STRINGS and STANDOFFS

2: Plot Twist - Same College, Same Chaos

And somewhere in that quiet, sarcastic space between them, something warm began to grow.

*

(Setting:NCU Canteen , Post-Banter, Post-Food War Declaration)

Everyone's sitting around the long, sunny table. Plates half-full, voices full volume.

Kavya pointed dramatically at Radha, "Mark this date. She didn't throw anything. Not even a paper napkin."

Anirudh adds ,"I'm proud of you, Deshpande. Growth looks good on you."

Radha grins,"Don't get used to it, Shah. I'm only being civil because the Sandwich here is edible."

"God bless canteen food, bringing peace since ten minutes ago," Rishi says cheerfully.

"Ten minutes is a record," Trisha adds.

Ashi nervously looks between Radha and Anirudh,"Okay, but seriously... are we pretending the tension's not real? Like, is this the calm before they throttle each other?"

Shree, still chewing, "Let them. Adds spice to the day. Better than this sambhar."

Rudra dramatically leans back,"If they kill each other, dibs on Radha's headphones."

Kavya raises her eyebrows,"And I'll take Anirudh's ego. That thing deserves its own zip code."

"It's not ego if it's factual.", Anirudh sounds offended.

Radha rolls her eyes and smiles at Anirudh, "Oh great, it speaks."

Rishi clutches his chest,"Help. I think I just inhaled a samosa from shock."

Trisha quickly types on her phone, "Radha just smiled at Anirudh. Possible side effects: global warming. Updates soon."

Shree now sips his Coke, "I give it a week before one of them breaks the other's guitar."

Radha fake gasps, "You monster. I would never damage a musical instrument."

Anirudh smirks,"She has standards. Even in violence."

Kavya snickers, "This is exactly why I show up for lunch. That and the potato wedges."

Everyone laughs. The chaos is back, but there's warmth in it. That messy, familiar kind of warmth you only get when the people around you feel like home.

*

(Setting: Dance Wing Hallway Just Before Class)

The corridor is lit with golden afternoon light. Music echoes faintly from one of the other studios. Radha is on the floor, stretching in her dance gear. Kavya is sitting beside her, sipping on an iced coffee like she's front row at a drama show.

"So... how does it feel? You, him, same major, same projects. God said Spice it up," Kavya asks casually.

"God really said suffer." Radha says without looking.

"Please. The tension between you two could power this entire campus. And I'd like to remind you, you chose music and dance."

Radha rolls her eyes, "Yeah, because I didn't think Mr. Oxford would show up to ruin it.And I love these majors."

Kavya adds, "You know what's wild? Everyone's scared you two will kill each other... but I think you're just dramatic enough to duet mid-fight."

"Only if the song's Love Story but I change the ending to a restraining order."

Kavya chokes on her coffee, laughing,"You're ridiculous. Also, I saw that eye contact at lunch."

"Bold of you to assume I wasn't aiming lasers."