**EPISODE 6 – *The Quiz Partner***
Morning arrived with the same routine—assembly, announcements, chatter echoing through corridors—but something felt different today.
Bhanu felt it first.
A strange nervousness clung to her, like the air before rain. The upcoming math quiz wasn't scary.
But facing **both** Arjun and Goutam after yesterday?
That was terrifying.
---
## **Before Class – The Unseen Distance**
Bhanu entered the classroom quietly, as she always did.
To her surprise…
Goutam was already there.
He never came early.
But today he sat at his desk, chin propped on his hand, staring out the window like he had been thinking for hours.
When he saw her, he straightened slightly.
"Good morning," he said.
She nodded. "Good morning."
His eyes held hers for a second… then drifted away.
He wasn't cold, but he wasn't his usual soft self either.
*Is he still… affected by yesterday?*
The thought tightened her chest.
Before she could say anything more—
The classroom door swung open.
Arjun walked in.
His gaze went straight to Bhanu.
Straight.
Instant.
As if she was the only thing in the room.
"Hi," he said softly, smile appearing instantly.
She managed a quiet, "Hi."
But that one word…
That soft smile…
Was enough to make Goutam shift uncomfortably in his seat.
He didn't look at her again.
Bhanu sensed it immediately.
*Why are things suddenly so complicated?*
---
## **The Seating Announcement**
Their math teacher entered, glasses slightly crooked, shuffling a stack of papers.
"Alright class, listen. For today's quiz, you'll sit in pairs. I will assign the seating."
Bhanu's stomach dropped.
Pairs?
Assigned?
Oh no.
The teacher cleared his throat and began.
"Bench 1: Rishi and Priya.
Bench 2: Kavya and Aditi.
Bench 3: Arjun and…"
Bhanu held her breath.
Please God, save me.
"…and *Bhanu*."
Her heart stopped.
Arjun blinked, surprised for a moment.
Then a slow, uncontrollable smile spread across his face, like the universe had personally granted his wish.
He turned to her, eyebrows raised teasingly.
"This is going to be fun."
It wasn't fun.
Her brain was already malfunctioning.
Before she could react—
Goutam's bench was called.
"Bench 4: Goutam and Sameer."
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
He didn't look at her.
Not even once.
And that hurt more than it should have.
---
## **The Quiz Begins**
Arjun sat beside Bhanu, closer than necessary.
Too close.
Bhanu could feel the warmth radiating from him.
Smell the faint scent of mint gum he always chewed.
Hear the small tapping sound he made with his pencil.
Her heart thudded in her ears.
"Relax," Arjun whispered without looking at her.
"It's just a quiz."
Yes, a quiz.
But the real quiz was *how to survive sitting next to him*.
The teacher distributed the papers.
"Begin."
There was silence… except for the scratching of pens and the occasional cough.
Bhanu focused on the questions.
But Arjun… wasn't writing.
He was sideways, staring at her.
"Why aren't you writing?" she whispered.
"Because someone's nervous."
"I'm not—"
He leaned a little closer.
"Your hands are shaking."
She froze.
He was right.
Her pencil trembled slightly between her fingers.
Arjun reached out—slowly—gently—and placed his hand on hers under the desk.
Warm.
Soft.
Steady.
Her breath hitched.
"You're okay," he murmured. "Just breathe."
She couldn't.
Breathing was illegal with him this close.
But somehow…
The shaking stopped.
Her pencil steadied.
Her paper didn't look blurry anymore.
She started writing.
Arjun watched her for two seconds… then let go of her hand.
Not fast.
Not abruptly.
But slowly.
As if he didn't want to.
Her face felt like it was on fire.
---
## **Across the Room – A Quiet Storm**
From bench 4…
Goutam looked up.
He wasn't supposed to.
He wasn't supposed to get distracted.
But he saw it.
**Their hands.
The closeness.
The whispers.**
And something in him hardened.
His eyes darkened—not with anger, but with something deeper.
Pain.
He turned away instantly, forcing himself to continue writing, but his handwriting turned sharper, more aggressive.
Sameer nudged him.
"Bro, what's wrong? You never make mistakes in math."
Goutam didn't answer.
He simply pressed his pencil harder, knuckles white.
---
## **After the Quiz – The Misunderstanding**
"Pencils down!" the teacher announced.
Students stretched, groaned, and began chatting again.
Arjun leaned back in his seat and whispered, "See? You survived."
She didn't look at him.
She was too busy replaying what happened.
Under the desk.
His hand on hers.
Oh god.
As they stood up, Arjun placed his hand lightly on the edge of her desk, blocking her path a little.
"Before you go…"
He lowered his voice.
"…you don't have to be scared of me, you know."
She blinked at him.
"I'm not scared."
He smiled—warm, gentle, and unlike his usual teasing one.
"Good. Then don't avoid me again."
Before she could respond—
A voice called from behind.
"Bhanu."
Goutam.
She turned.
He stood near the door, expression unreadable.
"We're going to the staff room to submit the answer sheets. Come."
He didn't wait.
He just walked.
She followed him outside.
But after two steps, Arjun called—
"Hey. I need to talk to her."
Goutam stopped.
Turned slowly.
"She's coming with me right now."
Arjun's jaw clenched.
"And after that, she's coming with *me*."
The tension snapped through the corridor like electricity.
Bhanu felt her throat tighten.
"Stop," she whispered. "Both of you."
They went silent.
Not because they wanted to…
But because her voice sounded like she was about to cry.
Goutam's expression softened immediately.
Arjun looked guilty.
She swallowed.
"I'm going to the staff room now. Alone. Okay?"
Both boys stepped back at the same time.
Both nodded reluctantly.
Both watched her walk away.
And both looked at each other with the same unspoken truth:
**This isn't just a crush anymore.
It's a battle neither of them intends to lose.**
---
# **END OF EPISODE 6**