The next day was painfully slow until the last two periods.
Group Activity: Project Presentation Prep.
Teacher:
"Okay class! I want groups of 4. You'll pick a topic from the list and start prepping today itself."
Neha, obviously, was about to team up with Ayesha and two other girls.
Until-
The teacher interrupted destiny.
"Neha, Ayesha... you both shift to Group 3. They need two more students."
Neha froze.
Turned to look at Group 3.
And there he was.
Riyan.
Sitting with two other boys.
Blank expression. But his foot started tapping nervously under the bench.
Ayesha muttered,
"Bhaag lete toh better hota..."
Neha whispered,
"Shut up and sit before she switches us again."
They walked over.
Sat opposite Riyan.
Not a single eye contact. Not a single word.
The awkwardness was so thick, it could be sliced like birthday cake.
Teacher clapped.
"Choose your topic and begin discussion!"
Topic chosen: Social Media & Its Impact on Students
Neha, finally gathering courage, looked up
"We can divide the work. I'll take positive impact part."
Riyan replied without looking at her
"Fine. I'll do the negatives."
Even his tone had changed.
No teasing.
No flirting.
Just cold, mature, grumpy guy energy.
Neha blinked.
This isn't the Riyan I knew.
Ayesha glanced between them like a tennis match was about to begin.
As the group discussed ideas, their fingers accidentally brushed while passing the paper.
Both pulled back instantly.
Riyan looked up.
So did she.
1 second. Eye contact.
No words.
No smiles.
Just... silence.
And yet, something unspoken screamed between them.
The bell rang.
Chairs scraped. Bags zipped. Students rushed out.
But Neha stayed seated for a second longer.
Riyan had already left not even a glance back.
She stared at the half-written paper in front of her, the place where their fingers touched accidentally.
Why does it still affect me...??
She shook the thought away, packed her stuff, and walked out with Ayesha.
The hallway was loud.
But inside her?
Total silence.
The kind of silence that comes
before a storm.
"Class, we have a new student joining us today," the teacher announced, stepping aside.
And there she was Zara Siddiqui.
Tall, perfectly braided hair, glossy lips, and a smile that could win hearts...
Or maybe manipulate them.
"Hi, I'm Zara. I just shifted from Delhi. Hope we all become good friends!"
The class gave polite claps.
A few boys whispered "heroine lagti hai."
Girls glanced at each other, suddenly fixing their hair.
Neha barely reacted. She wasn't the type to judge.
But something about that sugar-coated smile felt... off.
"Zara, take the empty seat beside Ayesha," the teacher said.
Of course.
Ayesha, being the sunshine she was, welcomed her with open arms.
"Heyy! I'm Ayesha, you'll love our class! And that's Neha my best friend."
Zara turned to Neha with a bright smile.
"Hiii Neha... best friend, huh?"
Neha nodded slightly.
"Yeah... since years."
Zara's lips twitched. Almost a smirk.
Just for a second.
Lunchtime.
Zara stuck with Ayesha the whole time.
Telling her stories, cracking jokes.
Neha just sat there, quiet, sipping her juice.
"Neha, you're so quiet yaar," Zara said sweetly.
"You don't talk much?"
"Only when I have something to say," Neha replied calmly.
"Interesting," Zara giggled. "Mysterious girl vibe, huh?"
Ayesha laughed awkwardly.
Neha looked at her best friend...
And for the first time, felt like she wasn't exactly beside her anymore.
After school, Ayesha and Zara walked together, still chatting.
"You know," Zara said, biting into her chocolate,
"Your name sounds so familiar."
"Really?" Ayesha laughed. "Maybe I'm famous!"
Zara suddenly paused.
"Wait... wait wait wait were you in Little Stars Play School??"
Ayesha stopped too. Eyes widened.
"WHAT!? YES! Bro I was there in nursery and KG!!"
"Shut up! Me too! I knew it! I KNEW I'd seen you before!"
Both girls screamed like maniacs in the middle of the street. Hugged tight.
"ZARA! You were that crybaby in red ribbons!"
"And YOU were that bossy monitor!"
They laughed their hearts out. Childhood nostalgia hit hard.
Neha, standing a few steps behind, watched the scene unfold.
She smiled faintly...
But something inside her tugged.
Now there's a memory I'm not a part of...
And just like that,
Zara's bond with Ayesha had a backdoor key to the past.
The next few days felt like a tug-of-war inside Neha's chest.
On the surface, everything seemed fine.
But deep down... she could feel the small shifts.
In class:
Zara would always find a reason to sit next to Ayesha.
Be it a project.
A lunch break.
Or even just chatting during free periods.
Neha was often left to sit quietly at the back, scrolling through her phone, pretending it didn't matter.
But it did.
It always did.
In the corridors:
Ayesha would walk ahead with Zara, laughing about something Neha couldn't even begin to understand.
"Neha, I swear I can't believe you never watched that movie! Zara and I were just talking about it!" Ayesha would say with a grin.
Neha, forcing a smile, would reply:
"Yeah, I haven't had time for movies lately."
And Zara would always throw in the extra line:
"You're missing out, Neha. You're such a serious girl."
Ayesha would laugh, not noticing the change in Neha's expression.
Zara, though? She always knew how to land the little blows.
In the cafeteria:
Neha tried to join their table, but it was already crowded.
Zara and Ayesha were too absorbed in their conversation to notice.
Neha, standing there awkwardly for a second, sighed and picked another table.
She was used to being alone... but this loneliness felt different.
And it wasn't just that.
One day after school, Neha walked out to find Zara and Ayesha hugging, talking about their childhood memories.
Their bond, shared through laughter, felt... almost unbreakable.
Neha stood there for a few moments, watching them.
Her heart ached, but she quickly wiped her face.
Later that evening
Neha sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She wasn't mad at Ayesha.
She wasn't mad at Zara.
But she couldn't help feeling invisible...
Like everyone else had moved forward and left her behind.
Her phone buzzed.
It was Ayesha:
"Heyy Neha! Zara and I are going to the mall tomorrow. Wanna join us? :))"
Neha stared at the message for a long time.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
But... in the end, she just didn't feel like replying.