VELVET REIGN

perfume trails left behind by ghosts that never touched her. Ananya walked through them

lways did - behind her back,

today? Looks like someth

stitch those sa

shoes ar

nd her neck, seeped into her skin, slithered under her uniform. These weren't

like they were being filmed - orbiting her like polished moons. They had names like Mehek, Diya, and Anushka, and eyes trained in the art

y anymore. Not i

focused on her steps, clutching her books as if

nd when Ananya knew the answer. Mr. Sen barely glanced her way during discussions, though she stayed up la

use of the cracked mirror and leaky tap. She locked herself inside the last cubicle, her sanctuary, and pulled out her diary. A

w, fingers trembling with the

t they don't se

on't know what it mea

t walk these ha

my name and taste re

ng back at her like a promi

hen she

tst

.. gi

ce this time. D

eath c

ty washroom corridor. "Yo, let'

ide the cubicle. She stiffened, clutching the

oice - warm, a

was

ss. The one who had smiled

here," he said, low

dn't a

to bite, are you?"

her spine. Her pulse quickened. Was he m

was si

gentle knock

any

blin

id he

y, as if reading her mind. "The one you left

remember

Her deepe

de her like wild j

voice lower now, velvet and careful. "Bu

o the walls. Hide fore

is eyes - deep brown, curious, lit with somethi

anyone noticed m

ed. "The first da

eath h

ween them - not awkward, but full.

name?" she

led. "

ra

id across her se

otsteps again. Hig

rav mutter

e next cubicle, s

air like glass. "Ugh, even the

h her entourage, th

ed. Her sanctu

said, inspecting her lip gloss in the mirror. "Bet she's crying ag

s throa

seen he

wo

secr

ard it too. She coul

her thinking someone would ever like her? Po

a p

of too-lo

or beside Anan

steppe

ya g

linked. "What ar

"Wondering how someone so b

s stared

collar. "You read her diary? Then you sh

m - brushing Ananya's cubicle door with his fin

as spee

with disbelief. Her fingers brushed over the di

slowly, eyes m

sm

broken

owin

ays still

e, they whis