The school gates were crowded as usual, a mess of voices, laughter, and rushing footsteps. Satvik and Vidyut walked side by side towards the building, talking about something neither of them seemed very serious about. A few steps behind them, Isha and Reet followed.

Reet kept her eyes fixed anywhere but on Satvik. The ground, the notice board, a random tree. Anywhere worked, as long as it wasn’t him. Meanwhile, Isha kept glancing at her, each look enough to turn Reet into a complete puddle of shyness.