Every day after school, Aarav sat on the old wooden bench under the neem tree, waiting. He waited even when the sun burned hot, even when the sky turned grey. And every day, Rohan came running—sometimes late, sometimes tired, but always smiling.
They had been friends since Class 3. Aarav was quiet and loved books. Rohan talked a lot and loved cricket. People often wondered how they became friends at all.
One afternoon, Aarav failed his math test badly. He hid the paper in his bag and sat silently on the bench. Rohan noticed immediately.
"What happened?" he asked.
Aarav didn't answer.
Rohan didn't force him. He just sat there, sharing his water bottle. After a while, Aarav spoke, his voice shaking. "I studied… but I still failed."
Rohan smiled. "So? Then we study again. Together."
From that day, every evening, the bench under the neem tree became their study place. Aarav helped Rohan with English, and Rohan helped Aarav with math. Slowly, Aarav's marks improved, and so did Rohan's confidence.
Years later, on the last day of school, they sat on the same bench one final time.
"No matter where we go," Rohan said, "this bench will remember us."
Aarav nodded. Friendship, he realized, wasn't about being the same. It was about staying—especially when it was hard.
And the neem tree stood quietly, watching two friends grow, together.