Silent Connections

~ Caught in a glance ~

              
             Chapter 4    

Dev's POV:-

The last bell rang, signaling the end of another school day. I gathered my things, slinging my backpack over my shoulder, and headed out with my friends. We were talking about the usual stuff—homework, upcoming exams, and weekend plans.

"Did you guys finish that math assignment yet?" Rohit asked.

"Nah, I'll probably do it tonight," I replied. "What about you, Amit?"

"Almost done. Just need to double-check a few things," Amit said, adjusting his glasses.

We continued chatting as we made our way toward the bus. I spotted Aanya, talking animatedly with her friend. As I stepped onto the bus, Aanya looked up and smiled. "Hey, Dev! How's it going?"

"Hey, Aanya. It's going good. Just trying to keep up with all the assignments," I said, taking a seat nearby.

"Tell me about it," she laughed. "This year's workload is no joke."

"Yeah, definitely. How about you? How are your studies going?" I asked, settling into my seat.

"Pretty good, actually. Busy, but manageable," she replied. Then, after a brief pause, she added casually, "By the way, you know my best friend, Harshna, right?"

I furrowed my brow, trying to place the name. "Harshna? Sounds familiar."

"She’s in my class," Aanya explained. "We always hang out together."

"Oh, right," I said, nodding. "I think I've seen you two around."

Aanya smiled. "Yeah, she mentioned seeing you around school a lot. She thinks you're pretty cool."

I felt a small surge of surprise and curiosity. "She said that?"

"Yeah, she did," Aanya said, her tone casual but friendly. "She’s really nice. You should talk to her sometime."

"Maybe I will," I replied, intrigued by this new information. "What’s she like?"

"Harshna? She’s sweet, a bit shy, but really smart and funny once you get to know her," Aanya said, her eyes lighting up. "She’s also really into dancing. You might have seen her at the practice sessions."

I nodded, remembering the girl who always seemed focused during the dance practices. "I think I know who you're talking about now."

"Great! So, maybe say hi to her next time you see her," Aanya suggested with a grin.

"Yeah, I’ll do that," I said, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

The bus ride continued with casual chatter. Aanya and I talked about our classes, teachers, and the upcoming school events. But my thoughts kept drifting back to what she had said about Harshna. I started to pay more attention, trying to recall any moments when I might have seen her in the hallways or during school events. Each memory seemed sharper now, colored by this new information.

As we passed the usual stops, I found myself glancing around the bus, half-expecting to see Harshna. I realized I was actually looking forward to seeing her, which was a new and strange feeling.