chapter 18

Part 18: A new feeling – Something beyond friendshipAfter that misunderstanding, everything between Riya and Dhirav became normal – or maybe even more than normal. The bond between them became deeper. Both started supporting each other in every matter. The presence of each other mattered in every small thing.Every morning Riya used to smile saying “Good morning Monkey” to her. And Dhirav used to reply to her jovially by saying “White Crow has entered”.But now there was something new between them… a strange feeling, which was different from friendship.That day during lunch break, everyone was busy in their respective groups of friends. Pihu and Sneha were with Riya, and Dhirav was with Abhi and Kunal. But Riya's eyes were repeatedly going towards Dhirav.Sneha asked, "What are you looking at?"Riya immediately closed her eyes, "Nothing... just like that..."Pihu smiled, "By the way Dhirav notices you more since that day... don't you notice?"Riya just gave a small smile. Something was going on in her heart... something was changing.That night Riya wrote a diary:“Today when he looked at me, I don’t know why it felt like time had slowed down. As if every voice had gone silent. I never felt this before… Is this just a strong friendship, or something else?”The next day there was a group activity in school. Riya and Dhirav were put in the same team. When they completed a task together, their coordination was perfect. The teacher also said, “You two have a very good bonding.”Everyone laughed. But Riya and Dhirav saw something else in each other’s eyes – a silence, which was speaking.After the activity, when Riya was going out of the classroom to drink water, Dhirav came from behind.“White Crow!”Riya stopped. She smiled. “Yes, Monkey?”Dhirav was a little serious. “I wanted to ask you something…”Riya blinked. “Ask…”“You consider me your best friend, right?” His voice was soft, as if he was afraid of losing something.Riya was quiet for a while, then said… “I don’t consider you my only best friend.”Dhirav was confused. “What do you mean?”Riya lowered her eyes… “I want something else from you… but I am not able to understand it completely myself yet.”Dhirav came a little closer. “Take time to understand… I am right here.”At that time nothing was spoken between the two… there were only eyes… and a feeling, which both were feeling.Time was changing.And the color of their relationship too.A first step towards friendship… maybe it was said without saying anything.