There are days that change your life.
Mine started with a slammed door, a broken compass, and a math test I completely forgot about.
I stormed into class, already in Hitler mode, yelling at the boys in the back for breathing too loudly and accusing my best friend of stealing my geometry box (she didn't). I was on fire that morning—short-tempered, loud, and dangerous.
Classic me.
By second period, I was still grumbling when the intercom crackled.
"Vashti Dhiman, report to the science lab. Right now."
I thought I was in trouble again. Maybe for throwing chalk at Aarav yesterday (he did deserve it). I stomped into the lab, ready to fight whoever dared summon me.
And then…
I froze.
Shabd Heer.
He was standing by the counter, flipping through a file, lab coat on, sleeves rolled neatly, hair perfect, eyes focused.
My legs turned into jelly noodles.
He looked up. And for the first time ever… he spoke to me.
"You're Vashti, right?"
His voice was calm. Steady. Like a peaceful river—and I was a thunderstorm about to drown in it.
"I—yeah—I mean, obviously," I blurted, trying not to sound like I forgot how talking worked.
He gave the tiniest smile.
"You signed up for the junior-senior science mentorship, didn't you?"
My brain screamed: No. What mentorship?!
Then I remembered—I had signed up for a project weeks ago. I only did it because it sounded important on paper and because the teacher said "top students" would be selected.
"I'm mentoring your batch," he said. "You'll be working under me."
And just like that, my world exploded.
Me. Under him. In science. In the same room. Breathing the same air. Sharing the same microscope?!
I nodded so fast I probably looked possessed.
He handed me a paper. "Read the outline. We'll start tomorrow."
Then he turned around and went back to work.
No butterflies. No music. No magical spark.
Just five calm words that lit my entire universe on fire:
"You'll be working under me."
Back in class, I didn't yell at anyone. I didn't slap anyone's head or snatch anyone's notebook. Everyone thought I was sick.
But really, for the first time ever… Shabd Heer had spoken to me.
And in my secret scrapbook that night, I wrote:
"I heard his voice. I swear I'll never forget it—even if I only hear it once."
---