end.

Just when Anaya felt a little better and fell in the sweet world of dreams The teacher asked a question. Nobody answered Urvashi was doodling in her notebook.

The teacher suddenly called on Anaya. Unfortunately, Anaya wasn't listening because of her little imaginary world.

Before she could panic, Urvashi whispered the answer. Anaya repeated it. Teacher praised her.

"You can treat me to an ice cream as a thank-you"

"Your sacrifice will be remembered."

The bell finally rang and the dozing heads of students come to life. All students rush out of their classrooms and the whole corridor is filled with shrieks again.

Some gather around Urvashi as usual while Anaya calmly watches as if it was a daily routine.

"Urvashi di, can you help us with the annual fest?" "Urvashi, are you coming for basketball practice?" "Urvashi, the faculty wants to see you." "Urvashi, can you judge our dance auditions?"

Anaya shook her head. Sometimes she wondered if her best friend had secretly cloned herself. Soon aftersa few conversations Urvashi excused herself and , holding Anaya's hand rushed towards the cafeteria where they both finally sat down to eat.

One complained about life. The other complained about pain. These conversations were never-ending ones because none of them take the lead to stop.

Soon the table earlier occupied by only the two of them was filled with many more students belonging to their same class.

Anaya hated gossip sessions as she felt as if she was out of their league. While the others traded secrets like shiny coins, she collected moments of quiet. She listened to the soft tick of the wall clock. She watched the way dust danced in the sunlight. To her, a moment of peace was worth more than any juicy story.

But today the talks were occupied by a single thought

"Did you guys hear? Adrian Knight was spotted near the city yesterday!"

Everyone squealed like mice in excitement except Anaya. She kept eating.

After a long discussion one of the girls noticed

"Why aren't you reacting?"

"Because celebrities are just people."

"You say it as if you met him earlier. "

"Wish I hadn't. Maybe the awkward moment wouldn't have happened!"

Silence. Urvashi slowly turns.

"You met WHO?"

"Ughh , So what? Not like he has diamonds embedded in place of eyes"

The conversation between the best friends was interrupted by the crowd sitting beside them.

"Gurllllll do you even know who you are talking about!?" squealed one of the crazy fangirls

"Goddd I wish I was in her place"

"Did he smell nice? "

"What kind of a question is that-"

"No but does he look just as dreamy up close??"

"Show me the picture." Uttered Urvashi

"I didn't take one."

moment of silence

"What?"

"I said I didn't take one."

The entire table stared at her. A spoon slipped from someone's hand. Across the cafeteria, three girls gasped dramatically.

Urvashi looked personally offended.

"Anaya, do you have any idea how many people would sell their souls for that opportunity?"

Anaya took another bite of her sandwich.

"That's concerning."