By the time the first class ended, the room had already settled into its usual rhythm.
The initial curiosity around the new transfer student had faded quicker than expected. A few students still glanced at Riya from time to time, whispering things under their breath, but most had returned to their own routines.
That was how things worked.
Something new appeared, people reacted… and then they moved on.
Kabir, however, was not one of those people.
He turned halfway in his seat, resting his arm on Vijay's desk.
"So," he said quietly, but not quietly enough, "you're not even going to say anything?"
Vijay looked at him. "About what?"
Kabir stared for a second.
Then he leaned closer.
"The fact that the new girl is sitting next to you?"
"She's just sitting."
Kabir clicked his tongue. "You're wasting opportunities without even realizing it. It's painful to watch."
Vijay didn't respond.
Not because he didn't have an answer.
But because he didn't feel like saying it.
From the front bench, a voice called out—
"Are you two done gossiping like aunties?"
Kabir groaned immediately. "Ignore him."
The boy who spoke turned around in his seat, grinning.
Nikhil soni
Top of the class. Always calm. Always observing.
"Class is over," Nikhil added, tapping his pen lightly against his notebook. "At least pretend you were paying attention."
Kabir rolled his eyes. "Some of us don't measure life in marks, Nikhil."
"And some of us fail because of that," Nikhil replied without changing his expression.
A small ripple of laughter spread nearby.
Vijay didn't join.
He just watched.
Nikhil's eyes shifted briefly.
Not toward Kabir.
But toward Vijay.
It lasted less than a second.
Then he turned back around.
"See that?" Kabir muttered. "He thinks he's smarter than everyone."
"He probably is."
"That's not the point."
The bell rang again.
Students began moving—some leaving, some switching seats, some staying just to talk.
The room grew louder.
More alive.
"Vijay."
The voice came from the side.
Soft.
He turned.
Riya.
"Can I borrow your notes?" she asked.
Her tone was simple, polite—nothing unusual.
Vijay nodded once and pushed his notebook toward her.
"Thanks."
That was it.
No extended conversation.
No awkwardness.
Kabir leaned in again, whispering like this was some major development.
"She asked you first."
"She asked for notes."
"It still counts."
Vijay ignored him.
A few seats ahead, another conversation picked up.
"Did you finish the assignment?" someone asked.
"No."
"You're dead."
"I know."
A girl turned around from the second row, slightly annoyed.
"You all talk too much," she said. "At least try to act serious once."
Tanu Jarval
She wasn't loud.
But when she spoke, people listened.
Not because they were scared.
But because she didn't waste words.
Kabir raised his hands slightly. "We are serious. Deeply serious."
"You've been talking since morning."
"That's also serious work."
Tanu looked at him for a second.
Then shook her head lightly and turned back.
But not before her eyes paused—
briefly—
on Vijay.
It wasn't curiosity.
Not exactly.
More like… noticing.
Vijay didn't react.
He had already looked away.
The rest of the day moved like it usually did.
Classes blending into each other.
Voices overlapping.
Moments that didn't seem important enough to remember.
At lunch, Kabir dragged Vijay outside.
"I refuse to sit in that classroom any longer," he said, stretching his arms. "It feels like a cage."
"You say that every day."
"And I mean it every day."
They sat under a tree near the boundary wall.
A few other students were scattered around—talking, eating, doing nothing in particular.
Kabir opened his lunch box.
Paused.
Then looked at Vijay.
"Trade?"
"No."
"You didn't even see what I have."
"I don't need to."
"You're very difficult to be friends with."
Vijay almost smiled.
Almost.
For a while, they ate in silence.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… quiet.
"Do you think she's normal?" Kabir asked suddenly.
Vijay didn't look up. "Who?"
Kabir gave him a look. "Don't do that."
Vijay sighed slightly.
"She seems fine."
"Seems," Kabir repeated. "That's the word."
There was a pause.
"I don't know," Kabir continued. "There's just something… off."
Vijay didn't answer.
Because he had felt it too.
But he didn't want to say it out loud.
From a distance, a group of seniors passed by.
Their voices were louder.
Rougher.
Not the usual school noise.
One of them stopped for a moment.
Looked toward the ground.
Toward them.
Then walked away.
Kabir noticed.
"…Do you know them?"
"No."
But Vijay's eyes followed them a second longer than necessary.
Something about that look—
the way it lingered—
felt intentional.
The bell rang again.
Lunch was over.
As they stood up, Kabir stretched lazily.
"Back to prison."
Vijay turned slightly—
toward the building—
And for a brief moment—
he saw her.
Riya.
Standing near the corridor.
Not talking to anyone.
Not doing anything.
Just watching.
Not him.
Not Kabir.
Something else.
Her expression was calm.
Unchanged.
But when someone passed in front of her—
blocking the view for just a second—
And she came back into sight—
She was smiling .
Not the same smile from before.
This one—
felt… deliberate.
Vijay looked away.
For the rest of the day—
nothing unusual happened.
And yet—
something about it didn't feel normal anymore.
( school time end :- bell rang )
..... Thanks