Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a notification.
Maria stopped walking.
For a second, she ignored it. Messages didn't matter anymore. Nothing felt important after the heaviness sitting in her chest the whole day.
But the phone kept vibrating.
She sighed and pulled it out of her pocket.
The class group again.
Anan had sent another message.
"Guys big update 😂 Dhiran coming back next week. Transfer cancelled. His dad staying here only."
Maria blinked, with amusement.
Her brain refused to process it.
She read it again.
And again.
Coming back?
The quiet road around her suddenly felt unreal. Like the world had paused and then restarted without warning.
Students started replying.
"Seriously??" "Bro don't joke." "Good, he still owes me money." "Backbench gang saved 😂"
Maria stood frozen.
He was coming back.
The emptiness she had just started accepting suddenly shifted into confusion.
Relief mixed with something else she couldn't name.
Her heart beat faster, but this time, not with pain.
With fear.
What if things stayed the same?
What if nothing changed?
Or worse…
What if she started hoping again?
That night, Maria lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
Dhiran coming back shouldn't matter.
But it did.
Because now, the unfinished feeling had returned.
She turned to her side, clutching her pillow.
Nothing changes, she told herself.
He still sees you as just a classmate.
Nothing more.
And yet…
A small, foolish part of her heart whispered—
At least he's coming back.
Monday.
The classroom buzzed louder than usual.
Maria kept her head down, pretending to write, but her ears were alert.
Waiting.
Every footstep outside made her heart jump.
Then—
The classroom door opened.
And Dhiran walked in.
Same lazy walk. Same messy hair. Same careless smile.
"Missed me?" he joked loudly.
His friends surrounded him instantly.
Maria didn't turn around.
She didn't trust herself to.
But she felt his presence again.
Behind her seat.
Like before.
Normal.
Everything normal.
Except her heart refused to behave normally.
Days passed.
Dhiran returned to his usual self.
Laughing loudly. Talking endlessly. Teasing everyone.
And Maria returned to her usual habit—
Watching quietly.
But something was slightly different now.
He spoke to her more often.
Small things.
"Notes ready?" "Homework done?" "Move your bag, I can't pass."
Nothing special.
Nothing meaningful.
Yet every small interaction felt heavier than before.
One rainy afternoon, the class was dismissed early.
Students rushed out before the rain worsened.
Maria stayed back, packing slowly.
When she finally stepped outside, heavy rain poured down.
Her umbrella was missing.
She groaned softly.
"Great".
She stood near the corridor, waiting, hoping the rain would slow.
"Not going?"
She turned.
Dhiran stood there, bag slung
carelessly over one shoulder, holding an umbrella.
Maria shook her head.
"Forgot mine."
He shrugged.
"Come. Bus will leave."
Before she could protest, he opened his umbrella and started walking.
Maria hesitated.
Then followed.
They walked side by side under the small umbrella.
Too close.
She could hear his breathing. Smell the faint scent of rain and soap on his shirt.
Their shoulders brushed slightly.
Her heartbeat grew louder than the rain.
He seemed completely normal.
Casual.
Unaware.
As always.
Halfway to the bus, he suddenly laughed.
"You're really quiet, you know."
Maria blinked.
"What?"
"You don't talk much. But you listen to everything. Kinda scary."said Dhiran
She looked down, embarrassed.
"Sorry."
"Why sorry? It's not bad," he said lightly.
Then added,
"People who listen more usually understand more."
Maria didn't know what to say.
No one had ever said something like that to her.
They reached the bus.
Students rushed in.
The last seat was full.
Only one seat remained.
Near the middle.
Small.
Dhiran slid in first.
She had no choice but to sit beside him.
Too close again.
Her hands clenched her bag.
Their arms touched whenever the bus moved.
Every small bump made her heart race.
He leaned his head against the window, looking outside.
Within minutes, he seemed half asleep.
Rain tapped against the glass.
Students chatted loudly.
Maria stared ahead, trying to calm herself.
Then—
The bus took a sharp turn.
Dhiran lost balance and his head fell sideways.
Onto her shoulder.
Maria froze.
His hair brushed her cheek.
Warm breath against her arm.
For a moment, time stopped.
She didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't think.
Her heart pounded wildly.
No one noticed.
No one cared.
To everyone else, it was normal.
But to her—
It felt like the closest she would ever be to him.
After a minute, he woke up slightly and straightened.
"Sorry," he muttered casually.
"It's okay," she whispered.
He didn't even realize what that moment meant to her.
And maybe that was better.
Her stop arrived.
She stood up, stepping down into the light drizzle.
The bus began to move again.
Maria walked a few steps.
Then stopped.
Something made her look back.
Through the foggy window, Dhiran glanced outside.
For a second, their eyes met.
He gave a small, lazy wave.
Then turned back to his friends.
And the bus drove away.
That night, Maria lay in bed, heart strangely heavy and light at the same time.
Nothing had changed.
He still saw her as a classmate.
Just someone from school.
But now she had new memories.
Walking under the same umbrella.
Sitting too close.
His head on her shoulder.
Moments small enough to mean nothing—
Except to her.
She smiled faintly, tears stinging her eyes.
Because she knew.
Someday, even these moments would disappear.
People leave.
Seats change.
Stories end.
But tonight…
Her phone buzzed again.
A new message.
Unknown number.
Her heart skipped.
She opened it.
A single message appeared.
"You reached home safely, right?"
Maria sat up straight.
Her fingers trembled.
Only one person knew she got down at that stop.
Only one person could have her number.
But…
Dhiran never asked for her number.
Her heart pounded.
She stared at the screen, confused.
And slowly typed back—
"Who is this?"
Three dots appeared instantly.
Someone was typing.
Maria held her breath.
The reply arrived.
And her heart stopped.
(Plot twist)
And this was not Dhiran... it was...
——×——×——×——×——×——×—–
Thank you so muchhh for supporting me guys~🌹✨
Love you allll!!
Let's see who is the person rather than Dhiran in chapter 6!
Secert★: In real life they're studying in a CBSE school