chapter 23

Part 23: New moment in the diary of timeRiya was smiling all day.Dhirav was finally back.He would sit beside her during classes, crack jokes secretly and doodle in the notebook when the lectures got boring.Life suddenly felt normal again.During the lunch break, Riya and Dhirav sat under the same old banyan tree as they used to sit before. Same place, same atmosphere – but something was different.Their relationship had become deeper, calmer, warmer.Dhirav: “Mujhe lena tu gussa karenge… itne din baad aaya main.”Riya: “Tu aaya na… bas wahi khaab hai.”He smiled and looked at her. For a moment, there was just silence – comfortable and soft.Back in the classroom, the teacher announced a surprise group activity. The students had to work in pairs and make a creative chart on “Life lessons learnt so far.”Of course, Riya and Dhirav were paired together.That evening, they were sitting in Riya’s room – chart paper, colours, cut-outs spread everywhere. Her younger sister peeked in and laughed seeing them working together.“Dhirav bhaiya, are you still zero in painting?” she teased.Riya laughed. Dhirav made a funny face and said, “The artist is your sister. I am just an inspiration.” Riya smiled slightly.They started writing points on the chart:Friendship is not about always being together, it is about always being together.Distance does not change real bonds.Encouragement is the strongest inspiration.While they were working, their hands touched once.They were stunned.Riya looked up, and their eyes met.No words.Just a quiet spark.To change the moment, Riya said, “Apply the colour theek se bandar… memories are being made on the chart.”Smiling softly, Dhirav said, “Yadeon bhi bana rahi hai… some on the page of the heart as well.”By the time the chart was ready, another beautiful memory was also created – another page of the silent story they were writing without speaking.When he left in the evening, Dhirav turned back once and said smilingly,“The next part of the chart is in school… and of the heart? Don’t know.”Riya stood at the door, a gentle breeze touching her hair, and her heart whispered,Maybe… it has already started.