Destiny|| A Rutkarsha Story

13.

Tum saath ho, ya na ho
Kya fark hai
Bedard si zindagi, Bedard hai...💌

~•~

Utkarsha returns home, tears streaming down her face. She collapses onto her bed, buried in memories.

Utkarsha: (sobbing) Why did it have to end like this?

She remembers the day she first met Rutu in school...

Flashback: School Days

Utkarsha, a bright and ambitious student, walks into her 10th-grade classroom with her best friend Navya.

Navya: (excitedly) Utkarsha, can you believe we're finally in 10th grade? This is going to be our year!

Utkarsha: (smiling) I know, right? I'm so ready to take on new challenges.

Utkarsha and Navya take their seats, and the teacher introduces himself.

Teacher: Welcome, students! I'm Mr. Sharma, your class teacher for this year. Let's make it a great one!

Rutu, a mischievous glint in his eye, walks into Section A, looking out of place among the studious students.

Utkarsha: (whispering to Navya) What is he doing here? He's always in Section D.

Navya: (giggling) I know, right? I heard he begged Mr. Sharma to transfer him to Section A.

Rutu: (smirking) Hey, I'm trying to change my ways. Be a good boy and all that.

The teacher, Mr. Sharma, begins to take attendance, and Rutu takes his seat, looking pleased with himself.

***

Utkarsha, sweaty and thirsty from playing kho-kho, enters the empty classroom to grab a drink from her bag.

Utkarsha, mortified, stands frozen, unable to utter a word as she saw one of the boy is holding her sanitary pads

Backbencher: (mockingly) Oh, look at this! Utkarsha's little secret's out!

Rutu notice Utkarsha, anger flashing in his eyes, strides over to his friend, Aman

Rutu: (yelling) Shut up, man! That's enough! You think it's funny to make fun of someone like that?

Aman: (taken aback) Hey, chill out, Rutu...

Rutu: (fiercely) No, I won't chill out! You're being a jerk!

Utkarsha, still silent, stands there, her eyes fixed on some point in front of her, blanking out the scene.

Rutu: (to the Aman) Apologize to her!

Aman: (muttering) Sorry...

Rutu turns to Utkarsha, his expression softening.

Rutu: (muttering) Sorry...

Utkarsha doesn't respond, still in shock. Rutu hands her bag to her, and she takes it mechanically.

Rutu: (to the Aman) Just get out of here...

Aman quickly scatter, leaving Rutu and Utkarsha alone in the classroom.

Utkarsha finally blinks, breaking out of her trance-like state, and looks at Rutu, a mix of emotions on her face. Rutu also leaves from there feeling guilty about the incident.

Utkarsha watches as Rutu's figure disappears from view, feeling an inexplicable sense of longing.

She stands there, frozen, as the classroom seems to grow quieter.

Utkarsha: (to herself) I don't even know him that well...but there's something about him...

Utkarsha's mind wanders back to the way Rutu stood up for her, the way he smiled at her, and the way he made her feel safe.

Utkarsha: (to herself) I think I might be falling for him...

The realization hits her like a ton of bricks, leaving her breathless and bewildered.

Utkarsha: (to herself) What do I do now?

The scene fades to black as Utkarsha stands there, lost in thought, her heart racing with newfound emotions.