Love Before Graduation-Chapter 55: Two Rows Ahead

It was morning—that silly, lazy morning, when sleep clings to the eyes and the heart wants to rebel against any kind of discipline.

The school ground was filled with drowsy movements and half-hearted yawns. The girls' uniforms were creased, the ties were tied as if someone had tried it in their sleep. We all had become part of a rote script—morning assembly, national anthem, and that familiar 'Pledge'.

It was as if an invisible handcuff had been put on the entire ground.

I was standing in the queue, tense, as if someone had come to hear the punishment. Hands firmly resting on my sides, lips pressed so hard that even a smile could not slip out of the crack.

But my heart? It had flown away long ago... and came to rest, just two rows ahead.

Arin.

"Pledge." A broken voice came from the mike, and everyone started mumbling like a robot together:

"India is my country. We all Indians are brothers and sisters..."

Brothers and sisters?

From where?

At least not me and Arin.

A smile slipped involuntarily on the corner of my lips. Nami nudged me, her low laugh slithered into my ears:

"Romance in the middle of vows? Wow!"

I captured the smile between my lips. We were not supposed to laugh, not to move—but there was an intoxication in this little rebellion, a freedom that the rest of the crowd did not know.

"I love my country..."

The words kept falling from my lips, just as they did every day—without putting my heart into it.

My heart was there... in Arin. On whose shoulders the morning sun was shining like gold, whose eyes were facing forward but I don't know why, I felt that he knew that I was looking at him.

His simplicity, his silent aura—everything was teasing my beating heart.

"I will always try to be worthy of this..."

I swear, if there was a little truth in the vow, I would have added Arin's name to it.

"...and I will behave politely towards everyone."

He shook. Slightly.

And so did my heart.

Did he feel me? Did he know?

"My happiness lies in the well-being of my country and countrymen."

The mic crackled for the last time, and an awkward silence spread over the field. Only the rustling of the flag and the chirping of a stubborn bird somewhere far away remained.

After the national anthem, the crowd began to disperse. The sound of footsteps, the clatter of bags... and my heart, which was still two rows ahead.

I leaned towards Nami and whispered, "Look... how cute he is!"

Nami glared at me as if I was committing a serious crime. "Oh Laila! Focus. First class, then love!"

I smiled.

"Let my Majnu pass first."

"Your Majnu will leave you and reach class," Nami said teasingly, and pulled me by the hand.

We reached the classroom, drenched in laughter. But there? There were the same walls again - invisible, cold, ruthless. There was still that silence in the eyes of classmates that was harder than ice.

I thought - everything would be fine in a few days.

But no.

There are some cracks that do not heal with time, but become deeper.

I have asked Arin yesterday if he know something what suhina actually said about us

He said - "I don't know anything."

Maybe it was true.

Or... a lie that he hid behind his smile.

At least he was talking to me.

And for now... that was enough.

Suddenly Miss Sharma's voice echoed in the class, like a whip:

"Suhina! Stand up. Have you seen your marks?"

Everyone turned their heads. Everyone's eyes were in that direction.

Suhina, who always had an answer ready, was standing silent today—as if something had dried up inside her.

"I... forgive me,"

That was all she said.

Not an excuse. Not a complaint.

Taru whispered, "She has become strange..."

Nami immediately interrupted, "Shut up. Her boyfriend might bite you!"

I looked at Suhina—she was broken.

Not bad, just... broken.

As if she was walking around carrying a very heavy burden. As if she too had a promise within her- which she could not fulfil.

I looked away.

Sometimes, the breaking of others also breaks one's own heart silently.

When the bell for lunch break rang a little later, the children ran away as if they had been released from a prison, not from the classroom. I remained there- head down, scratching the paper with the pencil. The ticking of the clock and the rattling of my restless fingers- these were the only two sounds that were left. I had resolved to finish that ruthless assignment of physics- even if my forehead would burst.

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"Nami, you go. I will come back soon," I said reluctantly, without looking up, as if my words were also drenched in sweat.

"Okay. Meet me on the ground," she said as she was leaving, as if she was unknowingly leaving me in a war.

I continued drawing the lines. The speed was fast, but my hands were still moving neatly.

Just then—

Thud.

A crumpled ball of paper fell on my notebook.

I blinked. Then I turned my neck.

Three boys were standing at the door—the kind who harass people in the streets, a strange, vulgar smile was dripping from their faces. One of them came forward. There was a fake swagger in his walk, as if he was trying to become a cheap thug.

"What's wrong with you?" I grumbled.

I looked at him like one looks at dirt. I said, "Your mother will be worried when you return home with a broken face."

He paused for a moment, as if tasting the abuse. But he kept strutting.

"You were the one who was talking about Suhina, right?" There was still courage in his voice, but sweat had started to show. "Look, what has happened to her now. Everyone knows because of you she is suffering "

The two hired comedians behind him were laughing loudly without any manners.