The next day at school, Ira was surprised.
The class teacher announced —
"Next week there will be a science project competition. You will work in pairs, and I have already chosen the pairs."
Ira's heart started racing.
She prayed silently — Anyone but Ehtesham… please anyone but him…
"Ira Majumdar and Ehtesham Khan — you two are together."
The whole class burst into laughter.
Ira looked at Ehtesham in disbelief.
He was staring back at her with the same annoyed expression.
"Ma'am, can I work with someone else—"
"No. No changes," the teacher said firmly.
After school, they were walking the same road home,
but it felt like an invisible wall stood between them.
Suddenly, Ira slipped and was about to fall.
At that exact moment, Ehtesham grabbed her hand.
Their eyes met.
For a few seconds, time seemed to stop.
"Walk carefully," he said softly.
Ira's cheeks turned red.
She quickly pulled her hand away and said,
"Thank you… but don't think I like you!"
Ehtesham gave a small smile.
"I never thought that."
But deep inside, something strange had already begun to change in both of their hearts