Monday arrived exactly as expected.
At least, that's what Mahi thought.
The morning began like every other school day.
He walked through the school gates with his bag hanging from one shoulder, greeted a few classmates, complained about the early morning, and immediately checked the notice board.
There was a new mathematics competition scheduled for the following week.
Mahi smiled.
“Perfect.”
He was already looking for Aarav when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“You're smiling.”
Mahi turned.
Aarav stood there, holding his books.
“Obviously.”
“Why?”
Mahi pointed toward the notice board.
“Competition.”
Aarav glanced at it.
Then back at Mahi.
“You're excited?”
“I'm taking first place.”
Aarav nodded.
“Good luck.”
Mahi narrowed his eyes.
“Don't say good luck like you've already won.”
“I haven't.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
“My face always looks like this.”
Mahi laughed.
“Exactly. That's your problem.”
The bell rang.
Students began moving toward their classrooms.
Mahi walked ahead.
Aarav followed a few steps behind.
Neither of them knew that this would be the last completely ordinary conversation they would have for a while.
---
The school day passed normally.
Mathematics.
Physics.
English.
Lunch.
Another argument over a question.
Another challenge.
Another sarcastic comment.
By the final period, Mahi was already thinking about going home.
His friend called out to him.
“Mahi, you're coming with us?”
“Not today.”
“Why?”
“I have to pick something up.”
“Where?”
“Near the market.”
His friend nodded.
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
Mahi waved.
“See you.”
He adjusted his backpack and left the school grounds.
The afternoon was busy.
Cars moved through the road.
People crossed between shops.
Students walked home in groups.
Mahi kept his phone in his pocket and walked toward the place he needed to reach.
He was thinking about the upcoming competition.
And, unfortunately, about Aarav.
That guy is definitely going to try to beat me again.
Mahi smiled to himself.
“Not this time.”
He continued walking.
Then everything happened very quickly.
A sudden commotion.
Someone shouted.
Mahi stopped.
He barely had time to react before the scene around him became confusing.
His surroundings blurred.
His thoughts became scattered.
And then—
Nothing.
---
At school, the final bell had already rung.
Students were leaving.
Aarav was putting his books into his bag when his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A message from one of their classmates.
Have you heard about Mahi?
Aarav frowned.
He typed back.
What happened?
The reply came almost immediately.
He had an accident.
Aarav stopped moving.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the screen.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
He read the message again.
And again.
Then he stood up.
“Where?”
The answer came.
A hospital name.
Aarav didn't say anything.
He grabbed his bag and left the classroom.
---
Mahi's family reached the hospital as quickly as they could.
His friends followed shortly afterward.
The hospital corridor was bright and quiet in a way that felt completely wrong.
His mother sat outside the emergency area, holding her phone tightly.
His father stood nearby, speaking quietly with the medical staff.
Nobody knew exactly what to say.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for information.
Waiting for someone to come out.
Waiting to hear that everything would be okay.
Eventually, the doctor came out.
Mahi's family immediately stood.
“How is he?”
The doctor spoke calmly.
“He's receiving treatment. The situation is being monitored closely.”
His mother swallowed.
“Can we see him?”
“Not yet.”
She nodded, trying to remain composed.
His friends stood farther back.
One of them quietly wiped their eyes.
Nobody was talking about school anymore.
Nobody cared about the competition.
Not about marks.
Not about presentations.
Not about who would come first next week.
For the first time in years, there was no rivalry.
There was only one question.
Would Mahi be okay?
---
Hours passed.
The hospital became quieter.
Mahi remained unconscious.
His family stayed nearby.
His friends eventually went home after being told they needed to rest, promising to return the next morning.
Aarav never arrived.
At least, not that night.
He had gone home after receiving the news, but something felt wrong.
He couldn't explain it.
Mahi had annoyed him for years.
They competed over everything.
They argued constantly.
Aarav had lost count of how many times Mahi had challenged him.
And yet...
The thought of Mahi lying unconscious in a hospital didn't feel like something he could simply ignore.
That night, Aarav opened his notebook.
On the first page was the schedule for their upcoming competition.
He stared at it.
Then closed the notebook.
For once, he didn't care about winning.
---
The next morning, Mahi still hadn't woken up.
Neither had he the morning after that.
And then another day passed.
Three days.
Three long days.
Mahi remained unconscious.
His family stayed by his side.
His friends kept asking for updates.
Teachers at school knew something had happened and gave the class time to process it.
Even the usual noise of Class 11-B seemed quieter.
There was no one arguing with Aarav anymore.
No one saying—
“I'm going to beat you.”
No one stealing the last word in an argument.
No one challenging his answer.
Aarav noticed the silence.
He didn't like it.
On the third evening, he finally made a decision.
He would go to the hospital.
Not because Mahi was his friend.
Not because he knew what to say.
And certainly not because he was worried.
At least, that's what Aarav told himself.
He simply wanted to check on his rival.
That was all.
He picked up his jacket.
And left.
---
The hospital room was quiet.
Mahi lay unconscious on the bed, surrounded by the soft sounds of medical equipment.
His family had stepped outside for a while.
Aarav stood near the doorway.
For the first time in years, he didn't know what to say to Mahi.
Normally, silence between them lasted only seconds before Mahi filled it with some sarcastic comment.
Now there was only silence.
Aarav slowly walked closer.
He looked at Mahi.
“You've been asleep for three days.”
No response.
Aarav pulled a chair closer and sat down.
“You're going to miss the competition.”
Still nothing.
Aarav looked toward the window.
Then back at him.
“So you'd better wake up.”
His voice was quiet.
Almost softer than usual.
“You still have to lose to me.”
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Mahi's fingers moved slightly.
Aarav froze.
He leaned forward.
“Mahi?”
Mahi's eyes remained closed.
But his breathing changed.
Aarav stood.
He didn't know it yet.
But after three days of silence...
Mahi was finally waking up.
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