That evening, I found myself alone in the canteen, nursing a cup of coffee while everyone else engaged in lively chatter. Suddenly, he approached me, his gaze catching the tears brimming in my eyes.

"What's wrong, Aparna?" he asked, surprising me with his knowledge of my name.

"Why are you sitting alone?" he inquired, taking a seat opposite me.

"Nothing much, Madhavan. Just enjoying some quiet time without any specific plans," I replied, forcing a smile that quickly faded. Sensing my discomfort, he leaned in, concern evident in his expression.

"Feeling uneasy?" he asked, placing his hands on the table. Trying to shift the focus, I casually asked about his girlfriend.

"So, how are things with your new girlfriend?" I queried, trying to steer the conversation away from my own troubles.

"Oh, you mean Mythravi?" he responded, glancing to his right with a hint of melancholy. "It would be nice if things were different," he added with a wistful smile.

"Are you both still in love?" I probed, placing my hands on the table.

"We were during the bridge course, but not anymore. Mythravi has lost interest. I'm not a top student like Eshwaran," he confessed, his voice tinged with sadness.

"Wait, Eshwaran and Mythravi are together?" I gasped, shocked by the revelation. He nodded silently, confirming my suspicions.

With heavy hearts, we lapsed into silence until the bell rang, signaling the end of our conversation. As we made our way to class together, I couldn't shake off the weight of what I had learned. Even from my seat in the first row, I stole glances at him sitting in the second row, and our eyes met in a silent understanding.

"He doesn't deserve this," I thought to myself, wishing I could alleviate his pain.

After class, seizing a moment before the next teacher arrived, I approached Mythravi and took a seat two rows away.

"Hi, could I have a moment of your time?" I asked tentatively.

"Of course," she replied.

"Madhavan... he has feelings for you," I began hesitantly.

"Yes, I know. But we're not compatible, and I'd rather not discuss him," she cut in firmly.

"But..." I persisted.

"Look, Aparna, he's not my first choice. It was just a passing attraction. Right now, I need to focus on my studies," she asserted, closing her books with a loud thud.

"If studying was your priority, you should have realized it sooner," I thought to myself.

"What about Eshwaran?" I ventured.

"He's a top student. We can manage without distractions," she replied, shutting down the conversation. Disheartened, I realized there was no point in further discussion. If Mythravi truly loved Madhavan, she wouldn't let him slip away.

As we boarded the bus, he walked alongside me, curiosity evident in his expression. "So, what did you ask her?" he inquired, but I deflected, saying, "Girls have a thousand thoughts, do you really need all the details?" We shared a moment of understanding, smiles lighting up our faces.

"Listen, Madhavan," I began earnestly, "if something is meant to be, there's always a way."

"Sometimes, true love means letting go," he replied, his words tinged with understanding of the conversation I had with Mythravi.

Then, with a nod of understanding, we parted ways, each boarding our respective buses.

© Aboorva