Sidharth-First-Impression

The rest of the day passed freely. Since there weren’t many lectures, Natalia felt lighter than usual. During the lunch break, she sat with her friend Nidhi, quietly sharing food and laughter. Later, they had their first English lecture.

The English hall was buzzing with life, as students from all four streams had gathered together. The room was almost packed, and Natalia and Nidhi could only find seats at the back. Natalia felt a little nervous, surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces, but the energy of the place kept her curious.

Their English teacher, Sir Lalit, walked in. He was unlike most teachers—funny, engaging, and with a habit of connecting real-life incidents with the students sitting in front of him. Every joke drew bursts of laughter from corners of the hall, and Natalia found herself smiling more than she expected. The atmosphere was lively, and the lecture passed quicker than she had imagined.

After class, she headed home by bus, the day replaying in her mind like a small movie. She thought about the crowd of students, Sir Lalit’s humor, and the faces she’d seen. Later at home, she studied quietly, her books spread across the desk, but her mind wandered back to school.

The Next Day

The next morning felt brighter, filled with anticipation. Natalia walked into her classroom with a fresh sense of curiosity. As the lecture began, she spotted Saumya, someone she thought she could be friends with. Natalia approached her with a warm smile, but the response was cold. Saumya’s replies were short, her eyes drifting elsewhere, clearly uninterested.

For a moment, Natalia’s heart sank. Maybe she doesn’t want to be friends… she thought. She quietly returned to her seat, deciding not to push it.

Later that day, the students were sitting on the ground for class. The atmosphere was different—relaxed but filled with the occasional murmur of conversations. That’s when Natalia noticed him.

A boy, slightly apart from others, wearing a dark hoodie that shadowed part of his face. He seemed withdrawn, different. Natalia’s eyes lingered on him for a few seconds longer than she intended, curiosity stirring in her.

The Physics Sir called the boy. His tone was serious yet encouraging. The boy walked up slowly, hands in pockets, and answered. His voice was low, calm, but carried a kind of depth that made people turn their heads. Natalia studied him quietly. He’s… not like others.

Soon after, Sir turned his gaze toward Natalia. “What did you learn in the online training?” he asked. Surprised but steady, she explained clearly, her voice carrying more confidence than she expected. Sir nodded with approval, then glanced between her and the boy.

“This is Sidharth,” he announced. “You will help him. Teach him these topics. You both should study together.”

Natalia blinked. So, the hoodie boy had a name—Sidharth. Their eyes met briefly before both looked away, shy and uncertain. The teacher’s words left an invisible string tying them together.

They returned to their seats, silence surrounding them. Both were introverts, both hesitant. Should I say something? Natalia thought, tapping her pen nervously. Sidharth seemed to be thinking the same, his eyes flicking toward her but quickly dropping back to his notebook.

Finally, he gathered courage. He leaned slightly closer and spoke in a low tone. “How should we… start studying?”

His voice startled her, not because it was loud, but because it was soft and unexpectedly polite. Natalia smiled faintly and replied, “Maybe… we can study online? On WhatsApp?”

“Okay,” he said simply. “I’ll message you after going home.”

It was short, but it was something. Their very first interaction.

The rest of the day went on with more lectures, though they didn’t talk again. Natalia caught herself sneaking glances at him once or twice. He always looked serious, head bent over his notebook, but there was a quiet intensity about him. She noticed how others sometimes stared at him too—maybe because of the hoodie, maybe because of the aura he carried.

During the final English lecture of the day, Natalia chose to sit at the very front on the mat. When she turned her head slightly, her eyes widened. Sidharth was sitting parallel to her, also in the first row.

She bit back a smile. So, he’s serious about studies too.

Something inside her felt lighter, almost happy. In a place where she thought making true companions would be difficult, she had just found someone who seemed equally focused. Maybe not a friend yet, but definitely a good companion for the journey ahead.

As the lecture ended and students rushed out in chatter, Natalia walked toward the exit, her thoughts unusually calm. Yes… maybe this is the start of something good.

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