First Meeting

Vihaan has transferred to a new school.

Being an introvert boy he was sitting alone in bus all by himself

Vihaan sat by the window, earphones in, pretending to be lost in the world outside. The bus rattled along its usual route, but his thoughts were somewhere else—quiet, distant, safe. He preferred it that way. No small talk, no attention. Just the rhythm of the road.

The seat beside him creaked.

“Hey, is this seat taken?” a voice asked.

Vihaan looked up. A boy, maybe his age, stood there with a curious smile. Messy hair, bright eyes. Confident without being cocky.

“N-no. Go ahead,” Vihaan mumbled, pulling his bag closer.

“I’m Rohan,” the boy said as he sat down, extending a hand.

Vihaan hesitated before shaking it. “Vihaan.”

Rohan grinned. “Cool name. New school, huh?”

Vihaan nodded. He wasn’t expecting a conversation. But there was something about Rohan’s presence that didn’t feel too heavy. Not yet.

It was the first time for Vihaan , when the presence of someone stranger didn't bother him much.

Vihaan stole a glance at Rohan when he thought he wasn’t looking.

That smile… it wasn’t just friendly. Or maybe it was. But something about it tugged at Vihaan’s chest in a way he didn’t know how to name.

He looked away quickly, staring hard at the seat in front of him. It’s just a smile. He’s just being nice.

But the warmth didn’t fade. In fact, it lingered, settling somewhere between his ribs, spreading slowly and uncertain.

For the longest time, Vihaan had told himself he liked girls. That he should like girls. That anything else was just a phase, a moment, a misunderstanding of feelings. But sometimes—like now—those thoughts cracked at the edges.

Rohan leaned back, looking out the window. “I don’t know anyone at this school,” he said casually. “Kinda nervous.”

Vihaan’s voice was barely a whisper. “Me too.”

...................................

Vihaan’s heart was thudding louder than the bus engine. He kept stealing glances at Rohan, the words saying something echoing in his head—but nothing came out. The fear of messing it up glued his mouth shut.

But fate, for once, seemed to be on his side.

“So,” Rohan said, turning to him again, “what class are you in?”

“Uh... 11-B,” Vihaan replied, trying not to sound too eager.

Rohan's eyes lit up. “No way! Me too.”

A strange wave of relief washed over Vihaan, and before he could stop it, a tiny smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

“Looks like I’ve found my first classmate,” Rohan said with a grin, then leaned in a little. “Wanna make it more special and be my bench mate too?”

Vihaan blinked. Did he just—?

Usually, he would have mumbled an excuse. Said he already had someone. Pretended to prefer sitting alone.

But not this time.

“...Okay,” he said, quietly.

Rohan beamed. “Awesome! You're officially my first friend here.”

Vihaan looked down, pretending to adjust the strap of his bag. But inside, something soft and unfamiliar stirred. He didn’t know what it was exactly—maybe comfort, maybe confusion. Maybe both.

All he knew was... he didn’t want this feeling to end.

...----------------...

Let us all see how this story will turn out to be in fate of Vihaan, or will it cease his heart even more

...🤍🤍🤍...

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