“One usual day…
I was in the middle of class. Serious teacher. You know the kind where you don’t even dare to blink sideways?
So obviously, no sneaky glances possible. I was genuinely sitting upright, staring at the teacher like my career depended on it.
Now, remember that if I wanted him to notice me from his class, which was clearly visible from our new classroom setting—I had to lean forward toward the desk, push my head out, peek, stretch. Literally act like an eager meerkat. But my back was hurting, and instead, I leaned backwards.
And guess what happened after 10 minutes?
The girl beside me—right side benchmate—tapped me and whispered,
‘Hey, you know that boy in the first bench from that section? He’s glaring at me. Like, literally staring. Since 10 minutes! I think he likes me.’
I just smiled to myself.
Like, excuse me? Girl, he wasn’t glaring at you—he was searching for me, bro!
I had leaned back, and he couldn’t see me anymore from his seat. So obviously, his eyes reached you, thinking, “Where did she go?”
And you… you out here falling for the classic misunderstanding. Can’t even differentiate between an accidental scan and the glance of love.
But hey—my happiness about getting the perfect middle-row, middle-seat position? It didn’t last long.
You remember Maya?
She re-enters the story here.
So when we moved from 8th to 9th, we got to pick our favorite bench and sit beside our favorite people.
I sat with B—remember the newcomer? I even called Maya to join us, since the bench allowed three.
But Maya… she refused. She went and sat on the last bench of the row near the door. The same Maya who sat beside me all through 8th grade, who followed me like a shadow because of our class teacher’s bench reshuffles.
But okay. I didn’t force her.
Later, this very Maya told the teacher that students were chit-chatting too much since they were allowed to sit wherever they wanted.
She even added, “That’s why they’re making noise. Please change the seating.”
The teacher ignored it for a few weeks… but finally changed our places.
And look at our destiny.
From Maya’s new seat, his class and bench were clearly visible.
And me? I was tossed onto the last bench in the same row near the door—only seeing darkness. Not even his class door. Nothing.
Still, I held onto the other glimpses, like from the corridor during dispersal or those rare intersections we already talked about.
Time passed. Until Children’s Day came.
That day we had the prayer outside. While we were adjusting our lines, I noticed something. He was trying to match his position to stand beside me.
He told the boy in front of him to go back so he could be right next to me.
I think—no, I felt—he was trying to align himself with me. Maybe not obviously, but maybe… for me.
But the other boy said, “I’m not going behind. Teachers will scold. Stay in line.”
My heart sank.
The first time he tried something for me… and he failed.
Then, after the prayer, we had to sit in our same standing spot for the Children’s Day events. And he quickly moved ahead and sat in front of one of his close friends, who was just diagonally ahead of me, on the right side.
Okay—not a bad move.
But now… let me introduce you to the Anti-Cupid in my life.
If A is Cupid… then meet C.
She sat right in front of me during that event. She leaned back and began chatting with the boys sitting on the left side of our line. Our class boys.
And what did she choose to talk about?
Love and relationships.
Like, really? With me beside her? The socially awkward, anti-boy-interaction specialist?
But she didn’t stop there.
She suddenly said, “You know… she also has someone.”
(She = me, obviously.)
And all the boys turned their ears. Because if the model student is dating someone? That’s gossip gold.
I was like, Excuse me? I’m a good girl. Don’t believe this idiot’s nonsense.
Of course, I didn’t say “idiot” aloud. I just smiled awkwardly and said, “No, I don’t have anyone.”
Then Anti-Cupid C turned the topic back to herself.
She said she wrote her crush’s name on one of the donation chits we buy on Children’s Day.
You know, the ones that get drawn for prizes?
She claimed she wrote his name in the name column. And the boys? Hooked. All ears.
But me? I was still wondering…
Did he hear me say I don’t have anyone?
Did he believe it?
Because honestly, who even cares that much about being misunderstood if they just like someone, right?
But here I am… overthinking it.
If you thought that’s the only reason she earned the title of Anti-Cupid, wait for the next one.
During home dispersal, we walk in lines.
And again—C was right behind me.
She always manages to stand in those perfect line spots—either before me or behind me. Like fate designed her placement.
Anyway, she knew I loved Kabaddi. And I had a favorite player—Raj.
Now here’s where it gets tragically funny.
There was a Raj in my class…
And another Raj in his class.
Double trouble.
This girl started yelling in the playground: “Raj! Raj!”
Like, who even does that?
I was desperately trying to control my smile and not react, but come on. He’s my favorite Kabaddi player. How do I not react?
Then she said, “Hey! You! The one smiling—yeah, I’m calling you!”
She knows it’s about Kabaddi. But the campus doesn’t.
There are two Raj's in the classroom areas.
How would anyone guess that I’m smiling for a Kabaddi player and not a boy crush?
And he was right there behind our line.
I still wonder…
Did he misunderstand again?
Did he think Raj was someone I liked?
Because honestly, misunderstandings and miscommunications—they’re the two things I hope nobody ever goes through.
But I fear… I already did."
I folded the letter slowly, then I muttered
Look at this Woman, She didn’t say I love him till now, Just mentions that she likes him. But she’s out here praying he didn’t misunderstand her?
Who thinks that deeply… if they just like someone?”
I smiled again. Bittersweet.
Am i smiling a lot these days, I wonder why because there is old saying that "If you laugh too much, you'll end up shedding tears later."(నవ్వులు పోయి నువ్వులు ఐతై)
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