Chapter 6
Things People Say
Rumors didn't spread slowly.
They never did.
---
By the time Bela entered the classroom the next morning, she could already feel it.
Not just the usual looks.
Not just curiosity.
---
This time—
It was different.
---
Whispers stopped when she walked past.
Conversations lowered when she got close.
And then resumed the moment she moved away.
---
She didn't need to hear the words.
She already knew.
---
Still—
A part of her listened anyway.
---
"…I told you, something's going on."
"They sit together every day."
"Did you see yesterday? He ate what she gave him."
"That never happens."
---
Bela tightened her grip on her bag slightly.
---
She kept walking.
---
Step by step.
---
Until she reached the last bench.
---
Vihaan was already there.
Of course.
---
Same seat.
Same posture.
Same unreadable expression.
---
For a moment—
She wondered if he had heard anything.
---
If it affected him.
---
If anything ever did.
---
She sat down quietly.
---
"…Good morning," she said.
---
A pause.
---
"…Morning."
---
Bela blinked.
---
That was new.
---
She didn't say anything else.
Just placed her notebook on the desk and tried to focus on something normal.
Something steady.
---
But normal didn't last long.
---
"Looks like someone's popular now."
---
The voice came from behind.
---
Bela didn't turn immediately.
She didn't need to.
---
Ritika.
---
"People are talking about you," she continued, her tone almost casual—but not quite.
---
Bela slowly turned her head.
---
"People always talk," she replied calmly.
---
Ritika smiled faintly.
---
"Not like this."
---
A pause.
---
"Should I tell you what they're saying?"
---
Bela met her gaze.
---
"No."
---
That answer seemed to annoy her more than anything else.
---
"Smart," Ritika said. "Or maybe just pretending not to care."
---
Bela didn't respond.
---
Because she wasn't pretending.
---
She simply didn't have the energy to care about things that didn't matter.
---
Ritika leaned slightly closer.
---
"Just don't get too comfortable," she added quietly. "You won't like it when things change."
---
Before Bela could reply—
---
"That applies to you too."
---
The voice came from beside her.
---
Low.
Calm.
---
Vihaan.
---
Ritika straightened instantly.
---
For a moment—
She didn't say anything.
---
Then—
"…Stay out of it," she said.
---
"I am."
---
His tone didn't change.
---
"That didn't sound like it."
---
"It wasn't meant to."
---
Silence.
---
Tension filled the space between them.
---
Bela watched quietly.
---
There was something different in the air.
Something sharp.
Unspoken.
---
Ritika exhaled slowly.
---
"Fine," she said.
---
But the look she gave Bela before walking away—
---
Was anything but fine.
---
The teacher entered soon after.
---
The lesson began.
---
But Bela's focus drifted again.
---
Not to the whispers.
Not to the board.
---
But to the moment that had just happened.
---
He didn't have to say anything.
---
He usually didn't.
---
But he did.
---
For her.
---
The thought stayed longer than she expected.
---
"Focus."
---
She blinked.
---
Vihaan's voice.
---
"You're doing it again," he added.
---
"Doing what?"
---
"Not paying attention."
---
Bela frowned slightly.
"I am paying attention."
---
"You're not."
---
She turned toward him.
---
"…Why do you keep noticing that?"
---
A pause.
---
Then—
"…Because you keep doing it."
---
That wasn't really an answer.
---
But it wasn't nothing either.
---
Bela looked at him for a second longer.
---
Then turned back to the board.
---
Trying to focus.
---
Trying not to think.
---
The rest of the class passed slowly.
---
But the whispers didn't stop.
---
If anything—
They grew.
---
By the time the bell rang, Bela could feel it again.
---
That invisible pressure.
---
Like she was being pulled into something she didn't fully understand yet.
---
"Hey."
---
Samar's voice.
---
She turned.
---
"You okay?" he asked.
---
Bela nodded.
"Yeah."
---
"You sure?"
---
"…Do I not look okay?"
---
Samar studied her for a moment.
---
"You look like you're thinking too much."
---
"That's normal for me."
---
He smiled slightly.
---
"Don't let them get to you."
---
"I'm not."
---
A pause.
---
"…Good," he said.
---
But something in his tone suggested—
He wasn't fully convinced.
---
They walked out of the classroom together.
---
The corridor felt just as crowded.
Just as loud.
---
But Bela felt it differently now.
---
More aware.
---
More… present.
---
"…Why do people avoid him?" she asked suddenly.
---
Samar glanced at her.
---
"That question took you long enough."
---
"I was waiting for the right time."
---
"And now?"
---
"…Now I want to know."
---
Samar walked a few steps in silence.
---
Like he was deciding how much to say.
---
"People don't avoid him for no reason," he said finally.
---
"That's not an answer."
---
"It's part of one."
---
Bela frowned slightly.
---
Samar exhaled.
---
"He used to be different," he said.
---
That caught her attention instantly.
---
"Different how?"
---
"Normal," Samar replied. "Better than normal."
---
A pause.
---
"He used to top the class. Talk to people. Actually… smile."
---
Bela slowed her steps slightly.
---
"And now?"
---
Samar looked ahead.
---
"Now he doesn't care."
---
"…Why?"
---
That question hung heavier than the others.
---
Samar didn't answer immediately.
---
Then—
"…Something happened," he said.
---
"What?"
---
He shook his head slightly.
---
"Not my story to tell."
---
Bela felt a small frustration rise.
---
"But you know."
---
"I do."
---
"And you won't say?"
---
"No."
---
She stopped walking.
---
"That's unfair."
---
Samar turned to face her.
---
"Maybe," he said calmly. "But some things aren't meant to be explained by someone else."
---
Bela held his gaze.
---
"…Then who's supposed to explain them?"
---
Samar's expression softened slightly.
---
"The person who lived them."
---
A pause.
---
Bela looked away.
---
Because somehow—
That answer made sense.
---
Even if she didn't like it.
---
They stood there for a moment.
---
Then—
"…You'll understand eventually," Samar added quietly.
---
Bela didn't respond.
---
Because she wasn't sure if she wanted to.
---
Understanding meant getting closer.
---
And getting closer meant—
Feeling more.
---
And she wasn't sure she could afford that.
---
Not anymore.
---
Back in the classroom—
Vihaan sat alone again.
---
Like always.
---
Like nothing had changed.
---
But Bela knew—
Something had.
---
Even if it was small.
---
Even if no one else noticed it.
---
She did.
---
And maybe—
That was enough.
---
For now.