The following Monday felt unusually warm, not just from the Chennai heat, but from something inside Karthik that had begun to thaw.
As he walked into class, a couple of classmates actually nodded at him. One even clapped his back and said, "Your drawing was awesome, da." Karthik blinked, unsure how to respond, managing only an awkward, "Thanks."
It wasn't much. But it was something.
He sat at his bench, the usual corner by the window, and noticed that the space beside him—Ananya's seat—was still empty. She was rarely late.
The bell rang. Just as the teacher began attendance, the door creaked open and Ananya slipped in, whispering an apology as she walked to her seat. Karthik glanced sideways—her eyes met his briefly, and she smiled, a small, knowing one.
Later during the break, she leaned over and nudged his arm. "Popular boy now, huh?"
Karthik shook his head, but he couldn't hide the grin creeping onto his face. "Just… confused. I didn't expect people to even remember I was there."
"Well, now they do," she said, opening her lunchbox. "Want some?"
He hesitated for a second, then nodded. She offered him a piece of masala vadai, still slightly warm. As he bit into it, she watched him with a mischievous glint. "You know, one of the teachers asked me if we were dating."
Karthik choked slightly.
"I told her we're not," she added, not looking at him. "But… I didn't say it like I was sure we never would be."
His heart skipped. "Oh."
She smiled again. "Just thought you should know."
He stared down at the half-eaten vadai in his hand, unsure of how to respond. Part of him wanted to pretend he didn't understand. The other part wanted to ask what she meant. But the words got stuck somewhere between his chest and throat.
The day went on. After school, as they walked together towards the bus stop, Ananya said, "Do you remember what you told me that day in the rain? About stepping into my shadow?"
He nodded slowly.
"You didn't just step into it," she said. "You made it brighter."
Karthik didn't know if it was the sun or her words, but his face felt hot. "Thanks… for everything."
She stopped walking. "Karthik, I don't do things for people unless they matter to me."
He turned to look at her.
"And you do. You matter."
In that moment, amidst honking traffic, dusty air, and a hundred other students bustling around, Karthik felt seen. Truly seen.
And for once, he didn't want to disappear.
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Chapter 96 ends