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 asking who I liked. At first, I resisted, but somehow, I whispered her name - Sushma. That was the beginning of endless teasing. From that day on, they called out my name loudly every time we walked to school and saw her cycling past us. She would speed up, clearly uncomfortable, while I walked behind, my face burning with embarrassment.

Then came Friendship Day. The custom in our school was to exchange friendship bands. Laxman and the gang saw this as the perfect opportunity to escalate their teasing. They egged me on to give Sushma a friendship band. I flat-out refused. The very thought of walking up to her made my palms sweat.

That morning, as we stood in the assembly ground, Sushma walked past us. She glanced our way, oblivious to the storm brewing within me. My friends nudged and whispered, “Now’s your chance!” But I froze. Seeing my reluctance, Another friend Prasad came up with a “brilliant” plan. “Just place the friendship band on her bag in the classroom. She’ll know.”

My heart raced. It felt like a mission impossible. With trembling hands and a pounding heart, I crept into the empty classroom, placed the band near her bag, and turned to leave. But as I turned, I saw her. The class representative. She had seen everything. My face turned crimson, and I darted out of the room, hoping to leave the embarrassment behind.

The assembly ended, and we returned to class. Time passed slowly, each second heavier than the last. Around 12:30, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. Sushma, sitting a few rows ahead, raised her hand slightly, resting her elbow on the desk. She turned her head just enough to glance back, 120 degrees, no more - and smiled faintly. My gaze shifted to her wrist, and there it was—the friendship band I had placed on her bag.

I couldn’t believe it. She had accepted it. My heart felt like it would explode. My friends noticed it too, their teasing reaching new heights that evening in the hostel. But I didn’t care. For me, that moment was magical—a silent acknowledgment, an unspoken connection.

Even after that day, I never spoke to her. My shyness held me back. But that moment, that little act of courage, became a cherished memory. It was more than just a band; it was a story of silent admiration, small victories, and the innocence of young love.

Sometimes, it’s not about the conversations we have but the feelings we silently share that make the biggest impact. Sushma and I may have never exchanged words, but that one Friendship Day left a mark on my heart forever.

And maybe, just maybe, she remembered it too.