She kept staring at her notebook, while he watched her from the side, his head resting on his palm.
“What happened to you?” Shivam whispered, leaning toward Piya.
“Nothing. Go away.” She adjusted the lapels of her lab coat, her voice too soft.
“What is it, Piya? You won't tell me, right? Let me ask Vanessa.” He sat up straight, his eyes scanning the lab, looking for the mentioned person.
“Nahii.” She tugged at his sleeve to pull his attention back to her, but then tapped his cheek, directing him to look forward again.
(No!)
Though they had known each other for over a month, his direct attention still made her nervous.
“Piya and Shivam, do you both want to move out of the class?” The teacher's voice broke through the quiet hum of the lab, drawing the attention of the other students toward them.
“Yes, ma'am.” Shivam quickly responded, but then hesitated and shook his head when Piya shot him an incredulous look. “I mean... no, ma'am. Sorry.”
“Then keep quiet.” The teacher returned to her work without another glance.
“Lunch break mein baat karenge? Please, just for me.” Piya’s voice was barely a whisper, but the pleading in it was clear.
(Can we talk during the lunch break?)
“Fine,” Shivam replied, though uncertainty crept into his tone.
•••
“Itni si baat thi?” Shivam breathed out, stopping her near the water cooler and gently holding her hand. “Drink some water.”
(wasn't it just a small thing?)
Piya exhaled deeply, still catching her breath after their run up and down the stairs. For the past ten minutes, they'd been dodging students as they raced through the crowded staircase. Even though the stairs were packed, running made her feel good, and that was all that mattered.
She had shared the drama in her friend circle with him, something she hadn’t planned on doing. But now that she had, she felt a strange relief in opening up.
“Ye itni si baat hai?” Piya asked, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her shirt, not caring what he might think.
(Is it a small thing?)
“It’s normal, Piya,” he replied, pulling out his handkerchief and offering it to her to wipe her hands.
“Normal? It’s depressing,” she muttered, giving him a small shove and pressing her hand lightly to his chest. “Aur pehle dur reh kar baat karo.”
(First maintain some distance before talking.)
Her eyes widened as he stumbled back a few steps on the stairs, barely catching the railing in time.
“Oii, I’m so sorry!” Piya exclaimed, reaching out to grab his tie and pull him towards her.
“It’s okay, Piya. I’m fine,” he said, brushing it off with a smile.
“No! Abhi meri wajah se gir jaate tum,” she insisted, her grip on his arm tightening before she realized it. She quickly shook her head, embarrassed. He, on the other hand, looked at her in bewilderment—she, who hated physical touch, was now holding him without a second thought.
(You would've fell because of me.)
•••
“Write.” Piya said, her gaze fixed on him as he stared blankly at the sheets in front of him, unwilling to make any move to work.
“Do you want me to copy everything? Can't I just skip a few points?” he asked, frowning. It all seemed pointless—everything was already in the manual, yet the teacher insisted they transcribe it exactly into their practical file.
“I don’t want you to write anything at all.” Piya smiled sweetly, then threw her pencil at him and snatched the pen from his hand.
“Hey, no! I’ll do it, you draw the diagrams.” He grabbed her file before she could take it away too.
He’d suggested they divide the work between themselves, and to his surprise, she had agreed—he would handle the written portion, and she would tackle the diagrams.
“Awh! You two are so cute.” The girl sitting opposite them chimed in, a sigh escaping her lips as she watched them with fondness.
“Oh, that’s her. By the way, thanks, Kriti.” Shivam grinned, while Piya rolled her eyes at him.
“Ow!” He jumped in his seat as she poked his side with her pencil.
“Tumhe gudgudi bhi hoti hai?” Piya grinned mischievously and repeated the gesture, earning the same reaction from him.
(Are you ticklish?)
“Haan, to?” He snatched the pencil from her.
(Yes, so?)
“Tum gym jaate ho?” she asked, eyeing him curiously.
(Do you go to the gym?)
“Haan.”
(Yes.)
“Eww!” she shrieked, scrunching her nose in mock disgust.
“Eww?” He looked at her, confused, repeating her words.
“Kaam karo, chup chaap,” she ordered with a playful glare.
(Do the work quietly.)
•••
thanks for reading <3
