The next day,
Ayra arrived at college, her thoughts already drifting as she parked her pink bicycle in the lot. She couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious guy who had helped her. Who might be the one who gave a hand to me? I didn't even say a proper thank you, and I didn't see his face either. The thought pinched her. If she ever found the driver or the person who helped her, she promised herself she would thank him properly—maybe even give him flowers or something sweet.
Lost in her thoughts, Ayra walked ahead until she noticed Vicky, Preethi, Reena, and Gautam Sathwik sitting on the stairs, laughing loudly as if joking about someone. The sight reminded her of yesterday—how Vicky wanted to be her friend and how she rejected him, not out of pride but because she didn't want misunderstandings or heartbreaks later.
Maybe the new guy Vicky can become friends with Reena, Gautam, and Preethi, she told herself, glancing at her teddy-shaped watch."Oh God! Only eight minutes left! If I don't hurry, PP sir will punish me again!"
Ayra ran toward her classroom, slipped into her seat, and quickly composed herself. Soon, the room buzzed with chatter as everyone arrived. Then Mr. PP walked in.
"Good morning, sir!" the class chorused."Good morning, students," he replied. "Today I'm not giving you a regular class. Instead, I have another notice."
The room immediately grew alert.
"Our college will be conducting a Beauty Contest and Prom within two weeks. And as all of you already know, next week is the dance competition. After that, the Prom contest will be included too. You all should find your partners and dance well. We've also brought a dance teacher, Miss Priya, to help you."
The class erupted with cheers.
Priya walked in gracefully and introduced herself. "Hello students. My name is Priya, and I'll be teaching all of you dance. We'll be competing against other colleges, so I want dedication, energy, and teamwork. I'll take you to another room, see your dance moves, and then note down your names based on your interest and performance."
"Hurray! No class today—we get to dance!" someone shouted.
Ayra sat next to Preethi as everyone started partnering up. Preethi got paired with Vicky, while Ayra was paired with Gautam, with Reena and Sagar forming another pair. Everyone settled into their groups, except Gautam grumbled to himself, Why did this dumb girl become my partner?
The music began, and Priya demonstrated elegant steps with her dance partner Vikram. Everyone tried following along.
Ayra's heart dipped when she sensed Gautam's annoyance. He has hated me since childhood, she thought. She turned to him softly. "I'm sorry… can we stop for a second? My heels are hurting."
Gautam ignored her completely.
Ayra tried to continue dancing, but her new heels betrayed her balance. She tripped—Gautam didn't even try to catch her—and she fell hard onto the floor.
The room exploded with laughter.
Priya immediately stopped dancing. Shocked and upset, she rushed to Ayra and offered her hand. "Don't you all have any shame?" she shouted at the class. "Your classmate fell and none of you helped her!"
Hidden voices murmured, "Ayra is not a friend to anyone here, ma'am. Only Preethi is her friend. Ayra is useless… everyone calls her Miss Duller."
The words stabbed Ayra deeply. Tears burst from her eyes, and she ran out of the room.
Priya noticed Ayra's heels were new and realized she must have gotten hurt. She followed her to an empty classroom where Ayra sat sobbing. Priya quietly sat beside her, offering a handkerchief.
"Strong girls never cry," Priya said gently. "I understand—you had a problem with your heels. And hello, I'm Priya. What's your name?"
"Ayra," she sniffed. "Thank you for helping me in the dance room… and for defending me."
Priya smiled warmly. "Everyone calls me ma'am, but you can call me Priya. I'm just twenty-seven, six years older than you."
Ayra blinked. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Priya's eyes softened. "Because I found myself in you. When I started dancing, I slipped and fell just like you. My friends laughed at me too. It hurt—but I didn't stop. I kept practicing until dance became my life. Today, I run my own dance studio and have won many competitions. Self-discovery comes from passion."
She squeezed Ayra's shoulder. "If you want to dance but struggle with steps or heels, tell me. I'll give you private classes—for free."
Ayra widened her eyes. "Why, Priya? I can pay you with my savings—"
"No," Priya cut her gently. "I want to help because… I want to. I had a sister named Ayra too. She died in an accident. She was cheerful and cute like you. Seeing you reminded me of her." Her voice trembled slightly. "From today onward, I'll treat you like my own sister. I'll be in this city for one month before I move to Switzerland, but until then, I'll help you. I want to see you dance confidently."
Ayra whispered, "But I don't have a partner."
Priya chuckled. "Don't worry. You can bring a friend or cousin—anyone. The theme is dance, not couples from your college. And if you can't find a partner, I'll dance with you myself. It might look unusual, but our performance will melt hearts. Also… there's a secret. The dance competition offers prize money and a chance for popularity because it will be telecasted on TV."
Ayra's eyes widened."Are you ready to learn, Ayra?""Yes, sis," Ayra said with a small smile.
Priya hugged her. "From today, call me sis or Priya—whatever you like. I'll visit your house or you can come to mine for practice."
Just then, Mr. PP entered.
"Miss Priya, have you finalized the students?"
"Yes," she replied.
He glanced at Ayra with irritation. "Ayra isn't good at dance. Best for everyone if she doesn't participate. She always creates disturbances, fails exams, and has bad manners."
Ayra's face fell.
Priya's expression hardened. "Mr. PP, speaking badly about a student is not good. You judge her without knowing her. Your behavior is unprofessional."
Mr. PP scoffed, "You're just a dance teacher who's leaving soon. I've been here for ten years."
Priya smirked. "Yes, I may not be here long. But my father—Mr. Prakash—is on the board of directors of this college. If I report your discrimination, even a senior professor will face consequences."
Mr. PP froze."I—I'm sorry, ma'am…"
Priya raised her hand. "If you insult Ayra or any student again, you will face strict punishment."
Terrified, he hurried away.
Ayra stared, stunned. "You… you're related to the board of directors?"
Priya nodded. "Yes. But I prefer being independent and following my passion. Remember—never let go of your passion, your love, or your achievements. They shape your life."
Ayra smiled as they exchanged numbers and left the room together.
Outside, Vikram approached Priya. "Everyone danced well. I've prepared the names list. Where were you?"
"I was doing something important," she answered with a meaningful smile.
They left in their cars, while Ayra sat on a bench under the tree, lost in thoughts. Priya's words echoed in her mind—Passion, love, and achievements rule your life.
And then, thoughts of the mystery man surfaced again.Why does my heart beat faster when I think of him? Why can't I stop thinking about him?
Suddenly, Preethi ran up to her. "Ayra! I got selected! Vicky is a great dancer and he looks so good too! Ayra… AYRA! Are you here?"
Ayra blinked. "What?"
"Are you even in this world?" Preethi asked dramatically.
"No," Ayra whispered with a secret smile. "I have important work."She hopped onto her bicycle and rode away.