The summer holidays had
only just begun.
The days were peaceful, but inside Riya's home, an important discussion was taking place.
Her parents had decided it was time to collect her Transfer Certificate.
They believed changing to a government school would be the better choice.
Riya listened quietly from her room.
She didn't interrupt.
She didn't argue.
A few minutes later, her parents left the house to discuss the admission process.
The sound of the front door closing echoed through the silent house.
For a moment, Riya simply stood there.
Then...
Her legs slowly gave way.
She sank onto the floor.
The tears she had been holding back finally escaped.
She covered her face with both hands and cried silently.
It wasn't because she had to leave a private school.
It wasn't because she had to leave her classmates.
It wasn't even because she had to make new friends.
There was only one reason.
Lakshith.
The thought of never seeing him again hurt more than she had ever imagined.
No more seeing him every morning.
No more watching him laugh with his friends.
No more waiting for those rare moments when their eyes met.
No more hearing his voice in the classroom.
For the first time, Riya understood something she had never admitted to herself before.
She hadn't simply liked him.
She had fallen deeply in love with him.
The realization frightened her.
She sat on the cold floor for a long time, wiping away her tears before her parents returned home.
She never told them why she had cried.
Some feelings were easier to hide than explain.
A week passed.
Every day, Riya waited quietly for her parents' final decision.
She prepared herself for the worst.
Then one evening, her father smiled as he entered the house.
"We've decided not to change your school."
Riya looked up in disbelief.
"What...?"
Her mother explained softly.
"We spoke with your class teacher."
"She told us that you're doing well in your studies. She said changing schools suddenly could affect your education."
Her parents had spent several days thinking about it.
Finally, they chose to let her continue in the same school.
For a moment, Riya couldn't believe what she had heard.
The heavy weight that had been sitting on her heart disappeared instantly.
She smiled.
A genuine smile.
One she hadn't worn in days.
That night, she quietly thanked God before going to sleep.
The rest of her summer holidays passed happily.
For the first time in days, she felt at peace.
Soon...
Another month passed.
The first day of seventh grade finally arrived.
Riya woke up earlier than usual, neatly wore her uniform, and hurried to school with excitement she couldn't hide.
As soon as she entered the classroom, her eyes searched instinctively.
And then...
She saw him.
Lakshith was already there.
He looked up for a brief second.
"Hiii," Riya said cheerfully, waving her hand.
He smiled and waved back.
"Hii."
Then he turned back to continue talking with his friend.
It was only a small exchange.
Just a greeting.
But for Riya...
It was enough.
She quietly walked to her seat.
Once again, she found herself on the last bench.
Lakshith was sitting on the second bench from the front.
The distance between them felt even greater than before.
Talking to him now seemed almost impossible.
As if fate itself had decided to keep them apart.
Then Riya noticed something else.
Ananya was sitting directly behind Lakshith.
Nila was sitting beside Ananya.
The three of them were already chatting happily.
A faint sadness settled inside her heart.
She wished, even for a single day, that she could sit close enough to have one ordinary conversation with him again.
But despite everything...
Despite the distance.
Despite the silence.
Despite the growing fear in her heart.
Riya folded her hands quietly beneath the desk and whispered a silent prayer.
Thank you, God...
For letting me see him again.
Sometimes, happiness wasn't found in long conversations.
Sometimes...
It was simply found in knowing that the person you loved was still
within your sight.