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Inaya watched the drooped shoulders of Kavya and her expression of complete defeat.

"Not today, too..."

The pouring rain resembled a shade of green, thanks to the plentiful greenery in the school and the large trees that wanted to provide a green sky of their own. Inaya liked rain. It felt like a welcome break from the harsh sun and the merciless, cold winds; the only other seasons Shaher witnessed.

Rain always felt like a cleanse on the soul. The sky crying from some affliction of it's own- Inaya assumed it was a sort of loneliness that the majestic must feel- reminded her that she wasn't the only one with a perpetual sense of forced solitude.

"Do you not like rain?"

"I had no particular feelings about it before but now I think a mutual hatred is on the horizon." Prakash muttered, standing next to Kavya with folded arms. Arjun, too, had a cross expression on his face.

"What's the matter? Why do all of you suddenly hate the rain?" Inaya tried to surmise a reason.

"This is not going to work. Forget going to the rooftop. Let's just pick an empty classroom and do it." Kavya mumbled. Inaya watched them with interest, wondering what was going on.

"We'll go to the old classroom in the basement." Arjun chipped in.

Prakash shuddered, "The old classroom? The one that's rumored to be haunted?"

"Yes," Kavya smiled, deviously. "That one."

"No," Prakash shook his head vigorously in return. "Absolutely not. Anywhere else-"

"Alright, come with me. Let's get the preparations done." Kavya dragged Prakash along with her. Due to heavy rains, the afternoon classes had been cancelled as the teachers conducting the classes weren't able to make it to school. It had been declared as a study hall period where students were supposed to study by themselves.

That wasn't what was happening. One group of students were playing Truth or Dare, the other were simply gossiping while the group at the other corner of the class were using their phones.

"What's happening?" Inaya posed the question to Arjun, hoping she'd get an answer to satisfy her curiosity. Sadly, she was instead handed disappointment.

"We were hoping the rain would die down in the afternoon but it didn't." Arjun said, instead. "We'll have to make do with the empty classroom."

"To do what?" She tried again.

"Something you'll understand soon enough."

Inaya finally gave up and returned to her textbooks. The feeling that the boy seated in the neighboring desk was smiling at her in amusement couldn't be shaken. But she paid him no mind. The feeling of restlessness had morphed into frustration.

"Where are we going? To the old classroom?" Inaya asked, as she felt herself being pushed forward gently by Arjun.

The blimdfold on her eyes painted the world in a shade of dull black.

"You will see." Arjun said, "Take a right here."

Inaya took a moment to figure out her right and then take a turn.

"That's your left. You're going to slam headfirst into the wall."

She turned to the other direction after a nudge from the boy behind her.

Once the heavy smell of dust infiltrated her nostrils, the blindfold was taken off.

"Happy belated birthday!"

Prakash and Kavya stood there, with thejr hands outstretched to present the cake placed on the desk.

"Thank you so much but," Inaya laughed, brimming with gratitude, "you really didn't have to. Nevertheless, thank you."

"We're so sorry. We didn't know it was your birthday before. Otherwise, we would have prepared something on that day."

"It's alright! After all, I never told you guys."

Kavya, then turned to the cake and stared, "Fuck."

"What?" Prakash glanced at the cake, finding nothing unusual on it.

"We forgot the candles."

The trio glanced at each other.

"Well, it's alright. We can just cut the cake, right?"

"No!" Kavya sighed after exclaiming. "Inaya, candles are a must. How old are you now?"

"16..."

"We'll go buy the candle from the convenience store outside." Kavya nodded at Prakash. "You two wait here."

Arjun and Inaya were left alone in the room with the cake. Arjun felt his pockets before slipping his hand inside. He, then, pulled out a small velvet box.

Inaya gravitated towards the window. Whenever she saw a window, she would stand next to it and gaze out, focusing on nothing in particular.

"Inaya, here." Arjun placed the box in her hands. "It's a little gift I bought for you."

"You didn't have to." Inaya smiled, not knowing what to say. "Can I open it here?"

Arjun nodded, rubbing the back of his neck.

Inaya pulled open the box. It was a tiny golden bracelet with a butterfly in the middle. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much."

She slipped the bracelet on her wrist and closed the box, pocketing it, "I'll make sure to wear it often."

"You don't have to. I mean, it's just a sort of keepsake from me."

"So, you don't want me to wear it?" She frowner playfully, touching the bracelet.

"No. Of course not. I meant, you can wear it if you'd like." Arjun grimaced at his own words.

"It's alright to be a little honest with yourself." Inaya laughed. "I'll wear it everyday."

Kavya and Prakash filtered in, putting a halt to the moment Inaya and Arjun shared.

Arjun mumbled to himself before joining them in the humble festivities.

"I only meant you didn't have to force yourself to wear it."

—

[ behind the scenes ]

Many years later,

Arjun caught sight of a hint of gold peeking out from under Inaya's sleeve. He smiled to himself, despite himself.

All hope wasn't lost. If she still wore it, he might still have a chance.

—

a/n: :))