The computer lab had always been Karthik's quiet zone. Rows of old desktops humming softly, the faint smell of dust and metal, and the silence that let him sink into code or thought. But now, it was different.
Now, he expected her to sit beside him.
Ananya walked in, her ID card swinging, hair in a loose braid today. She slid into the seat next to him like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I heard you topped the Physics test," she said, booting up her system. "Show-off."
"You only missed by two marks."
"Yes, but I had prettier handwriting."
Karthik chuckled. "That's not how Physics works."
"It should be. Equations would look less scary if they were in cursive."
He glanced sideways. She was typing furiously already, probably coding ahead of the class.
"You know," she said suddenly, still focused on the screen, "when we first got paired in this lab, I didn't think we'd even speak. You looked like you'd rather punch a keyboard than talk to me."
"I might've actually considered that once," Karthik admitted.
Ananya smirked. "Figures."
There was a beat of quiet between them, filled only by the click-clack of keys.
"I like this," Karthik said, before he could stop himself.
She paused. "What?"
"This. Us. Talking. Working. It's… nice."
Ananya turned to him slowly, her expression unreadable for a moment.
Then, with a soft smile, she whispered, "Me too."
Just then, the lights flickered—power cut. The monitors blinked off. A collective groan filled the lab.
Ananya leaned closer in the dimness. "Looks like fate wants us to take a break."
Karthik's heart beat faster, even as he tried to keep his face neutral.
"I'll take it," he murmured.
In the semi-darkness, their eyes met. A moment held—unspoken, unsure, but real.
And when the lights came back, something between them had quietly shifted.
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End of Chapter 71