The first day of high school.
New books. New faces. New fears.
And two toppers from different worlds — meeting for the first time.
It was the beginning of Class 11. The classroom buzzed with nervous energy as the teacher asked every student to introduce themselves one by one. That's when he saw her.
She stood up—
A quiet, average-looking girl with a neat braid, shy hands, and a voice that trembled a little but still spoke clearly. "Hi… I'm Aisha. I just transferred from Greenview School, and… I like studying."
He didn't blink the entire time.
Then it was his turn.
"I'm Aarav," he said, his voice calm and confident. His eyes were sharp, his uniform spotless, and his reputation already ahead of him. Everyone whispered about him — the boy who always came first, the one girls secretly liked, and boys wanted to be.
Even Aisha knew his name
before that day.
But the moment she realized he was her competition, everything shifted.
She lowered her eyes, quietly promised herself she wouldn't care how good-looking or popular he was. She had her own pressure — strict parents, academic expectations, and no room for distractions.
But fate had a different plan.
Later that day, the teacher asked both Aarav and Aisha to help in the school library — to arrange the new books. They agreed, not knowing that this tiny moment would be the seed of something unforgettable.
Inside the library, they barely spoke.
She sorted the books methodically.
He watched her for a second too long before getting to work.
After a while, Aisha broke the silence.
"What do you do after school hours?" she asked, more out of curiosity than conversation.
Aarav turned, side-eyed, and replied simply, "Self-study. That's all."
No tuitions. No coaching centers.
Just self-discipline.
Aisha looked down, a little shaken. She had to rush to her tuition after this. And here he was, effortlessly ahead of her — with no external help. She felt a mix of respect… and rivalry.
Days passed. Then came the mid-semester results.
Aarav topped the class.
Aisha stood second — just one mark behind him.
At home, her parents didn't see how close she came. They only saw that she wasn't first. Her father's words echoed in her mind like knives:
"If you can't come first, don't bother trying."
She came to school the next day with silent anger inside her and a new wall around her heart.
The teacher, proud of the top three students, made an announcement.
"You three will now lead study groups. Help others. Set an example."
And just like that, Aarav and Aisha were placed together — again.
They met in the library once more to plan the sessions. The third topper left early, leaving them alone.
Aarav noticed a scar on her hand.
He asked softly, "What happened to your hand?"
Aisha quickly hid it.
"Oh… just a silly fight with my younger cousin," she lied, smiling faintly.
But he noticed the pain in her eyes — the kind you don't get from just a fight.
He said nothing.
Instead, he scribbled on a paper and passed it to her.
It read: "Take care of yourself. You matter more than marks."
She stared at the note.
That was the first time someone had said something kind to her without expecting anything in return.
Their hands brushed while picking up the books.
He turned pink.
She pulled her hand back and giggled. "Sorry…"
The chapter ends here — but their story had just begun.
Because sometimes, it's not love at first sight.
Sometimes… it's understanding at first silence.
To be continued…
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading the beginning of "If I Had Recognized You Then...".
This story grew from my heart - from the quiet ache of unspoken moments and the soft hope that maybe, just maybe, someone was feeling the same.
If you've ever felt unseen, or missed the chance to say what mattered... this is for you. 🌸 and Please support me 🥹🥹🥹
- Angel