The challenge stayed in Aarohi's mind.
"Then show me."
Shiva's quiet refusal hadn't discouraged her.
If anything—
It made her more curious.
The next morning, the classroom felt the same as always.
Noise. Laughter. Movement.
But Aarohi wasn't fully present in it.
Her eyes drifted toward the last bench again.
Shiva sat in his usual place, looking out the window, lost in thought.
Calm.
Distant.
Unreachable.
Aarohi smiled slightly.
Let's see how long that lasts.
"Why are you smiling like that?" one of her friends asked.
"Nothing," she replied casually.
But it wasn't nothing.
Not anymore.
During class, Aarohi tried something new.
Instead of focusing only on the lesson—
She focused on him.
Every small reaction.
Every tiny change.
And slowly—
She noticed things.
Shiva wasn't emotionless.
He just… didn't show it openly.
When someone made a loud joke—
The corner of his lips moved slightly.
Not a full smile.
But close.
When the teacher said something confusing—
He frowned, just a little.
When sunlight hit his face—
His expression softened.
It was all there.
Hidden.
Subtle.
But real.
So you do feel things, she thought.
You just don't let anyone see them.
"Shiva," she called suddenly.
He looked up.
"Yes?"
Aarohi paused for a second.
She hadn't planned what to say.
"…Nothing," she said, smiling.
He blinked.
"…Okay."
And went back to his notebook.
Aarohi suppressed a laugh.
Step one: confuse him.
Later, during the group work session, she sat beside him again.
This time—
Without asking.
"Move," she said casually.
He shifted slightly.
No protest.
That itself was progress.
They began working.
Silence filled the space between them.
But Aarohi broke it quickly.
"Do you like music?"
"No."
"Movies?"
"Sometimes."
"What kind?"
"Anything quiet."
She turned toward him.
"Even movies are supposed to be quiet for you?"
"Yes."
She stared at him for a second—
Then laughed.
A soft, genuine laugh.
Shiva looked at her.
"What?"
"You're seriously different," she said.
"…I know."
There was no embarrassment.
No hesitation.
Just acceptance.
Aarohi leaned her chin on her hand, watching him.
"Do people ever annoy you?"
"Yes."
"Do I?"
Shiva paused.
A small silence formed.
"…A little."
Aarohi's eyes widened.
"A little?!"
"…You talk a lot."
She hit his arm lightly.
"Hey! That's rude!"
Shiva looked at her—
And for a split second—
Something changed.
His lips curved.
Very slightly.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
Aarohi froze.
"…Wait."
Shiva looked away immediately.
"What?"
"You just smiled."
"…No."
"You did!"
"No."
"You did!"
She leaned closer, trying to catch his expression.
Shiva turned his face slightly, avoiding her gaze.
"It was nothing."
Aarohi's heart raced a little.
That wasn't "nothing."
That was real.
That was the first crack in his silence.
"Say that again," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"That I'm annoying."
"…You are."
This time—
She didn't react immediately.
She just watched him closely.
Waiting.
And then—
There it was again.
A small, almost hidden smile.
Softer than before.
But undeniable.
"I knew it!" Aarohi said, grinning.
Shiva shook his head slightly.
"It's not a big deal."
"It is a big deal," she said.
"For you, maybe."
"For me, definitely."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
But the atmosphere had changed.
It wasn't just calm anymore.
It was… warm.
"You should smile more," Aarohi said softly.
Shiva didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…It's unnecessary."
Aarohi tilted her head.
"No. It's not."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because it makes people feel closer to you."
Shiva thought about that.
Closer.
He had spent so long keeping distance—
He never really considered what it meant to be close.
"I'm already fine," he said quietly.
Aarohi smiled.
"Maybe. But you don't always have to be alone."
Those words stayed.
Longer than expected.
After school, they walked together again.
This time—
It felt less strange.
More natural.
As they reached the gate, Aarohi turned toward him.
"You know," she said, "I'm going to make you smile properly one day."
Shiva looked at her.
"…That won't happen."
She stepped back, walking away slowly.
"Challenge accepted."
Shiva watched her leave.
The noise of the world returned around him.
But something inside him felt different.
Lighter.
For the first time—
His silence didn't feel complete.
And somewhere in that quiet space—
A small, unnoticed smile appeared again.