18.not just a Bracelet

The morning sun spilled gently through the classroom windows, casting soft streaks of light across the desks. Riya entered the class a few minutes early, her hair tied neatly in a ponytail, and her thoughts still lingering on yesterday's bracelet moment. She glanced at Vishal's seat, which was still empty, and smiled faintly as she took her place.

Soon, the class began filling in, and with it came the usual morning chaos—chatter, footsteps, the scraping of chairs. Vishal walked in, looking unusually fresh and upbeat. He had a slight spring in his step, and Riya noticed he was already wearing the bracelet she had given him. The black band stood out against his wrist, with the little pink bead catching the sunlight just enough to make her smile.

He didn't come straight to her, though. He was surrounded by his usual group of friends who were already teasing him about the bracelet. "Oye, Vishal! New fashion or new girlfriend?" one of them joked, nudging him. He just laughed and looked down at his wrist with a sort of shy pride.

Riya watched him from a distance. Her heart felt a strange warmth seeing him so happy. She tried to look away, flipping through her textbook, but her attention kept drifting back to him. When their eyes finally met, even from across the room, he gave her a small smile. It wasn't one of those wide, teasing grins he usually gave—it was soft, genuine, and just for her.

Classes began, and the hours ticked by. But every now and then, their eyes would meet. They weren't talking much, not openly at least, but there was a different kind of conversation going on between them. Silent, meaningful, heavy with the knowledge of what had been said and what hadn't.

At lunch, Riya sat with Anaya and Priya, trying not to look in Vishal's direction too much. But he made it difficult. Every now and then, he'd do something stupidly cute—pretend to struggle opening his lunchbox, or sneak a look at her when he thought she wasn't watching. She caught him once, and he immediately turned away, embarrassed.

Priya noticed. "You two had a moment again, didn't you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What moment?" Riya played innocent.

"Don't even try," Anaya added with a grin. "You gave him a bracelet, remember? Half the class saw him showing it off."

Riya blushed but didn't deny it. "He was happy. That's all that matters."

Later that day, after the last bell rang and students began rushing out of the class, Vishal stayed behind. Riya was gathering her books when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see him standing there, backpack slung over one shoulder, eyes hesitant.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

Riya nodded, and they stepped outside the classroom to the quieter hallway.

"I know what you said yesterday," he began, looking everywhere but at her. "That you don't have feelings for me. Or that they're not developing."

She nodded slowly. "Yeah... I was just being honest. But I didn't mean to hurt you."

He gave a small laugh. "You did. But then you smiled and said you were joking. And I wanted to believe that."

Riya sighed, leaning against the wall. "I didn't mean to confuse you. It's just... I don't know what I feel yet. But I like being with you. I like making you smile."

He looked at her for a long moment before finally speaking. "You could've just said that. You don't have to feel everything all at once."

Riya smiled, grateful for his understanding. "I bought that bracelet because I wanted to. Not out of guilt, or pressure. I saw it and thought of you."

He lifted his wrist slightly. "And now it's mine. You know everyone keeps asking me who gave it."

"And what do you say?" she asked.

"I just say, 'someone special.'"

Riya laughed, the tension dissolving. "Drama king."

"Only for you," he replied, bowing dramatically.

That night, Riya wrote in her diary.

He wore it. He actually wore the bracelet. I don't know why that makes me so happy. Maybe because it's a small thing. A token. But maybe it means more than it looks. Maybe, for now, this is enough. Maybe this is what 'starting something' looks like.

The next few days passed in a blur. Little by little, things shifted. They didn't label anything, but everyone around them had already started to. Some teachers raised their eyebrows. Some classmates whispered and smirked. But Riya didn't care. When he passed her notes in class with stupid doodles or when he waved at her across the corridor, it was worth it.

There were moments—small, fleeting moments—that made her pause. Like when he texted her goodnight with a little heart, or when she caught him staring at her when he thought she wasn't looking. She didn't know if she loved him. But she knew he made her feel special. And that counted for something.

One afternoon, they were walking home together for the first time. It wasn't planned. They just happened to leave at the same time. He offered to walk with her, and she didn't say no.

"You know," he said, looking at the sky, "this... you and me... it doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be real."

She looked at him, surprised. "Since when did you become so deep?"

He laughed. "Since someone gave me a bracelet with a half heart on it. Now I have to grow up and become worthy of the full heart someday."

She stopped walking. He turned back.

"That was... sweet," she admitted. "Unexpected."

He shrugged. "I'm full of surprises."

She smiled. "I'm still figuring myself out, Vishal. But if you're okay with that, then I guess we can keep walking together."

He took a step closer and held out his wrist. The bracelet glinted under the evening sun. "Then let's keep matching."

And they walked the rest of the way in silence—two bracelets, two uncertain hearts, one quiet understanding.

Maybe, just maybe, not all stories need a label.

Some begin with a bracelet.