After whatever happened today in college, I come back home exhausted. My head feels heavy, like I'm dragging ten people's opinions inside it. The house is quiet when I unlock the door. Way too quiet.

Again, my parents aren't home. I've stopped expecting them to be. It's always like this - them working late, traveling, hosting dinners I'm never invited to. I've learned to live like this. Alone. Or with Meera. At least Meera is here.

I toss my bag on the sofa, kick off my shoes near the shoe rack but don't bother to line them up neatly like Mom likes. I'm too tired to care.

I head straight to the kitchen, flick on the light, and open the cabinet.

I tear open a Maggi packet. Boil water. Add the masala. Watch the noodles soften. Some days, this is the only thing that makes sense. Just me and my Maggi.

When it's done, I eat it standing at the counter - too tired to sit in the dining room. Fork in one hand, phone face-down beside the stove.

After I finish eating, I rinse the pan, leave it to dry, and head straight to my room.

My shoulders ache as I pull off my uniform. I change into comfortable clothes and pull my hair up into a bun. Drop my phone on my pillow. Then I collapse face-down on the bed.

I try to sleep - I'm so tired. Try to let my eyes shut and shut my brain with them. But all the thoughts keep colliding in my head.

"Why do I face problems every day?" "Why does everybody suck?" "The new college gives off the same vibe as the previous one."

I pull the blanket over my head. But it still doesn't help me sleep. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter.

My phone buzzes once. I ignore it.

Then it buzzes again. I pick it up and unlock it.

"2 new messages on Instagram."

I hope it's not more drama. I open Instagram quickly to see who has texted me.

It's Hira. "The account has actually gotten banned. All thanks to Ivansh."

I reply, Thankfully.

Another text is from that strange guy again.

@/hopelessturtle: I hope you're fine. Heard what happened today.

I'm fine, I type and hit send.

@/hopelessturtle: Thank God.

I leave the text on seen.

Suddenly, there's a knock on my door, it must be Meera. I get up to open the door for her.

As soon as I open it, she pushes me aside and sits on my bed.

"Rude," I say.

"A lot happened today and you didn't even tell me. You're rude, not me!" she pouts.

"I'm tired, Meera," I say, uninterested.

"Okay fine, I'm sorry. But are you okay? You know Khushi? She saw your hate post, which is no longer there-she told me you were kissing somebody," she says, concern evident in her voice.

"I'm okay, but holy fuck."

"Tell me everything."

Meera folds her legs under her and settles right in the middle of my bed like she owns the place. Typical. I grab my pillow, hug it to my chest, and sigh so hard it rattles my lungs.

"It's so stupid, Meera." I look at her, waiting for her to roll her eyes at my statement but she just nods, all ears.

"Tell me anyway."

So I do.

"Someone posted this edited photo. Made it look like Ivansh was-I don't even know. It looked like he was cupping my jaw or leaning in like he was about to kiss me. Which didn't happen. At all. But everyone just believed it. No one cared if it was real or fake. I guess they just wanted it to be real."

Meera's nose scrunches like she just smelled something foul. "That's disgusting. Who even does that?"

"Campus Trolls. That gossip page. I don't know who runs it but they have way too much free time. They made the caption worse too, called me a homewrecker. I believe Tanya was the one who edited the picture. Ivansh was 100% sure about that. When Tanya came to me and created the drama, you should have seen her face. It was like she'd been waiting for something like this to explode."

Meera's eyes widen. "Did she say anything to you?"

I snort, dropping my forehead to my knees. "Did she say anything? BROOO, she screamed at me. In front of everyone. Hira and Aryan were there. Aman too. She was throwing all these insults: called me cheap, said I was after her man."

"Wait, what did Ivansh do?" Meera blinks.

"He stood up for me and told her to shut up. Told her she looked pathetic. That if she didn't apologize he'd make her regret it," I reply.

Meera's hand flies to her mouth. "No way. He made her apologize?"

"Yeah. It was so weird. She mumbled it. And then she stormed off like she'd just been publicly executed or something."

Meera's squeal is so loud I wince. "He totally likes you!!!"

"Ew, shut up." I fling my pillow at her. She catches it, still grinning like an idiot.

"I'm serious. Do you know how humiliating that must've been for Tanya? The fact that he didn't side with her? He made her say sorry in front of people? Oh my God, he's obsessed with you."

"Can you hear yourself right now?" I say. "He is not obsessed with me, Meera. He's probably just ashamed of his ex. I mean anybody would be ashamed because of her and he was just trying to help me."

Meera raises an eyebrow. "You know what, boys do that when they care."

I flop back onto my bed and stare at the ceiling like it might answer for me. "No. No. He doesn't care. He's bored. Or he wants Tanya to crawl back and beg. Or maybe he thinks it's funny messing with the new girl."

"You're not just the new girl, though," she points out. "You're the girl who makes his ex lose her mind. Who makes him get a whole post deleted."

I don't answer. Because I don't know what's happening. Maybe he's just trying to get rid of Tanya using me.

Meera leans over me and pokes my forehead. "I'm telling you. He likes you. You just don't see it."

"Stop saying that!" I swat her hand away. "He does not like me. He doesn't even know me. We've talked, like, what? Twice? Three times? And every time he's looked at me like he's studying a science experiment."

"That's called paying attention, dummy." She lies down beside me, both of us staring at the ceiling now. "Boys like him don't pay attention to just anybody."

"He's a famous guy, Meera. Boys like him don't stick with just anybody either," I say under my breath.

Meera goes quiet at that.

She shifts closer, shoulder brushing mine. "Still. He didn't have to do what he did. He could've laughed with Tanya. He could've called you names too. He could've said that you forced him. But he didn't. He chose you."

"I just want it to be over," I mumble. "I don't want people looking at me like I'm some sideshow. I don't want his name next to mine in whispers, gossips, and his fangirls spreading hate for me. I don't want any of it."

"After a week or two weeks, everybody is going to forget this whole drama. Don't worry," Meera says softly.

I turn my head to look at her. "Hmm."

"I actually came here to say something else too," she starts carefully.

I raise an eyebrow. "Please don't tell me you've invited half the colony for a sleepover. I'm not in the mood to fake smiles."

She snorts. "No, dummy. Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow."

I blink. "What? Mom and Dad are coming? For real?"

"For real. After, what, a whole month?" She tries to smile but her lips twist, half bitter, half resigned. "Mom called me while you were in college. They said they'll reach by afternoon. Probably stay till night. Maybe even stay over if Dad's work gets cancelled."

I stare at the ceiling, trying to wrap my head around it. Mom and Dad. In this house. After so long.

"And guess what?" she says, her voice brightening like she's trying to sell it as good news. "They want to have dinner with us. Like a family. Can you imagine?"

I let out a dry laugh. "A family dinner. Wow. Should I wear my best behaviour too?"

She rolls her eyes but ignores my sarcasm. "I'm serious, Maya. Don't go to college tomorrow. We'll do the house together. Clean up, buy some flowers, maybe cook something nice so Mom doesn't give her 'what do you girls even eat' speech again."

I groan and hide my face behind my hands. "Meera, no. I can't just skip college like that. People already think I'm some drama queen."

She pulls my hands down and looks me dead in the eye. "First, you are skipping. I'll fake a headache for you if you want. Second, you literally survived a fake scandal today. I think you deserve to stay home, scrub the bathroom floor and listen to my rants instead."

I let out a soft laugh despite myself. "Your rants are worse than Tanya's rants."

She gasps, scandalised. "Take that back."

I poke her side. "Never."

Meera smiles. "Bitch. Now sleep. I'll set five alarms so you can wake up and mop the living room with me."

"I am not your slave," I mumble, but I'm half smiling as I say it.

"Love you too." She flicks my forehead lightly and stands up, gathering the pillows she always steals from my room for her fortress of comfort in hers.

At the door, she pauses and looks back at me. "It's gonna be fine, Maya. All of it. College. Mom's judgmental stare. I promise."

I nod again, too tired to

reply to anything else. "Night, Meera."

She blows me a dramatic kiss and disappears down the hallway, her soft steps fading as the house swallows her up.