Ragini

The classroom that day wasn’t exactly quiet, but it wasn’t loud either.

It was that in-between kind of noise—where the teacher was teaching, but half the class had already drifted into their own conversations. The ceiling fan spun lazily above, making that soft ticking sound every few seconds, and somewhere behind, that random irritating girl was whispering just a little too loudly to be considered “not talking.”

“Pay attention, everyone!! Other I will make you all fail in your exam,” the Hindi teacher shouted, tapping the duster against the desk.

For about five seconds, everyone did.

Then things went back to normal.

I had my book open in front of me, finger placed under a random line just to look convincing. But I wasn’t really reading.

My focus was slightly to my left.

There was a small gap between our benches—just enough space to walk through—but she was right there, parallel to me, close enough that I didn’t have to turn much.

Sujaya Singh

She was talking.

Not loudly, not in that annoying way some people did. Just casually, like conversations came naturally to her. One moment she’d say something to someone behind her, the next moment she’d glance my way, like I was already part of it.

“…and I’m telling you, it’s not even subtle anymore,” she was spilling the tea, “Suryansh literally waited outside the class just to walk in with his crush.”

I looked up slightly, instantly interested.

“Wait, seriously?” I whispered.

She turned a little towards me, that small spark already in her eyes. “Yes. And during break, he didn’t even sit with his own friends.”

I tried to act normal, like I wasn’t that invested. “That doesn’t mean anything.”, I said

She gave me a look. “Oh, it definitely does.”

For a second, I just watched her, the way she said it so confidently, like she had already figured everything out.

Then I leaned a little closer.

“Are you even listening to Malini ma'am,” I said quietly, a slight grin forming, “or just looking at the book?”

She paused.

Then she turned to me.

For a second, she just looked—like she was deciding whether to reply or ignore it.

And then came that soft smile.

“I can do both,” she said simply.

Of course she could.

That was the thing with her—she somehow managed everything at once. Talking, listening, laughing… and still not getting caught.

I shook my head slightly, pretending to go back to my book.

“Continue,” I muttered.

She didn’t need a second invitation.

“So yeah,” she went on, lowering her voice again, “I’m not saying it’s confirmed… but it’s obvious.”, she yapped again.

“Or maybe you’re overthinking,” I said.

She looked at me again, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t overthink. I observe.”

I let out a quiet laugh. “That’s literally the same thing.”

“It’s not,” she replied instantly.

For a few seconds, it went quiet between us. Not awkward. Just… normal.

Then she picked up her pen and started writing something, actually paying attention now. Or at least pretending better than me.

I leaned back slightly, resting my elbow on the desk, still glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

Her hair was neat, but not too perfect. A few strands slightly out of place, like they didn’t really follow rules. And every time she spoke—even casually—there was this calmness in her tone, like nothing ever needed to be rushed.

It was strange.

How something so normal… didn’t feel normal at all.

“Arav!!,” the teacher’s voice suddenly cut through.

I straightened immediately. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Read the next part.”

I looked down at the book.

I had no idea where we were.

Before I could even pretend to find the line, something tapped lightly on my page.

I glanced to the left.

Sujaya had tilted her notebook slightly towards me, her pen pointing exactly at the line I was supposed to read.

No words. No expression.

Just that small, simple help.

I nodded a little and started reading.

But even as I spoke the lines out loud, I knew one thing for sure—

In a classroom full of noise, random conversations, and things that didn’t really matter…

Somehow, my attention always ended up in the same place.

Right beside me.

To be continued...