"We need to talk. After school."
Seven words.
That's all Maya said before turning and walking away like a final boss who just dropped the challenge.
I stood there holding my tray of half-eaten rajma chawal, frozen like my brain had been hit by a blue screen error.
"What did she say?" Aditya asked, mouth full of samosa.
"She wants to talk. After school."
"Oof," he winced. "That's either a love confession… or public execution."
"I literally just called her a robot in my head."
"And she got the message?"
"She read it. Out loud."
"Then yeah," Aditya nodded, "Execution it is."
---
3:25 PM – School Gate
I spent the rest of the school day trying not to think.
Which, let me tell you, is like trying not to breathe while eating a green chilli.
Every time I saw Maya in class, my brain screamed:
> "AVOID EYE CONTACT! AVERT THOUGHTS!"
But the more I tried to suppress it, the worse it got. Thoughts like:
> "Maybe she really is a robot."
"Or an alien sent to study teenage awkwardness."
"What if she's reading this exact thought right now?"
Ping.
New message sent.
Recipient: Maya.
I wanted to die.
---
4:02 PM – After School
Maya waited at the school garden bench, arms crossed, bag on her lap, and expression dead serious.
I approached like a man walking into his own funeral.
"Hi," I said, voice cracking.
"You're not insane," she said flatly.
"Oh. Cool. I thought—wait what?"
She looked me in the eye. "You're not crazy. Your thoughts are being sent through a system. It's not random."
"System?"
"Yes," she said, tapping her phone. "Look. All your 'thoughts'—they arrive like messages. But they have file IDs and emotion tags. Look at this one."
She showed me her screen.
> [LOG#1314-SARCASTIC]
"Why is Maya staring like she's planning world domination?"
I blinked. "Wait... they're labeled?"
"Yes. It's structured. Organized. Automated."
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
Then she said something even crazier.
> "I think you're part of something bigger. And I want to help you control it."
---
4:10 PM – Plot Twist Time
Aditya appeared behind us holding two cold drinks and said, "Plot twist time?"
I nearly dropped dead.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "He knows?"
"I'm his handler," Aditya said proudly. "I monitor the brain leaks and provide emotional support. Also memes."
Maya actually smiled.
Great. They're bonding. Over my disaster.