3

One by one, the students entered the classroom and settled into their assigned seats.

The low hum of conversations slowly faded as everyone prepared for the exam.

Naina sat in the last row beside Priya, pretending to revise formulas.

Pretending.Because her attention was somewhere else entirely.

A few moments later, Aarav entered the classroom.

His admit card was already in his hand as he walked toward the teacher's desk to confirm his seat number.

Without realizing it, Naina's eyes followed him.

Today he was wearing a grey jacket over a simple t-shirt, blue jeans, and clean white sneakers. His beard was neatly trimmed, and despite looking perfectly fine, he still kept adjusting his jacket sleeves and running a hand through his hair.

The sight made Naina smile.

"Why does he keep fixing his hair when it already looks fine?"

Beside her, Priya noticed exactly where Naina was looking.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Then she raised an eyebrow.

"Is this him?"

Naina immediately looked away.

But Priya's teasing smile only grew wider.

A few weeks earlier, Naina had finally confessed something to her.

"I think I have a crush on someone."

Since then, Priya had been waiting to see the mysterious boy.

And now she had her answer.

Naina tried to focus on her notebook.

Failed.

Looked up again.

Failed again.

Meanwhile, Aarav collected his seating details from the teacher.

Seat Number 23.

Third row from the front.

Left side.

He walked over and sat down, completely unaware that someone behind him had memorized every step he took from the door to his desk.

A few minutes later, the invigilator entered with a stack of question papers.

The room immediately became silent.

"Everyone, keep your admit cards on your desks."

The papers were distributed row by row.

Soon, every student had a question paper in front of them.

Naina looked down at hers.

Mathematics.

The very subject she had revised all night.

Yet for some reason, her first thought wasn't about integration or formulas.

It was a simple realization.

Aarav was in the same room.

Just a few rows ahead.

And somehow that thought made her more nervous than the exam itself.

The three-hour examination finally came to an end.

As soon as the bell rang, students began leaving their classrooms one after another. Some looked relieved, some looked stressed, and some were already discussing answers before they had even stepped outside.

Aarav's friends, Abhay and Darshan, had finished early and were waiting outside.

Aarav, however, stayed until the last few minutes, carefully checking every answer before submitting his paper.

Meanwhile, Naina and Priya also walked out of the classroom.

"So?" Priya asked mischievously. "Are you finally going to show me this famous crush of yours?"

Naina immediately stood up.

"Yes. Come on."

The two girls hurried downstairs.

They reached the college gate.

No Aarav.

They looked around.

Still no Aarav.

"He probably left already," Priya said.

Naina tried not to look disappointed.

"Maybe."

The two girls slowly walked back inside the campus.

Just as they reached the middle courtyard, Naina suddenly stopped.

"There!"

Priya followed her gaze.

Aarav was standing a little distance away, talking to another student. One hand was inside his jacket pocket while the other moved casually as he spoke.

Before Priya could say anything, another friend joined them.

Krishna.

"What are you two staring at?" he asked.

Naina hesitated for a second.

Then finally admitted,

"I like someone."

Both Priya and Krishna immediately looked interested.

"Who?" Krishna asked.

Naina pointed discreetly toward Aarav.

"That one."

Krishna and Priya exchanged looks.

"Ohhhh..."

Naina instantly felt embarrassed.

"Stop it."

A few moments later, Aarav finished his conversation and started walking toward the gate.

As he approached, his eyes landed on Naina.

A small smile appeared on his face.

A simple smile.

Yet Naina felt her heart skip a beat.

She smiled back, trying her best to appear normal.

Priya quietly stepped aside.

She knew exactly what was happening.

Naina gathered her courage and walked over.

"Hi."

"Hey," Aarav replied.

"How was your paper?"

"It was good," he said. "A little lengthy, but manageable."

"What about yours?"

"It went well too."

Soon they were discussing questions from the paper.

"This question was easy."

"No, it wasn't."

"It was!"

"You only think that because you're good at maths."

Both laughed.

The conversation felt effortless.

Comfortable.

Natural.

Then the topic shifted to the next examination.

"The next paper's center is in another college," Aarav said.

Naina nodded.

"You almost got late today too."

Aarav laughed.

"Don't remind me. I sleep way too much. I could barely wake up this morning. I literally ran out of my room."

Just then Priya returned.

And before Naina could think about it properly, the words slipped out.

"If you can't wake up, I can call you in the morning."

For a second, even she was surprised by what she had said.

Aarav looked at her and smiled.

"Sure. Call me. That would actually help."

Naina tried to stay calm.

Inside, however, she was celebrating.

A few moments later, Aarav's friends called him from the gate.

"Aarav! Chal, late ho raha hai!"

"I'm coming!" he replied.

He turned back toward Naina.

"Okay, see you at the next exam."

"See you."

And just like that, he left.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Priya grabbed Naina's arm.

"Oh my God!"

"What?"

"Now I understand."

"Understand what?"

"Why you like him."

Naina felt her cheeks warm.

Priya laughed.

"He speaks so politely. He's cute. He's respectful. And that smile?"

"Priya!"

"I'm serious!"

Naina looked away, trying to hide her happiness.

But she couldn't.

For the rest of the journey home, one thought stayed with her.

Tomorrow morning, she had a reason to call him.