Days passed, and the distance between Harsh and Indu slowly disappeared again after that day in the corridor when she held out her hand and called him a friend.
But both of them knew that what they felt was more than friendship.
They just didn't say it.
It was a cold morning in Darjeeling. The fog was so thick that the school building was barely visible from the gate. Students walked in groups, laughing, complaining about homework, talking about exams.
Harsh walked alone as usual, his hands in his pockets, his bag hanging loosely on one shoulder.
But now, he wasn't really alone.
As he entered the classroom, his eyes automatically searched for her.
Last bench. Near the window.
Indu was already there, reading a book. A few strands of her hair moved gently with the cold wind coming from the window. She looked peaceful, like she was in her own world.
Harsh smiled slightly and went to his seat.
A few minutes later, Indu walked up to him and placed something on his desk.
It was a chocolate.
Harsh looked up, confused. "What's this for?"
Indu shrugged lightly. "I just felt like giving you one."
Harsh smiled. "Thank you."
"You always say thank you like I gave you something very big," she said.
Harsh thought for a moment and then replied quietly, "When you don't get many things in life, even small things feel big."
Indu didn't know why, but that sentence touched her deeply.
She sat down beside him. "You think too much."
"And you don't think enough," Harsh replied.
She looked at him and then both of them started laughing quietly.
It was a small moment.
But for them, it meant everything.
As weeks passed, everyone in class started noticing them together.
They studied together.
Sat together.
Sometimes ate together.
Walked to the bus stop together.
But they still had never said the most important thing.
One day during lunch break, Harsh went to fill his water bottle and when he came back, he saw something that made his heart sink a little.
Indu was sitting with a boy from their class named Rohan. Rohan was rich, confident, good-looking, and very popular. He was laughing and talking to Indu like they were very close.
Harsh stopped walking for a moment.
Something inside his chest felt heavy.
Of course… why would someone like her choose someone like me? he thought.
He quietly went back and sat in his seat without saying anything.
After a few minutes, Indu came back.
"You disappeared," she said.
"I just went to fill water," Harsh replied without looking at her.
Indu noticed something was wrong. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"You don't look okay."
Harsh stayed quiet for a few seconds, then said, "You and Rohan look good talking together. You should sit with him. He's… more your type."
Indu stared at him for a moment, then realized.
"You're jealous," she said.
"I'm not," Harsh replied quickly.
"You are," she said again, this time smiling a little.
Harsh looked at her, a little annoyed and a little embarrassed. "Why would I be jealous?"
Indu leaned a little closer and said softly, "Because you like me."
Harsh froze.
His mind went blank.
He couldn't speak.
He couldn't move.
He just looked at her.
Indu's heart was beating very fast too. She couldn't believe she had said that so directly. But she didn't look away this time.
Harsh finally spoke, very quietly, "What if I do…?"
Indu didn't reply immediately.
She looked out the window, then back at him.
Then she said slowly, "Then… you're not the only one."
Harsh felt like the world had stopped.
"W-what do you mean…?" he asked.
Indu smiled softly, but her eyes were a little nervous.
"I mean… I think I started liking you from the first day. When you were standing in front of the class, so nervous, trying to introduce yourself… I don't know why, but I couldn't stop looking at you."
Harsh couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"But you looked so uninterested that day," he said.
Indu laughed a little. "That was my acting. I didn't want anyone to know."
"So… all this time…?" Harsh asked.
"All this time," she replied.
They both stayed quiet after that.
Not because they had nothing to say.
But because sometimes happiness makes you silent.
Harsh slowly said, "I'm not rich. I'm not very smart. I'm not very handsome. I'm just… me."
Indu looked straight into his eyes and said, "I don't like you because you're rich or smart or handsome. I like you because when I'm with you, I feel peaceful. And in this world, peace is very rare."
Harsh felt something warm in his eyes, but he tried not to cry.
"So… what are we now?" he asked.
Indu smiled. "We're… something more than friends."
Harsh smiled too. "Something more than friends."
That day, they didn't officially call it love.
But in their hearts—
They both knew.
This was love.
And this love would become the most beautiful…
And the most painful part of their lives.