(Swetha's POV)
The first day of tenth grade had finally arrived.
I stood in my room while my grandmother gently combed my hair, dividing it carefully into two perfect plaits. Her familiar touch was calming, but my heart was racing. Tenth grade felt different—bigger, heavier, more serious. Like every step from today onward would matter.
I was excited.
And irritated.
Rohan.
My best friend. Or at least, that's what he had slowly become in the second half of ninth grade. Before that, we were just classmates nothing special. Somewhere along the way, he turned into a habit. Someone I spoke to every single day. Someone I depended on without even realizing it.
And now… he was the reason my mood felt unsettled.
I didn't want to think too much about it, so I pushed the thoughts aside and started packing my bag. Between my notebooks, I carefully placed three tiny magnets and two small purses souvenirs from our Sri Lanka trip during the summer holidays. Just touching them made me smile. It felt like I was carrying a small piece of happiness with me.
I paused, closed my eyes, and whispered a quiet prayer asking God for strength, calm, and maybe… just maybe, a good day.
Soon after, I stepped into the car, the door closing softly behind me.
A new class.
A new year.
And without knowing it then, the beginning of something that would change everything.