Chapter 13: The High School Days (pt.3)
The sound of the morning bell echoed through the school hallways, signaling the start of another day. Shyam walked in through the side entrance, clutching a well-worn backpack slung over one shoulder. His usual routine carried a certain predictability—straight to his locker, grab his books, and avoid unnecessary chatter. But as he turned the corner toward his class, he found himself face-to-face with Raitha.
She was surrounded by a group of her friends, laughing at something one of them had said. Her laughter was bright, almost musical, and it carried down the hallway, making Shyam pause for a moment. She looked effortlessly confident, the kind of person who could light up a room without even trying.
Shyam quickly looked away and hurried past them, not noticing how Raitha's laughter softened as her eyes followed him for a fleeting moment.
---
During their shared history class later that morning, the teacher announced a group project. The class groaned collectively, knowing full well what this meant—groupwork rarely ended with equal contributions.
"All right, everyone, I'll assign your partners," the teacher said with a grin that could only be described as mischievous.
As names were called out, Shyam felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He didn't mind working on his own, and frankly, he preferred it. But fate—or the teacher's sense of humor—had other plans.
"Raitha and Shyam, you'll be working together," the teacher announced.
Shyam froze in his seat, while Raitha turned to glance at him. She offered a polite nod, though her mind raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
---
After class, Raitha approached Shyam near his desk. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure how to bridge the gap between their formal interactions and the easy camaraderie she hoped to achieve.
"So, when do you want to start working on the project?" she asked, keeping her tone casual.
Shyam looked up from his notebook, his expression neutral. "Whenever you're free."
"How about after school today?" she suggested.
"Sure," he replied simply.
Raitha smiled, though Shyam's lack of enthusiasm left her wondering if this was really a good idea.
---
The library was their chosen meeting spot. The quiet hum of the air conditioner and the faint rustling of pages created a serene atmosphere. Raitha spread her notes across the table, trying to appear organized, though she had spent most of her free period earlier frantically preparing.
Shyam arrived a few minutes later, carrying a single notebook and a pen. His minimalistic approach made her feel slightly overprepared, but she brushed the thought aside.
"Let's divide the topics," Shyam said, getting straight to the point.
Raitha nodded, though a part of her wished he would make a bit more effort to engage in conversation. She had imagined this moment so many times, picturing witty banter or even a shared laugh. Instead, Shyam seemed all business.
As they worked, Raitha stole glances at him, marveling at how focused he was. There was a quiet intensity to him, a calm confidence that she found intriguing. She wanted to know more about him—what he liked, what made him laugh, what he thought about when he wasn't solving equations or jotting down notes.
"Why do you always sit in the back of the class?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Shyam looked up, slightly startled by the question. "It's quieter back there," he replied after a pause.
Raitha smiled. "I guess that makes sense. It's nice to have some peace in a noisy class."
Shyam nodded but didn't elaborate. Raitha sighed inwardly. Cracking his shell was going to be harder than she thought.
---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, their work finally came to an end. Raitha felt a sense of accomplishment, not just from completing the assignment but from spending time with Shyam, even if the interaction had been minimal.
"Thanks for today," she said as they packed up their things.
Shyam nodded again. "See you in class."
As he walked away, Raitha watched him, her heart sinking slightly. She had hoped for more—a conversation, a moment of connection, something to indicate that he saw her as more than just a classmate.
But Shyam, true to his introverted nature, remained an enigma.
---
That night, as Raitha lay in bed, she replayed their time in the library, wondering what it would take to get through to him. She was used to people approaching her, eager to talk, to connect. But Shyam was different. He didn't seek attention or approval. He seemed content in his own world, and Raitha couldn't help but feel drawn to that quiet strength.
Meanwhile, Shyam sat at his desk, staring at the neat rows of notes they had written together. He found himself thinking about Raitha, about the way her eyes lit up when she explained something, about the soft determination in her voice. It was... unusual for him to notice such things, and he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.
For the first time in a long while, Shyam's thoughts wandered away from books and numbers, settling instead on the girl who had managed, however briefly, to disrupt his quiet world.