I will try to be as kind and open as I can tomorrow…
The next morning, I woke up, had breakfast, and got ready. I rode my cycle toward school. On the way, rain started falling, so I took out my raincoat. That's when I saw one of my classmates standing beneath a tree, stuck in the rain.
This is my chance… my first step toward kindness.
I pedaled over and said, "Hey... hello. The weather is good today, right?"
What am I even saying? He's stuck in the rain — why am I talking about the weather?
He looked annoyed. "What's your matter? Are you teasing me about my situation?"
"No, no. I mean... if you want, I could drop you to school on my cycle," I offered.
"Okay, I don't have a problem. But I won't peddle .. I'll just sit behind. Is that okay with you?" he said.
"Yeah, let's go together then."
He sat behind me, took out his earbuds, and started listening to music. As I cycled, I felt nervous. Should I talk more or stay quiet?
"Hey, have you started studying for next week's exams? They came up fast, huh?" I tried to break the silence.
He didn't respond. Maybe I came off as a nerd? Why am I overthinking...
"Okay, what song are you listening to? Let me know too," I asked.
"Just keep cycling, bro," he said flatly.
Alright, I thought. I won't force it. But maybe a bit of sarcasm will ease things.
"Hey bro, take those earbuds out — we're gonna crash either way. You know, whenever I cycle without talking, I crash. Hilarious, right?"
"You should drop me here then. Stop the cycle," he said, annoyed.
I tried to stay calm — no anger. I'm calm...
Just then, a group of students on the roadside noticed us.
"Yo, look at that! Tejas is with someone! What direction did the sun rise from today?" they mocked.
I got distracted. Why are they still mocking me? I felt heat rise inside me.
"Hey bro, I said stop! You listening or not?" the boy on the back shouted, but my ears were already drowning in frustration.
A road breaker came out of nowhere — we jumped, lost balance, and crashed straight into a mud pool. Our uniforms were soaked in dirt. Everyone on the roadside laughed.
"F**king idiot! What's wrong with you? I didn't even want to ride with you. You crashed us out of revenge? You're such a jerk!" he yelled at me.
But... I didn't do it on purpose...
He stormed off. I stood up, drenched, covered in mud. I quietly parked my cycle and walked to the classroom.
The teacher saw me. "Tejas! What is this? Look at your uniform!" she shouted.
I ignored her scolding and just sat at my bench — alone, like always. But wait... should I sit alone today?
I noticed a boy sitting alone at the first bench. I walked over and sat beside him, my wet clothes soaking the bench.
He slid away toward the wall, clearly uncomfortable.
Oh no... I'm making mistakes again. My wet clothes might make his wet too.
I picked up my bag and moved back to my old bench. I thought it was the right move.
"Stupid guy," the boy muttered. "He sat here just to make my bench dirty. His bench is wet, so he wants to ruin others' too."
No... I'm trying to be kind. Why is this happening?
Behind me, students giggled.
"Bro, today the class smells like laundry because of that idiot in front," one mocked.
I turned around, glaring. But... I need to be calm.
I faced the window instead. Raindrops fell, glistening in sunlight like diamonds. Grass danced in the breeze. Puppies played outside, toppling over each other. The clouds parted. The rain had stopped. It was peaceful.
Suddenly, a piece of chalk hit my head.
"Tejas! Stop looking out the window! Stand up!" the teacher yelled.
"Yes ma'am," I replied.
"So, Tejas, am I teaching on the board or outside the window?" she asked sarcastically.
"I guess the board, ma'am."
The class burst into laughter.
She glared. "You answer quickly, huh? Then solve this problem on the board. Let's see if your attention was really here."
I went to the board and solved the problem.
"Ma'am, I solved it. Can I sit now?"
"Hmph. I didn't even teach that yet. So if you can solve anything without learning, then go stand outside the class."
"O-okay ma'am..."
I stood silently outside the classroom.
"Wait, Tejas!" the teacher called.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Take your wet bag too. It's smelling and disturbing others. That's your punishment."
I picked up my bag and stood outside, wondering what I did wrong. I just wanted to be kind... to be cared for.
And with the bag already in hand, I walked beside the school building, jumped the compound wall, and started walking home. It was the first time I'd bunked school.
On the way, I passed by a college. Students inside laughed, played — they looked like they were having a good day.
Suddenly, a bag flew out from the college compound wall. It landed near compound wall
I walked towards it and looked
"Huh? Who threw their bag like that?"
The bag was open, books spilling out. I looked for a name tag.
"Sira Sharma...?"
Before I could react, a girl jumped down from the college wall — and landed right on top of my face.
"Wha—?!" she gasped.
I struggled. "Mmph... Sira... s—"
"Wait, what's vibrating under me?" She looked down and realized — she was sitting right on my face.
"OH! Sorry! Are you okay?" She scrambled off and saw my face.
"Tejas?! What are you doing here?" she asked.
My face burned. "Uh... I... I could finally breath" my face was red and iam blushing
"Hey tejas why the hell are you blushing pervert!"she was yelling at me
"could I ask you , Why did you jump the wall like that?" is said
"I'm just bunking my college — same as you, duh!" she said awkwardly.
Wait... how did she know I bunked school?
We both went silent.
"Sira..."
"Tejas..."
We said each other's names at the same time.
"I'm really sorry about yesterday," I began. "I shouldn't have left like that."
"I'm also ashamed," she said. "I should've
stopped you — maybe kicked your a** to make you stay. But thank God you didn't do anything stupid."
We stood up, and slowly... started walking together.