After the break ended, students returned to the usual classes. Akshay also made his way back to his classroom, while Vani and Arunika also walked in along with other students. With the quiet support of his crush, Akshay slowly picked up his bag from his bench, and began heading toward the section 'D'.
As students shuffled in and out of classrooms, Arunika and a few left, making way for those arriving from different sections.
The physics class was in Section 'D'. Students from other sections of the 12th standard made their way toward the classroom, while those from Section 'D' who had lessons elsewhere moved out.
Arunika stepped into Section 'D', and just as she entered, a voice called out to her—
"Arunika,"
She turned toward the sound. A girl beside the third bench, waving enthusiastically. It was Radhika. While other students looked a little worn out from the past three periods, Radha appeared oddly fresh, as if she had just arrived at school. Radha gestured for Arunika to come closer, her face lit up with a bright smile.
A smile twisted at Arunika's lips, brows narrowing slightly in amusement—though she was surprised to see Radhika there. As she walked over, Radhika suddenly threw her arms around her in a tight embrace.
"I missed you so much."
Arunika chuckled, "Oh yeah, why weren't you in the match class? What happened?" she asked as Radhika finally let go of her.
"I just came to school," Radhika replied, still smiling.
"What?" Arunika frowned. "But why now? You could have just taken the day off. You were absent yesterday anyway."
"Oh please," Radhika scoffed playfully. "Manash and you won't get rid of me that easily." Her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Speaking of which…" Radhika glanced past Arunika, scanning the room. "Where is Manash today?" Her tone had a slight edge of concern, as if worried about Arunika being alone.
"He didn't come," Arunika replied. "Something came up in the Ashram. So…"
"Oh…" Radhika's tone was concerning, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's mostly resolved, so do not worry," Arunika reassured Radhika.
As their conversation was going on…
Another student entered the classroom, alone—it was Akshay. With the support of his crutch, he slowly stepped inside.
Upon entering, his eyes scanned the classroom. His gaze landed on Raj, who was sitting with one of his friends, for some reason, Raj had been looking toward the door, but the moment their eyes met, he quickly turned away.
Akshay frowned. Confused, he hesitantly continued walking toward Raj's bench. As he was about to reach his bench, Raj stopped another passing student and gestured for him to take the last empty spot beside him.
Akshay's steps faltered.
He sat with Raj in yesterday's physics class, he was friendly, helpful, as Akshay was the new transfer student. He had made it seem like he was helping him settle in.
Or at least, that was what Akshay had thought. But today—Raj was avoiding him? No, not just avoiding—judging by the look on his face, it was almost as if he was disgusted by him.
Confusion twisted inside Akshay as he scanned the room again, searching for another option.
That was when he saw her.
On the last bench of the other row, Priya was sitting alone. She had her head slightly lowered but kept sneaking glances in his direction, as if she had been waiting for him to come and sit with her.
Priya noticed Akshay standing in the middle of the classroom, looking at her. Her posture shifted, and she subtly slid to the side, making space on the bench—an unspoken invitation. Yet, she still didn't look at him directly, as if pretending not to know him at all.
Akshay exhaled sharply.
He had managed to avoid sitting with her in yesterday's physics class, but today? There was no way out. Worse, he remembered how she tricked him—forcing him into a debt, that he must sit with her during this physics class, she made it like he owed her. And now, if he sat with her, he'd be stuck with her for the rest of their shared classes.
Trapped, Akshay lowered his head, he sighed in silent defeat and trudged toward the last bench. With the help of his crutch, he slowly sat down, placing his bag on the desk.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Priya stole a glance at him.
A flicker of surprise. Then, something softer—happiness, perhaps? But she masked in quickly keeping her expression neutral, as trying to hide it from others.
As Akshay settled on the seat, he straightened up, looking forward, only to find multiple eyes staring at him.
Students from the front benches had turned around, their gaze locked on him in wide-eyed disbelief, as if he had just broken some unspoken rule of the classroom.
As he looked to the side, students from the other row also looking at him in the same manner.
'What the hell?'
Akshay's fingers curled against the desk. Whatever was happening, he was certain—he wasn't just being watched, but judged.
He turned to Priya, but she looked away. Not a single glace, avoiding his eyes completely, if she didn't even recognise him, and allowing him to sit there.
'What the… was going on? Did I do something wrong by sitting here?'
Confusing thoughts clouded his mind, but before he could dwell on it further, the sound of footsteps drew everyone's attention.
Some entered the classroom.
A man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a black coat over a light blue shirt with dark stripes. A neatly tied tie sat at his collar, and his pressed formal pants paired with polished black shoes gave him a crisp, professional look. He carried two books both with different thicknesses and a small box of chalks in his hand.
Every student immediately turned back to face the front and stood in unison—including Priya and, with the help of his crutch, Akshay also stood up. His expression remained troubled, his thoughts still tangled.
"Alright, everyone, sit down," the teacher instructed as he placed his belongings on the desk. His voice was deep and firm.
He strode over the blackboard, wiping away the remnants of chalk left by the previous teacher.
As everyone settled back in their seats. Priya shifted slightly, sliding a little closer to Akshay.
And for the first time since he had entered the classroom, she actually looked at him.
"Hey," Priya whispered, making sure no one else heard her.
Akshay didn't turn to her completely, only glancing at her from the corner of his eyes.
"Thank you," she added, her tone was a mix of happiness and hesitation.
That caught Akshay's attention, he finally turned to her face, she was looking straight at him.
"What's going on?" he whispered, narrowing his eyes. "Why did everyone look at me so strangely? Did you do something?" his voice was low, but sharp, accusatory even.
Flickers of thoughts crossed his mind. Could Priya have said something to everyone? Was that why Raj avoiding him? or was there a reason why Raj turned his face away earlier? Why the whole class looked at him like that?
Priya quickly shook her head, almost too fast—like she was desperately denying any wrongdoing.
Akshay suspicion deepened. He narrowed his eyes at her reaction, "Then what was that?" he whispered, pressing in a hashed tone.
"Ahh…well… you know…" Priya fumbled for words, her hesitation visible in her eyes. She looked here and there, trying to avoid Akshay's direct gaze.
Then, suddenly as if a lightbulb flicked on his head.
"Yes!" She suddenly looked back at him. "You see, I have a lot of friends, so when sat with me, they all got jealous of you. And they… they were also shocked, that I made a new friend. Yeah! That is exactly what's happened here!" She nodded proudly, as if she had nailed the perfect explanation.
Akshay, however, wasn't buying it. His gaze flicked toward her sceptically.
When he first saw her, she was sitting alone. She hadn't even glanced at him, hadn't called him over. And even after he sat beside her, she avoided looking at him—only turning to him after the teacher entered, when everyone's focus shifted.
And now she was acting like some social butterfly with a fan club. Something wasn't adding up.
But for now, he decided to let it slide. The teacher had already begun his class.
"Okay," Akshay said, with a low nod, "Thank you, I guess," he added, though his tone was still laced with doubt.
Then, turning his attention to the teacher, he added, "But now, let's focus on the class."
Yet, despite his words, Akshay's mind was still tangled with many thoughts.
*****
As the first periods after the break continued like usual, the corridors were empty once again.
Most students were in their classrooms, but one lone figure, a student walked through the empty hallway. Student, Raunak, was sent by the teacher to retrieve something from the office room, and now, with two notebooks in hand, he made his way back to his class.
As he was walking back, his gaze flickered into each classroom he passed. His expression, however, wasn't neutral. His jaw was clenched, his teeth grinding slightly as he replayed the incident from the break in his mind. A disabled student had mocked him and his friends—mocked them as if they were nothing.
The memory made his blood boil.
Then as he absentmindedly glanced into another room, his steps suddenly halted.
His body froze mid-stride just past the doorway. His eyes widened, his breath hitching for a brief moment. It was as if he had seen something unexpected—something that caught him completely off guard. Or maybe… something very, very interesting.
Slowly, he took a step back, positioning himself just outside the door.
Inside the teacher was absorbed in his lesson, and the students were equally occupied. No one noticed Raunak standing there, peeping into the classroom.
It was the 12th standard section 'D', his gaze drifted toward the last bench. There he spotted Priya but it wasn't her presence that intrigued him. His gaze shifted slightly beside her, seated next to her was him, the very same disable student who had mocked him and his friend earlier. Raunak's lips curled into a twisted smirk, his eyes glinting with something unspeakable.