Days continued in the same way.
Classes.
Practical sessions.
Short breaks.
Everything followed the same routine.
Nothing looked different from the outside.
But for Aarvika—
things felt slightly easier than before.
Not in a big way.
Just in small moments.
Now—
she noticed him more than earlier.
Not intentionally.
Not every time.
Just sometimes.
Like when he entered the class.
Or when he sat somewhere nearby.
She didn't try to look—
but still—
sometimes her eyes went there.
And then she looked away.
There were no proper conversations between them.
Not really.
Just small interactions.
Sometimes during practical—
he was helping someone.
Explaining something.
Aarvika would notice—
but stay focused on her own work.
Once—
she got stuck on a step.
She paused—
looked at her notebook—
and didn't say anything.
He was standing nearby.
He glanced at her work.
"You can do it like this."
He said it simply.
Aarvika nodded.
"Okay."
She corrected it.
No extra words.
He moved away.
And the moment ended.
During breaks—
Rhea and Meher talked a lot.
They were comfortable.
They laughed easily.
They talked to others without hesitation.
Even boys.
Aarvika mostly listened.
Sometimes she smiled.
Sometimes she just stayed quiet.
And sometimes—
she noticed him in the same space.
Talking.
Laughing.
Being normal.
She didn't go there.
She didn't try to join.
But she saw.
From a distance.
One day—
while going towards the class—
she saw him near the stairs.
There were a few students around.
As she passed—
for a second—
their eyes met.
She immediately looked away.
And kept walking.
Nothing happened.
But still—
she remembered it.
Another day—
in the bus—
there was less crowd.
Aarvika got a seat.
After a few stops—
he got in.
She noticed—
but looked outside.
After a moment—
he came and sat near her.
Not too close.
Just the next seat.
He spoke first.
"Your class timing is same, right?"
Aarvika nodded.
"Yeah."
Her voice was low.
He said something about the class.
She replied in short.
Simple answers.
No long conversation.
No awkward silence.
Just normal.
When their stop came—
they both got down.
And walked in different directions.
No waiting.
No turning back.
Just like every other day.
There were other moments too.
Small ones.
Like during practical—
when he sat near their row.
Or when he passed by—
while she was talking to Rhea and Meher.
Sometimes—
she felt like he looked at her.
But she wasn't sure.
So she ignored it.
She didn't think too much.
Or maybe—
she tried not to.
One day—
in the canteen—
Rhea and Meher were talking with others.
He was there too.
Aarvika stood with them.
Not fully involved.
Just present.
Someone said something funny.
Everyone laughed.
Aarvika smiled slightly.
He reacted too.
But they didn't talk.
And that felt normal.
Days passed like this.
Nothing big happened.
Nothing clearly changed.
But still—
those small moments stayed.
Not as something important.
Not as something special.
Just as something that happened.
And maybe—
that was enough.
Because now—
he wasn't just someone in the class.
He was someone she noticed.
Someone she remembered.
Even without trying.
And that feeling—
remained quiet.
Just like everything else.