When college ends, Nayza heads toward the library on her way home. After that, she finally leaves for her house.
All along the way, a single thought keeps running through her mind-throughout the entire class today, her seatmate, Erhaan, kept looking at her... again and again, without stopping.
Why?
This question refuses to leave her thoughts.
Later that night, Nayza calls Meera. As soon as Meera picks up, she says,
"Hey Nayza, I was just about to call you! I wanted to tell you something. I'm still awake, and you called-perfect timing."
Nayza replies,
"Okay, then tell me... what did you want to say? I also have something to tell you. It's been on my mind the whole time."
Leera says excitedly,
"You know what happened today? My crush asked me to go to the canteen with him. This happened when you were studying."
Nayza smiles faintly.
"That's really nice. I'm happy for you."
Leera then says,
"Alright, now you tell me what were you going to say?"
Nayza hesitates before speaking,
"It's nothing... I'm just a little worried. My seatmate, Erhaan... he kept looking at me today. Constantly. I don't understand why. I didn't say anything to him, and he didn't say anything either. But once he looked at me... after that, he just kept looking again and again."
Leera pauses for a moment,
then says teasingly, "Don't tell me... I think Erhaan started liking you the very first time he saw you."
Nayza quickly denies it,
"Stop it, yaar. How can someone like me? Just look at me... I don't even look that good. not anything special. Why would anyone even like me?".
Leera's voice softens,
"I don't think that's true. And honestly, he's not the kind of person who would just stare at someone for no reason. There has to be something."
Nayza sighs, still uneasy.
"I don't know what it is... but how am I supposed to handle this? If he keeps looking at me like this every day, I'll have to get my seat changed. I can't sit there like this."
Leera replies calmly,
"Alright... then you can get your seat changed if it bothers you too much."
Nayza says quietly,
"Yeah... I'll see. If it continues, I'll change it. I don't want to sit near him like this."
Leera adds gently,
"Okay... just observe things for now. Then we'll talk about it."
Nayza nods to herself.
"Hmm... okay."
The next morning, they wake up for college again. Nayza gets ready -freshening up, getting dressed-and then leaves for college like every other day.
When she reaches, she quietly settles into her seat. Erhaan is there too. Soon, the class begins, and everyone starts studying.
But today, something feels a little different.
Erhaan isn't looking at her.
Not even once.
For a moment, Nayza feels relieved. Maybe yesterday was just the first day... maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe he wasn't really staring at her at all.
A small thought settles in her mind-
Maybe I don't need to change my seat after all. I can sit here just fine.
The class continues. Everyone remains focused on their work.
After a while, when Erhaan doesn't understand something the teacher explains, he quietly turns to Nayza and asks her about it.
Nayza, without hesitation, explains the topic to him, making it clear and easy to understand.
From a distance, Leera watches the two of them. A soft smile appears on her face.
Her seatmate notices it and smiles too, leaning slightly closer as he whispers,
"Looks like they might end up together."
Leera lets out a small laugh and replies, "Yeah... it does seem that way."