They sat quietly, the cool wind wrapping around them like a blanket of secrets. Trees stood tall around the little bench, silent witnesses to all things unsaid.
Yashika turned to Chirag, her eyes curious.
"So... what is it?" she asked softly.
Chirag looked down at his fingers, took a deep breath, and then began.
"A few days ago, a new girl took admission in our school," he said. "Her name is Kanika. She moved here from Gujarat. She's in our class."
Yashika listened, gently blinking.
"She's... really beautiful," he smiled to himself. "Like, I never thought I'd say this, but... I think I'm in love with her."
The words hit her like an unexpected wave.
"I don't even know when it happened," he chuckled nervously, "but it just did. She's so kind... charming... different. Not like those heartbreakers or show-offs. Her dad's an MLA, but she's nothing like how people imagine MLA kids. She's just... her."
He paused, eyes searching her face. "Yashika?"
But Yashika wasn't there — not really.
Her body was, her heartbeat was, her hands resting on her lap were.
But her thoughts... they had scattered.
She didn't know why she felt like this.
She should be happy, right?
Chirag, her best friend, had fallen for someone. He liked a girl who was kind, sweet, lovely.
And yet, something inside her quietly broke.
A small crack in a part of her she had never noticed.
"Yashika?" Chirag repeated gently.
She blinked and smiled — the kind of smile so well-practiced it could fool anyone.
Even him.
"Oh my god!" she laughed. "That girl better be beautiful, or else I'm gonna kill you. I'm so happy. Finally, you've found someone."
Relieved, Chirag smiled brightly.
"Tell me everything," Yashika said, hiding her trembling voice behind forced excitement.
And he did. He told her how the teacher made them sit together on Kanika's first day. How she smiled shyly and asked for notes. How she laughed at his jokes. How her eyes sparkled when she talked about books and rain. How he'd catch himself staring without even realizing.
Yashika listened to every word, nodding, laughing — acting.
But her heart was elsewhere... wandering, aching.
"So," he finally asked, "should I propose to her? Like... do you think she'd say yes?"
"Of course you should!" she beamed. "She can't say no to the basketball champion of the school."
He laughed. "Yashika... you don't know how lucky I am to have a friend like you. You're the best."
That hurt more than she expected.
He pulled her into a sudden hug.
She froze for a moment... then gently patted his back.
"Okay," he said, pulling away. "I'm gonna propose to her tomorrow. During lunch break."
"That's the spirit!" she replied, forcing cheer into her voice.
She glanced at her watch.
It was already past 8:00.
"I should go," she said quickly. "Ms. Kavitha will worry."
"I'll drop you," he said, standing up.
She simply nodded.
The ride back was silent. The breeze that once felt freeing now felt cold — colder than ever. She reached the orphanage gates.
"Good night," he said softly.
"Good night," she replied, then walked in.
"Yashika, are you back?" Ms. Kavitha called.
"Yes, ma'am," she answered quietly.
"Okay. Good night."
"Good night."
She stepped into her room, locked the door, and let her body fall onto the bed. Hugging her pillow tightly, she buried her face into it.
She didn't cry.
She didn't speak.
She just lay there, confused.
Why am I feeling like this?
I should be happy for him... right?
But happiness never felt so far away.
Her thoughts spun until they finally blurred... and sleep took over.
The next day, Yashika sat in her school classroom, but her mind wasn't truly there. Her eyes flickered over the blackboard, but none of the words made sense. The voices of teachers, the rustling of notebooks—everything felt distant.
A scene from last night kept replaying in her mind. "I think I'm in love with her..." Chirag's words echoed through her chest like a cold wind. She tried shaking it off, but some invisible string tugged at her thoughts.
Later that evening, around 7 PM, she stepped out of her tuition. The streets buzzed with people, but her eyes stayed low, lost in thought—until she saw him.
Chirag.
Her breath caught. She didn't want to face him—not right now. So, she quickly turned her face and picked up her pace.
"Hey! I came to pick you up," his familiar voice called out behind her.
Startled, she turned slightly, faking a smile. "Oh... I didn't see you," she lied.
"That's fine," Chirag replied, a grin tugging his lips. "I wanted to tell you something."
Yashika's heart skipped. "Okay..." she said, her voice hesitant.
"But not now," she quickly added.
"Why?" Chirag asked.
"I have some work to do," she replied, avoiding eye contact.
"What work?"
"Just... some work." Her tone was short, a little shaky.
Chirag reached out and gently gripped her hand. "Please."
That one word was enough. She couldn't say no to him—not when he asked like that. She gave in, her voice barely a whisper. "Okay. Tell me."
Chirag's face lit up like a thousand lamps. "She said yes, Yashika."
And just like that, he wrapped his arms around her.
"I wouldn't have been able to do it without you," he said softly into the hug.
She froze. Her arms slowly lifted to pat his back gently, a faint smile curving her lips—but it wasn't a happy smile. It was the kind you wear when your heart quietly cracks inside.
Why am I feeling like this...? she wondered. Shouldn't I be happy for him?
She took a small step back. "Okay, I guess I should go now."
"I'll drop you," he said, as usual.
"No, it's fine—" she started, but Chirag interrupted.
"No argument, you are still 12."
She sighed lightly, then nodded. The ride back was quiet. The cool evening air brushed her face, but it only made her feel colder inside. Chirag talked a little, but her responses were short, faint echoes of her usual self.
He dropped her and they both said bye to each other. After Yashika went inside Chirag took his route back home. Unaware of the sutron inside Yashika.