“First Bench, Third Row” – Part 2
Class 11 ka mid-term chal raha tha. Priya first bench pe, perfectly highlighted notes, straight ponytail, serious face. Log samajhte the uski life simple hai — padhai, ghar, bas.
Par sach?
Uska mind kabhi-kabhi third row ki taraf chala jaata tha.
Yash.
Wo type ka ladka jo loud nahi tha, par presence strong thi. Jab bhi teacher koi tough question puchte, Yash ka haath uthta. Aur jab kabhi Priya answer deti, Yash side glance karta — bas 2 seconds. Zyada nahi. Par noticeable.
Online life alag chal rahi thi.
Phone pe 2-3 boys — cute DPs, sweet texts, late night talks.
“Tum khaana kha liya?”
“Miss you.”
Par wo sab screen ke andar tha. Feelings safe, filtered.
Real class me?
Heartbeat thodi fast.
---
Turning Point
Ek din chemistry practical tha. Partner random allot hua.
Priya ka naam… Yash ke saath.
Awkward silence.
Lab coat pehna, experiment set kiya. Yash casually bola,
“Tum itni serious kyun rehti ho class me?”
Priya ne bola,
“First bench responsibility hoti hai.”
Yash hassa,
“Ya phir shield?”
Wo line seedha hit kari.
Experiment ke beech me unki fingers accidentally touch hui. 2 second ka silence. Dono ne pretend kiya kuch hua hi nahi.
Par us din ke baad vibe change ho gayi.
---
Conflict
Rumours phir se start.
“Yash ko first bench wali pasand hai.”
Priya ne phir online pucha.
Yash ne phir deny kiya —
“Log faltu bolte hain.”
Priya ko thoda gussa aaya.
“Phir dekhte kyun ho?”
Reply late aaya.
“Habit ho gayi hai shayad.”
Bas.
Confession nahi. Par indirect acceptance jaisa kuch.
Us raat Priya ne apne online BF ko “goodnight” text karte waqt realise kiya —
Screen wali attention easy hai.
Par real wali confusing hai.
---
Emotional Shift
Boards paas aa rahe the. Sab busy.
Ek din Priya ka maths test kharab gaya. Wo normally strong thi, par is baar mind scattered tha.
Lunch break me Yash aaya aur bola,
“Tu tension me hoti hai toh aur zyada cute lagti hai.”
Priya shock.
“Tumne toh bola tha kuch nahi hai.”
Yash ne seedha dekha,
“Main bola tha log jo bolte hain wo galat hai. Maine ye nahi bola ki main kuch feel nahi karta.”
Silence.
Priya ka ego, insecurity, age difference — sab ek second ke liye dissolve.
---
Climax
Final exam ke baad last day. Sab autograph exchange.
Priya ke notebook me Yash ne likha:
“First bench wali ladkiyon ko bhi kabhi kabhi third row se dekhna chahiye. Waha se view alag hota hai.”
Aur neeche chhota sa line:
“Age, colour, marks… sab secondary hai. Tum comfortable ho mere saath — bas wahi enough hai.”
---
Story yahin pause hoti hai.
Open ending.
Confession officially hua ya nahi?
Relationship bana ya bas ek beautiful memory?
Wo depend karta hai Priya kya choose karti hai — safe online love, ya risky real connection, ya phir self-growth first.
༼ つ ◕‿◕ ༽つʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ(⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃(つ✧ω✧)つ(つ≧▽≦)つ(つ≧▽≦)つ(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ⊂(･ω･*⊂)⊂(･ω･*⊂)⊂(•‿•⊂ )*.✧⊂(・﹏・⊂)ლ(´ ❥ `ლ)(つ✧ω✧)つ⊂(･ω･*⊂)⊂(･ω･*⊂)⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°(つ✧ω✧)つʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ(o´･_･)っ(⊃ • ʖ̫ • )⊃(⊃ • ʖ̫ • )⊃～(つˆДˆ)つ｡☆～(つˆДˆ)つ｡☆⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°⊂(´･◡･⊂ )∘˚˳°(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ(っ.❛ ᴗ ❛.)っ～(つˆДˆ)つ｡☆～(つˆДˆ)つ｡☆
Thanks for reading my novel (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments