Episode 1 Title: The Last Bench

Riya Sen had a habit of disappearing into her own world.

Every day at school, while others chatted loudly, she quietly walked to the last bench, opened her notebook, and began sketching. Her drawings were full of life—sunsets, empty roads, lonely trees, and sometimes… two people standing side by side.

But in real life, she preferred silence.

Arjun Roy, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. He was the kind of boy teachers knew by name—not because he was naughty, but because he was always involved in something. Sports, debates, jokes—he was everywhere.

One Monday morning, everything changed.

“New seating arrangement!” the class teacher announced.

Groans filled the room. Names were called out, benches reassigned. And somehow, Arjun found himself walking toward the last bench.

“Looks like I’m your partner now,” he said, dropping his bag beside Riya with a grin.

Riya gave a small nod and went back to her drawing.

Arjun tried talking to her during class. “So… you don’t talk much, huh?”

No response.

He tried again. “What are you drawing?”

Riya hesitated, then slowly turned her notebook toward him.

It was a sunset—orange and purple shades blending beautifully, with two tiny figures standing under a tree.

Arjun’s eyes widened. “You made this? That’s seriously good!”

Riya looked down, slightly shy. “It’s just a sketch…”

“Just a sketch?” he laughed softly. “You’re really talented.”

That moment broke something invisible between them.

Over the next few weeks, things started to change.

Arjun would still joke around with others, but he always returned to the last bench. Slowly, Riya began to speak more—first a few words, then full sentences. She even started smiling more often.

“Why do you always sit here?” Arjun asked one day.

Riya shrugged. “It’s quiet. No one bothers me.”

Arjun leaned back. “Well… I’m bothering you now.”

For a second, Riya looked surprised. Then, she laughed—soft, but real.

That was the first time Arjun realized something important: her smile was rare, but when it appeared, it felt special.

As exams approached, they began studying together.

Arjun wasn’t very serious about studies, but Riya helped him focus. In return, he made her laugh when she got too stressed.

One evening, they stayed back after school to finish a project. The classroom was empty, filled with the golden glow of the setting sun.

Arjun noticed Riya staring out the window.

“Another sunset,” he said.

Riya smiled faintly. “It’s my favorite time of the day.”

“Why?”

She thought for a moment. “Because it feels like a pause… like everything slows down. You can just breathe.”

Arjun looked at her, then at the sky. “Yeah… and it feels even better when you’re not alone.”

Riya didn’t reply, but her cheeks turned slightly pink.

Days turned into months.

They started sharing small things—favorite songs, dreams, fears.

Riya confessed she wanted to become an artist someday but was scared people wouldn’t take her seriously.

Arjun said, “If you can draw feelings like that… people will definitely notice.”

“And you?” she asked.

He smiled. “I don’t know yet. But… I know I don’t want to lose this.”

“This?” she asked.

He looked at the last bench, then at her. “This.”

But not everything stayed simple.

One day, Arjun didn’t come to school.

Then another day. And another.

Riya felt something strange—a quiet emptiness. The last bench felt too big without him.

Finally, after a week, he returned.

“Where were you?” she asked, trying to sound normal.

“Family issues,” he said lightly. “Had to go out of town.”

But something felt different. He was quieter.

During lunch break, Riya gathered courage. “You can tell me… if something’s wrong.”

Arjun looked at her for a long moment. Then he sighed. “My father might get transferred. I may have to leave this school.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

“Oh…” was all she could say.

The days that followed felt heavier.

They still talked, still laughed—but there was an unspoken tension.

One evening, as they sat together watching the sunset, Arjun said, “If I go… will you forget me?”

Riya shook her head immediately. “No.”

“Good,” he said softly. “Because I won’t forget you either.”

There was a pause.

Then Riya handed him something—a small sketch.

It was the same scene she always drew: a sunset, a tree… and two people standing together.

But this time, their hands were closer.

“For you,” she said.

Arjun smiled, but his eyes looked emotional. “I’ll keep it… always.”

A week later, the news came.

Arjun was leaving.

On his last day, the classroom felt unusually quiet.

“Don’t stop drawing,” he told her.

“Don’t stop smiling,” she replied.

He laughed softly. “That’s your job, you know.”

“And yours?” she asked.

“To come back someday.”

They both smiled, but neither of them said what they truly felt.

Months passed.

Riya still sat on the last bench. She still drew sunsets.

But now, her drawings had something more—hope.

One afternoon, as she was sketching, someone’s voice came from behind:

“Still drawing sunsets?”

Her heart skipped.

She turned around.

Arjun stood there, smiling.

“I told you,” he said, “I’d come back.”

Riya stood up, her eyes shining—not with tears, but with something stronger.

“Welcome back,” she said.

And just like that, the last bench was no longer empty again.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***