In the sunny afternoon glow of the bustling silt of a school filled with students of many grades, the air hummed with anticipation as everyone embarked on a journey into knowledge and discovery. Amidst the chaos, I found myself caught up in the whirlwind of my first day in 3rd grade. It felt like I was in danger of getting lost in the crowd of unfamiliar faces.
Late and disoriented, I felt nervous as I wandered through the halls. I wasn't sure where to go, trying to remember which classroom it was. Was it 3rd B or 3rd D? The question repeated in my thoughts as I glanced from one corridor to the next. As each minute passed, I hurried with each step.
I finally found my destination after a long search. I entered the room and saw our class teacher standing among the students, bringing a sense of calm within the confusion and a ray of hope for me.
I nervously told our understanding teacher about being late, feeling so embarrassed as my classmates laughed. Despite the laughter, one person remained unbothered, looking steady and observant.
It was then that my eyes met his, the brightness of the afternoon sun casting a halo around his face, blurring his features in a gentle glow. Yet, even in the dimness, I caught a glimpse of the boy who would forever change the course of my destiny.
As I settled into my seat beside my best friend Riya, my eye remained on the boy at the front of the class, his features carved into my memory like a fleeting dream. His tall stature dominated the room, his imposing presence impossible to ignore. With sharp, chiselled features and a captivating smile, he exuded an aura of confidence that seemed to illuminate the space around him. His eyes were framed by thick lashes and he wore round glasses. Initially, he seemed like any other guy, just blending into the crowd like the rest of us. With a flutter of my heart, I realized that at that moment, amid chaos and confusion, I had arrived at the beginning of a journey that would weave our lives together in ways I could never have imagined.
After our lecture ended, the classroom buzzed with the chatter of students packing up their things. I watched that guy approach the bench ahead of mine where a girl was chatting with a few others.
"Hey, Lara!" he called out, his voice loud and confident. He sat down on her desk in front of her and grinned mischievously. "I heard you were bragging about winning the spelling bee. Is that true, or were you just trying to show off?"
Lara rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh, come on. I only won because you were too busy trying to copy off Tarun's paper."
That guy laughed, pushing her playfully. "Hey, I had to try something. But don't think I've forgotten how you wrote 'dlophin' instead of 'dolphin' last week in extra classes. I still remember that."
Lara laughed and playfully shoved him. "Yeah, yeah. Keep teasing me. Next time, I'll have a new trick to tease you."
As their banter continued, I noticed that guy's gaze drift toward a group of students across the room. "Hey, look at Dan trying to sneak a snack. He thinks nobody notices," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Classic Dan."
A few students giggled, and I saw Dan's face turn red. I felt a familiar twinge of discomfort, recalling how I had been on the receiving end of similar teasing in the past in 1st and 2nd grade.
That guy then turned his attention back to Lara, still laughing and joking around. I could see that he was well-liked among his friends, but his teasing made me uneasy. I couldn't help but wonder if this was how he always interacted with others or if there was more to him that I hadn't seen yet. I perceived that guy as one of those typical troublemakers, who always crack jokes and poke fun at others. I couldn't help but associate him with the bullies I had encountered in previous grades. It felt like a pattern repeating itself. Throughout my time in 1st and 2nd grade, I had been the target of teasing and mockery from my classmates. It seemed like I couldn't escape the constant ridicule.
I turned to Riya and whispered, "Hey, do you know that guy's name? The one with the dark brown lightly curled hair with round specs and the big smile?"
Riya glanced in Rohan's direction and nodded. "Oh, that's Rohan Sharma. He's always joking and messing around with everyone."
I frowned slightly, still feeling unsure about him. "Is he always like this? I mean, teasing people and stuff?"
Riya giggled and shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much. He's friendly and all, but he definitely likes to joke around. Don't take it too seriously. He's just having fun, I guess."
By the way, after all this, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Maya, a girl who is too clumsy, not-so-popular, not-so-good in sports, shy, introverted but starts talking too much whenever I get comfortable, have a small group of friends and not-so-good in studies.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning of something unexpected that would affect both my and Rohan's lives entirely or—perhaps just mine.