Niyati's POV

Every single pair of eyes in the cafeteria was on me.

Great.

Exactly what I didn't want on my first day.

I stood on the stage, holding the microphone like it might explode in my hand. My heart was beating so fast I was sure everyone could hear it.

Vivaan stood beside me, arms crossed, watching me with that same annoying smirk.

"Go on," he said softly. "Don't tell me you're backing out now."

I looked at him.

For a second, I really wanted to walk away.

But then something inside me snapped.
Why should I?

Why should I let him think I'm weak?

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes.
The noise. The whispers. The pressure.
Everything faded.

And then...

I started singing.

"Kehte hai khuda ne
Iss jahan me sabhi ke liye
Kisi na kisi ko hai
Banaya harr kisi ke liye
Tera milna hai
Jisse rab ka ishaara mano
Mujhko banaya tere
Jaisi hi kisi ke liye."

At first, my voice was soft.
Almost hesitant.

But as the lyrics flowed, something changed.

My grip on the mic steadied. My voice grew stronger.

At first, no one reacted.

A few students continued eating.
Some didn't even bother listening.

But I didn't stop.

My voice grew steadier.

Stronger.

More confident.

"Kaise hum jaane, humein kya pata..."

The chatter in the cafeteria slowly began to fade.

One by one, conversations stopped.

Forks paused mid-air.

Heads turned.

I wasn't nervous anymore.

This-

This was my space.

Music always had been.

"Kuch toh hai tujhse raabta..."

This time, my voice didn't shake.

It flowed.

Clear. Strong. Real.

I forgot about the people.

I forgot about Vivaan.

I forgot about everything.

When I finally opened my eyes...

Everyone was staring at me.

But not like before.

This time-

They weren't judging.

They were shocked.

Some students had their mouths slightly open.

Krisha looked like she had just witnessed something unbelievable.

And Vivaan...

His smirk was gone.

For the first time since I saw him-

He looked surprised.

The last note faded.

And for a moment, there was complete silence.

Then suddenly-

The cafeteria burst into applause.

Loud. Real. Unexpected.

I stepped back slightly, overwhelmed.

I didn't expect this.

At all.

Then without looking at Vihaan, I walked down the stage, my legs still slightly shaky. Krisha ran towards me.

"WHAT. WAS. THAT?!" she whisper-screamed.

"I just sang..." I said, still slightly dazed.

"You didn't just sing," she said dramatically. "You literally destroyed their entire band performance!"

My eyes widened. "What? I didn't mean to-"

"Too late," she said.

And then her expression changed.
"Uh oh."

I frowned. "What?"

She slowly pointed behind me.
I turned.

And there he was.

Vivaan.

Walking toward me.

The entire cafeteria seemed to pause again.

Seriously, does this guy have a background music or something?

He stopped right in front of me.

Too close.

"Enjoyed the spotlight?" he asked.

I crossed my arms. "You called me on stage."

"And you took it."

"Well, you dared me."

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.

"Careful," he said softly. "You sound like you enjoyed it."

I stepped closer too, matching his energy.
"Maybe I did."

Bad idea.

Very bad idea.

Because the next second-

Vivaan turned around and climbed back onto the stage.

Again.

"What is he doing?" I whispered.

Krisha looked stressed. "Nothing good."

Vivaan picked up the mic.

"Attention everyone," he said casually.

Oh no.
No no no.

"Since our new girl clearly loves performing..."

My heart dropped.

"...let's make this interesting."

I stared at him.

What is he doing?!

"From tomorrow," he continued, "we're holding auditions for our band."

Murmurs spread across the cafeteria.
Auditions?

"But," he added, glancing straight at me,
"This time... there's a twist."

I felt my stomach tighten.

"Anyone who wants to join..."

Pause.

"...has to compete with her."

WHAT?!

The entire cafeteria exploded into whispers.

I stepped forward. "Excuse me?!"

Vivaan just smiled.

"You heard me."

"I didn't agree to this!"

"You didn't have to," he said calmly.

"Now you're already part of it."

I clenched my fists.

"This is ridiculous."

"Is it?" he tilted his head. "Or are you scared?"

There it was.

The challenge.

I should walk away.

I want to walk away.

But my stupid ego?

Not letting me.

"I'm not scared," I said firmly.
"Good."

He stepped down from the stage and stood right in front of me again.

"Then prove it."

The tension between us was insane.
Like the whole world had just disappeared.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked quietly.

For a split second-
Something changed in his expression.
Something deeper.

But it vanished just as quickly.
"Because," he said,
"You walked into my space... and didn't follow the rules."

I frowned. "What rules?"

His voice dropped slightly.

"The ones everyone here follows."

I looked around.

Students were watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
And suddenly I understood.

This wasn't just about music.
This was about control.
And I had just broken it.

I looked back at him.
Fine.

Game on.

"Okay," I said.
"I'll do it."

Krisha gasped beside me. "NIYATI NO-"
I ignored her.
"But," I continued, looking straight into his eyes,

"If I win..."

He raised an eyebrow.

"If you win?" he repeated.

I took a step closer.

"You let me be."

Silence.

Vivaan smiled slowly.

"And if you lose?"

I held his gaze.

"I won't."

That did it.

For the first time-
He looked genuinely interested.
Not amused.
Not entertained.
Interested.

"Alright," he said.
"It's a deal."

He extended his hand.

I looked at it for a second.

Then shook it.

And just like that...

Without even realizing it...

I had declared war.

"Are you insane?!"
Krisha practically dragged me out of the cafeteria.

The noise behind us faded, but the whispers didn't.

I could still feel eyes on me.

Still hear my name.

"I just said yes to auditions," I said, trying to sound normal.

Krisha stopped walking.
Turned to me.
"No," she said seriously.
"You didn't just say yes to auditions."

Something in her tone made my chest tighten.

"You challenged Vivaan Malhotra," she continued.
"And trust me..."
Pause.
"That never ends normally."

I frowned slightly.

"Why does everyone act like he owns this place?"

Krisha gave a dry laugh.
"Because he kinda does."
I crossed my arms.
"That's stupid."
"Maybe," she said.
"But it's true."

We started walking again, slower this time.

The corridor was quieter now.
Almost empty.

"Okay, listen carefully," Krisha said, lowering her voice.
"Vivaan isn't just some popular guy."
"He's the reason most things in this school happen."

I raised an eyebrow.
"What does that even mean?"

"He runs the music club," she explained.
"Leads the band. Organizes events. Half the teachers don't question him."
I frowned. "Why?"
Krisha hesitated.
That was new.
"Because he's... different," she said.
"Different how?"

She looked around, making sure no one was listening.

Then leaned closer.
"Two years ago," she said quietly,
"something happened."
My curiosity immediately spiked.
"What happened?"
"No one knows exactly," she replied.
"But after that..."
She paused.
"...he changed."

I stayed silent.

Listening.

"He used to be... normal," she continued.
"Fun. Friendly. Not this..." she gestured vaguely, "intense."

"And now?" I asked.

"Now he doesn't let anyone get close."
That didn't match what I saw.

Confident. Social. Surrounded by people.

Krisha seemed to read my thoughts.
"He has people around him," she said,
"But he doesn't let them in."

Something about that stayed with me.

"And the band?" I asked.

"That's the only thing he actually cares about," she said instantly.

"Music is... different for him."

I remembered the way he played.
The way the entire room listened.

"And now," Krisha added,
"You walked into that."
I exhaled slowly.
"So what?" I said.
"I'll just give auditions and that's it."
Krisha stopped again.
Looked straight at me.
"You really think it's that simple?"

I didn't answer.

Because honestly...

I didn't know anymore.

"People don't just... cross him," she said quietly.
"And you didn't just cross him."
Pause.
"You stood up to him."
That sounded more serious than it should have.

I looked ahead.

The corridor felt different now.

Heavier.

"Why do I feel like you're trying to scare me?" I asked.
"I am," she said honestly.
I let out a small breath.

But instead of fear...

Something else settled inside me.

Curiosity.

"Good," I said.
Krisha blinked.
"What?"
"I don't like boring things."

She stared at me for a second.

Then shook her head.

"You are going to regret this."

Maybe.

But as I turned slightly-

I caught a glimpse through the glass window of the music room.

Vivaan.

Sitting alone.
Playing his guitar.

No crowd.
No attitude.
No smirk.

Just him.

And the music.

For a moment...
He looked completely different.
And something about that-
Didn't match the person I met.
I looked away quickly.

"Let's go," I said.

But one thought stayed in my mind.

Maybe...

Vivaan Malhotra wasn't just a problem.
Maybe-

He was a mystery.

And somehow...
I had just become a part of it.

____

Helloo cutiessss🤍
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Let's wait and see what's next in the story awaiting for Niyati and Vivaan.
See y'all 💕