_"Sometimes, healing begins with a simple question—'Will you sit with us?'"

The first half of the school day passed more smoothly than Aadhya had expected.

Her teachers welcomed her warmly.

Most of her classmates were curious, but no one had been rude.

She answered every question politely, introduced herself when asked, and quietly settled into her seat near the window.

Still...

She spoke very little.

Old habits were difficult to leave behind.

During Mathematics class...

The teacher wrote a difficult equation on the board.

"Who would like to solve this?"

The classroom became silent.

Several students lowered their heads.

The teacher smiled.

"Anyone?"

Aadhya hesitated.

She knew the answer.

But she wasn't sure if she should raise her hand.

Finally...

She slowly lifted it.

The teacher smiled.

"Yes, Aadhya."

With calm confidence, she walked to the board.

Within a minute...

The entire solution was complete.

She neatly underlined the final answer and stepped aside.

The teacher nodded proudly.

"Excellent."

"Perfect solution."

The class clapped politely.

Aadhya immediately lowered her eyes.

"It... wasn't difficult."

As she returned to her seat, a boy from the next row whispered dramatically,

"Well..."

"There goes my dream of being class topper."

A few students laughed.

Even Aadhya smiled a little.

The bell rang.

Lunch Break.

Almost instantly, the classroom filled with cheerful conversations.

Students formed their usual groups.

Lunch boxes opened.

Laughter echoed everywhere.

Aadhya quietly took out her simple lunch box.

Without thinking...

She looked toward the empty corner near the classroom window.

The same kind of corner she had always chosen in her old school.

"I'll just sit there..."

She picked up her lunch and started walking.

"Hey!"

Someone called out before she could reach the corner.

She turned around.

A cheerful girl with shoulder-length hair waved excitedly.

"New girl!"

"You can't eat alone."

Aadhya looked surprised.

The girl smiled brightly.

"I'm Siya."

She walked over without waiting for permission.

"I'm Siya Mehta."

"And you're coming with us."

Before Aadhya could reply...

She was gently pulled toward another table under a large tree in the courtyard.

Five students were already sitting there.

The fashionable girl wearing colorful bracelets looked up first.

She smiled confidently.

"So..."

"This is the famous Aadhya Rathore."

She extended her hand.

"I'm Kiara Kapoor."

"I like fashion, shopping, and giving people makeovers."

She looked at Aadhya thoughtfully.

"And don't worry..."

"I'm not changing your hairstyle today."

Everyone laughed.

Aadhya smiled shyly.

Next to Kiara sat a calm-looking boy with neatly arranged books beside his lunchbox.

He adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"I'm Kabir Malhotra."

"Nice to meet you."

His voice was soft and composed.

"I've heard you're good at Maths."

Aadhya looked embarrassed.

"I just like the subject."

Kabir smiled.

"I think we're going to get along."

Before anyone else could speak...

A boy dramatically stood up on the bench.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

"I am the most important member of this group."

Everyone groaned.

"Oh no..."

"Not again," Kiara muttered.

The boy placed one hand on his chest.

"I am..."

"...Dev Khanna."

"Professional comedian."

"Part-time student."

"Full-time troublemaker."

Aadhya couldn't help laughing.

Dev pointed proudly.

"Success!"

"I made the new girl laugh."

Mission accomplished."

Beside him sat a tall boy wearing the school's basketball jacket.

He smiled warmly.

"I'm Arjun Sethi."

Unlike Dev's loud energy, Arjun's voice was calm and reassuring.

"If anyone troubles you..."

He shrugged casually.

"...you can tell me."

Dev immediately protested.

"Excuse me!"

"I'm also protective."

"You?"

Kiara laughed.

"You need protection yourself."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Finally...

Siya sat beside Aadhya.

"There."

She smiled happily.

"Now introductions are complete."

"You officially have a lunch group."

Aadhya looked at all five of them.

Then quietly asked,

"Are you sure?"

The table became silent.

Kiara blinked.

"Sure about what?"

"That..."

She hesitated.

"...it's okay if I sit here?"

Dev stared at her dramatically.

"Breaking news."

"Our table has no entrance exam."

Kabir smiled gently.

"There aren't reserved seats."

Arjun nodded.

"Everyone is welcome."

Siya softly bumped Aadhya's shoulder.

"Especially friends."

The word caught Aadhya off guard.

"Friends?"

Siya grinned.

"Obviously."

"We decided five minutes ago."

They all began opening their lunch boxes.

Dev immediately leaned toward Kiara's food.

"What did you bring?"

"My lunch."

"Share?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"I'll cry."

"Go ahead."

"I am crying internally."

Aadhya laughed again.

This time louder.

Even Kabir smiled.

A few minutes later...

Siya noticed Aadhya quietly eating only one roti.

"Is that all?"

Aadhya nodded.

"Yes."

Kiara immediately opened her lunchbox.

"Try my paneer."

Before Aadhya could refuse...

A small piece was already on her plate.

Dev added a gulab jamun.

"You can't say no."

Kabir offered homemade sandwiches.

Arjun placed a few apple slices beside her lunch.

Aadhya looked at the growing pile of food.

"I..."

"You don't have to."

Siya smiled knowingly.

"That's what friends do."

Aadhya looked around the table.

Nobody expected anything in return.

Nobody was counting favors.

They simply wanted to include her.

Something warm settled in her heart.

Meanwhile...

From the senior block balcony...

Vivaan happened to look toward the courtyard.

He spotted Aadhya sitting beneath the tree.

She wasn't alone.

She was smiling.

Actually smiling.

He immediately pulled out his phone.

Without anyone noticing...

He clicked a quick picture of her laughing with her new friends.

Then he sent it to the family group.

📸 Vivaan: Mission Successful. Aadhya has friends. ❤️

Within seconds...

Replies started appearing.

Aryaveer: Good.

Rudransh: Tell her not to skip lunch.

Vihaan: She looks happy.

Advik: Now I have competition.

Even Veeransh, who almost never texted, sent just two words.

Veeransh: That's good.

Vivaan smiled proudly before putting his phone away.

Under the shade of the old tree...

The six students continued talking, laughing, and exchanging food.

For the very first time in many years...

Aadhya wasn't sitting alone during lunch.

She wasn't hiding in a corner.

She wasn't pretending to be invisible.

She was simply...

One among friends.

And somewhere deep inside her heart...

A small, fragile hope quietly bloomed.

Maybe...

This school really was different.

To Be Continued...