Fights kept going beyond just the older kids. Inside the 7th-grade room, tension grew thick - quiet looks turned sharp, voices rose without warning. A chair scraped back suddenly when someone spoke too loud. Papers flew after one shout, then silence fell like a held breath.

  "Okay class, form groups of five for the Science Project," Mrs. Kapur announced, her voice barely audible over the scraping of chairs. "The lab is open for the next two hours."

  Focusing first on those closest to me - Priya, Sonali, Krishna, then Adithya - I saw who we relied on most. He happened to lead us, always planning ahead, sharp in his thinking, rarely satisfied unless things were just right.

  Dhanya, it's your turn now - handling the sketches," Adithya remarked while jotting down my name.

  "Wait a minute!"

  Bharat moved ahead, standing in the way. Back then, me and Bharat? Total mismatch - like cartoons clashing nonstop. Pens sparked arguments. So did chairs. Even a samosa could start trouble. Hate wasn’t it. Just loud noise passing for talk.

  "Dhanya is in my team," Bharat declared, holding up his own list. "I already wrote her name down. We're doing the Volcano project, and she’s the only one who knows how to mix the colors right."

  "She already agreed to be in my team, Bharat," Adithya said, his voice rising. "Go find someone else."

  "No! She’s my friend too! Dhanya, tell him you're with me!" Bharat shouted.

  "She’s the one who suggested our project, she’s staying here!" Adithya barked back.

  There I was, caught in the middle, gaze jumping back and forth. Right behind, Priya, Sonali, along with the rest of the so-called Girl Gang, buzzing like they’d just seen fireworks. Teasing flew out before anyone could blink.

  "Look at that! Two boys fighting for Dhanya! Our little singer is a superstar!" Sonali whispered loud enough for the whole row to hear.

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  That’s enough," I snapped, cheeks burning red. Just a school assignment, nothing more

  Both spoke at once, eyes locked sharp, as if the chalkboard might witness a takedown any second. Not merely some task - this meant more.

  The room fell silent, every student pausing mid-task. A flicker of amusement rose inside me, though most of my attention stayed fixed on the exit. Not quite pride, more like being put on display - uncomfortable, exposed. My fingers twitched toward the handle without deciding.

  "Why are you guys not in the lab yet?"

  A loud voice filled the room, coming from the teacher at the door. Right then, both boys stopped yelling at each other. The moment they heard it, their fight just shut down.

  "We’re just... settling the roster, Ma'am," Adithya stammered.

  "Well, settle it in the next ten seconds or you’re all getting a zero," she snapped.

  As we hurried toward the lab, Bharat leaned in and whispered, "You're still on my team in spirit, Dhanya. Adithya just has the better clipboard."

  Laughter faded when my foot hit the lab floor, spotting Ajay rooted in the hall - eyes locked, face still, taking it all in like he always does.

  That moment showed me how tangled things had gotten. At home, I fit into the role of the good daughter. In the quiet space between bookshelves, people saw something different - someone tied to notes and rhythm. Elsewhere, inside white coats and equations, they called me an award waiting to be won. High above the hallway stairs, older students watched without knowing, their glances full of questions. Each version stayed separate. None matched completely.

  I was Dhanya. For once, it felt unclear - would the quiet one show up, or the storm?