Different Worlds

The morning sun was sharp by the time they stepped out. The street buzzed with students in uniforms, backpacks bouncing, rickshaw horns echoing in the distance.

Neil adjusted his bag on his shoulders, walking with an easy rhythm. Aarav slouched beside him, earphones dangling around his neck, gaze on the ground.

Neil broke the silence first.
“Brother, what class are you in again? Eleventh, right?”

Aarav didn’t look at him. “Yeah. Lucky me. One year ahead, still wasting my life.”

Neil smiled awkwardly. “I’m in tenth. Sixteen already.”

Aarav gave a quick sideways glance. “Hah. Sixteen and still cheerful. Annoying.”

Neil blinked. “Did you just call me annoying?”

Aarav shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”

Neil laughed it off, but Aarav shoved his hands in his pockets, thoughts swirling.
(Thoughts): This kid’s energy is exhausting. He talks like the world isn’t pressing down on him.

They reached the crossroads where their schools split. Neil’s school gate was filled with laughter and chatter; Aarav’s was quieter, students dragging themselves in.

Neil waved. “See you after class!”

Aarav muttered, “Yeah, whatever,” and turned away.

[Scene – Neil’s School]

The schoolyard buzzed with noise. Neil instantly melted into it—two boys ran up to him, tossing a ball, and he caught it with a grin.

“Neil! You’re late today,” one of them teased.

“Went for a run,” Neil said easily, tossing the ball back. “You know, actual exercise.”

“Ugh, you and your healthy habits.”

They laughed, and soon Neil was sitting with a small group under a tree, notebooks open. He leaned forward, explaining a tricky math problem, his handwriting neat, his voice patient.

“See? Just cancel here, and it works out,” he said, smiling.

One of the girls tapped her pen. “You make it sound easy, Neil.”

He scratched the back of his head. “It’s just practice, really.”

His friends nodded, impressed. Neil’s energy wasn’t loud—it was warm, pulling people in.

[Scene – Aarav’s School]

Meanwhile, in a dull classroom across the street, Aarav slouched at the last bench. His phone was tilted inside his open book, screen glowing with a paused video game.

A classmate nudged him.
“Bro, you playing again?”

Aarav smirked. “Better than dying of boredom.”

Another leaned over. “Hey, share the game link, na.”

Aarav shook his head lazily. “Only for VIP members. You gotta subscribe.”

The boys snorted, trying not to laugh too loud. Aarav grinned faintly, but soon yawned, head dropping into his palm. The classroom buzzed with chatter he didn’t care to join.

(Thoughts): Same old. Same faces. Same nothing.

[Scene – Midterm Announcement]

Both schools, different classrooms. Two different teachers stood before two different groups of students, but the words echoed the same.

“Listen carefully, everyone. Mid-terms are coming next month,” Neil’s teacher said firmly, chalk tapping the board. “I want you all to give it your best effort.”

Across the street, Aarav’s teacher repeated almost the same line. “No excuses this time. Mid-terms will decide your standing. Work hard.”

Neil sat straighter, determination flashing in his eyes. Aarav, meanwhile, tilted his phone screen off, sighing.

(Thoughts): Mid-terms, huh? Great. Just what I needed.

The contrast couldn’t have been sharper—two cousins, two classrooms, two completely different worlds.