He loved her in silence.
They tore them apart when the truth surfaced.
Friends vanished. Only one stayed.
Now, 700 kilometers from home, Harsha seeks a fresh start.
New faces. New hopes.
But the smiles fade. The walls close in.
Alone again, for reas...
Whispers floated through the class. Everyone noticed her. Her calm demeanor, her grace, the elegance in her voice. Boys exchanged impressed glances. Girls whispered about her poise and confidence.
But one student sank further into his seat.
Harshan.
He looked down at his notebook, praying she wouldn't sit anywhere near him. His mind was already spinning.
Why here? Why this class?
...
When Ishwaani stepped into the classroom, all eyes were on her.
She was the only new student in the class, and her confidence coupled with her graceful appearance turned heads instantly. Her footsteps were light but sure, her smile subtle but charming.
She walked past the rows of desks and chose a empty seat on the first bench, right column, just next to Harshan's. Not next to him directly-they were in different columns-but close enough to make his heart pound.
Chapter 7: Strange Coincidences and Awkward Beginnings
Harshan tried to sink further into his seat. In his mind, a silent protest repeated itself again and again: Why this class? Why my class?
The seating went like this:
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From the corner of his eye, Harshan could see Ishwaani settling in. She greeted the teacher politely and began arranging her books. Despite trying his best not to, the careful way she aligned her pens, and the soft way she laughed at a joke someone cracked.
She had a lively personality. Some girls encouraged her warmly, a few boys tried to strike conversations, and others watched from afar. Yet, it was clear from the start-she wasn't easily swayed. She talked to people, yes, but kept a polite boundary.
Yet every break, every short recess, Ishwaani's eyes searched the room. She was searching-subtly, curiously-for the boy she bumped into earlier. But Harshan wasn't making it easy.
During lunch break, Harshan made sure to leave the class quickly. He went to Dharan's class-his best friend, who had opted for the Computer-Maths group. Harshan was in the Maths-Biology stream. The different schedules worked in Harshan's favor now.
As the day came to a close, students rushed toward the school gate. Parents waited outside in bikes, cars, or on foot. Dharan's parents were there, as usual. Harshan stayed with him for a while, laughing at some random topic before saying goodbye. Unlike Dharan, whose house was nearby and who always had a ride, Harshan had to walk back alone.
The roads were quieter than usual, with just a few stray voices echoing. As he turned past the juice shop and headed toward the street with barking dogs, a familiar voice stopped him.
"Hello? Excuse me!"
He turned around slowly.
Why me? his mind groaned.
It was Ishwaani.
"Yes?" he said, trying to sound neutral.
"What's your name?" she asked innocently.
"Harshan," he replied, keeping his tone dry. Then, without pause, "What do you want?"
Ishwaani blinked at the bluntness. She looked a bit taken aback but smiled nonetheless.
"I don't know how to go ," she said.
Before she could say anything else, Harshan cut in. "Why did you ask me? Didn't you call your parents?"
Her tone changed with a calm and firm. She said "Can you just listen for a second?"
Realizing how rude he sounded, Harshan quickly corrected himself. "Sorry. I... I don't talk well with people. That's why I try to avoid everyone."
"Relax," she said gently. "Take a breath."
He did.
"I called my parents," she continued. "They told me to wait, but I... I told them I'm a big girl I could manage on my own. I remembered the way because you dropped me in the morning, remember? Then I ended the call."
Harshan gently smiled . "Sorry about that."
"It's okay," she said. "Actually, I know the way to my house. But I don't know how to..."
She trailed off.
At that moment, they both heard a sharp bark.
"Is it that road?" he asked, pointing to the left.
She nodded rapidly.
He grinned. "I figured. Come on. I'll walk you past that spot."
Together, they crossed the street, and just as expected, a group of dogs stood near a garbage bin, barking at a scooter passing by. Ishwaani instinctively stepped closer to Harshan.
Once past, she said, "Thank you."
"Don't ask strangers for help too easily," he replied.
"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "I felt like it wouldn't be a problem if it was you."
There was some kind of unknown rhythm... a feeling.
She again said "Also, no one else was around."
"Okay, okay," he said, feeling awkward.
"Okay then, I'll get going," she said.
"Sorry if I caused trouble," he said.
She said "Don't worry too much."
They started walking. A few seconds later, she suddenly stopped.
"Wait... are you following me?"
"No! My house is in this direction too!"
She laughed. A bright, genuine laugh filled with amusement.
"What a coincidence!" she said.
A few minutes later, they both paused at a junction.
"Which street?" he asked.
"Second ," she replied.
"Oh," he said. "I'm in third."
Her eyes widened.
"Seriously? Single street apart?"
"What a coincidence," she repeated, this time with a surprised awkward tone.
"Bye," they both said, a little unsure, a little awkward.
Harshan walked into his house, dropped his bag, and lay flat on the bed. He covered his face with a pillow and groaned.
It's so embarrassing
Maybe can I talk to her tomorrow? No! I shouldn't. This is already too weird. Why does her house have to be nearby?
He stared at the ceiling fan.
He said, I don't know, how tomorrow is gonna be ...
