The Silent Crush and the Friendship Band!

In the summer of 2013, within the walls of our hostel and classrooms, began a story that still lingers in my heart - a tale of innocent love and quiet courage. I had been staying in the hostel since 2010.I was a calm, silent, and introverted boy - someone who rarely spoke, yet was known as one of the smartest in my class. My two closest friends, Sachin and Laxman, were the opposite - loud, cheerful, and full of mischief. We weren’t just classmates but roommates and inseparable best friends. School days have their own magic, don’t they? Everyone has a crush or a secret admiration. Sachin liked Nikita, and Laxman liked Sheetal. And me? I silently liked someone too, but I never shared it with anyone. I didn’t even look at girls, let alone talk to them. But in my heart, there was one person. She was a topper, just like me. We were similar in many ways, but I never had the courage to even think about talking to her. One summer evening in the hostel, Laxman and Sachin cornered me. They kept ...