chapter 1

Part 1: First Look, First Thing— "One classroom, people from two different persanality ,and an unknown beginning..."Today was the first day of school after the lockdown ended. Riya was wearing a new uniform. White shirt, grey skirt, neatly tied hair, and a light navy blue bag on her back. Today was her first day in class 8—new class, new people, new faces.She was slightly scared, but also excited. "Who will be in this class?" she thought.  She walked through the hallway and stopped in front of a class. It was written on the board – "VIII – B"."This is probably the class," Riya thought as she looked inside. Everyone was wearing masks, so it was difficult to recognize. But a girl gave her a smile from her eyes – it was her online friend, Sneha.Riya - (with a little relief) "You are Sneha, right?"Sneha - "Yes! You are Riya?"Both hugged each other with a little laughter.Sneha - "Come and sit next to me."Riya kept her bag on the second bench. Then her eyes fell on a boy – back bench, third row.  Black mask, neatly combed hair which was a little stylish, and there was a different kind of peace in the eyes.Riya thought, “Is this the same boy whose DP I saw in lockdown? Dhirav...”She kept looking at him for a few seconds… then hide the contact with her eyes.The class was about to start. Then the teacher came and started taking attendance.“Dhirav Kumar?”“Present ma’am.”Her voice was calm and clear. Riya’s heart started pounding.Teacher – “Riya Sen?”“Present, ma’am.”There was a short break after one subject.  Riya was drinking water when Sneha said –“That guy sitting behind me, Dhirav, is he smart, right?”Riya - (quietly) “Hmmm… he has a great boy.”Sneha said laughingly – “You liked his DP before, remember?”Riya - (scared) “Quiet friend.”Just then a voice came from behind.Dhirav - “Excuse me… did you tell me the name of the chapter of maths? You didn’t tell me.”Riya looked at him a little surprised.Riya - “Yes… Rational Numbers. Chapter 1.”Dhirav - (smiling behind the mask) “Thanks.”At that moment Riya’s heart was filled with a different feeling. For the first time he had spoken to her directly. Just a small line, but a new story started to write in her heart.