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RESULT DAY
A week later, the teacher walked into the classroom with a stack of test papers in her hands. The murmuring among students came to a sudden halt as everyone sat up straight, their eyes glued to the bundle of fate she held.
"Alright," she said, adjusting her spectacles, "Let's see who didn't disappoint me this time..."
She started walking down the aisles, handing back the papers one by one. Some students smiled in relief, others sighed, and a few hung their heads in disappointment.
"Now students, I'm going to announce the top achievers of the test..." her voice echoed through the classroom like a drumroll.
"The 4th rank achiever is... Dhruv."
There was light applause. Dhruv, one of Arjun's close friends and widely known for his sharp mind, looked slightly surprised but smiled humbly.
As Arjun heard Dhruv's name, his heart sank.
"No way… he's more intelligent than me. If Dhruv is fourth... then what about me?" Arjun whispered to himself, anxiety flooding his chest like ice water.
"The 3rd one is Disha. Disha, stay focused!" the teacher added with a slight smile.
Arjun's eyes widened. Disha, too, was someone who usually ranked higher. "This can't be happening..." he thought. His face turned pale, and he slowly zoned out, lost in an overwhelming swirl of self-doubt.
Then, just as his thoughts spiraled further, a soft, calming voice echoed in his mind — "Don't worry, dear. You tried harder this time. And if it's not enough, you can try even harder next time. I'm always with you."
It was Priyanka's voice.
Startled, Arjun quickly turned his head toward her. She was sitting two rows ahead, her face calm, her eyes focused on the teacher. She hadn't spoken aloud — it was just his memory of her voice, reminding him to stay strong.
He gestured for her to come and sit next to him, but she gently shook her head in refusal, giving him a soft smile.
"And the 2nd rank goes to… Bhavya!" the teacher continued.
Bhavya grinned and high-fived a classmate. Arjun could barely breathe now.
"And the 1st rank… the most unexpected one this time… is Arjun!"
There was a stunned silence.
"He scored 23 out of 24," she added.
The class erupted — gasps, applause, a few jealous glances, and many surprised stares.
Arjun? The boy who sat quietly in the middle bench? The one who rarely raised his hand?
Some were proud. Some were shocked. And some, quite frankly, were jealous.
But Arjun… he didn't even smile. He remained seated, staring at his desk like he hadn't heard a word.
The teacher walked over to him.
Arjun looked up slightly, expecting a word of praise… or maybe even a small gift, as some teachers did when someone topped unexpectedly.
SMACK!
A sharp slap landed on his cheek.
"Why didn't you give this performance in your final exams?" she snapped and walked away in anger.
The class went silent. The red mark on his cheek burned as Arjun slowly lifted his hand to rub it. His eyes welled up with tears, not from the pain, but from the humiliation. It wasn't the slap — it was the slap in front of everyone after his best performance yet.
Within moments, his friends rushed to him — Dhruv, Bhavya, Aman, and Priyanka.
"Hey bro!" Bhavya said, patting his back. "Get up! You came first — let's celebrate!"
"Yeah! You even beat me, man!" Dhruv added, smiling warmly.
"That slap was just her weird way of cheering you up," Aman joked. "Don't take it seriously."
Blah blah blah... Their voices blurred as they all tried to cheer him up.
But inside Arjun, that slap didn't feel like shame. It felt like fuel. Something inside him sparked — a hidden fire that had been waiting for a reason to ignite.
Suddenly, he whispered, "Priyanka... come here. Sit here."
Aman stood up to give them space, and Priyanka hesitated, then sat next to Arjun.
"What's your score?" Arjun asked gently.
She looked down, shame flickering in her eyes. "Fail," she murmured.
Arjun smiled — a soft, encouraging smile. "Don't worry. I'll help you."
"You... called me?" she asked, puzzled.
Arjun told her how her voice had come to him when he was at his lowest, giving him strength.
She smiled back, touched and surprised. They sat quietly, in their own world, while the rest of the class slowly returned to their chatter.
Arjun (gently): "What's your score?"
Priyanka looked at him, eyes wide. "You will? Even after i distracted you many times."
He nodded.
Arjun: "You were there when I felt like giving up. When my mind spiraled, your voice pulled me back. You didn't know, but it did."
Priyanka (softly): "I... didn't know I meant that much. But I'm glad I could help."
They shared a pause—one of those rare moments where words weren't necessary. Just a glance was enough.
Arjun: "You know, sometimes we don't realize how someone's presence can change our journey. You're that person for me."
Priyanka lowered her gaze and whispered, "And you… you make me feel I'm not alone in this place."
Their fingers slightly brushed as they sat side by side.
Meanwhile, the others observed quietly.
From afar, Aman watched and muttered to Dhruv, "hey see how much he got friendly with that girl. Maybe he didn't even notice we left…"
Bhavya joined in with a thoughtful smile, "No, you're wrong. It's our fault. We never sat down and asked how he felt. But she did. I've talked to her recently — she's genuinely kind-hearted."
Dhruv nodded. "You're right."
---
At Home...
"Mom… I got 23 out of 25," Arjun said, nervous.
His mom looked up from the stove, wiped her hands, and examined the test paper carefully. After a pause, she said, "Hmm… well, I want 24 next time," and turned back to the kitchen.
For a moment, Arjun blinked — unsure if she was serious or joking.
Then he chuckled… and smiled. A real, full smile. One he hadn't shown in a long time.
---
One Month Later – Nighttime
Arjun lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The fan whirred quietly above him as his thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened in the past few months.
The slap, the rank, the support from Priyanka, and the bond growing among his friends…
He whispered to himself, "I'm… coming back stronger."
He opened his notebook. The pages were filled now — motivational quotes, notes from lectures, doodles of ideas, and one little chit stuck on the first page — the one Priyanka gave him with just a single letter:
"P" — for Priyanka, for Positivity, for Promise.
From that night, Arjun began signing his notes as "Ap" — a quiet reminder of how far he'd come and the support that helped him get there.
Arjun & Priyanka – not just a bond, but a reminder of where he started, and where he's headed.
His journey just begin..