Summer holidays passed like they always did—slow, quiet, and uneventful.
But this time, Riya felt something different.
She was excited.
Sixth grade meant a new beginning—new classrooms, a slight change in routine, and even a small upgrade in their school uniform.
It felt like stepping into something unfamiliar yet exciting.
On the day of reopening, Riya wore her new uniform neatly and reached school with a sense of anticipation.
As soon as she entered the classroom, her eyes searched for him.
Lakshith wasn't there.
She sighed softly.
As usual… late.
After a while, he finally walked in.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Lakshith gave a small wave.
Riya smiled and waved back.
It felt normal.
But things didn't stay that way for long.
The seating arrangement had changed.
Lakshith sat on the first bench.
Riya sat on the last bench.
That small distance felt much bigger than it actually was.
Days passed.
The usual arguments, the small conversations, the ten-minute walks after school—
All of it slowly disappeared.
They no longer walked together.
They no longer talked like before.
Sometimes, they didn't talk at all.
Riya didn't understand why, but it made her uneasy.
Why does it feel so different now…? she wondered.
Months passed quietly.
Then one day, something new happened in her life.
Riya got her first period.
It was confusing.
Uncomfortable.
A little scary.
She didn't fully understand how to handle it, but she tried her best.
Because of it, she took leave for a week.
That week felt long.
Strange.
Different.
It was as if something had changed—not just physically, but inside her too.
When she returned to school the next week, everything looked the same.
The classroom.
The noise.
The routine.
But when she looked at Lakshith…
Something felt different.
She couldn't explain it.
Maybe it was just her imagination.
Or maybe… something had really changed.
Then came something she didn't expect.
Lakshith had started talking
to another girl.
Ananya.
It wasn't anything serious—just normal conversations.
They laughed sometimes.
Talked during class.
Nothing like how Riya and Lakshith used to argue and tease each other.
Still…
Something felt off.
Riya couldn't understand why.
She didn't even realize
what she was feeling.
Not yet.
Diary Note
I don't celebrate birthdays.
After third grade, we stopped cutting cakes at home. I never asked why. Something about it always felt… strange.
So I don't remember anything special about my birthday in sixth grade.
Days continued to pass like that.
Quietly.
Slowly.
But deep inside, without Riya
realizing it…
Something had already begun to change.