Chapter 10: Back to Old Routines
For the next two days, Rohan tried to act as if things were normal—waiting for me in the morning, sharing his aloo paratha at lunch, sitting together under the peepal tree. But the old warmth felt fragile, a truce that could break at any moment.
Word spread that Sneha had stolen the class funds to pay for her grandfather’s surgery. The class kept their distance, and even Rohan pulled away. Sneha became more isolated, eating alone in the corridor, her eyes red from crying. The day before my transfer, my deskmate nudged me, whispering about Sneha’s birthday and warning me to keep my wallet safe. Rohan overheard, his voice icy: "Didn’t Sneha already apologise? How much does she have to pay before you’ll let her go?" He stared me down, then left, his expression unreadable. Rohan would always fight for the underdog, no matter how indifferent he tried to act.