DOING (Q) IN THE LIBRARY
The following day, Shyam found his usual spot in the school library—a corner far away from the sunlight, a place where the warmth of the day never quite reached. It was his sanctuary, where he could remain unnoticed, even by himself at times. The silence enveloped him, a calm cocoon where he could lose himself in the pages of a book without distractions.
Or at least, that's what he thought.
"Hey, Shyam! I see you're alone, as always. What are you reading?"
Raitha's voice, though soft, broke the silence like a gentle breeze. It was as though she'd whispered directly into his ear. He jumped slightly, his attention snapped away from the book, and when he looked up, he found her standing right in front of him, smiling sweetly—a smile so warm and inviting that it could make anyone's heart skip a beat.
The moment of silence between them felt deafening, as though the world had paused for just a second.
"Oh! Hi, I didn't notice you were here…" Shyam stammered, his voice cracking. It sounded like someone nervously speaking in a job interview for the first time. His nervousness was palpable, and it was clear he hadn't anticipated the sudden encounter.
Raitha, however, didn't seem bothered by his awkwardness. She simply sat down beside him, her presence filling the space with a quiet, effortless comfort. She opened her own book, seeming completely at ease, and began working on her homework.
Shyam, on the other hand, was still recovering from the unexpected visit. He had come to the library to read, a rare moment of peace away from the chaos of school, but to his surprise, the library was never this empty at this hour—especially not with someone like Raitha here. The library was usually a deserted place, even more so than the rooftop, which made her being here even more unusual.
"Hey, do you know how to solve this math question?" Raitha suddenly asked, leaning a little closer to him, her voice soft but clear.
Shyam was taken aback. Of course, it was just like her to ask questions at the most unexpected moments. But this time, he didn't overreact. Well, at least, that's what he thought.
"Which question? Can I see?" he asked, his voice still a little shaky.
It seemed like Raitha had been waiting for him to say exactly that. Without missing a beat, she moved closer to him, her arm brushing lightly against his.
Shyam felt a shock run through him. His body stiffened, and for a split second, he thought his heart might stop. The unexpected touch sent a wave of panic through him, his mind scrambling to regain control. But somehow, he managed to hold it together and looked at the question she was pointing at.
It was a complicated math problem, one that had been giving Raitha trouble for a while. But for Shyam, it was easy. As someone about to graduate, he had already mastered the subject.
He began explaining the solution to her in a calm, matter-of-fact manner, his voice steady and confident now. As he spoke, he didn't realize that the redness that had been creeping up his neck and face was starting to fade away. His discomfort had started to melt, and he found himself completely absorbed in the task of teaching her, the usual awkwardness of her presence fading into the background.
Raitha listened intently, her focus entirely on him, as though she were hanging on every word he said. It wasn't just the math question that seemed to be drawing her in—it was the way he spoke, the ease with which he explained things.
By the time they finished, Shyam, still not used to the closeness, stood up abruptly, his heart racing. Without another word, he quickly gathered his things and rushed out of the library, hoping to escape the swirl of emotions that were now making his head spin.
Raitha watched him leave, a slight frown crossing her face. She felt a pang of sadness, though she understood. Shyam wasn't the type to linger in one place for too long, especially not with someone he wasn't deeply comfortable with yet.
"Well, at least I did my homework properly this time," she muttered to herself, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she turned back to her books.
As Shyam hurried away, he couldn't help but feel conflicted. He had wanted to be helpful, wanted to share the knowledge he had, but the proximity, the touch, had unsettled him in ways he couldn't fully understand. But deep down, he knew this wasn't the last time they'd be crossing paths like this.
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DOING HOMEWORK IN THE LIBRARY