Board exams were close,
and the world suddenly shrunk into pages of notebooks and piles of formulas.
We had three months of tuition classes.
Morning classes were for Math and Science. Two teachers used to come,
but because of Shreya's father's school politics, one of them only taught me.
So, Math became my lonely morning.
Science classes were normal; everyone together, the same old chaos.
But break time was our world.
Shreya and I always brought our tiffin, so we'd stay back when others went to the canteen.
Those quiet moments, just the sound of birds outside, her soft voice asking about questions she already knew the answer to;
those became my favorite parts of the day.
She wasn't just beautiful. She was kind. Gentle. Fragile.
And for those few weeks, everything felt simple again.
After school, there was another tuition;
and I was the only boy there.
Apparently, the 'most intelligent' one too.
Which meant there was always a rush to sit beside me.
Especially them; Shreya and Smrity.
One desk, three students.
Every day, the same spot.
Every day, laughter, teasing, and those little sparks that made everything worth it.
Time flew faster than ever,
and suddenly; it was farewell day.
The last day.
Everyone else was excited, taking selfies, laughing, dancing.
But I...
I was quiet.
Shreya and I sat in a corner of the hall; silent.
She looked tired, pale again.
Before I could say anything, her father arrived.
He smiled kindly.
"Good luck for your exams, Aryan," he said.
Then he took her home.
Because of her illness, she couldn't stay.
I watched her go,
and it felt like déjà vu; her walking away, me staying behind.
I went outside and sat on the bench.
The air was cool, and the sound of music from the hall felt far away.
A junior boy came and sat beside me.
We talked serious things, funny things, meaningless things.
Then, Smrity appeared.
She stood in front of me,
her eyes calm but deep, like she had something important to say.
"Give me your bracelet," she said softly.
It was the one my grandmother gave me.
Something I never took off.
I hesitated; then slowly slipped it from my wrist and handed it to her.
She wore it.
Looked at it.
Smiled.
The junior boy saw everything and quietly walked back into the hall.
Now, it was just the two of us.
Smrity looked at the bracelet again.
Then she took it off, held my hand, and placed it back on my wrist.
"Keep it," she whispered.
"It suits you more."
And then she left.
After that, I didn't contact anyone.
Exams came.
One day at school, I saw Shreya.
She passed right by me; no words, no smile.
Like I was a stranger.
Days went by.
Exams ended.
Everyone went their own way;
including her.
Three months later, results came out.
I had topped the school.
Especially in Math; my lonely morning subject.
I thought maybe... just maybe,
she'd call.
But she didn't.
A week passed. Then one early morning, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?"
"Congratulations," a familiar voice said.
It was Smrity.
She laughed softly.
"I'm in a relationship now," she said. "It's been two and a half months... with Beshal."
I froze for a second.
Then smiled.
She continued, "And Shreya... she's in one too. Four months now."
I chuckled.
Not the sad kind of laugh; just quiet acceptance.
"It's okay," I said. "Just remember me when you get married."
She laughed. I laughed.
And somehow, it didn't hurt anymore.
That day, I sat outside, watching the sky fade into evening.
For the first time in a long while,
I didn't feel like a boy chasing love.
I felt like someone who had learned it;
in its purest, most silent form.
And maybe,
that was enough.
End.