After everything that had happened, Aarvika stopped expecting anything from people.
She no longer tried to understand who was right or wrong.
She just focused on what was in front of her.
Her studies.
Her routine.
Her own space.
Now, most of her time in school was simple.
She sat with Kavya.
Studied with her.
And stayed quiet like always.
There were no big conversations.
No deep discussions.
But there was comfort.
That was enough.
Slowly, studies became her main focus.
She started paying more attention in class.
Listening carefully.
Trying to understand everything properly.
Especially maths.
Maths was different.
It didn't depend on people.
It didn't change.
It was either right.
Or wrong.
And that made it easier for her.
She and Kavya started practicing together more seriously.
Solving questions.
Helping each other.
Checking answers.
And slowly—
they both became strong in it.
One day, their maths teacher took a test.
The whole class was nervous.
The teacher was strict.
Everyone knew that.
The test didn't go well for most of the students.
When the results came—
almost everyone had failed.
But there were only two students who had passed.
Aarvika.
And Kavya.
Not just passed—
they both had the same marks.
The same answers.
Everything matched.
At first, it felt normal.
Because they had studied together.
But the teacher didn't see it that way.
She looked at their copies again.
Then again.
Her expression changed.
She called both of them.
And asked—
"Did you copy?"
The class became silent.
Aarvika didn't know what to say.
She had not copied.
She knew that.
But she also knew—
her answers matched Kavya's.
Kavya tried to explain.
They both tried.
But the teacher didn't believe them at first.
So, for the next test—
she separated them.
Made them sit apart.
This time—
there was no way to copy.
No way to match answers.
The test happened again.
And when the results came—
it was the same.
Both of them passed.
With almost the same marks.
And this time—
there was no doubt left.
The teacher didn't say anything.
But everything was clear.
After that, things changed a little.
Now, instead of doubting them—
the teacher started trusting them.
Sometimes she asked them to help other students.
Sometimes she gave them small responsibilities.
It was not something big.
But it mattered.
For Aarvika—
it meant something.
Because she knew—
this time, it was real.
Not because of anyone else.
But because of her own effort.
Time passed like this.
Slowly.
Quietly.
The school year came to an end.
Classes changed.
Students moved ahead.
Some stayed behind.
Groups broke.
People separated.
And just like that—
that part of her life ended.
There was no goodbye.
No final moment.
Just distance.
And moving forward.
Aarvika didn't look back.
She didn't try to hold anything.
Because now—
she had understood something important.
Not everything stays.
And not everything is meant to.
And sometimes—
letting go is not a loss.
It's just the end of a phase.