I was searching for her everywhere.
Every corridor, every classroom, every corner of the school…
But she was nowhere to be found.
My heart was already restless after everything that had happened. The moment in the empty room, the interruption, the incomplete words — it all kept replaying in my mind again and again.
I went to her friends.
"Where is Payel?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
"She's in the washroom," one of them replied.
I nodded quickly.
"Please go and call her… tell her to come fast. We need to practice."
They looked at each other, then nodded and walked toward the washroom.
---
Inside, Payel stood in front of the mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her… confused, flushed, lost.
Her fingers were trembling slightly.
Her heartbeat was loud enough for her to hear.
She looked into her own eyes and whispered softly,
"Am I really in love with Sarthak… or is it just attraction?"
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Real.
Before she could think further, the door opened and her friends walked in.
They had heard everything.
"You like Sarthak?" one of them asked, shocked but smiling.
Payel froze.
"I… I don't know…" she said softly.
Her friends came closer.
"Then you should tell him," another one said. "We're pretty sure he loves you too. He's been searching for you everywhere."
The moment she heard that…
Her heart skipped a beat.
He was looking for me?
A sudden warmth spread through her chest.
Her confusion didn't disappear…
But something else became clear.
She needed to talk to him.
---
She came out of the washroom, her steps slightly fast, her heart racing.
Her eyes searched…
And then—
She found me.
Standing there.
Waiting.
The moment our eyes met, something shifted.
She walked toward me.
"Sarthak…" she said softly. "I need to tell you something. It's really important. Can we talk?"
I looked at her, surprised.
There was something different in her voice.
Something nervous.
Something serious.
"Yeah… of course," I replied.
---
We walked silently to the kids' block.
A quiet place.
Away from everyone.
Away from noise.
Away from interruptions…
Or at least, that's what we thought.
---
She stood in front of me.
Her hands slightly trembling.
Her eyes avoiding mine.
"I want to tell you something," she said.
Her voice was low… but heavy with emotion.
"And it's really important. Maybe if I don't say it today… I'll never be able to say it."
For a second…
I froze.
Those were the exact words I had said to her earlier.
My heart started racing.
"What is it?" I asked softly.
Before I could think further…
She suddenly held my hand.
And pushed me gently against the wall.
I was shocked.
Payel…
The shyest girl I knew…
Was standing this close to me.
Holding my hand.
Her face inches away from mine.
I could feel her breath.
Warm.
Soft.
My heart was pounding so loudly I thought she could hear it.
She was blushing deeply.
Her eyes slightly closed.
She opened her lips to say something—
And then—
"Sarthak Chatterjee, please come to the stage to receive the Student of the Year award."
The announcement echoed through the building.
We both froze.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Not again…
She stepped back slightly.
"Go," she said.
"But what were you going to say?" I asked.
"Go, Sarthak," she insisted. "You deserve this."
I looked at her for a moment…
Then turned and walked away.
But inside…
Something felt incomplete.
Again.
---
I went to the main hall and received the award.
Everyone clapped.
Teachers smiled.
But I wasn't there.
Not completely.
My mind was still in that empty room.
With her.
With those unsaid words.
---
As I stepped down from the stage, the host announced,
"Next performance is by Sarthak and Payel. Please be ready."
I looked ahead.
She was standing near the stairs.
Looking at me.
At that exact moment, her name was announced—
"Best student of her class — Payel."
I smiled slightly.
Of course it's her.
She went on stage, received her award, and came back.
She walked toward me.
Maybe to say something.
Maybe to continue what we had started.
But before she could—
Her mother and her cousin didi arrived.
They had come to watch the function.
And just like that…
That moment was gone.
Again.
---
I walked toward them respectfully.
Touched her mother's feet.
Greeted her cousin.
We started talking.
Normal conversations.
Polite smiles.
But inside…
There was a storm.
---
Then our performance was announced.
I looked at her.
She was already looking at me.
We both smiled.
A small one.
But full of meaning.
---
We went on stage.
The lights felt brighter than usual.
The audience felt silent.
The world felt distant.
We greeted everyone.
Then I stepped forward.
"Before starting our performance," I said, "I want to say something…"
I looked at her.
Straight into her eyes.
And then I said—
"Arz kiya hai…
Uss khuda ne mujhe tujhse milaya… isse bada koi inaam nahi…
Hum tere liye iss duniya se lad jaye… phir bhi hum badnaam nahi…"
The hall went silent.
And then—
We started singing.
---
Every word I sang…
Felt real.
Every line…
Felt like a confession.
And when I reached—
"Tu kar etbaar mera… main karu intezaar tera…"
I wasn't singing for the audience.
I was singing for her.
Only her.
And maybe…
She knew it.
---
Then her part came.
And when she started singing…
I was lost.
Her voice was soft…
Pure…
Beautiful.
It felt like time slowed down just to listen to her.
I forgot the stage.
I forgot the audience.
I just stood there…
Looking at her.
Listening to her.
---
In between the music, I got an idea.
I leaned slightly toward her and whispered it.
She nodded.
And when the final part came—
We sang together.
"Jeena mera… meri dua…"
Our voices blended perfectly.
Like they were meant to.
And in that moment…
Everyone felt it.
Not just the song.
But the emotion behind it.
---
When the performance ended, the hall was filled with applause.
We stepped down from the stage.
Abhi came running and hugged me tightly.
"Bhai… kasam se, dil ko choo liya," he said. "When you were singing, it felt real."
Then Sayan came close and whispered,
"Bro… did you notice? Payel was looking only at you while singing."
I froze.
I wanted to ask her.
I wanted to confirm.
But I couldn't.
Not now.
---
Time passed.
The program was about to end.
The sky outside had turned darker.
It was around 7 PM.
Then suddenly, my phone rang.
It was my uncle.
"Sarthak," he said, "we have to go to Kolkata. I've taken an appointment for your mother. Be ready."
My heart dropped.
Now?
Why now?
I understood one thing clearly—
If I don't tell her now…
Maybe I never will.
---
I went to her.
And told her everything.
That I was leaving.
That we wouldn't meet for days.
Maybe months.
Her mother heard it too.
She became emotional.
Because she knew…
How close we were.
---
Then I looked at Payel.
And what I saw…
Broke something inside me.
Tears.
Slowly falling from her eyes.
Before I could say anything—
She hugged me.
Tightly.
In front of everyone.
I was shocked.
This wasn't a normal hug.
This was different.
She held me like she was afraid to let go.
Like she wanted to say everything…
Without saying anything.
Her grip tightened.
And I just stood there…
Holding her.
Feeling her.
Understanding her silence.
---
After a few moments, her grip loosened.
She looked at me.
Her eyes red.
Her voice trembling.
"Sarthak… you're really selfish."
I was shocked.
"You always say you're with me… but now you're leaving."
Her head rested on my chest.
"You'll be okay… but I won't."
I didn't say anything.
Because I didn't have words.
---
After a while, she stepped back.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean that."
I smiled softly.
"It's okay."
I held her gently.
"Don't worry… I'll text you every day."
I hugged her again.
This time…
Calm.
Soft.
Real.
---
The program ended.
Everyone started leaving.
I thought we would go together.
But sir stopped us for some work.
And she left.
Without me.
---
That hug…
That moment…
That silence…
Became one of the most special memories of my life.
Maybe today…
She doesn't remember it.
Maybe she has moved on.
But somewhere…
Deep inside her heart…
That memory still exists.
Just like it does in mine.
To be continued…