Chapter 214: The New comer
The boy stopped right beside their table, effortlessly balancing his lunch tray with a single hand.
He looked to be exactly their age, sporting a lean, athletic build, neatly combed black hair, and sharp, pleasant features that naturally drew a person’s eye.
A polite, easygoing smile rested on his lips."...Excuse me," he murmured, catching the attention of the entire group. "Mind if I sit here?"
Jignesh squinted at him for a moment, pointing an accusing finger. "Wait... aren’t you the new guy from this morning?"
The boy chuckled. "Guilty as charged."
Arvind adjusted his spectacles, his eyes narrowing slightly behind the lenses. "You joined today, right? Abhinav... Singh, was it?"
"That’s the one." He nodded politely. "I’m Abhinav Singh."
He cast a brief look across the crowded, noisy cafeteria before returning his focus to the table. "Every other table seems completely full. So... would you guys mind?"
Subhojeet glanced around the immediate vicinity and gestured toward the empty chair right next to Shweta. "Go ahead and take it. That’s literally the only empty seat left in this section."
"Thanks, appreciate it."Abhinav carefully lowered his tray onto the table and pulled out the chair.
For a few awkward seconds, the only noise between them was the sharp clinking of steel spoons against metal plates. No one spoke.
Abhinav looked around the quiet circle, offering a self-deprecating smile. "So... I guess introducing yourself to an entire table of strangers is a lot harder than I originally imagined."
Jignesh was the first to break the tension, letting out a hearty laugh. "Relax, man. We don’t bite."
"He bites," Arvind chimed in instantly, pointing his thumb right at Jignesh. "Be careful."
"Hey! Shut up!" Jignesh protested.
The entire table chuckled, and the thick layer of initial awkwardness instantly evaporated.
After quietly observing the newcomer for a few moments, Akhil decided to speak up. "Weren’t you hanging around Shailesh’s group during recess? I thought I saw you with them near the door."
Abhinav let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair as if he had been anticipating that exact question. "Unfortunately, yes. They approached me first the second I stepped out of the office. I had absolutely no idea who they were."
Subhojit raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "And then what happened?"
"And then every single girl I tried talking to afterward started actively walking away from me," Abhinav admitted, offering a thoroughly helpless shrug.
The table fell dead silent for a brief beat before Jignesh suddenly slammed his palm against the wood. "WAIT! That was you?!"
Abhinav blinked, taken aback. "...You actually saw that?"
"Saw it?" Arvind burst into a fit of laughter. "Man, we thought those girls were just acting weird for no reason! They were literally pulling sharp U-turns and changing directions the exact moment you walked into their line of sight."
Abhinav let out a defeated groan. "I swear, I’ve spent the entire time since then wondering if I had completely forgotten to use my deodorant this morning."
The table erupted in loud, unrestrained laughter.
Even Shweta couldn’t help but cover her mouth, her shoulders shaking with amusement."I’m sorry," she said, trying to regain her composure. "But... knowing Shailesh’s awful reputation on campus, that explains absolutely everything."
Abhinav pointed his spoon toward her in validation. "See? Thank you! I wasn’t even trying to flirt with them. I literally just wanted to ask someone where the school library was."
Jignesh dramatically placed a hand over his heart. "Brother... you have truly suffered. Welcome to the safe zone."
After a few more laughs passed around, Arvind leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "So, out of all the groups here, why choose this table?"
Abhinav shrugged casually, his demeanor relaxed. "I figured I should actually learn about people firsthand instead of blindly believing campus rumors. The guys at the water dispenser told me all about the massive spectacle that happened on the football field this morning."
His eyes briefly flicked toward Rohit before seamlessly returning to the rest of the group."They also mentioned that your group usually minds its own business and avoids the typical school drama. So... I thought I’d try my luck. New school, new friends. Can’t hurt, right?"
Jignesh immediately pointed a golden french fry straight at him. "As the self-appointed captain of this table, I hereby officially accept your application."
Subhojit looked entirely confused. "Wait, since when do we have applications?"
"We do now," Jignesh declared with supreme confidence.
Arvind sighed, rolling his eyes. "I deeply apologize on behalf of the rest of humanity, Abhinav."
Everyone laughed again.
Even Rohit’s lips twitched upward into a faint, barely noticeable smile before he quietly returned to his meal.
As the lunch period progressed, the conversation smoothly drifted from one topic to the next.
Abhinav shared the reasons behind his sudden mid-term transfer, his grandfather’s ongoing medical treatments, his favorite subjects, and typical complaints about the terrible hostel food. They bitched about the most annoying teachers and the impossible practical assignment they were all dealing with.
Abhinav blended into the dynamic surprisingly well. He wasn’t loud, nor was he overly eager to please. He mostly listened, asked thoughtful questions, and occasionally cracked jokes at his own expense.
Within minutes, the entire group looked completely comfortable around him.
Rohit quietly watched the entire interaction from the side, his analytical mind spinning.
Interesting...
Most people attempting to insert themselves into a tightly-knit, established friend circle either tried far too hard or stayed completely silent out of nervousness.
Abhinav did neither. He matched everyone’s conversational pace completely naturally.
And yet...
Rohit’s sharp observation picked up on a very subtle pattern.
No matter where a conversation started, it somehow, inevitably, drifted back toward him.
It was never direct. It was never obvious. A harmless question about a class would lead to another remark, someone else would answer, and before long, the topic would subtly circle right back around to Rohit’s actions, his history, or his personality.
It was smooth. Incredibly smooth.
If Rohit hadn’t lived through two full lifetimes of corporate and social manipulation, he probably wouldn’t have caught it.
An underlying suspicion began to form in his mind.
Could this boy really be connected to the Singh family that held major power in his family’s corporate office? The surname itself wasn’t uncommon in the country. Still... that specific Singh woman had remained one of his father’s closest company advisers well into the future, and her family had retained considerable influence over their business assets.
Coincidence... or a calculated deployment?
Deciding to test the waters and read the boy’s reaction, Rohit finally looked up from his tray, his gaze piercing. "So..."
Abhinav turned toward him instantly, his smile steady. "Yeah?"
"Do you happen to have an older brother?" Rohit asked evenly.
The entire table suddenly fell dead quiet.
Even Jignesh looked completely puzzled, his hand pausing mid-air. "...Wow, okay. That was incredibly random, Rohit."
Rohit offered a light, dismissive cough. "I just happen to know someone with the surname Singh outside of school. I was wondering if you were related to them."
A look of sudden realization washed over Abhinav’s face. "Oh." He laughed softly, shaking his head. "No, definitely not. I’m an only child." He paused, thinking for a brief second. "I do have plenty of cousins scattered around, though. Any particular name you’re looking for?"
Rohit studied him for another moment before shaking his head. "No. Never mind."
Abhinav nodded without pressing further. The conversation naturally drifted to another topic.
Rohit lowered his gaze back to his lunch.
At least for now... his first suspicion had disappeared.
The real question, however, remained unanswered.
Why was this boy so interested in him?