If Shiva was invisible—
Aarohi was impossible to ignore.
The moment she stepped into the classroom, the energy shifted. Conversations grew louder, laughter came easier, and people naturally gathered around her like she was the center of gravity.
"Good morning!" she said brightly, sliding into her seat as her friends immediately surrounded her.
"Did you finish the math homework?" one of them asked.
Aarohi made a face. "Of course not. I value my sleep more than my grades."
"Liar, you always top the class!"
"Okay, fine… I did finish it," she admitted, laughing.
It was effortless for her.
Talking. Smiling. Being liked.
Everything that felt complicated for someone like Shiva… came naturally to her.
From the back of the classroom, Shiva noticed it again.
Not her popularity—
But the way people depended on her.
Whenever someone was upset, they went to Aarohi.
Whenever there was confusion, she explained things.
Whenever the class felt dull, she made it lively again.
She carried the mood of the entire room on her shoulders.
And yet—
No one seemed to ask how she was doing.
The teacher walked in, and the class slowly settled down.
"Aarohi, can you collect the assignments?" he said.
"Sure, sir!"
She stood up quickly, moving from desk to desk with her usual smile.
"Homework?" she asked playfully to a boy who looked nervous.
"I… forgot."
She sighed dramatically. "You're lucky I'm nice today."
More laughter.
Step by step, she made her way toward the last row.
Toward Shiva.
For a brief moment, her energy slowed.
Not because she disliked him—
But because she didn't know him.
She stopped near his desk.
"Homework?" she asked.
Shiva silently handed over his notebook.
Their fingers almost touched.
Almost.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"…Hmm."
That was all.
No eye contact.
No smile.
Just silence.
Aarohi blinked slightly before moving on.
"Interesting…" she muttered under her breath.
Later that day, during lunch break, the classroom was filled with noise again.
Aarohi sat with her friends, laughing like always.
But her eyes wandered.
Just for a moment.
Toward the last bench.
Shiva was eating alone, quietly, as if he preferred it that way.
No phone. No distractions.
Just silence.
"Why does he always sit alone?" she suddenly asked.
Her friends followed her gaze.
"Oh, him?" one of them said. "He's just… weird."
"Yeah, he never talks to anyone."
"Total introvert."
Aarohi didn't respond immediately.
Weird?
She didn't think so.
Different… maybe.
But not weird.
"He doesn't look lonely," she said quietly.
Her friends shrugged.
"Well, people like him choose to be alone."
Aarohi looked at him again.
For some reason—
That answer didn't feel right.
As the day went on, she found herself noticing small things.
The way he listened carefully during class.
The way he never interrupted anyone.
The way he seemed completely unaffected by the noise around him.
It wasn't normal.
But it wasn't bad either.
It was… peaceful.
And for someone like Aarohi—
Peace was something she rarely experienced.
The final bell rang.
Students rushed out of the classroom, excited to go home.
Aarohi packed her bag slowly.
For once, she wasn't in a hurry.
As she walked past the last bench—
She paused.
Just for a second.
Shiva was still sitting there, looking out the window.
Lost in his own world.
Aarohi hesitated.
Then, quietly—
"Bye," she said.
Shiva blinked, slightly surprised.
"…Bye."
A small word.
A simple moment.
But something about it felt…
Different.