chapter 1: The beginning
It was a warm, sunny morning as the school gates finally reopened after a long hiatus due to the lockdown. The corridors echoed with excited chatter as students reunited with friends and settled into their new routines. Among them was Saumya, a quiet and observant girl who had been a part of the school since her early years.
Saumya's attention was drawn to the newest addition to their class, Deepak. He had a friendly demeanor that quickly earned him friends, including Vishal, a cheerful boy who became Deepak's first friend at the school.
Deepak's social circle expanded, and soon he began talking to Sarthika, a popular girl in the class. Their budding friendship soon turned into a short-lived romance, ending in a breakup that left Sarthika feeling disillusioned about relationships.
Meanwhile, Saumya had her own experiences with heartache. She was going through her first breakup and was trying to heal from the pain. Despite her quiet nature, she was well-known among her peers, with many admiring her from afar.
As Deepak navigated his newfound friendships and relationships, he couldn't help but notice Saumya. It wasn't love at first sight, but rather a gradual realization of her presence. One day, Deepak stole glances at her, noticing the way a strand of her hair kept falling on her face, partially hidden behind a black mask—the new norm due to the ongoing pandemic.
Deepak's curiosity about Saumya grew, and he casually asked Vishal about her. Vishal shared snippets of Saumya's popularity when she first joined the school, but he didn't delve into details. Intrigued, Deepak's interest was piqued.One day, In the computer lab deepak was sitting to Saumya. she casually mentioned to her friends about following her on i********:. Among them, Deepak was the only one who took note. As soon as he got home, he embarked on a mission to find Saumya's i********: profile. After some searching, he finally succeeded.
The next day at school, Deepak took a bold step and approached Saumya as she was leaving with her friend. "Hey, I followed you on i********: like you asked," he said with a shy smile.
Saumya blushed, grateful for the gesture. "Thank you," she replied softly, her eyes reflecting her surprise and appreciation.
From that day on, Deepak didn't initiate further conversations with Saumya directly, but he kept an eye on her posts and stories on i********:. He found himself drawn to her pictures and captions, trying to decipher her thoughts and interests.
Meanwhile, Saumya noticed Deepak's occasional likes and comments on her posts. She found his attention flattering but didn't think much of it initially.
Deepak, however, was determined to get closer to Saumya. He sought Vishal's help, asking for his Snapchat ID and password. Vishal, being a good friend, obliged, unaware of Deepak's intentions.
Armed with Vishal's credentials, Deepak started chatting with Saumya through Vishal's account. He maintained the charade, pretending to be Vishal while conversing with Saumya.
Their conversations started innocently, with Deepak subtly steering them towards topics he knew Saumya liked. He enjoyed their exchanges, finding comfort in her virtual presence.
To be continued...
