The words from Ananya's note sat in Karthik's mind like an anchor, pulling him deeper into thoughts he wasn't prepared for. "I don't think you're as invisible as you think you are."
He had read it over and over again, the messy handwriting a stark contrast to the neatness he was used to in his life. It felt like a challenge, like she was daring him to face something he had spent years avoiding—his own visibility.
"Invisible," Karthik muttered to himself, rolling the word around in his mouth as if trying to understand it.
The word had been his refuge for so long. It was easier to be invisible. It kept him safe, kept the world at arm's length. But now, Ananya had somehow seen through it all. She had seen him.
He crumpled the note in his hand, but his mind refused to let go of it. He wasn't used to being seen, let alone noticed.
The Next Day
Karthik walked into school the next day, the note still stuffed in his pocket. His usual path was the same—straight to the library, no detours, no distractions.
But as he entered, something felt different. The air seemed thicker, charged with anticipation. He spotted Ananya immediately, sitting with a group of her friends at a table near the window, laughing and talking.
For a moment, he hesitated. It wasn't like he had never seen her before, but today was different. The weight of her words hung over him, and he felt the strange urge to leave, to escape back to his quiet corner.
"Stop being ridiculous," he muttered to himself, walking towards his usual seat.
As he passed by Ananya's table, she caught sight of him. She smiled brightly, her eyes locking onto his with a kind of knowing warmth that made his heart skip a beat.
"Hey, Karthik!" she called out, her voice cutting through the chatter.
He froze mid-step, unsure of how to respond. Did she want him to stop? Did she expect him to join them?
"What's up?" she asked again, her smile never fading.
Karthik swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Nothing."
She tilted her head, looking at him with an expression that seemed to say, I know there's more.
"You sure?" she asked, her voice softening.
Karthik's mind raced, his fingers gripping the strap of his bag as if it were a lifeline. He had always been good at hiding, but today, it felt impossible.
"Yeah." He nodded curtly. "I've got to go to the library."
Without waiting for a response, he quickly turned and walked away, his heart thudding in his chest.
Ananya didn't stop him, but as he reached the library doors, he heard her voice once more.
"You're not invisible, Karthik!"
Her words echoed in his ears as he stepped inside, the door closing softly behind him.
The library, normally his sanctuary, felt suddenly foreign. He tried to lose himself in a book, but the words seemed blurry, the sentences twisting before his eyes. He could hear his own heartbeat, thumping louder with each passing second.
Ananya had seen through him, and now he had to figure out what to do with that.
Later That Afternoon
The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Karthik couldn't stop thinking about Ananya's words, replaying them over and over in his mind. Every time he tried to focus, her face appeared, her smile, her eyes.
When school ended, he found himself walking toward the gates, his feet taking him on an autopilot route. Without realizing it, he ended up in the small park by the edge of the school grounds, a quiet place he often retreated to when he needed to think.
He sat down on the old wooden bench, his fingers still tracing the crumpled note in his pocket. He couldn't get her out of his head.
"She's just being nice," he told himself, but even as the words left his mouth, they felt hollow.
He wasn't sure when, but eventually, he found himself texting Shruthi.
Karthik: Do you think Ananya is messing with me?
It didn't take long for Shruthi to reply.
Shruthi: Messing with you? Why would she do that?
Karthik: She says I'm not invisible. But I don't know what that means.
Shruthi: Well, you ARE a bit invisible to most people. But trust me, Ananya wouldn't mess with you. She likes you, Karthik. She just wants to get to know you better.
Karthik read the message several times, unsure how to respond. Ananya liked him? That was absurd. He couldn't believe it.
Karthik: You're sure?
Shruthi: Positive. I've never seen her talk about anyone like she talks about you. She's interested in you, Karthik.
The message hung in the air for a moment, and Karthik felt a strange mixture of disbelief and something else—something unfamiliar. Could it be true? Could Ananya actually like him?
His phone buzzed again.
Shruthi: Just don't shut her out, okay? She's not going to stick around if you keep pushing her away.
Karthik stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.
The thing was, he had never let anyone in. And now, with Ananya's persistent presence, he wasn't sure how to handle it.
"I don't even know how to begin," he whispered to himself.
End of Chapter 6