[10:55 AM - Exam Hall Entrance]
I walked into the building.
Students everywhere. Clusters of them, talking in hushed voices, clutching notes, looking anywhere from nervous to terrified. Exam day energy. The same everywhere, apparently.
History.
First semester.
Real exam.
My bag felt heavier than usual. Not because of the books—those were in my head now, thanks to Angy and Shenhe's five-in-the-morning torture session. No, it felt heavy because of what was inside.
Spare pens. Water. Snacks.
In case.
In case of what?
In case everything.
I almost smiled.
Those women.
---
The hall was massive.
Rows and rows of desks stretched toward the back wall. Students filled every seat, heads down, waiting. The scratch of nervous fingers on wood. The shuffle of paper. An occasional cough.
I found my desk. Near the window. Good spot—light, air, a view of the sky.
Vjaret was two rows ahead, to the left. He caught my eye and gave a thumbs up so enthusiastic it almost knocked over his water bottle.
We're sitting near.
For calm energy.
Right.
I sat down. Placed my pens on the desk. Took a breath.
The invigilators moved through the rows. Two of them. A man and a woman. Both older. Both wearing expressions that said we've seen everything and nothing surprises us anymore.
They reminded me of someone.
Shenhe.
But with more wrinkles and less killing intent.
The woman stopped at the front of the hall. Cleared her throat.
"Good morning, students. The History First Semester Examination will begin in five minutes. Please ensure you have nothing on your desks except writing instruments. No notes. No phones. No smart devices of any kind."
A murmur rippled through the hall.
The man started walking the rows. Checking. Observing. His eyes landed on me for a second—just a second—then moved on.
They're like guards.
But different.
Guarding against cheating instead of death.
Progress.
---
[11:05 AM - The Exam Begins]
The question papers came.
I watched them move down the rows. White sheets being passed from hand to hand. The rustle of paper filled the hall like wind through leaves.
Mine arrived.
I looked at the first page.
History. First Semester Examination. Time: 3 Hours. Maximum Marks: 100.
I turned the page.
Section A: The Ilas Treaty of 1672. Explain its significance with reference to trade routes and cultural exchange. (20 marks)
I stared at the words.
I know this.
I actually know this.
Shenhe's flashcards flashed through my mind. Angy's ridiculous songs echoed in my ears. The twenty-three books, the color-coded notes, the five-in-the-morning quiz sessions.
They prepared me for this.
They actually prepared me.
I picked up my pen.
Started writing.
---
The minutes passed.
Question after question. Some I knew cold—the dates, the names, the significance. Some I had to think about, pulling answers from the depths of my brain where Angy's songs had lodged themselves permanently.
"The Ilas Treaty, 1672, brought peace between me and you—"
No, that's not right.
But close enough.
Question ten asked about the Mauryan economy. I wrote three paragraphs. Could have written more, but the clock was ticking.
Question fifteen asked about cultural exchange during the Gupta period. I listed everything I remembered. Which was a lot.
Thank you, Shenhe.
Thank you, Angy.
Thank you, twenty-three books.
I glanced at Vjaret. He was writing furiously, then stopping, then staring at the ceiling, then writing again. His usual chaos.
He'll be fine.
Probably.
Hopefully.
---
[11:55 AM - Exam Continues]
Fifty minutes in.
The hall was quiet except for the scratch of pens. The invigilators moved slowly through the rows, watching, waiting, being generally intimidating.
I was halfway through Section C when I felt it.
A stare.
I looked up.
The woman invigilator was watching me. Expressionless. Calculating.
She's like Shenhe.
Definitely like Shenhe.
I looked back at my paper. Kept writing.
She moved on.
Good.
Don't need that energy right now.
---
[2:00 PM - Exam Ends]
"Pens down."
The woman's voice cut through the hall.
A collective sigh. Some groans. The rustle of papers being collected.
I set my pen down. Looked at my paper. It was full. Completely full. Every question answered. Every section completed.
I did it.
I actually did it.
Vjaret turned around. Caught my eye. Gave a dramatic thumbs down, then a thumbs up, then a shrug that seemed to mean I have no idea how that went.
I nodded.
Same, Vjaret.
Same.
---
[2:15 PM - Second Floor Corridor]
I walked out of the hall. Followed the flow of students toward the stairs. Needed air. Needed to breathe.
The second floor corridor was less crowded. I stopped by the window. Looked out at the courtyard below.
Students everywhere. Talking, laughing, comparing answers. Normal things.
And then—
I saw her.
Standing in a line outside the administrative office. A long line. Students with papers in their hands, waiting.
Black hair. School uniform.
Kurumi.
She was holding her transfer certificate. The same one she'd forgotten this morning. The same one I'd helped her get.
Semester 2 admission.
That's what she's doing.
Those who already studying in Sem 1 doesn't need to take admission for Sem 2.
But she's new.
She's joining now.
She must have felt me watching. Looked up.
Saw me.
Her face lit up.
She started waving. Enthusiastic. Unrestrained. The kind of wave that said I recognize you! You're the cycle guy!
I raised my hand. Small wave back.
She grinned.
Then she started doing something else.
Gesturing. Pointing at herself. Pointing at the office. Pointing at me. Making signs with her hands that probably meant something in her head but looked like absolute chaos from up here.
What is she doing?
She pointed at the office again. Made a writing motion. Pointed at herself. Gave a thumbs up.
Is she saying... she got in?
I shrugged. Pointed at her. Pointed at the office. Raised my eyebrows in a question.
She nodded vigorously. Gave another thumbs up.
Then she pointed at me. Made a walking motion with her fingers. Pointed at the courtyard. Raised her eyebrows.
Meet later?
I nodded.
She beamed.
Then she went back to gesturing—something about food? Or maybe about the line moving? Or about—
"Nams."
A voice behind me.
I turned.
Vjaret was standing there. His eyes wide. His mouth slightly open. Looking from me to Kurumi and back again.
"Is that... is that your girlfriend?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Down there! The girl! Waving at you! Making all those signs! Is she your—"
"No."
"Are you sure? Because she seems VERY excited to see you. Like, romantically excited. Like, 'I've been waiting all day to see you' excited."
"She's just—she's new. I helped her this morning. She forgot her certificate."
Vjaret's eyes narrowed. "You helped her? This morning? Before the exam?"
"Yes."
"And now she's waving at you like you're the most important person in the world?"
"It's not like that."
"Nams." He put a hand on my shoulder. Looked at me with the seriousness of a man delivering tragic news. "That's exactly what it's like. You helped a pretty girl in distress. That's how romances start. I've seen it in movies. I've read about it in books. This is fate."
I stared at him.
"Vjaret."
"Yes?"
"She's just a girl who needed a ride."
"A ride to get her certificate. Which she forgot. On her first day. And you—the mysterious, handsome, quiet guy—appeared to save her." He nodded sagely. "Classic."
Handsome?
He thinks I'm handsome?
Focus, Nams.
"You're wrong."
"Am I? Look at her." He pointed. Kurumi was still in line, but she kept glancing up at us. Smiling. Waving occasionally. "She keeps looking at you. She's not looking at anyone else. Just you."
I looked.
He was right. She kept glancing up. Kept smiling.
She's just grateful.
That's all.
Right?
"Vjaret."
"Yeah?"
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Yet."
"There's no 'yet.'"
He grinned. That stupid, knowing grin. "We'll see, Nams. We'll see."
---
[2:30 PM - Outside School]
I walked out of the building.
Vjaret had gone to find food. I needed air. Needed to process.
History exam. Done.
Kurumi. New student. Red eyes.
Vjaret's assumptions.
Too much.
But also—
Not enough.
Strange.
I looked back at the administrative office. The line was shorter now. Kurumi was closer to the front.
She saw me. Waved again.
I waved back.
Then I turned.
Walked toward my cycle.
Home.
Food.
Shenhe's questions about the exam.
Angy's excitement.
Mochi's judgment.
Normal things.
Good things.
I smiled.
Just a little.
---