The library was quiet that afternoon.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, falling across the wooden tables.
Meera sat with her notebook open, staring at a math problem Harsh had marked for her.
But she wasn't really reading it.
Her mind kept drifting back to Rohan.
To the way he had spoken earlier.
Maybe don't be around him so much.
She sighed.
Across the table, Harsh noticed.
"You've been staring at that question for ten minutes."
Meera looked up.
"I'm thinking."
"No," Harsh said calmly. "You're overthinking."
She rolled her eyes slightly.
"Thanks for the encouragement."
"I'm serious," he replied. "You're smart enough to solve it."
"Then why do I still get bad marks?"
"Because you panic," he said simply.
Meera looked down at the notebook again.
Harsh studied her for a moment.
"You didn't come yesterday," he said.
She nodded.
"Rohan wanted to hang out."
Harsh leaned back in his chair.
"I figured."
Meera looked at him.
"You're annoyed."
"I'm not annoyed."
"Yes you are."
Harsh sighed.
"I just think… you deserve better."
Meera frowned slightly.
"Better than what?"
Harsh hesitated.
Then he said quietly,
"Better than the way he treats you."
Meera looked away.
"He apologized."
"That doesn't fix everything."
"He said he'll change."
Harsh was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke carefully.
"Meera… someone who really cares about you doesn't make you feel small first and then apologize later."
She didn't respond.
He leaned forward slightly.
"I've watched you with him."
"And?"
"You're not the same person."
Her voice sharpened a little.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You're quieter," he said honestly. "More nervous."
"That's not true."
Harsh didn't argue.
Instead he said something softer.
"You know… I could treat you better."
Meera looked up, surprised.
"What?"
"I mean it," Harsh said.
His voice wasn't dramatic or emotional.
Just calm.
"I would never laugh at you in front of people."
Meera felt her chest tighten slightly.
"I would never grab your arm like that."
She looked down at the table.
"And I would never make you feel like you have to earn my respect."
The words hung in the air between them.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Meera forced a small laugh.
"You're being very serious today."
"I am serious."
She shook her head.
"Harsh…"
"I'm not asking you to choose anything," he said quickly.
"I know you're with him."
Meera relaxed a little.
"I'm just saying… if someone really cares about you…"
He paused.
"They don't make you question your worth."
Meera didn't know what to say.
Harsh looked at her gently.
"You deserve someone who treats you like you matter all the time."
Not just when they feel like it.
Meera stared at the notebook again, but the numbers blurred.
Because a small voice inside her whispered something uncomfortable.
Harsh had never once made her feel stupid.
Never once made her feel unwanted.
Never once made her feel scared.
And yet…
She still liked Rohan.
She closed the notebook suddenly.
"Okay," she said quickly.
"Let's just study."
Harsh didn't push the conversation further.
But as they started working through the questions, he couldn't stop thinking one thing.
If she ever realizes how badly Rohan treats her…
I'll be right here.
The school field was almost empty after classes.
A soft evening wind moved through the trees as Meera and Harsh sat on the bleachers with their books open.
Harsh tapped her notebook.
"You're doing the same mistake again."
Meera groaned.
"I hate this chapter."
"You hate studying," Harsh corrected.
She laughed.
"True."
For a moment everything felt calm.
Easy.
Then Harsh noticed something over her shoulder.
His expression changed slightly.
Meera turned.
Rohan was standing near the gate.
Watching them.
His jaw was tight.
He had clearly been there for a while.
Meera felt a small knot form in her stomach.
Rohan walked toward them slowly.
Harsh straightened but stayed seated.
Rohan stopped a few feet away.
"So this is where you've been."
Meera closed her notebook.
"We were studying."
Rohan laughed sharply.
"Studying."
His eyes moved to Harsh.
"You really never give up, do you?"
Harsh stayed calm.
"We're just working on school stuff."
"Yeah right," Rohan muttered.
Then he looked at Meera.
"I told you I didn't like you hanging around him."
Meera's patience snapped.
"You don't get to tell me who I can talk to."
"I'm your boyfriend."
"Not anymore."
The words slipped out before she could rethink them.
The air went completely silent.
Rohan blinked.
"What?"
Meera stood up slowly.
"I'm done, Rohan."
His expression darkened.
"You're joking."
"No."
"You're breaking up with me because of him?" he snapped, pointing at Harsh.
"This isn't about Harsh," Meera said.
"It's about you."
Rohan stepped closer.
"You're being dramatic again."
"I'm not."
"You're overreacting."
"No," she said firmly. "I'm finally reacting."
For a moment he looked like he might argue again.
Then his anger exploded.
"You think he's better than me?" Rohan shouted.
Students nearby turned to look.
Harsh stood up now.
"Relax."
"Stay out of this!" Rohan snapped.
Meera's hands trembled slightly, but she didn't step back.
"You insult me," she said quietly.
"You control who I talk to."
"You make me feel stupid."
Her voice shook, but she continued.
"And then you apologize like nothing happened."
Rohan's face hardened.
"So that's it?"
"Yes."
Right then Kitty appeared at the edge of the field with Sam beside her.
Kitty had been looking for Meera.
She immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Meera?"
Rohan turned sharply.
"This doesn't involve you."
Kitty rolled her eyes.
"It clearly does."
She had already texted Harsh earlier when she noticed Rohan walking toward the field looking angry.
Now she moved closer.
"You're done with him, Meera. Let's go."
Rohan looked furious now.
"You're all turning her against me."
"No," Harsh said calmly.
"You did that yourself."
For a long moment nobody moved.
Then Meera took a deep breath.
"It's over, Rohan."
She picked up her bag.
"I hope you figure yourself out someday."
Rohan stared at her.
Then he shook his head and walked away angrily without another word.
The tension in the air slowly faded.
Meera sat back down on the bench, suddenly exhausted.
Kitty wrapped an arm around her.
"I told you he was bad news."
Meera gave a weak smile.
"You were right."
Sam gave Harsh a look that said good luck and gently pulled Kitty away.
"Let's give them a minute."
Soon the field was quiet again.
Only Harsh and Meera remained.
Harsh sat beside her.
"You okay?"
She nodded slowly.
"I think so."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Then Harsh spoke softly.
"You know… you deserve someone who treats you better."
Meera looked at him.
"I mean it," he continued.
"You shouldn't have to fight just to feel respected."
She swallowed.
"I know that now."
Harsh hesitated.
Then he said something he had been holding in for a long time.
"And honestly… I wish you'd stop wasting your time on people like him."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh really?"
He smiled a little.
"Yeah."
"Because you could be with someone who actually cares about you."
"Like who?" she asked quietly.
Harsh met her eyes.
"Like me."
Meera's heart skipped.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then she laughed softly.
"You're very confident."
"I'm just honest."
She studied him.
The boy who had helped her study.
Who had stood up for her.
Who had never made her feel small.
Slowly she moved closer.
"Maybe," she said softly, "I should have noticed sooner."
Harsh smiled.
"Better late than never."
Meera leaned forward.
And kissed him.
For a moment the world felt perfectly still.
When they pulled apart, both of them were smiling.
"Come on," Harsh said, picking up his bag.
"We still have exams to pass."
Meera laughed.
"Of course you'd say that right now."
They walked off the field together.
This time—
Side by side.