STRINGS and STANDOFFS

2: Plot Twist - Same College, Same Chaos

The room smelled faintly of old wood and fresh ambition. Tall windows let in strips of sun, slicing across the polished floor. A grand piano stood proudly in one corner, and acoustic panels lined the walls. The air buzzed with a quiet thrill,this was not just any class. This was the music class. The one Radha had been looking forward to.

Until she saw the seating chart.

Radha's eyes scanned the paper, already sensing betrayal in the ink. Her roll number was right there. So was Anirudh Shah's. Right next to hers. Again.

"Of course," she muttered, dragging her feet into the room like it was a courtroom.

Anirudh was already inside, sitting sideways in a chair like he owned the place, tossing a pen up and catching it lazily. He looked up as Radha entered.

"You're late," he said, smirking.

"You're still here," she replied sweetly, dropping her bag onto the seat beside him with a thud that was just shy of threatening.

Before he could clap back, the professor an energetic middle-aged woman with chunky earrings and a clipboard entered.

"Good afternoon, artists!" she beamed. "This year, your final project will be the heart of your grade. You'll be co-writing a minimum of three original songs, with at least one involving basic music production. You'll present them live at the 4th year-end showcase."

Radha's stomach dropped. She looked sideways at Anirudh, who was still smirking like he'd manifested this disaster.

"And yes," the professor added, flipping through papers, "partners are assigned by roll number."

Anirudh leaned in, whispering just loud enough, "Destiny's working overtime, huh Deshpande? Gonna change your name then?"

Radha didn't blink. "It's not destiny. It's karma. And you're the punishment." The professor clapped her hands. "Time to meet your partner and begin brainstorming. You have 4 years, people. Make it worth it!"

Radha buried her face in her notebook for a second. This was going to be a very, very long year.

*

Group Chat: 1st Rank, 2nd Rank,rizzball

no_shit_kavya| radha98% | rizzball

Radha98 %: I'm dropping music. This is not a joke. I refuse to waste my prime creative years paired with that human migraine. We have to do the major project together .

Rizzball:Hey hey hey let's breathe before we drop a whole major?

No_shit_kavya:Do it. Drop it. Go full drama queen. I'll help you pack your keyboard.

Radha98%:NOT HELPING KAV.

No_shit_kavya:Never claimed to.

Rizzball: Radha...you love music. You've literally said it's your therapy.

Radha98%:My therapy just became trauma.

No_shit_kavya: Title of your memoir.

Radha98 %: He smirked at me. When the professor announced it.Like he knew. Like he planned it.Like he's already picturing our breakup song.

No_shit_kavya:Okay but now I need to hear that breakup song.Call it "minor inconvenience" in D major.

No_shit_kavya:"written, produced, and performed by enemies legally required to harmonize."

Radha98%:I hate both of you.

Rizzball:You love us. And deep down, you live for this chaos.

No_shit_kavya:Also what if this project slays?What if y'all become a legendary musical duo?Like...swift and sheeran.But with more murder threats.