After school, the bus rattled along the half-empty road, evening light flickering across the windows.
Mayra sat in the very first seat, a novel open in her hands. The low hum of the engine and the occasional honk were the only sounds she cared to hear. She was so lost in the story as if the rest of the world who sat beside her, who got on or off barely existed.

A few stops later, an elderly woman climbed aboard, gripping the railing for balance. Without a second thought, Mayra snapped her book shut and rose, offering her seat with a small, polite smile. The woman’s eyes softened into grateful creases as she settled down.

Mayra moved to the aisle, book still in hand, and leaned lightly against the cold metal bar as the bus lurched forward again. The words on the page stayed steady even as the vehicle swayed.

A soft whistle cut through her concentration. She glanced back, brow furrowing. At the rear, Ansh raised his hand just enough to catch her eye.
She blinked, uncertain what he wanted, and turned back to her book.

Moments later, the familiar weight of her bag lifted from her shoulder. Startled, she twisted around. Ansh was walking toward the back with her bag slung over his arm.

'Oh… thoughtful, she mused, a faint warmth brushing her cheeks. Now I won’t even feel tired.'

She tried to return to her novel when his voice carried forward low, easy.
“Don’t stand there.”

Mayra looked again. He was leaning against the metal bar with his own bag , her bag now resting on the empty seat beside her brother.

“Go and sit there” he said simply, eyes already drifting shut as though that settled it.

She hesitated, then made her way to the back. He cracked one eye open, just enough to watch her slip into the seat he’d vacated, a quick thought flashing through his mind: Will she write this in her diary too?

Mayra reopened her book. When he caught himself staring, Ansh shut his eyes in a hurry and pretended he wasn't looking at her.

Beside her, Mihir dozed against the window, mouth slightly open, looking annoyingly cute. Mayra smiled, a quiet curve of amusement, and let the novel pull her back in.

The bus pulled away, leaving a low trail of dust that curled in the evening light. The three of them started down the familiar lane toward home, their shadows stretching long across the cracked pavement.

Mihir stretched his arms with a dramatic yawn. “So… don’t tell me you gave up your seat to someone again today,” he said.

Mayra adjusted her bag on her shoulder, eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Well, I did,” she said evenly.

“And how did you end up beside me? You asked him to give you the seat?” Mihir asked.

“Nooo,” Mayra protested, a grin tugging at her lips. “Ansh gave me his seat.”

Mihir slowed his steps, turning to stare at Ansh as if he’d heard something impossible.

Ansh raised an eyebrow, a slow grin creeping across his face. “Whhaaat?”

“Gentleman behaviour, huh?” Mihir asked, mock-serious.

“You’re reacting like I can’t be nice,” Ansh replied with a short laugh, slipping his hands into his pockets.

Mayra finally looked at him, her expression calm, almost amused. “You’re only nice when you’re up to something.”

“You probably want this,” she said, handing him her notes.

“He is smart,” Mihir said, grinning as he snatched the notes before Ansh could.

Ansh shook his head with a quiet chuckle, and for a moment the only sound was the rustle of leaves under their feet as dusk settled softly around them.

“See? I told you, I knew him very well.” she said with a shrug, glancing at both of them as they chuckled.

Mihir put on a mock-dramatic voice. “Now she’ll run home and write in her diary—Dear Diary, Mihir and Ansh are so terrible. They only act nice when they want something. Such a fake people, huh?”

“You two are the last people I’d waste ink on, huhh” she shot back, scrunching her nose and picking up her pace before they could come up with a comeback, claiming victory while she still could.

Behind her, Mihir and Ansh shared a conspiratorial grin and burst out laughing as she marched ahead. "lesson of the day..." mihir wishpered. "Brooo stop now " ansh said laughing hard.

To be continued....