We started talking more. Sometimes it was just one line. Sometimes we'd argue about some silly thing. Like whether pani puri tastes better spicy or sweet. She said sweet. I almost questioned her entire personality after that.
She called me "old man" once. I called her "rowdy." Her friends laughed. She tried to act serious but I could see the smile hiding behind her anger.
One day, when I didn't show up because I had a fever, her friend actually asked me the next day, "Where were you? Chandu noticed."
I didn't show it, but seriously inside I was flying.
After that fever break, things felt warmer. Closer.
Now, when I joined them, Chandu didn't just notice she spoke first. A random tease, a sarcastic word. I started looking forward to that line more than my food.
We started walking side by side. Not always. But definitely more than before.
One day her friend said some cringy joke I replied "Even my kinder garden brother will have better jokes than you". Her friend replied something...
But Chandu smiling a lot.
I don't remember what I replied to her friend.
My brain was busy replaying that smile 200 times.
That evening, as we were all about to go our ways, she said, "Careful Surya. Don't walk in front of cars again." sarcastic way.
I looked at her, pretending to be offended. "That happened one time."
"At that time I saved your life," she said casually.
"Technically, you hit me first and then saved me."
"Balanced haha.", she said with ease.
That word stuck in my head all night.
We didn't meet on weekends. But even then, my mind did. Every song, every meme, every time I saw a red dress in a movie she was there.
I was falling. Slowly. Surely.
One afternoon, we all sat on a bench near the old bookstore, hiding from the sun. Everyone was chatting. Suddenly, she looked at me and said, "Do you ever stop smiling?"
"Nope," I said, "not since someone shouted in my ear on exam day."
She just rolled her eyes, but I saw it. That half-second pause. That 'I'm trying not to smile' face.
That day, when we left, I walked back alone and talking to myself "I don't know what this is. But I don't want it to end."
Things were changing. Slowly. But they were.
I didn't know what it was between us. Friendship? Comfort? Something more?
All I knew was… this was the best part of my day.
And if it stayed like this forever, I wouldn't complain.
But, what if it won't stay.......
I don't know I enjoyed the moment.