Sidharth Thoughts

Sidharth’s POV

The ride home was quiet, the steady hum of the bus blending into the thoughts swirling in Sidharth’s mind. His hoodie was pulled up as usual, casting a shadow over his face. It was a habit now—keeping to himself, staying invisible. That was how he preferred it.

But today hadn’t been like other days.

He stared out the window, watching the blur of streets and people pass by, his fingers loosely gripping the handle of his bag. His thoughts kept circling back to her—Natalia. The girl his Physics Sir had paired him up with.

When Sir had first called his name, he’d felt that familiar twist in his stomach. He hated attention, hated being put on the spot. But then Sir had said something unexpected:

“This is Sidharth. You will help him. Teach him these topics. You both should study together.”

At that moment, his eyes had met hers. Briefly. Just for a second.

She was sitting a little stiffly, as if she hadn’t expected it either. Her expression wasn’t like the others’. There was no judgment there, no curiosity laced with gossip. Just… a calm openness.

Sidharth had quickly looked away, but the image stayed with him.

Natalia. The name suited her somehow. Quiet, soft. She didn’t seem like the type to talk unnecessarily or laugh too loudly just to get attention. She’d spoken earlier in class when Sir asked her about the online training, and her voice had been steady, clear. Not arrogant, not fake—just… sure of herself.

It had surprised him.

Most girls he’d noticed in school—well, they didn’t notice him. Not really. And he didn’t mind that. It was easier to stay in the background, hoodie up, headphones in, dealing with his own world.

But now, Sir had tied him to her, at least academically. Study together.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.

On one hand, he knew he needed the help. He wasn’t bad at studies, but he’d missed a few classes, fallen behind. Having someone guide him wasn’t a bad thing. But on the other hand, working with someone meant… talking. Explaining. Being vulnerable enough to admit what he didn’t understand.

And that someone was Natalia—a girl he barely knew.

He let out a slow breath, leaning his head against the bus window. The glass was cool against his temple, grounding him for a moment.

When he’d finally spoken to her after class, it had taken more effort than he’d expected. His voice had come out quieter than he meant, but she’d heard him.

“How should we… start studying?”

The way she’d looked at him—surprised, but not in a bad way—had eased some of his tension. She’d suggested WhatsApp, her tone tentative, as if she wasn’t sure he’d agree.

“Maybe… we can study online? On WhatsApp?”

And he had just nodded. “Okay.”

Simple. Direct.

But the truth was, he’d been relieved. Texting was easier than face-to-face conversations. There was time to think before replying, time to avoid saying something stupid.

Still… he couldn’t deny the faint flicker of curiosity inside him.

Who was she, really?

He’d noticed her a couple of times before today. Always sitting quietly, usually with that other girl—Nidhi, he thought her name was. Natalia never seemed to be in the center of attention, yet somehow, she was noticeable. The way she listened carefully to teachers, the way her laugh was soft but genuine when someone said something funny.

It was different from the noise of everyone else.

As the bus rattled over a pothole, Sidharth’s grip on his bag tightened slightly.

He wasn’t sure what this pairing would mean. Maybe it was just about studies—help each other, pass exams, and move on. But a small, cautious part of him wondered if it could be more. Not in a romantic sense—no, that thought felt too big, too soon. Just… maybe having someone to sit with during lectures, someone who didn’t make him feel like an outsider.

Natalia didn’t seem like the type to judge.

And that mattered more to him than he’d realized.

Still, he couldn’t let himself expect too much. People had disappointed him before. Friends who weren’t really friends, promises that turned out to be empty.

He didn’t know Natalia well enough to trust her yet. But there was something about her presence—a kind of quiet strength—that made him want to try.

As his stop approached, Sidharth stood and slung his bag over his shoulder. His reflection in the bus window stared back at him, shadowed and unreadable.

“Study partners,” he muttered under his breath, almost as if saying it aloud would make it real.

The words felt strange.

But as he stepped off the bus and started walking home, a small, unspoken thought lingered in the back of his mind:

Maybe this is the start of something… different.

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