Indhu POV
The day began like any other.
I walked into the classroom to the familiar hum of early-morning chatter, benches scraping the floor, someone already complaining about homework. Rubbing my forehead sleepily, I squinted against the harsh corridor light.
And then—
Why do they always sharpen the pencil down to a toothpick? That's not a pencil. That's a twig.
I stopped.
No one had spoken.
I turned slowly and found Rohan staring at a classmate's almost-nonexistent pencil with pure judgment on his face.
Weird.
I touched my forehead again, confused.
If I get one more question wrong in Math, I swear I'm becoming a full-time magician. Cards over calculus.
This time, the voice came clearly.
Aditya.
He was staring dramatically at his notebook.
My stomach flipped.
I could hear them.
Their thoughts.
Every time I touched my head—adjusting my hairband, wiping sweat, scratching lightly—someone's mind opened up to me.
Swetha's thoughts floated softly, like a melody I remembered from childhood.
I hope I can sit beside Indhu today… she probably doesn't even know how safe I feel next to her.
Charlotte's mind was louder, messier.
Okay, no sarcasm today. Calm. Deep breaths. Don't tell Rohan his socks don't match. Let him live.
I almost laughed out loud.
As the day went on, the thoughts grew deeper.
During break, I brushed my hair back while passing Leonor.
I used to laugh the loudest. Now my voice feels… missing. When did that happen?
Leonor?
That arrogance she wore every day wasn't there at all.
Later, I accidentally bumped into Varun in the corridor. I rubbed my head again.
Just smile, Varun. If you keep pretending you're okay, maybe one day you'll be okay.
My chest tightened.
Everyone was carrying something.
Toward the end of the day, I walked past Rohan and Aditya.
Rohan better return my pen or I'll write a song about it and perform it at assembly. —Aditya
Note to self: Tell Aditya it was his pen originally. —Rohan
I smiled.
Then Charlotte passed by.
No one ever asks Indhu how she's really doing. She always listens. But who listens to her?
That one stayed.
After school, I sat on the last bench, staring outside. As I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, I whispered,
"Maybe we don't need to hear their thoughts… maybe it's enough to care enough to ask."
Something touched my face.
I opened my eyes.
Markers.
My friends had drawn all over my face.
And worse—I'd fallen asleep while waiting for my van.
I chased them immediately. Pinched all of them. Then burst out laughing.
"Okay," I muttered, "maybe I should stop watching dramas and comics. My brain is officially hallucinating."
That evening, I remembered Aditya telling me about his weird loop dream.
I laughed again.
"Yeah… we're all weird. Age factor."
Suddenly—slap.
Swetha touched my forehead. "Do you have fever? You were muttering to yourself."
I raised an eyebrow.
Charlotte grinned. "We were just checking if you're sick."
"I'm still mad at you all for drawing on me," I said.
Aditya sighed dramatically. "I was planning to treat you all with food, but someone's angry."
I threw my pen at him.
He dodged.
Then I smiled. "In the context of food… I'm not angry anymore."
And just like that—
Everything felt normal again.