episode 8
298 Words
After class, Meera hugged her sketchbook to her chest and walked slowly toward the cafeteria, trying to blend in with the crowd of confident, modern students.
Bas… thoda lunch, thoda peace… she told herself.
She was halfway there when someone suddenly waved at her from the side.
Meera blinked, confused.
Me?
Nobody ever waved at her in her old school.
A pretty girl walked up to her — simple ponytail, warm smile, soft eyes.
No attitude.
No judgement.
Just… friendliness.
She stopped right in front of Meera and extended her hand.
“Hi! I’m Riya Jeswaal,” she said cheerfully.
Meera hesitated.
What if she was pretending?
What if she was like those girls who bullied her before?
But something about Riya felt… safe.
Her smile wasn’t fake.
Her eyes weren’t mean.
She looked like someone who didn’t want to be friends with those typical popular girls either.
Meera swallowed nervously and slowly extended her hand.
“H-Hi… I’m Meera,” she said softly.
Riya shook her hand gently, still smiling.
“I saw you in class. You seem really sweet. And honestly… I don’t have any friends here either.”
Meera’s eyes widened a little.
“Really?”
Riya laughed lightly.
“Those girls? Uff… too much drama. I don’t want to be part of their group.”
Meera couldn’t help but smile shyly.
Her heart warmed — maybe… just maybe… this new school wouldn’t be as scary as she thought.
Riya walked beside her toward the cafeteria.
“Come on, sit with me for lunch? I was hoping to not eat alone today.”
Meera hugged her sketchbook tighter…
and nodded softly.
“Okay.”
And just like that —
for the first time in years —
Meera felt like she might finally have a friend.
- Writer
