Desk Mate

Chapter 4 : Unexpected Team-Up

It had been nearly fifteen days since Moon and Soura had been sitting side by side. Yet, not a single word had passed between them. Silence had become their unspoken rule.

“Alright, everyone, listen carefully,” Mr. Kuntal announced, stepping back from the board. “Two teams will represent our school in the upcoming interschool model competition. You will team up with your desk-mates. Remember, only two teams will be selected, so you cannot just hand in a project alone. Your performance here will count towards your final practical marks. You are learning science, but now you must apply it to real life.”

As Mr. Kuntal left the class, students immediately erupted into chatter. Moon felt the familiar pang of uneasy...her presence seemed to irritate Soura. She had never voluntarily spoken to him since the incident, but now she had no choice… she would have to talk. But how?

Soura noticed her hesitation immediately.

“So, finally, happy now?” he said casually, leaning back in his chair, “Is this why you wanted to sit next to me? So you could have a front-row view?”

Moon blinked, surprised. “What are you saying? The teacher assigned the seats, we can’t just switch them on our own.”

“Don’t act too innocent. You’ve been here before; you know how these projects work in Grade 12,” he shot back, voice firm.

“But…I honestly don’t know…” Moon tried to explain, but Soura didn’t wait for an answer. He got up abruptly and left the desk, leaving Moon confused and frustrated.

“Why are you being so rude to me? What did I do?” she muttered under her breath.

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“I can’t stop thinking about that innocent face of yours… never. You’re such a selfish girl. You’ll do whatever it takes to win first place, and now you’re acting all sweet to cover it up. No one in this school is really good,” Soura muttered under his breath, pacing slowly along the corridor.

“Hey! What are you mumbling to yourself all alone?” Chayan’s teasing voice cut through, making Soura pause mid-step.

“Nothing,” he replied curtly, trying to mask his irritation with a rough shrug.

“You’re lucky… Moon's models are always unique. Nobody can beat her,” Chayan continued, nodding knowingly. “Seriously, every year she comes up with something creative, something no one else can even imagine.”

Soura ran a hand through his hair, muttering, “I don’t even know why I’m thinking so much about her. She’s… different. Too calm, too polite. And yet…” He shook his head, scowling. He paused for a while and take a deep breath and asked , “By the way, does this model competition happen in every class?”

“Yes,” Chayan replied, “but usually we pick our own teams. This time, the teacher decided for us. But wait ...what’s this? you suddenly checking on Moon ?” He whispered from the back. “Is it… a crush thing?”

“Duh! Asking me that is pointless. I didn’t ask in that sense. You know what happened in Grade 11. Still, I never… never did anything like that,” Soura said, his tone sharp, as if to ward off any further teasing.

“I don’t know what happened back then. I missed school because of fever. But I’ve seen her since Grade 5… so calm, polite, never argues, never pretends. She treats everyone with respect,” Chayan said, lowering his voice.

Soura’s eyes flickered with thought. Respect. Yes… she doesn’t play games. Doesn’t fake smiles. That’s what makes her… different.

“You can never really tell what someone’s like inside. Most people walk around wearing masks,” Soura said.

“But I think she’s different. She doesn’t belong to that kind of crowd. She’s… a pure heart . "

Soura paused, a rare softness in his eyes. “So what’s your point?”

“No point, brother. I have a girlfriend, and I think Moon likes someone else,” Chayan said, shrugging casually.

Soura clenched his fists under his pocket but managed a wry smile. “Anyway… next Sunday, you remember?”

“Of course. I’m never late when food’s involved,” Chayan replied with a grin.

That day ,Chayan had saved him during the end-of-class chaos, and now he had invited him to his house for lunch on Sunday.

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The lunch bell rang, and slowly the noisy corridor began to quiet down as students returned to their classrooms. Moon and Molly were walking back together, still chatting casually.

As Moon entered the classroom, she paused for a moment.Her eyes instinctively moved toward her desk.Souradeep was already there.He was sitting quietly, his head slightly lowered, a book open in front of him. But Moon had a strange feeling he wasn’t actually reading , he was just staring at the page.Moon walked to her seat and sat down slowly, carefully maintaining a small distance between them.

The classroom felt unusually calm. Soft sunlight filtered through the window, casting warm light across the desks. From outside, the distant chirping of birds could be heard.

Moon suddenly realized she couldn’t find her pen.She started searching inside her bag.Just then, a pen appeared in front of her.Moon looked up in surprise.It was Souradeep.

Without looking at her, he said quietly, “Take it.”

Moon hesitated.

“No… it’s okay… I can..”

“Just take it,” he said, his voice slightly impatient.

Moon slowly took the pen.

“Thanks…” she whispered softly.

Souradeep didn’t respond.

For a few seconds, silence settled between them again.

Then suddenly he spoke.“Why are you always so quiet?”

Moon looked surprised at the question. After a moment, she replied softly, “Not everyone talks a lot.”

Souradeep finally turned his head and looked at her.

Moon was writing something in her notebook, her head slightly lowered.Her braided hair rested gently on her shoulders, and behind her round glasses her calm eyes focused on the page.

For a few seconds, Souradeep found himself staring at her.Then he quickly looked away.He felt strangely annoyed with himself. Why was he talking to her? Why was he noticing such small things about her? In a cold tone he said,

“Don’t misunderstand. I was just asking.”Moon smiled faintly.

“I didn’t misunderstand anything.”

Then after a small pause, she asked quietly,“Why are you always so angry?”

Souradeep blinked in surprise.“I’m angry?”

Moon nodded gently.“Yes.”

“And you notice that?”

Moon hesitated for a moment.Then she said softly, “You’re my desk mate… how can I not notice?”

For a few seconds neither of them spoke.The silence between them suddenly felt heavier.Just then, the teacher walked into the classroom.Moon quickly turned her attention to the front. Souradeep also opened his book and pretended to read. But strangely, neither of them was actually paying attention to the lesson. Because without realizing it, something had quietly begun to change between them.