The classroom was never truly silent.
Even when no one spoke, there were whispers of turning pages, the soft scratching of pens, the lazy wind entering through the half-open window.
Arindam always chose the last bench near that window. Not because he loved studying there—but because from there, he could see her clearly.
Barsha.đź’–
She sat two benches ahead, near the middle row. She was not the loudest girl in class. In fact, she barely spoke unless needed. But when she laughed—really laughed—the entire classroom felt brighter.
One day, during a surprise math test, chaos broke out.
"Sir, this question wasn't in syllabus!" someone shouted.
Arindam leaned forward and whispered, "Barsha, do you know question 5?"
She turned back dramatically and whispered,
"If I knew, would I look this stressed?"
He almost laughed out loud and got caught by the teacher.
"Arindam! Stand up."
Barsha tried not to smile as he stood there, embarrassed.
After class she walked up to him.
"Sorry," she said, trying to look serious. "Because of me, you got punished."
He shook his head.
"It was worth it."
She blinked.
"For what?"
"For seeing you smile."
For a moment, she forgot to breathe.
Days slowly turned into something warmer.
They began saving seats for each other. Sharing tiffin. Arindam would purposely act confused in English class just to hear Barsha explain things with dramatic hand gestures.
"Why are you always pretending you don't understand?" she once asked suspiciously.
"Maybe I just like listening to you talk."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
But her cheeks turned slightly pink.
Then came the rainy afternoon.
The sky darkened mid-class. Thunder echoed. Students rushed to the windows.
Barsha stood quietly, watching the rain fall.
Arindam walked beside her.
"Scared of thunder?" he asked teasingly.
"No," she replied softly. "I just… feel emotional when it rains."
"Why?"
She hesitated.
"When I first came to this school, I felt alone. Everyone already had friends. I thought no one would notice me."
Arindam looked at her, surprised.
"I noticed you from the first day," he said quietly.
Her eyes met his.
"You did?"
"Yes. You looked strong… but your eyes looked like they were waiting for someone."
"And did someone come?" she whispered.
He smiled gently.
"Maybe he was sitting on the last bench."
The rain outside felt softer now.
For the first time, Barsha didn't look away.
Final exams approached. The classroom felt different—like time was slipping away.
On farewell day, decorations hung from the walls. Laughter mixed with hidden sadness.
Arindam stood near the window—the same place everything began.
Barsha walked toward him.
"You're quiet today," she said.
He took a deep breath.
"Barsha… after today, we may sit in different colleges. Different classrooms. Maybe different cities."
She tried to joke.
"So? You'll finally stop pretending you don't understand English."
He smiled weakly.
"I'm serious."
She looked down.
"Arindam… do you regret anything?"
"Yes."
Her heart skipped.
"I regret not meeting you earlier."
Silence.
Then slowly, Barsha stepped closer.
"You know… I used to pray that someone would sit beside me who understands me without too many words."
"And?"
She smiled through slightly teary eyes.
"He was sitting near the window all along."
He gently held her hand—not dramatically, not loudly. Just quietly.
Like their love.
Years later, they returned to that classroom.
Different people. Same window.
Barsha laughed softly.
"You still sit near windows."
"And you still get emotional in the rain."
Outside, it started drizzling again.
Arindam looked at her and said,
"Some people enter your life like a chapter.
But you… you became my whole story."
Barsha squeezed his hand.
And this time—
there was no farewell.
Only a future.
Happy Ending. 🌧️💛