Swara

The morning in Bangalore was alive with the usual chaos—autos honking, buses crowding the road, and children rushing through the school gates. Swara walked beside Heera, her best friend, their laughter mixing with the noise around them.

Swara was eleven, with curious brown eyes that always seemed to notice everything. Her hair was tied into two neat braids, though a few strands had already escaped to frame her cheeks. She loved doodling in her notebooks, often filling the margins with stars and flowers. Teachers called her bright but easily distracted, and Heera teased her for staring at clouds instead of finishing homework.

Inside the classroom, the ceiling fans whirred lazily, and the walls were lined with faded charts. Swara and Heera slid into their usual seats, whispering about the science diagram Swara had half-finished.

The door creaked open, and Abhiram—Abhi—entered with his friend Raghav. Abhi’s smile was easy, his hair slightly messy, his voice warm as he greeted a few classmates. Swara felt her stomach flutter, though she didn’t understand why. She quickly bent over her notebook, pretending to be busy.

“Morning, Swara,” Abhi said casually, waving.

Her cheeks warmed. “Morning,” she replied softly.

Heera smirked, adding loudly, “Morning, Abhi.” Swara shot her a glare, but Heera only grinned wider.

Raghav, trailing behind, leaned toward Heera. “Morning, Heera. Did you miss me?”

Heera rolled her eyes. “Not even a little. Stop annoying me.”

Raghav chuckled, clearly enjoying her irritation. Swara knew this was their daily routine—Raghav teasing, Heera snapping back.

The first period was math. Swara tried to focus, but her eyes kept drifting toward Abhi whenever he raised his hand. He wasn’t the top student, but he was confident, never afraid to answer even if he wasn’t sure. Swara admired that.

When the teacher asked them to work in pairs, Abhi walked over. “Swara, can I borrow your ruler? Mine’s at home.”

She fumbled with her pencil box, handing it to him. “Here.”

“Thanks,” he said with a quick smile before returning to his desk.

Swara stared at the empty space where he had stood, her fingers tingling. Heera leaned closer, whispering, “You’re blushing.”

“I am not,” Swara hissed.

“You so are,” Heera giggled. “You like him.”

Swara shook her head furiously. “He’s just… nice.”

The day passed with lessons, whispered jokes, and Raghav teasing Heera until she threatened to throw her eraser at him. At lunch, Swara and Heera sat under the rain tree, sharing chapatis. Abhi passed by with Raghav, laughing at something he said. Swara’s eyes followed him without meaning to, her chest tightening when he didn’t stop.

“You were staring again,” Heera teased.

“I wasn’t,” Swara muttered, though her ears burned.

“You like him,” Heera said firmly.

Swara sighed, picking at her lunchbox. “Fine. Maybe… a little.”

Heera’s grin widened. “I knew it! Swara has a crush.”

“Shh!” Swara clapped a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Don’t say it so loudly.”

Heera laughed, promising not to tell anyone. Swara groaned, burying her face in her knees. “He doesn’t even notice me like that. He just thinks I’m a friend.”

The final bell rang, and the classroom erupted in noise. Just as everyone began packing up, the teacher raised her voice. “Before you leave, I want to announce your project partners. Swara and Abhi—you’ll be working together.”

Swara froze, her heart thudding. Heera’s eyes widened, then she smirked knowingly. Raghav snickered, whispering something to Abhi, who only shrugged.

Swara’s fingers tightened around her notebook. She didn’t know whether to feel nervous or thrilled. All she knew was that tomorrow, everything would feel different.