The school corridor was always full of noise—students laughing, friends talking, and the sound of footsteps rushing to class. But for Arjun, the corridor meant something more.
Every morning before the first bell, Arjun stood near the window at the end of the corridor. He pretended to look outside, but in truth, he was waiting for someone.
That someone was Maya.
Maya walked through the corridor every day with her books held close to her chest. She was quiet but kind, and her smile made the busy corridor feel calm. Arjun had noticed her since the beginning of the school year, but he was too shy to talk to her.
One day, as Maya hurried to class, a few papers slipped from her notebook and fell on the floor. Arjun quickly picked them up.
"Here… you dropped these," he said nervously.
Maya smiled warmly. "Thank you."
It was a small moment, but it was the beginning of something special.
After that day, they started talking sometimes in the corridor—before class, during breaks, or while waiting for the bell to ring. They shared notes, helped each other with homework, and laughed about teachers and exams.
Slowly, their friendship grew stronger.
The corridor became their favorite place in the school. It was where they shared stories about their dreams, their fears, and their future.
But time moves fast in school.
Soon, the final exams arrived, and graduation day came closer. Both of them knew that after school, they might go to different colleges in different cities.
On the last day of school, the corridor was quieter than usual. Students were saying goodbye to friends and teachers.
Arjun found Maya standing near the same window where he had first waited for her.
"I guess this is goodbye," Maya said softly.
Arjun smiled. "Maybe not. Some stories don't end after school."
Maya looked at him and smiled again—the same smile that had brightened the corridor all year.
"Then let's promise," she said, "this is just the beginning."
And in that quiet school corridor, their story was only just starting.